Stranded!

I haven´t posted images of the trip yet since I´ve been trapped in a 3 day blizzard at Valle Nevado. The road was closed, power and phones kept going out and Santiago had horrendous flooding. I can´t get online with the old laptop, so I´m using the VN Cyber Cafe, with it´s wacky Spanish keyboard. I have lots more pictures to post, and a long rant about the service at Valle Nevado, which I´m pretty ripped about. As usual, the skiing was epic and the food sucked. If you´re burning to see more ski pictures, go to The Basin Ski Shop site and check out the white stuff.

Turns in Chile

More photos from Chile

It's been a lovely trip so far: our ride out from Santiago south to Termas de Chillan was very picturesque. Agriculture is king here, with miles and miles of vineyards, orchards and vegetable farms. The Gran Hotel where we are staying is very upscale, but totally family oriented; so much more so than Valle Nevado. There is one large dining room, which, unfortunately, has entertainment almost every night. The kids like it, but it's not relaxing after a day outside.


Friday evening was "Volcano Night" with a live band, really bad kareoke, and a smoke machine, culminating in a a grand show where all the waiters bring out dozens of flaming volcano-shaped baked alaskas. It was really cool to watch, but more excitement than I needed. Dinner starts at 8 pm, which seems to be when all the Americans eat. Everyone else likes to eat in the middle of the night, which is traditional in hispanic culture. That would be great if I took the time for an afternoon siesta, but the snow has been too nice.



The hotel has a spa, where I enjoyed a full body mud wrap and one of the best facials I have ever had. I got an impressive sunburn despite SPF 25, so the ladies looked at my skin, touching my cheeks and shaking their heads in disapproval (since I don't know many of the spa related words in Spanish, much communication was done through sign language) then my esthetician got to work, putting these wonderful creams and cold compresses on my face until it stopped burning completely! I went from papas fritas to helado in 30 minutes.

Photos from Termas de Chillan

The deer ate all our tomatoes.

I am distraught.

Sixty tomato plants, lovingly grown from seeds started in our basement. All with lots of flowers and pretty little tomatoes, wiped out, within days. I moved to the city to get away from the flippin' deer. They never bothered with tomatoes up in Moultonborough; my family had been growing them for 40 years and nary a nibble. I can't believe that a deer could wipe out a whole crop, the Romas, the Beefsteak, the cherry tomatoes....even the two huge hippie tomato plants grown (accidentally, I'm sure) from a package of marjoram seeds from the health food store. Gone.

I'm sure it's the stupid beast in the photo below. Sure, it was cute then, munching on the hosta. What do I care, I can't make bacon, lettuce and hosta sandwiches.

I'm getting a dog. No, a wolf. No, a pack of wolves. No, a Bradley assault vehicle. Who am I kidding? I can't even shoot the damned thing - I live in the city.

Ice Cream

Recent images of Chile sent by one of our traveling companions - don't you feel cooler just looking at them?

I'm heading to Chile for some skiing, so my mind has turned to snow and other cold things, like ice cream. My favorite ice cream place here on the seacoast is Lagos on Route 1 in Rye. I like the apple pie flavor - the idea of dumping whole pies into a vat of vanilla ice cream just thrills me. The mocha chip is pretty tasty too. The problem that I have found, is that it's hard to try other flavors because the first one you try is so incredibly good that you are compelled to eat it again and again. It might take a lifetime to get through the long list of flavors. Don't get the large unless you are really hungry.

When Dad was in the hospital last year, I brought him a coffee frappe from Lagos and his whole outlook on life improved dramatically. For those of you unfamiliar with New England frappes, I pity you.

Back when I lived in Gilmanton, Jordans was my ultimate favorite home made ice cream haunt. It's right on Route 106 in Belmont. Family run, great flavors.