The Alvarfz Clan

Presenting the Alvarfz Cousins

I pinched this pic from Cecy (aunty) but i will return it, she'd kill me if she knew i took off with it. This very special photo was taken about 19 or 20 years ago at my awelita's house (Granma's). It features all my cousins at the time, from L-R: Nico, Paula, Claudia (aka Miss Piggy back then), me (my god, i haven't changed a bit), behind me is Yeye, next to him is Mauricio, next to me is Pablo and the doofus covering his head with a Mr Men (Mr Happy maybe?) is Cristian. How cool were WE!!

Until the next post,

Maz xxx

Cajon del Maipo

Roadtrip to the Mountains

We took advantage of the Easter long weekend to take a trip to the Andes mountains, to a special place dear to all Santiago-siders, called Cajon del Maipo. They love it because the air here is actually fresh and there is no smog in sight (a rare thing).

We went down with Cecy (aunt extraordinnaire) & fam and had a great time. The views were breathtaking (one, because in Australia we got nothing on this place and two, because i love all this geology stuff, big nerdo that i am). It was a gorgeous day, and not so cold, which is surprising for this time of year. I've been told we must return in winter, because it's all covered in snow. So keep an eye out for that post in a couple of months.

Of course this post can't be without some reference to food. Yes, we pigged out on Meat empanadas, super tasty, picked up some fresh produce from the little nearby town of San Jose del Maipo (yummy bigass almonds, fresh lindseed bread loaf and pistachios), and had hot, right-out-of-the-oven homemade bread, otherwise known as PAN AMASADO. This will make my dad jealous.

AND we saw a condor flying around the mountaintops. I have it on video for those who want proof.

Can't top a day out like that!

Maz xx

Cousin 252

Home at Cousin 252, Providencia,

Santiago de Chile

No, it doesn't mean i have 252 cousins and this post is about number 252. Our address here is Cousin 252, Providencia (in case anyone wants to send us things in the mail). Just thought i'd share a few pics of the lil place we like to call home, at least for the next 3 months.

It's getting COLD here, last night we had to get up in the middle of the night to put on more clothes and chuck another blanket on the bed. It's only autum here and it feels like our aussie winter. I fear July and the REAL cold here, it'll be an ice age!! So we went and bought ourselves a heater and fluffy slippers to prepare!

Trip to Vino Land!

Wine Tasting in Cachapoal

We couldn't be living here and not doing the wine thing! Got cheap tickets to a Wine Festival thingy 100 km south of Santiago (about 20 min from Rancagua - see Rodeo post), which included bus tranfers from the Train station to each of the 3 vineyards involved (called Chateau Los Boldos, Viña Gracia and Viña Anakena). We also got a very very fancy wineglass each to take around as we sampled the goods, with two large wine tasting serves per vineyard (of course, we scammed a few extra freebies to sample).

Clever cookies that we are, we also took some cheese and crackers to go with the theme of the trip (massive dairy overdose by the end of the day). Overall, the wines were yum-0, the day was perfect (nice and warm, for Autumn over here) and it was all well worth the money we spent. Plus each vineyard put on excellent traditional food to try (can't publish a post that doesn't mention food SOMEWHERE!!), there was an antique cars show, live music and crafts sales. Beauuuuuuuuuuuuutiful!

Until the next post

Maz xx

Time out at Club Miel

Dancing Divas @ Club Miel!!

My my, who would have guessed that after living so far removed from everything in Chippo we'd live so close to all the action here in Providencia!

5 minutes walk from home (no exaggeration) is the spectacular Club Miel (Club Honey, translated). It was awesome!! Really cool music - Brit Pop, Rock, Electronica, 80s (not that i'm a big fan of the 80s, but when Girls Just Wanna Have Fun comes on, all ladies gotta get on the dancefloor!!), cheap covercharge and even cheaper drinks. Got into this caffeine thing called Nitro, which funnily enough, looks like nitro from that Crash Bandicoot Playstation game... Fluoro Yellow. But not explosive. Thank the Lord!

So Clauds - you know what's coming. Big Birthday has its destination, for both u n me xx

Rodeo Time!

Presenting: A Day at El Champion in Rancagua

Howdy y'all! I still smell like BBQ and horses as I am freshly arrived from the Rodeo.

Every year there is a national Rodeo comp in Rancagua, a city 1.30 hrs south of Santiago (which we reached by train, sort of like Countrylink). This was an exciting expedition from the very beginning because Grant had to take a trip to Rancagua on his own earlier this week to buy the tickets (they weren't being sold in Santiago, retards...) Anyway, having never been there before myself, i was a bit worried about how the Gringo would go with such a quest. Of course G (braveheart) came through no worries and we had tix for the rodeo today, Sunday April 2nd.

It was great in that we saw traditional costumes, artesans at work and AWESOME food and wine (we came back a few kgs heavier I suspect...) but the concept of hurting cows did not sit well with us (even though we knew that's what we'd be in for if we went). Overall we had a great time, lots of laughs and happy bellies.

The pics feature some of the highlights, and the girlies who came with us - Andrea and Vicki - mates of mine from work, two very funny Gappies.

Until the next post,

Maz xx

St Patrick's Day Celebrations

Top o'the Morning to ya Laddies!

A belated post to share pics of our Chilean attempt at celebrating St Pats day... We went to Flannery's, an irish pub uptown which put on a bit of a show. No Guinness to be seen though!!! (not that it mattered, never tried the stuff and not sure I wanna).

Grant got into the spirit of things and starting doing a bit of Riverdance later in the evening which was a laugh! He tried (unsuccessfully) to teach my cousins some steps, i wish i'd taken the video camera.. Overall a great time was had by all, we mainly drank Coronas because they were cheap, but we wore green ribbons, badges, hats and clothing and thus supported our Irish compatriots.

Until the next post (which i suspect will be v soon).

Maz xx