Another national day is fast approaching and we have to celebrate with a “cueca” dance, an empanada and a good glass of red. Let nobody tell you there is no reason to celebrate after so much tragedy in our battered Chile.
It’s true, in a short period of time, Chile has suffered various setbacks: more than a year ago it was the earthquake of February 27, 2010 and on the 5th of August the same year, the miners accident in the north of our country. In the last few days on the 2 of September a plane was lost at sea with 21 passengers.
In the political and economic front, we can’t forget the exhumation of the body of our ex-President Salvador Allende, to verify the cause of his death, nor can we forget the strikes and protests of the university and secondary students who demand free education of quality. But this is Chile…our country, located at the end of the world, a country of long-suffering, noble and solidary people who never lose hope of a better tomorrow, who overcome tragedy by getting back on their feet, who don’t bat an eyelid when it comes to sacrificing for a friend, who burst out on the streets spontaneously to protest when it has to be done, who celebrate communally when they are happy, who cry when the country is hurting.
This is our people, these same people would stretch out their hands and would receive you with an enveloping hug without boundaries and would invite you to celebrate our 18th of September! If you are coming to visit our country…we wait for you with open arms.
Salud!
Luis & Adda
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast has been operating for around 8 years and in that time we have seen a rapid increase in both the number of tourists who visit Chile and the accommodations that are available in Santiago.
I mention this because over the last couple of years, we have received a number of guests at Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast who where in need of last minute accommodation because the departments, hotels and bed and breakfasts that they booked in Santiago was nothing like the photos they saw or the location was not close to the city.
Recently a very nice lady from Canada, knocked on our door asking if we had any rooms available, luckily a couple from San Francisco had just left that morning, we told her that we did and she sighed with relief and sat down to enjoy some tea that we had offered her. After some friendly chit chat she explained that she had booked to stay at a bed and breakfast in Santiago that was very close to the city and was offered a great rate, to be sure she quickly did a google search and found great reviews in tripadvisor.
Well after arriving in Santiago and waiting 1hr for her transfer to pick her up she decided to catch a taxi to her bed and breakfast. When she arrived at the address that was given to her, she found a non nondescript apartment building, puzzled she asked the taxi driver to wait as she rang the button of the complex, A nice lady appeared, and she tried to explain the situation to her.
She was shocked to learn that the “bed and breakfast” that she had booked was nothing more then a rented apartment, were a gentleman asks that they make no noise when they arrive or depart so as not to raise the suspicion of his nieghbours! Their had been various tourists that had left annoyed at the lack of services and the general lack of interest of the “host”
To Luis and my self these stories are becoming more common, we would advice anybody who is thinking of visiting Chile and more specifically Santiago to ask the bed and breakfast which there thinking of staying; how long have they been registered and licenced with the national tourism office SERNATUR and with their local town as a bed and breakfast in Santiago.
If they are not licenced or can not give you a specific answer, STAY AWAY. Of course you can always check this information at the sernatur.cl website.
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast in Santiago de Chile, was one of the first bed and breakfasts in Santiago. We are a registered and licenced bed and breakfast for the last 8 years and apply the international bed and breakfast standards to all our services.
Adda & Luis Carvajal
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast
contact@casanewen.com
www.casanewen.com
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast located in Santiago de Chile is offering 10% OFF of their winter accommodation including double rooms with en-suite from May to August 2010. To book your room at our bed and breakfast in Santiago visit casanewen.com or email us at contact(at)casanewen.com and quote our promo coupon WINTER10
Newen Craft Shop - Traditional Chilean Craft Shop by Native Artists at Casa Newen. By Adda
Quite a few years ago while living in Australia, I felt home sick and yearned to create something that reminded me of the beauty of Chile. I started to play with clay and made a rosary that is now decorating one of our guest rooms at our bed and breakfast in Santiago. My second piece was an original Mapuche women which has started to crack, as at the time I did not know that it needed to go to the kiln!
Since then, I have been interested in making ethnic - native chilean themed pottery / gres pieces as gifts or souvenirs. As I have created quite a few, the idea for our “Newen Craft Shop” was born. The purpose is to highlight the beauty and culture that Chile has to offer to all the tourists that come to Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast.
Most of the pieces that are available at our “Newen Craft Shop” including the collection of “Mates” (a mug to have “yerba mate” a herbal tea with a “bombilla”) are inspired by pre-columbian “Mapuches” and “Atacameños” (Native Chilean’s) designs. The striking miniature pre-columbian masks and other pieces are made by the well known artists Jorge Vallejos and Bernardita Vallejos.
The Newen Craft Shop is located at our bed and breakfast in Santiago and is open to all our guests and travelers all year round. If you are visiting Santiago de Chile and would like to see our unique Chilean gifts or souvenirs please do not hesitate to visit our craft shop in Providencia to take a little piece of Chile back home!
the International Jazz Festival of Providencia was first held in 2002 by the Cultural Institute of Providencia replacing the “Music by the River” festival of years past, since then it has grown into an important international date for Jazz lovers around the world. If you are fortunate enough to be traveling to Santiago de Chile in the summer months or thinking of visiting Santiago, Here is a little information about the festival of 2010.
This year the International Jazz Festival of Providencia has invited world class artist from the diverse world of Jazz to celebrate the first grand event that celebrates Chile’s Bicentenary. The festival will be held from the 5th to the 7th of January at the “Park of Sculptures” along side the “Rio Mapucho” in Providencia. The list of artist’s who are already confirmed include Joey de Francesco, Héctor Martignon, Gato Barbieri, Ray Barreto, Joao Bosco, Richard Bona, Yosvany Terry and Cristián Cuturrufo. Tickets to this wonderful Jazz event for 2010 start from $3000 CLP ($6 USD) to $15000 CLP ($30 USD)
Our bed and breakfast in Santiago is located in the same “Barrio” as the Jazz Festival and can highly recommend it as a great way to spend a night or two in Santiago de Chile. If you would like more information about Santiago or our bed and breakfast in Santiago we invite you to visit our website at www.casanewenbedandbreakfast.com or casanewen.com by Tel: +56 02 7169007 or by emailing us at contact@casanewen.com
Luis & Adda
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast Santiago Chile
At Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast we strive to accomodate our guests so they have the best possible experience in Santiago de Chile, with our one of a kind personalised service and hospitality or with discounts and specials in accomodation or tours.
We believe we provide an experience that opens our guests to really enjoy their holiday, vacation or business trip. To that end Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast has decided to make coming to Chile even easier with a limited time offer of 30% DISCOUNT ON WINTER ACCOMODATION.
If you would like a NEW TRAVEL experience in one of the best places in South America. Visit Santiago de Chile and SAVE 30% Off of WINTER ACCOMODATION, simply visit Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast rated “EXCELLENT” by TRIPADVISOR.COM and featured in NATIONAL GEAOGRAPHIC TRAVEL MAGAZINE for your discount rate. This is a limited offer subject to avaliabilty and season.
Another year is gone… we have meet so many nice people from all over the world and the most important thing is that we have learned from each other, sharing our culture differences, the languages and even sharing some political point of views! What we really like is for guests to leave Casa Newen and Chile with great memories and new friends.
One of the great things that happened last year was related to the wine industry in our country. One of our wines was awarded by the Magazine “Wine Spectator” as being amongst 100 top wines from all over the world, our “Clos Apalta 2005” from “Casa Lapostelle - Colchagua Valley” won 1st Prize.
The Colchagua region is located about 128km southwest of Santiago. It enjoys a balmy, Mediterranean climate matched in only a few other places on earth. Currently the Colchagua Valley has about 50,000 acres of vineyards. The predominant varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Malbec, and Syrah, with lesser amounts of Chardonnay, Sémillon, and Sauvignon Blanc. Most of our guests visit the picturesque town of Santa Cruz, located in this region.
Talking about wine we would like to rise our glasses with a nice Chilean Carmenère and say SALUD! and wish all our guests from the past years and the future, a very Happy and rewarding 2009!!
After being spectators to the magnificent fireworks in Viña del Mar, we are ready to welcome the New Year and of course our new guest!
When going about your daily life, you want to know exactly what to do in unfamiliar situations to save face and time. So, here are a few tips:
In some shops and chemists you have to line up to take a number and then line up to pay at the cash register (caja). This applies at PreUnic chains, chemists and at some snackshops.
Bear in mind the word ¨snack shops¨ means a licenced drinking and eating place. Also, the word ¨nightclubs¨ means a brothel. To have a drink and dance you go to a “Discoteque” or a “Pub”.
You´ve done a good deed for the day if you tip the teenagers who put your stuff in bags at the shopping centre, usually about CLP$100 , as they are not getting paid.
When shopping at large supermarkets like Lider, Jumbo or Monserrat near our bed and breakfast, you get your bread or fruit weighed and tagged by the attendant before going to the register.
To get served at a delicatessen within the supermarket, you take a number and wait for your turn. The check out operator at the front of the supermarket will usually ask if you want to make a donation taken from your change, to donate to a certain charity organization.
Usually only give a tip of 10% in restaurants if it is not already added to your bill.
Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but if you want to, they´ll certainly accept it!
At the southwest corner of the Plaza de Armas (Santiago´s main square), there is a lively pedestrian walkway called Paseo Ahumada, it is a good place to get a feel for life in downtown Santiago.
If you would like to exchange your money to the local currency it is a short walk to Agustinas Street, where most of the “Exchange Houses” are located.
Following one trip downtown, one of our guests John, went to an exchange house, and that evening he arrived at Casa Newen very enthusiastic. According to him he had discovered a very exiting Coffee Shop, where all the pretty waitresses were in mini skirt!… and the coffee was very good as well.
“Café Haiti” located at Paseo Ahumada, has maintained its position as the icon of Santiago´s coffee shops, for half a century. Its shops do not have tables or chairs, only a big bar, were hundreds of clients enjoy its unique ‘espresso’… and of course what the generous neck line and mini skirt reveals!
Another similar style coffee shop is Café Caribe.
There are other “Cafés con Piernas” only suitable for adult men.
It’s that time of the year again! but this time we have promised to get all our Christmas presents on time for the family’s children, and believe us, we are a large family!
So we decided to get some bargains at the little shops close to “El Mercado Central” and have the chance to eat a good sized plate of fresh sea food …“erizos al matico”, after finishing our shopping spree.
You can feel that summer has already arrived, these last few days have been very hot, a maximum of 32° and people are rushing to get their presents.
Fortunately our “Metro” (Subway) is very fast. So from Manuel Montt Metro station to Universidad de Chile, there are only five stations, to get to “El Paseo Ahumada” or down town Santiago. While passing through “Plaza de Armas” you can see posters that read “Christmas is coming, don`t forget its real meaning”…
Close to the “Plaza de Armas” we can see, as an oasis in a desert, a cart selling our traditional beverage “Mote con Huesillos”, a typical Chilean non alcoholic drink and dessert. It is boiled sun-dried peaches (huesillo) with sugar, mixed with husked wheat (mote). The cool sweet flavored water and the wheat is mixed in a glass with the peaches … Oh so refreshing!
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast whishes everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
