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Best Wine in the World

In recent decades, has become ideal for vineyards, and a growing a big league player in the global wine number of wineries that are perfectly market. No other region in the country able to make excellent Cabernet stands out as much as the Colchagua Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and many Valley, chosen by the Wine Enthusiast good Carmenère and Malbec wines. magazine as 2005’s Best Wine In the next issue, we will tell you Region of the World for its ability to about some of the best Sauvignon Blanc produce world class red wines. and Chardonnay of the world in “Valle Approximately 150 km (93 miles) de Casablanca”, only a half an hour drive south of the capital , , from Santiago. Colchagua is truly blessed when it comes to producing red wines. Warm and naturally dry, but with an abundant water supply from the Tinguiririca River, Colchagua is a narrow agricultural valley that begins at the foot of the and extends west to the Pacific Ocean. The approximately 910,000 hectares (2,250 acres) in between offer many different microclimates, soil types, steep hillsides

Valparaíso

The name “Valle Paraíso” in Spanish de Santiago” on the metro subway line means “Paradise Valley.” You can 1 (red) and then ask for the “Tur ” easily reach this paradise of ours from office. There is a bus every half an hour.

Santiago (70 min. to cover the 120 km Valparaiso was built upon dozens of by car or intercity bus). To reach it by steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific bus, you will need to go to “Universidad Ocean. Among its magical attractions is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and Immigrants from England and Germany alleyways that is lovely to explore. In founded the first private secular schools (The MacKay School, and Die Deutsche Schule).

Each immigrant community, especially those coming from England, Germany and Italy built their own churches, schools, and other institutions. They also developed their own hillside neighborhood, preserved today as National Historic (“Zonas its golden age, was known by Típicas”). international sailors as “Little San “The Greater Valparaiso Francisco” or “The Jewel of the ” which also includes Pacific”. This was before the Panama the resort town of Viña del Mar, is the Canal was built, when ships traveling third most populated area of the country between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans with almost 1 million inhabitants. It is had to cross the Magellan Straits via the southern tip of . In fact, the main historical sector was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003.

Valparaíso received immigrants from many European countries (mostly from 1848 to 1914), including England, Germany, , Switzerland and Italy. The first private Catholic school in Chile was founded by French immigrants in also an important port for fruit and copper Valparaiso: Le Collège de Les Sacrés exports. More than 50 international cruise Coeurs (The Sacred Hearts School) which ships visit Valparaíso each year. has been operating for about 170 years. Valparaíso itself is cosmopolitan with an Feliz” and “El Bar Inglés”, near increasingly vital cultural centre, home Sotomayor square (“plaza Sotomayor”). to nine universities and the seat of the The Nobel Prize winner, , National Congress. Valparaíso stages a immortalized the city as the “Ocean`s major festival attended by hundreds of sweetheart” or “novia del océano” in his thousands of people. The “New Year`s poems. Valparaiso is one of Chile’s most By the Sea” fireworks show is the largest charismatic and historic ports, with its in , attended by a million charming “ascensores” (such tourists who fill the coastline and hillsides as Polanco´s hill, which still works) and for a view of the bay. colorful hillside houses. You can also visit Nightlife activities in Valparaíso are the Museo La Sebastiana, one of the among the best in all the country. There three houses that belonged to Pablo are very beautiful and traditional bars, Neruda. among them, “Bar La Playa”, “La Piedra

For an ideal day out, take a tour of Valparaiso. For further information go to this web page: http://www.turistik.cl/ (click on “English” right at the top and then click on Valparaiso) For more information about Valparaíso we also recommend visiting: http://www.turismochile.cl/valparaiso/en/themes/down-town/ or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valpara%C3%ADso The house of Pablo Neruda at Valparaíso web page is http://www.fundacionneruda.org/ing/home_ingles.htm You can hear Pablo Neruda speak, obtain great information and also see the beauty of Valparaíso at http://www.ciudaddevalparaiso.cl/inicio/intro.php To find Valparaíso on Google Earth, just type: Valparaíso, Chile To find Valparaíso on Google maps just type: Valparaíso, Chile or http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=es&q=valparaiso&um=1&ie=UTF- 8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title RESTAURANTS IN VALPARAISO

The culinary scene in Valparaíso no. 1199 in the Plaza Anibal Pinto, is is hot, hot, hot -- not even Santiago a local institution in Valparaíso and a can compete with the gastronomic popular point of reunion for writers and explosion currently taking place in this artists and a host of characters (and port town. Valparaiso’s bohemian flair, they have reasonable fixed-price its concentration of talented young chefs, lunches). Café del Poeta, no. 1181, is and its constant supply of adventurous a good spot for coffee and pastries, and and demanding diners have all combined they serve onces. Café Harté, just to to inspire a synergistic food culture found the right of the El Peral on in few of Chile. The bistro reigns Cerro Alegre, is the cafe to go to for a here in Valparaíso, those intimate eateries spectacular view. Frommer´s Review. housed in recycled old Victorians that CAFÉ TURRI are typically owner-attended and offer inventive cuisine in lieu of the fish-and- fries fare and grumpy service that existed in this city for decades. Valparaíso, it can be said, shows a newfound respect for diners. Of course, you won't want to miss dropping into one of the century- old establishments in Valparaíso that have played host to generations of Address: Templemann 147, Cerro revellers, if only for the antique Concepción, Valparaiso architecture and a whiff of the city's Phone: 259198 formidable and colourful history. Note, Specialty: meats, seafood and fish however, that most restaurants are either (French) closed (or open for lunch only ) on www.cafeturri.cl Sundays.

Valparaíso has quite a few charming This restaurant has always reigned as cafes for a snack or onces, Chile's famous the city's best spot for alfresco dining, afternoon tea. Café Riquet, located at and it's well located at the top of the La Concepción funicular and close to other points of interest. The new owners (a French/Chilean pair who once owned La Fourchette in Viña) have preserved the restaurant's lovely antique interiors, but they've given them a contemporary update. They've also hired a cheery waitstaff. The French-influenced fare www.restaurantlaconcepcion.cl/I includes duck confit, steak tartare, grilled n_English.html fish and meats, salads, and appetizers Originally an 1880's English home like grilled Camembert cheese. At press built on historic Cerro Concepción in time, the owners planned to open a the heart of the Valparaiso "patrimonio" wine/tapas bar on the ground floor, serving even super premium wine by neighborhood, and recently transformed the glass. For a primo table, book at by Valparaiso 's finest craftsmen, least a day ahead on weekends. Restaurant La Concepción is open to Frommer´s Review. the public for almuerzos, dinners and special events. American owners Robert LA CONCEPCIÓN and Alana Gerrity insist that each guest (highly recommended!) make their evening an unforgettable pleasure with the finest South American dining.

The international cuisine provides a focus on Mediterranean cuisine, embellished with natural and often exotic foods–-to include deep sea fish, coastal shellfish, lamb, beef, various Address: 541, Cerro fowl and more. Concepción, Valparaíso Phone: 56 - 32 - 2498192 Our carefully chosen wine list includes Email: [email protected] some 50 of the finest Chilean labels. POBLENOU a variety of choices for toppings such as chicken with orange and Gouda cheese; salads; crepes; and vegetable and meat kebabs. Frommer´s Review.

RESTAURANT HAMBURG

Address: Urriola 476, Cerro Alegre, Valparaiso Phone: 32-495245 Speciality: Spanish/Portuguese www.poblenou.cl/

This hole-in-the-wall tapas bar is Address: Calle O´Higgins 1274, one of the cozier places for a light meal Valparaiso and glass of wine; however, at press Phone: 32-2597037 time Poblenou had plans to convert Speciality: German/Austrian/Swiss itself into a full-service restaurant serving Spanish-oriented cuisine. The Hamburg is as much a restaurant Judging by the quality control and good as it is a museum, with walls, shelves, taste of its owners, it's likely that they'll and glass cases overstuffed with enjoy success in this new endeavor. carefully jumbled maritime bric-a-brac Low ceilings, a fireplace, candles, and and other curios culled by the owner, wooden tables create a mellow a German merchant sailor, during his ambience, making Poblenou an years at sea. After anchoring here in place to relax and converse. The menu Valparaíso more than 20 years ago, centers around Spanish appetizers such the owner opened Hamburg so that he as montaditos, or toasted bread with could have the dishes he so loved from back home -- pickled herring, pork as well as their other specialty: vino chops and sauerkraut, goulash, and so arreglado, or "fixed" wine with on -- but to play it safe he gave half strawberry, peach, or chirimoya the menu space for classic Chilean (custard apple). But let me be honest, dishes like filet a lo pobre. The dishes the fare here is really mediocre; you're are hearty and the portions ample here for the atmosphere, not the quality enough to satisfy a sailor, so bring your of the food, so stick with a snack and appetite. Frommer´s Review. cocktails, and plan to visit on weekends when tango singers serenade diners. EL CINZANO Frommer´s Review.

SOME USEFUL LINKS

www.sernatur.cl Tourist information www.santiago.cl Address: Aníbal Pinto 1882, Valparaiso Tourist information Phone: 32-2213043 www.welcomechile.com Speciality: South American Tourist information

Since 1896, this restaurant has been www.metro.cl Transportation the popular hangout for poets, intellectuals, and musicians, who come www.transvip.net for late-night chorrillanas, a Valparaíso Shuttle service specialty of steak, eggs, onions, and www.mapcity.cl french fries tossed together and heaped To search addresses on a platter. Crusty old waiters in black jackets and bow ties serve typical Chilean seafood fare and grilled meats, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q – What does Santiago look like? Q – Is Santiago a safe city?

A - In terms of architecture, Santiago is A – Currently Santiago is generally a a diverse mixture of styles and ideas. peaceful and safe city after 20 years of Though it is a city of long tradition, the democracy (although reasonable care recent decades of economic growth have should be taken in certain neighborhoods transformed Santiago into one of Latin as in most capital of the world). America´s most modern metropolitan areas, with dozens of shopping centers Q - What is the climate like in Santiago? and towering skyscrapers. Over the same period, the city has developed some of A – Santiago occupies a Mediterranean Latin America´s most modern climate zone, with cool winters and dry transportation infrastructure, such as the summers. Keep in mind that you will be growing and the new arriving here in winter and can expect Costanera Norte, a highway system temperatures to usually stay above 8º opened in 2005, which connects the C (46º F), but commonly range between Eastern and Western extremes of the 10º-15º C (50º-59º F) and occasionally city in a 25-minute drive. Santiago, which up to 20º C (68º F) during the day. It is now the regional financial center, has rains more frequently in winter here, but become a modernized cosmopolitan it only snows in the mountains. center while retaining its historical roots. We recommend that you bring clothing The population of Santiago represents a and accessories suitable for cold and long history of people from many different possibly damp weather. cultures coexisting. This has produced Q – What language do we speak in an ethnic blend consisting of the original Santiago? Do we speak other people of the region (principally languages? in the South, Aymaras in the North) with A – The official language of Chile is originally Spanish and more recently with Spanish, though English is increasingly German and Yugoslavian immigrants as common (particularly in hotels, well as the English who used to have a restaurants, vineyards and tourist colony in nearby Valparaíso. locations). Currently, U$ 1 = about $600-660.

As a nation we are beginning to develop Q – How much will you have to spend a more bilingual country with Spanish in Chile? and English. A – Apart from any healthcare needs The government has created programs (which should be covered by your in schools to try and achieve this goal. personal insurance) you will find most We recognize, however, that this is a things cheaper in Chile than in Europe work in progress. So, if you ask someone or the USA - including accommodation, on the street for information, you will transport, food, restaurants, cinema & probably get an understandable answer theater tickets, and jewelery. in English ... but not always. For this Q - What are the shop and reason the recommendation continues hours? to be: get the necessary information in A – Generally, expect the following your hotel and travel agencies if you do hours: not speak Spanish. Shopping centers (malls) Other languages such as German, French from 10:00 am to 09:00 pm. and Italian are less frequently spoken. from 09:00 am to 02:00 pm. Q – What is the Chilean currency? Supermarkets A – The . Monday to Sunday Pesos are expressed (sometimes from 10:00 am to 09:00 pm. confusingly for Americans) as $, or clp. Working day So, in the text and future newsletters Monday to Friday we shall be referring to $ for pesos and from 09:00 am to 06:30 pm. U$ for United States Dollars. Cinemas Monday to Sunday from the afternoon The currency exchange rates change to late evening. from day to day according to the market. Due to the current economic crisis the Q - Is there a map of Santiago on Chilean peso has devaluated, a fact that the web? is very convenient to foreign travelers. A- Here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q& The Metro has 85 stations distributed on hl=en&geocode=&q=santiago,+chile 5 lines. The service starts at 6:30 am, &ie=UTF8&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 and ends at 11:00 pm from Monday to &ll=-33.439177,- Sundays. On holidays the service goes 70.625267&source=embed from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm.

To see the venue, then type: centro de Different fares are charged depending extensión universidad catolica on the time of day. This is a good indicator Or go here: http://www.mapcity.cl/ of how full the trains are at that hour, for maps of the city (by street name invaluable information to take into only) consideration: at peak hours the Santiago Metro is extremely full. Q – Where is the venue? Peak fare A – Centro de Extensión, Casa Monday to Friday: (07:00 am - 08:59 Central de la Universidad Católica, am); and (06:00 pm - 07:59 pm). Avenida Bernardo O´Higgins 340: Reduced fare: (150 meters from Universidad Católica Monday to Friday: (06:00 am - 06:59 metro station, Line 1). am); (09:00 am - 05:59 pm); and Q – What do I need to know about (08:00pm - 11:00 pm). the metro system? Ticket costs $420 and $380 respectively. A – Universidad Católica: Metro Line 1 For more information: www.metro.cl (Red line)

Our venue, Catholic University Extension Q – What is the best way to get from Center (Centro de Extensión de la one place to anotheraround town? Universidad Católica), is 150 meters from A – The cheapest option is the public the "Catholic University Metro Station" transport system: Transantiago. You stop on Line 1 (in Spanish "Metro Estación should consult www.transantiago.cl Universidad Católica, línea 1"). for bus and metro routes. Enter your Furthermore, most of the hotels are location and destination and the system nearest Line 1. That means it will be will give you the route and the number very easy to get your main destinations. of the bus you need to take. A ticket costs about U$ 0.6 depending on the law there is an electronic device time of the day and covers the entire (taximeter) that must be turned on by journey (even if part of it is on the the driver when you start the journey. metro and part of it is on the bus or At the end, the taximeter provides a ). An electronic card can be receipt. No more than this amount may purchased (for about U$2: a one-time be charged. The cost does not change payment for the card itself) in any metro according to time of day. station, and recharged as necessary. A typical trip from the airport to Santiago We call it a BIP card, "Tarjeta BIP" in center should be no more than U$ 25 Spanish. The name comes from the (as of December 2008). sound ("bip") that the electronic scanner makes when it is used. Q – How can I travel outside Santiago? Also check google maps for Santiago, Chile,Or here: A – There are very good buses which http://www.mapcity.cl/ for maps offer a wonderful opportunity to see of the city (by street name or route, Chile very cheaply (U$2 approximately Click on the "Por Ruta" tab). per hour of travel). http://www.turbus.cl/ Q – What about taxis in Santiago? http://www.pullman.cl/ A – We strongly recommend that you make use of the very reliable and safe Q – How much should I tip? Radio-Taxi services: receptionists at A – 10%. hotels, restaurants or other public places Tips are not included in the final price can call a Radio-taxi company for you, restaurants. The custom is to leave a or you can call yourself by telephone: 10% tip. You tip always in restaurants, (562) 2070003 or 2735244. occasionally in hotels, never in taxis. Other taxis include those which are black with a yellow roof. Taxis display their Q - How do I get from the airport fees on the windshield. The fare starts to Santiago? at $200 and increments between $80 A – The airport (National and and $120 pesos every 200 meters. By International) is 25 km from Santiago (about 20 minutes by taxi). Airport to Santiago - Providencia Transportation to and from the city center Avenue is available 24 hours a day. a) Shared vehicle with non-SPR Taxis, buses and minivans are available. passengers: U$ 9 = $ 5,500 For prices see below. b) Exclusive Service, up to 3 passengers: U$ 25 = $ 15,000 1. SPR Congress special arrangement c) Exclusive Service, Van. (Up to 7 The SPR Congress has contracted airport passengers): US$ 32 = $ 19,000 shuttle services with the company Airport to Santiago - Transvip. There are three Transvip Avenue customer service booths in the Santiago a) Shared vehicle with non-SPR Airport: passengers: U$ 10 = $ 6,200 a) National Customs / By the Baggage b) Exclusive Service, up to 3 passengers: Delivery U$ 27 = $ 16,000 b)International Customs / By the Baggage Conveyor Belts c) Exclusive Service, Van. (Up to 7 c) Airport Central Hall, diagonally across passengers): U$ 35 = $ 21,000 from the elevators If you wish, you can book your Shuttle service at www.transvip.net , and/or All three booths will have a SPR Congress request reservations with the following poster affixed to them. e-mail: [email protected] Airport to Downtown Santiago (you don't have to pay in advance). a) Shared vehicle with non-SPR 2. Public Transportation passengers: U$ 8 = $ 5,000 Bus service to downtown Santiago runs b) Exclusive Service, up to 3 passengers: every 15 minutes. Please take the light- U$ 18 = $ 11,000 blue bus with a CENTROPUERTO sign, c) Exclusive Service, Van. (Up to 7 which stops in front of the passenger's passengers): US$ 30 = $ 18,000 exit door. The bus fare is $1,400 (U$ 2.30) one way, and $2,500 (U$ 4) round trip.

The Centropuerto bus reaches the underground station 'Los Héroes'. The SPR venue is four stops away in the direction Escuela Militar metro station. From here you will be able to reach your hotel by metro. You can buy your Metro ticket at the tube station ticket booth ('Boletería') for approximately $380 (60 US cents) in off-peak hours and $420 in peak hours. You can also buy the 'BIP' swipe card.

Q – What are the ambient health conditions?.

A – No special vaccinations are needed. The tap water is 100% safe, although if you prefer to drink bottled water, you will find it in all supermarkets. Santiago has private health clinics meeting international standards both in medical training and technology. Do obtain health insurance though. PHOTO GALLERY