Chile Review

Some highlights and lowlights from my first visit to a South American country. Everything´s listed worst to best.

Seafood

• Empanada Mariscos: this mess of seafood lacks distinct flavor in 2 tries.
• Machas (Razor Clams) in butter sauce: unspectacular.
• Fried whitefish: cheapest fish, but still tasty. The batter was soggy, though.
• Grilled Reineta: Light flavor, not fishy, and substantial.
• Shrimp with cheese in butter sauce: a winner, if a bit over the top.
• Reineta Ceviche: delicious in its onion and lemon marinade; not `fishy´ at all.
• Fried conger eel: the batter crust pairs perfectly with tender and boneless flesh.

Wine

• Urmeneta Carmenere: has a serious kick; was drinkable with spicy food.
• Santa Emiliana Chardonnay: a bit of a sour taste develops late.
• Ocho Tierra Cabernet Sauvignon: well-balanced table wine.
• Montes Malbec: sophisticated and dry, but not bold enough to really impress.
• Santa Emiliana Carmenere: bold and smoky, this wins compliments at $3.

Cultural Curios

• Creepy hustlers dressed as clowns and mimes.
• Walk on the right. Or the left. Or the middle.
• The lack of brewed coffee; Nescafe is a Spanish portmanteau for no es cafe.
• Nightlife ends at 7pm... and then restarts around midnight. Where do they all go?
• National pastime: making out in the park.
• El pueblo of Colo-Colo: it´s like a class-conscious Red Sox Nation.
• Fresh salsa at the table as a condiment.
• Friendly dogs have the run of the city.

Another highlight I'll brag about until I die: while hiking in the foothills of the Andes, we got buzzed by a condor. It was huge: 7 to 9 foot wingspan, and flew past just 10 meters overhead.