Fantasiland and the World's Biggest Swimming Pool

On Saturday we continued exploring Santiago. We found an entertainment park inside another even bigger park called Parque O'Higgins.

One of the most ridden rides of Fantasiland. Lukas tried the Boomerang but I stayed firmly on the ground.

A Boomerang's loop.

Second ride was called Kamikaze.

Again Kamikaze took the passengers upside down to the sky. Umm, not for me!

You can have an adrenaline kick also in machines that don't throw you upside down!


And again we ended up on the coast last Sunday. To leave the Metropolitan turned out to be a very good decision, since in Santiago it was raining but warm and sunny by the beach.

Algarrobo

San Alfonso del Mar is a huge building complex in the village of Algarrobo with the world's largest swimming pool that's even mentioned in the Guinness World Records. It's over a kilometre long, so as you can imagine, the entire pool was hard to get without a helicopter.

The houses are by the beach but the shore is not apt for swimming due to the rocky sea. Luckily they have the pool.



We were pretending to be potential clients so we got to visit a prototype apartment. A week's holiday costs about a thousand Euros, but buying a flat is cheaper in relation.

Even little sail boats fit in the pool.

Swimming is not recommended.



Lukas strolling on the beach.

There were also other prettier buildings which I'll bet are much cheaper than San Alfonso del Mar.

El Quisco

After Algarrobo we drove a few kilometres to the south and ran into a cute fisher village called El Quisco.

The owner of the boat gives in without a competition: "Yours is better"

The local delicacies so close to the sea are of course sea food and fish. The restaurant Caleta Miramar had both, but this time I rebelled and took chicken.

This hungry stray kitten joined us at the patio of the restaurant. She finished almost my entire chicken!

Mermaid Johanna.



I assume this statue is some kind of fishermen's protector.

The pelicans are enormous!


La Isla Negra

In Isla Negra is the second one of Pablo Neruda's three homes, and since we were already there, of course we had to visit it. As fascinating and unconventional as this house is, I thought La Chascona (the house in Santiago) had more character.

Again it reflects his obsession to the sea - this is also the place were he is buried with his third wife, Matilde Urrutia. From his bedroom the view was, how else, to the sea.

Casa de Isla Negra was Pablo's favourite house - again, made as a replica of a ship with low ceilings and narrow passageways. As he was a passionate collector, the house was filled with ships in bottles and ship figureheads.



A painting of Pablo.

Fiestas Patrias

Sorry friends and fans,

that this time there was a longer break in updating the blog. It's because I've been working! That's right, I got a job in a photography studio! But believe me, it sounds better than it is. ;)

Anyway, last weekend the Chileans were celebrating Fiestas Patrias - Dieciochera which is a celebration of country, culture and independence. September 18th is the day when Chile became independent from Spain nearly two centuries ago.

Copa Davis

During the same weekend also the Davis Cup matches between Austria and Chile took place in Rancagua, an hour's drive from Santiago. Of course we had to go!

Entrance to Davis Cup in Rancagua.

The teams introducing themselves.

The Austrian team.

Lukas feeling sentimental with the Austrian national hymn.

The Chilean opponent Nicolás Massú.

The Austrian player Stefan Kubek.

The stadium.

A true fan, which got us also to the national TV and radio.

And another one. Being as blond as I am is easy to spot from a group of Chileans. Here with Lukas's workmate Reiner who arranged us the tickets to the match.

The Chilean audience.





Dieciocho

The 18th of September is celebrated during the whole week. This includes parades, dances, drinking, eating traditional Chilean food, and music.

We learned to dance cueca, the traditional Chilean dance at the language school a couple of weeks ago. The teacher is explaining the theory.

Lukas putting the theory into practice.

And then was my turn.

This is how the real cueca dancers look like. Here they were performing it in a parade on a street near to our home.

There are many parks in the city where people can go and spend time outdoors. We found one few blocks from home and went exploring.

This is how a five Euro entrance to such a park looks like in Chilean pesos.

Parque Ines de Suarez was filled with Chilean families just spending time there.

Lukas trying his luck in some petanque style game.

A Giant Ferris Wheel for children.

The local farmers presented their handicraft skills.

The day in the park was warm and sunny.

The programme included for example an acrobatic performance.

Buying some fruits dipped in chocolate and some red sticky stuff that got stuck in your teeth.

On the way home we found a nice little plaza.

And we saw a parade where the local navy guys where marching!

Escuela de Carabineros, the local police academy, were also introducing themselves.

A long line of lady police officers, all of same height.

Lukas and a police lady.