More sights of Santiago

The kids were back to school after their two month summer break on Feb. 18th, so a couple of days later (with Easton at a friends) we headed down to the city center.  We saw the changing of the guard at La Moneda (originally where money was printed, then as the president's residence, now as government buildings.  Every other day the military pays homage to history by changing the guard.  Then we walked to the very center of the city to Plaza de Aramas to visit the plaza where the original conquistadors   set up the city.  We went into the cathedral and the post office museum.  Then walked down to the fish market to see the activity there.  Then took the metro back to the car.  Afterwards we finished up with a nice late lunch.

Changing of the guard.  It started with a parade with band and horses from a few blocks away,  then band music, marching, weapon stuff, soldiers coming out, new ones going in, etc.  I was so glad that we went and I plan on taking my kids to see it soon.  Also I realized after I took about 20 pictures that I didn't have an SD card in my camera and ended up using my phone, so photos not so good.  However as we walked the couple of blocks to the plaza I picked one up, so the rest of the trip was much better (hate when that happens).

The parade out. 

This is so downtown.  These officers had this entourage of stray dogs.  Where ever the officers went these 6 dogs followed.

In the plaza.

The post office

Inside the post office is a nice little museum about the history of the mail and telegraph systems in Chile.  I really enjoyed it.  It is small and takes only about 15 minutes, but it is free.

In the center of the plaza.

South to HuiloHuilo

We spent a week in the lake district on a private reserve called HuiloHuilo.  It took us about 10 hours to drive there.  The scenery was drastically different from Santiago.  The sky was clear and so blue (I didn't realize how muddy the blue is here in Santiago due to the smog until we went south).  The area we went to is a temperate rain forest.  We lucked out in that for the most part it just rained heavily for one day.  There was drizzle at times, but nothing to hold us back from seeing the beautiful area.

We stayed in a beautiful cabin in the woods and could hear a waterfall nearby.  It also provided a little cat for the first couple of days that the kids named Oreo and played with, the kids were thrilled a vacation and a pet (one in which I didn't have to bring home, a win-win situation).

So our adventure included hiking, waterfalls, zip-lining (or canopying as they call it here), a ferry boat ride, and time sitting in front of our wood burning stove enjoying each others company and views of all the green.

Oh, and I couldn't decide, so there are tons of pictures.

 

Salto de Leonas

Drew did the little kid zip-line.  At the resort they told us a person had to be 10 yrs. for the big one, however we found out it is a height requirement, not years.  So the next day he went with the big kids.  But he loved this one too.

Easton is pretty crazy, but for some reason, zip-lining was not his thing....there were tears.

Here are the big kids in the canopy. Mason.

Me.

Dallin.

Mark.

My dad.

This is not where we stayed, but it is on the reserve.  It is called the Magic Mountain, and it looks like a hobbit home.  Even on the inside.

We rode a ferry on the lake.

This is at Salto Huilo Huilo (Salto = Waterfall).  Look at the color of the water.

Salto del Puma (thank you Mason for the zombie eyes, we took a whole bunch and Mason had the same face in everyone!)

Our rain day...notice how many electronics are going on in our log cabin.

On the rain day there was a break in the rain for a couple of hours, so some went zip-lining again.  Including Drew who got to do the big kid canopy.  The rest of us saw the waterfall again.  Then we joined back together and had hot chocolate in the cutest little hobbit cafe.

There was a place to see animals...wild boars, deer, llama, chickens, and geese.

And no trip is complete with out seeing things that make you question just why we don't fully utilize our small pick-ups in the States.  This guy was not only hauling a cut up car in the bed, but also towing an old car.

Showing off Chile

While Grandma and Grandpa have been here the last week, we have been showing off Santiago and a little of the coast.

We have shown Cachaqua and it's penguins.

We have made our way to the Los Dominicos market.

We have climbed Santa Lucia.

Had a picnic at Santuario de Naturaleza.

Explored San Cristobal, the metropolitan park.

This is an evergreen that is found here that you do not see it the  US.

Sorry Mason, I know your eyes are closed but it's still pretty cute.

And there is lots more to come!