Chile Forum

admin wrote:your trip has just begun. If you need any help let us know. Keep the forum updated. How long are you staying?

Thanks. I may take you up on that, and I'll keep posting here.

My idea is to live here and go back to the US every two years or so for a month. Right now I'm staying in a residence inn near Tobalaba metro. It's pretty cheap compared to a hotel, I even have a hard-line Internet connection into my (tiny) room.

What's the deal with the apartment rental companies? I'll probably be looking into it this coming week or next. Do they want you to have a Chilean bank account before they rent to you? Or are they "flexible." I doubt it's possible to get a bank acct with a tourist visa anyway.
I think dealing directly with owners is probably easier as the Benjamin's speak all languages. How did you handle this?

Anyway, It's been a breeze so far, knock on wood. It's been about like I expected, no nasty suprises. Yet.
The only thing that's bugging me is I really should have tried to learn more Spanish before I arrived. They talk so freaking fast and the accent is different.

Oh yeah, my first night here I got high as a kite drinking piscola with three German girls in the residence inn, it was a lot of fun. I'm not much of a drinker, pretty lightweight really. And wow! it snuck up on me. I guess I didn't get too stupid, they were still talking to me the next day.

cheers.

In Chile, I would be more concerned about building a resistance to Pisco, more than your Spanish. Your Spanish will come around. Not handling your Pisco can be more of a problem.

xxx

el puelche wrote:How long before we have a post from chuckj about chicha do you think?

OK, now you got me wondering...... Don't leave me hanging

xxx

el puelche I have one problem with the logic of your mission. How is Chuckj going to be able to report back to us, after drinking by himself? We need organize an escort for him. Otherwise he will likly not rember anything the next day anyway. Then also, I guess that will be evidence by itself that all went well.

xxx

After he recovers, we will have to come up with a list of good wine for chuckj. Otherwise he might get the wrong idea about the quality of drink in Chile.

I would like to start off by making a a first nomination:

Porta Syrah 2001 Grand Reserva Should run you between about $5,000-12,000 pesos. Try the wine store "Mundo de vinos". You can find them in most major cities in Chile.

For discount safe drinking Leon de Tarapaca is a safe bet, and sold at just about every Esso gas station. Any bottle should run you between $1,500 (basic)to $3,000 pesos (Grand reserva). Good for a gift to your host at a friendly party. They will not call you a wine guru, but they also will most likly not be insulted and kick you out.

When in doubt about what to buy, try them all.

p.s. I will get us some new emotions for the forum A.S.A.P.

xxx

For something really strange in wine try Gris and we believe it is from Cousino Macul also. It is a Cabernet Sauvinon but it is is a white Cabernet.

Myself I am a Belgium beer freek. My wife is more the wine expert.

Can you find good beer in Temuco or do you brew your own?

xxx