A Look Ahead at the 2011 National Calendar
by www.artourismchile.com on January 5th, 2011
Perhaps you’ve resolved for 2011 to sit around on the couch flipping through the laundry list of Direct TV travel channels a little less and actually get out and finally take a worthwhile vacation this year. After all, in terms of unique culture and scenic beauty, few, if any nations, rival what Chile has to offer for residents and visitors alike. For those actually planning their calendar in advance and looking to book a trip, there is no better time to travel to Chile than on one of the country’s national holidays, many of which will look familiar no matter your country of origin, but others taking on new meaning in terms of Chilean significance. As you will notice, the country’s substantial Christian population plays a major part in shaping the holiday schedule.January 1 New Year’s DayApril 22 Good Friday (religious holiday)April 23 Holy Saturday (religious holiday)May 1 Labor DayMay 21 Navy Day, also known as Battle of Inquique Day, concides with the Chilean “State of the Union” More
A Look at Chile’s Indigenous Languages
by admin on April 28th, 2011
The official language of Chile is Spanish. However, there are a few other languages spoken in the country by a large portion of the population. They are indigenous tongues and have been in existence before Spanish was taken to Chile.
Mapudungun
Speakers of this tongue are called the Mapuche. They are located in south-central Chile and there are about 400,000 in the country. Outside of Chile, other countries have Mapudungun speakers such as neighboring Argentina.
Chilean Quechua
Quechua speakers are found in many places in the South America. The Chilean version is said to be comparable to Bolivian Quechua. Some experts More
Chile Moves to Music
by admin on April 15th, 2011
There is a town that comes alive with song and dance and everyone knows Chile moves to music. The lively music from Chile is an original blend of classical folkloric and can make anyone’s feet move. Other types of music that are found in Chile is Hip-Hop, Chilean rock, Cumbia, Andean music and Payada. The different zones in Chile add their own flare, moves and sound to the main music of Chile. The type of music is playing, More
Catch a Chilean Rodeo
by admin on April 2nd, 2011
Since 1962, the national sport for the country of Chil has been the rodeo. A Chilean rodeo differs in many ways from a rodeo in the United States.
A team of two Chileans on horses ride laps around an arena to stop a fleeing calf by pinning it between the horses and cushions. Each rodeo in Chil is performed in a medialuna, a half-moon shaped arena. Points are scored by how many times the team of riders can drive a calf properly More
Chile 2010 in Review
by www.artourismchile.com on December 26th, 2010
Perhaps no year in recent memory has tested the resolve of the Chilean people than the year 2010. Having long established its preeminent position among Latin American countries in terms of economic potency, transparent government, stability and quality of life for its residents, this year one of unexpected trial and tribulation for many Chileans, but one that has been with a resolve that eludes many nations of the world.Had April closed out the year, it would have already been one full of too many headlines for the Chilean people. On February 27th, an 8.8 MW earthquake shook the country to its core, among the highest registering quakes in the history of the statistic. In addition to the 500 lives lost, countless buildings were damaged, with estimates putting the total setback from the earthquake s somewhere between 15 and 30 billion dollars. Aftershocks continued on for weeks, the strongest of which occurring on March 11th, when three earthquakes with magnitudes of 6.9, 6.7 and 6.0 were all recorded within the same hour. By comparison, the devastating earthquake that wreaked catastrophic consequences for the island country of Haiti registered a magnitude of 7.0. More
Vina Del Mar
by admin on August 30th, 2010
Developed in the 1870′s as a playground from Chile’s wealthy, today’s Vina Del Mar is a gorgeous seaside resort location boasting the breath-taking estates, beachfront hotels and sport facilities, coupled with a few unexpected diversions that leave visitors feeling like they’ve stumbled into the French Riviera as opposed to the Florida panhandle. From horse racing to the Vina Del Mar Casino, this is anything but a sleepy beach town, likely only sleeping through late morning hours as a result of partaking too heavily in the lively nightlife. Not to say the culture is that of a Cancun or Acapulco; Vina Del Mar is, in a word, classy. From its ornate colonial abodes to the horse drawn carriage rides that accent city streets, when you travel to Vina Del Mar you get the distinct feeling you are among the world’s elite. More
Resort Profile: Gran Hotel Termas Chillan Ski & Spa Resort
by admin on August 30th, 2010
More than a humble ski lodge, the Gran Hotel Termas Chillan Ski & Spa Resort offers an eclectic combination of the Colorado-type mountain peaks with the lavish luxury of a high end Las Vegas hotel. Located in the outskirts of Santiago, the Gran Hotel boasts alpine beauty with first class amenities. Comprised of 120 guest rooms, elegant wooden dcor, a host of fine dining restaurants, a business conference center, of course that just covers food, shelter and work. After all, what’s life without a little diversion?After a full day on the slopes, the full-service Hot Springs Spa could relax even the most sore skiier, offering a wide array of beauty treatments, aroma therapy, therapeutic massages, fango therapy, reiki healing (an ancient, all-natural oriental technique) and massage packages, including a thai massage room and 9 separate therapeutic massage rooms. More
Modern Day Santiago: A Global City with a Low Profile
by www.artourismchile.com on August 30th, 2010
When you think about global cities across the world, perhaps Santiago, Chile, isn’t the first locale to cross your mind. This better reflects Santiago’s status as a hidden gem on the worldwide stage as opposed to any shortcomings or inadequacies you might expect from the lesser known metropolitan area. Without the profile of New York or London, visitors can enjoy the bountiful attractions and resources the city has to offer without having to fight through throngs of tourists.Santiago is Chile’s capital and largest city, with a population of more than 5 million, located in the country’s central valley. With a storied history dating back to the 1540′s, one might expect a city like Santiago to be defined by the old world, both in look and feel. Quite to the contrary, Santiago boasts a full range of new age technology and first class amenities. More
Discover Easter Island
by admin on August 30th, 2010
Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, over 2,000 miles from any other significant mass of land or population, the small oasis of Easter Island (approximately 63 square miles) amid a desert of water is one of the most isolated places on the map. Currently close to 5,000 people call the small island home, estimated at the height of its civilization to have close to 10,000 inhabitants. Only a blip on the radar as far as worldwide land or population is concerned, the small island has well out-contributed its size in terms of cultural significance.Named for its “discovery” on Easter Sunday of 1722, the small island was already an already developed culture of its own by the time the Europeans landed. Archaeologists theorize the islanders were the descendants of an individual group of Polynesians who discovered the small chunk of land, took up residence there, then never contacted their original homeland again, or any off-island entities for that matter. More
A Brief History of Santiago
by admin on August 30th, 2010
As one of the most modern cities in all of Latin America, it may be tough to imagine Santiago as the site of over almost nearly 470 years of Euro-centric history. Officially founded by Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valvidia on February 12, 1541, the initial settlement was selected primarily because of its hospitable climate, ample vegetation and strategic positioning in terms of self defense from attackers. The original city was laid out in 126 blocks formed by the perpendicular cross sections between the East-West and North-South roads, running straight in equal intervals of close to 550 ft. In its early days, young Santiago, known then as “Santiago del Nuevo Extreme,” was forced to deal with inhospitable indigenous populations, most notably Incan ruler Manco Capac II, set against destroying the foreign land-occupiers. A series of smaller skirmishes finally flourish into full scale war between the Spanish-blooded residents of Santiago and their indigenous attackers. The conflict lasted for three full years before reinforcements finally arrived from Peru, ending the food shortages and isolation endured by the original Santiagoans. More