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Join Chef Pisto of
"Monterey's Cookin' PistoStyle" and the Whaling Station and Artist
and Winery owner Lygia Chappellet on an extended holiday season
voyage around South America's stunningly beautiful coastline.
This leisurely cruise visits ports beautiful, cultural, and
delicious and together we will offer market walks, cooking
demonstrations, wine pairings, tastings, and dinners. South
America is sure to inspire the artist in us all, so perhaps we'll
even do some sketching; did we mention we'll have the chance to golf
at the Southernmost Golf Course Course in the world?
We'll take a catamaran
ride around St. Valentin Glacier, and have the opportunity to
participate in additional wine tastings with award winning wine
critic, Lyn Farmer and cooking demonstrations by Silversea's head
chef. With such marvelous experiences both on shore and off,
pricing of 60% off published fares and complimentary economy
airfare, what could be better than the opportunity to recharge and
find wonderful gifts before the rush of the holiday season?
Ports:
Santiago
(Valparaiso), Chile
Located 70 miles (113
kilometres), or about a two-hour drive, from the capital city of
Santiago, Valparaiso is Chile's principal port. With a
population of close to half a million, it is the commercial and
administrative center for as vast region and the seat of a major
university. A large part of
the city is clustered
along a crescent of hills in a maze of alleys, winding streets,
connecting stairs and funicular railcars. The business center
at the foot of the hills lies partially on reclaimed land.
Ingenuity has turned a piece of coastline into one of the world's
most picturesque ports; it is especially striking when seen from the
sea at dusk, with its semicircle of lit-up hills cascading down to
the water.
Just six miles (about
ten kilometres) out of Valparaiso lies Chile's main seaside resort,
Viña del Mar, often dubbed 'the garden city' because of its
beautiful parks and gardens. Excellent beaches are lined by
fine promenades with a range of hotels, restaurants and a casino.
Santiago, with over
four million people, is the fifth largest city in South America.
Standing in a wide plain 1,800 feet above sea level, Santiago boasts
a beautiful setting. Snow-capped peaks of the Andes chain
provide a dramatic backdrop. Tastefully laid out public
gardens contribute to the beauty of the city. However,
Santiago also suffers from horrendous traffic and a high level of
pollution. The heart of Santiago is the Plaza de Armas,
flanked by the cathedral, the archbishop's palace, the National
History Museum and fine arcaded buildings lined with shops.
The two-mile long Avienda O'Higgins is the major thoroughfare,
commonly known as the Alameda. There is a splendid view over
the city from San Cristobal Hall, crowned by the statue of the
Virgin Mary.
Puerto Montt,
Chile
Located on the northern
tip of the vast Reloncavi Bay, Puerto Montt is the gateway to the
Chilean Lake District. Crowding the harbor are vessels that
ply the route between Cape Horn and Puerto Montt, finding shelter
here from the storms of the Pacific.
The first German
colonists arrived in the area in 1852; their descendants have
remained a small but influential percentage of the 130,000
inhabitants. The town spreads along a narrow seaboard and
climbs the slopes that enclose Puerto Montt to the north.
Since 1985, the city has experienced considerable growth and
development; there are more than 30 salmon farms, in addition to
forestry, fishing industries and service companies, new hotels,
restaurants, cafés and shops have opened. Puerto Montt itself
offers scant attractions for visitors apart from shingle-roofed
houses around a flowered central square.
Cuisine
The coastal area is
known for its variety of seafood, including large lobsters from Juan
Fernandez Island. There is also an abundance of king crabs,
abalone, prawns and mussels. Rustic seafood restaurants can be
found in the Angelmo fishing port. Empanadas, tasty meat or
cheese stuffed turnovers, are even better when accompanied by
Chile's excellent wines or the national drink, pisco sour.
Laguna San
Rafael, Chile
Some 150 nautical miles
south of Puerto Chacabuco lies Laguna San Rafael National Park.
Getting here is in itself a wonderful experience as the ship cruises
through waterways, fjords and estuaries that offer stunning scenery.
Within the park is the
tallest peak in the Southern Andes, Mount San Valentin at 13,310
feet. Fields of ice extend over this mountain and the
surrounding hills and from it 19 glaciers are born. However,
the most famous attraction is the Mount San Valentin glacier.
Here large blocks of ice can be seen calving off the glacier and
crashing into the lake with a thunderous roar. Truly an
amazing sight!
Punta Arenas,
Chile
Founded in 1848, Punta
Arenas was originally a military garrison and penal settlement.
It also provided a convenient stopover for vessels en route to
California during the Gold Rush. In the early years, the
economy depended on wild animal products, such as sealskins, guanaco
hides and feathers from the rhea ( South American Ostrich).
Today, Punta Arenas numbers over 100,000 inhabitants. It has
the look of a bustling city, with a fine cathedral and an attractive
central square. It is also a major base for the Chilean navy.
A statue of the explorer Magellan salutes present-day navigators.
The main attractions
are found in the rugged outdoors, where indigenous fauna and flora
try to exist in often harsh and unpredictable weather conditions.
Many of the sites in this vast region of Patagonia require fairly
long drives from Punta Arenas. But in recent years, trips to
the bottom of the world have become increasingly popular by
travelers looking for more rustic adventures.
Cuisine
Seafood and lamb are
your best choices here. Empanadas, the delicious turnovers, go
well with a glass of Chilean wine or the national drink, pisco sour.
You can dine in rustic seafood restaurants or the more refined hotel
restaurants, such as the José Nogueira, Cabo de Hornos or Los
Navegantes.
Ushuaia,
Argentina
Originally founded as
an outpost on the Beagle Channel by the South American Missionary
Society, Ushuaia has developed into a fast-growing frontier town.
The capital of the Argentinean part of Tierra del Fuego boasts a
spectacular setting. The jagged peaks of the Martial Range
rising from sea level to nearly 4,500 feet provide Ushuaia with a
dramatic backdrop. The surrounding areas offer great outdoor
recreational possibilities, such as trekking, hiking and fishing.
Rugged roads lead into the mountain and lake region and to Lapataia,
part of the Tierra del Fuego Nationa Park.
Travelers to this
remote and rugged area of South America can experience as many as
four seasons in one single day. However, one fact is always
certain; the spirit of the rough frontier prevails and the scenic
beauty is awesome. Guests who delight in nature that remains
largely unspoiled will appreciate this visit at the world's
southernmost town.
Cuisine
Ushuaia us known for
two specialties: centolla (king crabs) and lamb. The latter is
favored in the traditional parrillada, where lamb, chicken and
sausages are grilled on huge racks over an open fire. Some of
the more popular restaurants include Tante Elvira, Chez Manu and
Kaupe. Good meals in Ushuaia are fairly expensive.
Puerto Madryn,
Argentina
Situated snugly in a
well-protected bay of the Golfo Nuevo, Puerto Madryn is the Chubut
Province's natural access point for the plains of Patagonia.
This vast area covers one third of the country but is occupied by
less than four percent of the population. Patagonia
characteristically encompasses three different regions: a vast and
windy, treeless plateau; the Atlantic coast; and the southern part
with its national parks, awesome mountain ranges, glaciers and
fjords. In the north of Patagonia, in Chubut Province, is
Argentina's Welsh community, which began when a group of adventurous
Welsh immigrants settled in the area around Puerto Madryn in 1886.
The town took its name from Love Parry, Baron of Madryn.
Although today the town appears unmistakably Argentine, Welsh
customs, names and even some of the language have survived. On
the town's outskirts stands the statue of a Welsh woman depicting
the simple life of these early settlers.
In town, a casino and
several restaurants known for good seafood provide travelers with
basic diversions. In addition, there is the Musuem of Natural
Sciences and Oceanography with exhibits portraying the remarkable
wildlife in Chubut Province. Main street shops offer a limited
selection of leather goods, water sports equipment and items made by
the Pataginian Indians.
Cuisine
Your best choice here
is seafood. Restaurants are more rustic than elegant. Also
popular are confitérias, some of them offering Welsh afternoon tea.
Montevideo,
Uruguay
With its population of
1,362,000, Montevideo is home to nearly half of Uruguay's
population. The relatively small capital is the nation's only
major city, yet visitors do not come here in search of the hustle
and bustle of a large metropolis. Montevideanos themselves
travel to Buenos Aires and São Paulo when they crave big-city
excitement. As Uruguay's cultural, political and economic
centre, the city boasts a good number of monuments, musuems and
impressive architecture. There are sidewalk cafés, fine
restaurants, chic shops, casinos and miles of clean beaches.
For such a small
country, Uruguay boasts an astonishing literary and artistic
tradition. Theatre is a popular medium and playwrights are
very prominent. Uruguayan artists such as Pedro Figari have
earned recognition well beyond the country's border. The tango
is nearly as popular here as in Argentina. Afro-Uruguayan
Candomblé music and dance add a unique dimension.
Shopping
Avenida 18 de Julio is
Montevideo's main street with restaurants and shops. Leather
goods, hand-knit sweaters and gemstones, such as amethyst, topaz and
agate, are considered good buys. HECHOACA HECHOACA store is
located across from the port entrance. Some shops downtown may
be closed on Sunday. The local currency is the peso.
Cuisine
Asado is a typical
local barbecue with several varieties of meat. The method of
preparation has developed into an art, with the main ingredients
beef, chicken and sausage. Steak is the best choice of fare
with seafood close behind. Black River Caviar, fine Ossetra
Malossol caviar is produced from farm raised Siberian sturgeon near
Montevideo on the Rio Negro. For dessert try the caramel-like
dulce de leche. A popular drink is mate tea made famous by the
gauchos. Traditionally, the tea is sipped through a silver
straw from bombilla (special cup).
Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Dubbed the "Queen of
the Rio de la Plata" by Argentine author Carlos Romero, Buenos Aires
is Argentina's cosmopolitan capital and to Porteños synonymous with
Argentina. Easily the most European of all South American
capitals, even the phone book holds more last names indicating
Italian or German heritage than Spanish. The city experienced
a boom in the 19th century, taking its cue from Paris, and since
then is often referred to as the Paris of South America.
Based on the original
Spanish Settlement, old Buenos Aires was laid out around a central
plaza, bordered by a fort and armory, the city hall and cathedral.
This ensemble became the Plaza de Armas, later renamed Plaza de
Mayo.
Cuisine
Argentina is known for
its excellent beef. Whether in an expensive restaurant or a
rustic neighborhood eatery, steak is always a good choice. At
a parrillada, a wide selection of meat, chicken and sausages are
grilled to perfection on huge racks over an open fire. Try
some of the delicious pastries and Argentina's excellent wines.
Most restaurants don't get busy for dinner until 10:00 p.m. and
serve well past midnight.
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