It’s been several years since I last traveled to South America, but after viewing Paul Warme’s beautiful photos from the region, I’m inspired to plan a return visit—and soon!
Paul and his wife, Beverly—12-time travelers, Inner Circle members, and Vacation Ambassadors from State College, Pennsylvania—joined Grand Circle for our Discover South America: Chile & Argentina Escorted Tour. Here, Paul shares his photos and impressions of these two fascinating countries, from the striking architecture of their cosmopolitan capitals, Santiago and Buenos Aires, to the stunning natural beauty of Chile’s famed Lake District and untamed Patagonia.
By Paul and Beverly Warme, State College, Pennsylvania
“On our first day in Santiago, we enjoy a stroll of the city’s Providencia district, which is near our hotel. We encounter beautiful, rose-hued colonial buildings (top above) and small floral shops offering colorful blooms (bottom above).
Later, we take a cable car to the summit of San Cristobal Hill, where we’re treated to a bird’s-eye-view of the city (below) and see the famous Virgin Mary statue—which is more than 70 feet tall—illuminated at night.”
“On an included tour of Santiago, we see the Palacio de la Moneda (above), a colonial mint that later became the Presidential Palace, and visit the Plaza de Armas, or main city square, where we see four firemen dressed up for a parade. They tell us that in Santiago, all firemen are volunteers.
We also visit the Iglesia de Santo Domingo Cathedral (below), the interior of which is ornately decorated in Baroque style with gold leaf and frescoes.”
“The Mercado Central, or Central Market, lies a few blocks north of the Cathedral. It’s known for its fresh produce and seafood—including almeja (clams), mussels, salmon, and squid. Outside of the market, and on practically every street corner in Santiago, we see a shoeshine stand, where they offer to polish my suede shoes.”
“On an optional tour, we visit the Maipo Valley (top above), where some of the most famous Chilean wines are produced. At the Cavas del Raco vineyard (bottom above), we learn about the winemaking process and sample local vintages.”
“As we leave Chile’s capital to fly to the Lake District, we encounter two amazing sights: A stack of luggage at the Santiago Airport (!) and a beautiful view, from the plane, of the snowcapped Andes Mountains near Puerto Montt.”
“At the Fogon Los Alerces ranch in Puerto Varas, we meet gauchos (cowboys) who give us a rodeo demonstration, showing us how to pin a steer against the fence as quickly as possible. The horses here are bred for their speed and agility, similar to Morgan horses in America.”
“The port of Angelmo is renowned for its fish market. After fishing boats unload their daily catch at the dock, it’s loaded into horse-drawn carriages and delivered to the vendors. Although the area is known primarily for its salmon, other popular choices include shellfish and sea urchins (below), and barnacles (bottom below) are considered a local delicacy.”
“One of our favorite parts of the trip was 'sailing the Andes'—journeying from Puerto Varas, Chile to Bariloche, Argentina by both catamaran and bus. We enjoyed spectacular views of Osorno Volcano, an active volcano with near-perfect symmetry. (The photo above offers a closer look at its snow- and glacier-covered peak.) We also explored Petrohue Falls (top below) and cruised Lake Todos los Santos (bottom below).”
“As we drove overland between Lake Todos los Santos and Lake Frias, we saw sheep grazing in the grassy valleys and a pair of playful young red foxes.”
“Our first day in Bariloche, we watched the sun rise above Lake Nahuel Huapi from our hotel room (top above). Then we journeyed through the Patagonian steppes to Estancia Fortin Chacabuco (bottom above), a working sheep ranch, where we were treated to a shearing demonstration—and learned that a single sheep can produce nearly 25 pounds of wool (below) of various grades and consistencies.”
"In Buenos Aires, we explored the La Boca neighborhood—with its brightly painted buildings and colorful murals—on an included tour. Originally settled by Italian immigrants, it’s celebrated for being the birthplace of Argentina’s national dance, the tango. Following lunch at the legendary Café Tortoni, the nation's oldest coffee shop, we learned how to dance the tango during a private lesson.”
"We also strolled along the Plaza de Mayo, Buenos Aires’ main square, where we saw the Casa Rosada (top above), or presidential palace, where Eva Peron famously addressed a crowd of Argentineans from the balcony. (Later, we visited the Recoleta Cemetary, bottom above, where “Evita” is buried.)
Afterwards, we visited Theater Colon (the building at left in the photo below), which sits on Avenue 9 de Julio—the world’s widest street, with 20 lanes and three boulevards. Praised for its acoustics, the opera house also boasts a lavish interior, with gilded columns, marble staircases, and elegant chandeliers.”
NOTE: All photos copyright © 2006 PaulWarme.com/gallery.