Transition Days

February 10 and 11
After spending Tuesday morning birding, we packed the car and went back to Santiago.  In part of the city, we noticed ciclovias, bicycle paths that were lined with bumpers.

Our hostess had a social engagement so we were on our own for dinner.  We walked a couple of blocks to a restaurant called Genarro’s where we tried, Cristal, a Chilean beer.  After an adequate dinner we had a dessert that they called “panqueques con manejar” which was crepes with dulce de leche filling.  The best thing about the restaurant was the waitress who was very kind and accommodating, giving us samples of two different draft beers before we ordered and struggling with the language barrier with a smile.

The next day Olaya took us to Centro Artesanal Los Dominicos where local artisans had wooden booths.  Many of them were working on leather purses, oil painting, and other crafts.

We had lunch at Antulican which was in the market.  James and I shared pastel de choclo,  It contained pino, a concoction of ground beef and onions with spices, raisins, olives, cut up hard boiled egg, and a chicken breast.  Layered with all that and on top was choclo, made of grated fresh corn and cut fresh corn.  Also with the meal I had fresh blueberry juice and pebre, a salsa made of tomatoes, parsley, onions, lemon juice, and spicy peppers.

After lunch we went straight to the Hotel Diego de Almagro Airport where we checked in and then met our birding tour group at 6:00.