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| Handsomely paired horse and rider... |
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| Horse and groom awaiting rodeo performance |
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| Young dancer in local costume |
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| Chilean Horse and Rider |
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| Rodeo steer pinning without the mud - and a female rider helping out. |
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| Greeting the Spectators.... |
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| Just like the Argentinean Criollos, trained to lay down and get up whilst rider straddles the horse |
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| Full Stop at the rail... |
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| Viva Chile |
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| Cook and Steer at the Hacienda's restaurant... |
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| Fishing boats below the bow of Veendam |
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| Local tourists crossing Veendam's bow.... |
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| Chilean Navy ships at dock |
Still Chile, still rodeos, still wonderful lunches on historic haciendas...
This time, it did not rain to turn a beautiful country estate into a mud pit, and under brilliant skies we could actually walk around the well appointed hacienda, with extensive gardens, immaculately kept stables, a bone dry and raked sandy rodeo ring, and a welcoming 'plaza' surrounded by hacienda buildings.All inundated with blooming roses, shaded by native palm trees and more common eucalyptus trees
There, wine and empanadas awaited the visitors for the usual welcome treat. Dancers and a small band entertained during the reception under the open sky: a young female dancers performed the Cueca, the Chilean national dance, partnering with a young man mounted on horseback. The horse and rider team duplicated the complex turns and steps of the dance in perfect time to the music and in harmonious ways with the girl - pretty skillful as well as pleasing to watch.
Lunch - of course - on the hacienda. Instead of serving typical fare of BBQ beef, these hacienda cooks went for roast - German style - matched with Chilean wine, definitely a culinary change from the South American steady diet of asados - grilled meat.
But - time to leave again, regardless of how pleasant the surroundings.
We have been sailing/cruising for 14 days (including stop overs) and just have made it back up to the latitude of Buenos Aires after following the shores of South America around its most southern tip of the continental mainland...from here a few hours bus ride would bring me back right where I started a fortnight ago. Well, I may leave the 'closing of the loop' by horse/bus/plane for another visit.
Casting off Valparaiso's Muelle Prat, where locals watch the harbour comings and goings and take occasional rides out amongst the navy ships, fishing boats, container ships and - yes - the occasional cruise ship, we reached the open sea and Valparaisos picturesque hills slowly disappeared over the horizon. 700 people left the ship here (more or less happy or disappointed with the forced changes in itinerary) and about 300 new passengers moved in. There is a large contingent of Quebecois and East England people aboard, as this ship continues beyond Fort Lauderdale (my exit) to Boston and Montreal. Quite a convenient way to return home.
The days are getting longer - and warmer - as we approach the Equator and more temperate zones. Deck walking is actually rather a pleasant past time now. Storms are gone as well.
