Our dear country was shaken by an earthquake of the magnitude of 8.8 on the Rhicter Scale.
As our dear President Michelle Bachelet said last night (6th March 2010) at the close of our Telethon for the earthquake victims, “In these hard times, there are two kinds of people, the one´s that cry and the one´s that stand up and work for a better Chile. And most of Chileans belong to the latter.
Our president also said: “Chileans are made of solidarity, love and strength” and last night this was shown as the Chilean people raised more than CLP$30,000,000,000 (USD 57,800,000 approx.) Michelle Bachelet last words to the country were “We are that Chile that stand on its feet, that cry´s when necessary, but rises again”
On a personal note, Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast would also like to thank all our past and future guests and friends that have sent us emails showing their concern for ourselves and our family.
INFO:
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast is functioning normally. Santiago and surroundings are back to normal. The roads to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar are open. Tour companies are funcioning normally. Wineries will be open in a week. Museums will be open in a month.
The most afected areas are Maule and Bio-Bio ( coastal regional areas, 3 to 4hrs from Santiago)
Thanks again!
Adda & Luis Carvajal
Casa Newen Bed and Breakfast
contact@casanewen.com
www.casanewen.com
Casa Newen offers travelers and tourists our fun santiago tours for the summer of 2010! We organize and arrange private and group tours to the must see attractions that Santiago and Chile has to offer. The tours are with experienced bilingual guides and can be personalized to fit your needs.
There are 10 tours throughout Santiago and central Chile catering to every want imaginable! If you fancy the beach and coastline we offer tours to the iconic port city of Valparaiso and the resort city of Vina del Mar as well as the enchanting fishing town of Zapallar. The Isla Negra and Pomaire tour will take you on a journey into the life of Chile’s Nobel Prize Winner Pablo Neruda, visiting the poets home and Pomaire, the traditional potters village known for it’s handmade arts and crafts.
If you love Chilean wine then the tours in Chile offer a smorgasbord of lush green valleys and vineyards. The Wine Train Tour is a popular tour in Santiago and features an original steam train and a trip to the Colchagua valley. There are also wine tours to the Maipo Valley featuring the vineyards of Concha y Toro, Undurraga. The Colchagua Ranch Tour is a unique experience of Chilean wine and culture with a traditional folklore dance and rodeo as well as visit to the Colchagua Museum.
If you are the outdoors type then a tour of Cajon del Maipo and San jose is a sure bet. Here you will find various activities at your disposal. Trekking El Morado National Park to the San Fransisco Glacier is unforgettable as well as a visit to Colina Thermal Baths, a natural wonderland with the Andes Mountain range as your backdrop.
And finally the Dinner and Show tour highlights the best attractions that Santiago has to offer! The cultural center that is Santiago’s main square, the majestic Cathedral of Santiago and the resilience of the Presidential Palace. Finally a traditional restaurant of Santiago will introduce you to Chile’s typical dances, wines and gastronomy.
Visit our website at www.casanewen.com and view our Tours section for more info. You can also book a tour by clicking on “bookings and enquiries” or by Clicking Here you can also reach us by sending an email at contact@casanewen.com or by Tel:+56 02 716 9007 (Santiago de Chile)
We pride ourselves on providing travelers, guests and tourists our renowned personal service and friendly advice so we hope you discover Chile with our Santiago tours
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!
Vina del Mar has the reputation of being the glamourous playground of the wealthy and is often referred to the Chilean Riviera.
Our guests usually leave only one day to Valparaiso and go on a cruise, but in our opinion there are plenty of things to do and gems to discover onshore just by strolling from Vina del Mar to Valparaiso, then dancing the night away at the bars and clubs in town.
The key here is to soak up the picturesque coastal town atmosphere, strolling in the backstreets and seeing where the day takes you .
The flower clock, the museum and the botanical garden in Vina del Mar, are the must see´s, but if you have no idea where to start, here´s my list of our favourite tucked away gems and things to do in Valparaiso-Vina del Mar..
Not so common things to do in Valparaiso or Vina Del Mar.
:: For New Year´s Eve :: Don’t do as the locals do who watch this popular spectacle on TV. Get up early and stake out a place somewhere along the coast of Valparaiso or Vina Del Mar. At 3min past midnight, the sky explodes in the biggest fireworks displayed in all Latin America. Book accommodation way in advance.
:: Go to Pablo Neruda´s House:: ¨La Sebastiana¨ in Valparaiso, Chile,where he wrote all those famous love poems. Tuesdays to Sundays, 10.10 AM to 6 PM, CLP $3.500 per adult. Down “Ferrari” Streer, on Bella Vista hill.
:: Outdoor Market :: If you like perusing flea markets for antiques and collectables, Vina Del Mar holds a large outdoor fleamarket right in front of the main flower clock tourist spot in ¨Las Salinas¨ on Sundays and public holidays. 10am to 5pm.
::Horse carriages:: See the city lights in an old style horse carriage called ¨Las Victorias¨ along Plaza Vergara and Plaza Colombia around the corner from our Valparaiso Villa holiday house, in Vina del Mar, Chile. Short ride CLP$6,000 or long ride CLP$12,000.
:: See a smaller scale authentic Moai statue:: It was brought from the Easter Island in 1951 to Vina del Mar, Chile, and is standing besides the Francisco Fonck Museum, Nº 784, 4 Norte, open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 to 6pm. Sundays and holidays 10:00 to 2pm.
::Wharf:: Take a stroll on the wharf and check out the catch before dining in one of the many restaurants with a view overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Caleta Higuerilla Av. Borgoño,Viña del Mar, Chile.
::Go for a salsa dancing lesson:: At salsa club La Piedra Feliz (The Happy Stone). The fun starts at 10pm on Thursdays. Errazuriz 1054, Valparaiso.Chile. Ph:(32) 256788. http://lapiedrafeliz.cl
::Go for a midsummer nights dip:: At glamourous Renaca beach, Viña del Mar, specifically at ¨El Cementerio¨ the jetset hangout area on the beach.
::Sea Lions:: Take a hike out on the rocks on the coastal road linking Reñaca and Concón at the Mirador Lobos Marinos (Sea Lion Lookout) where you can meet some local sea lions. It is not easy but it´s worth it. Avenida Borgoña Viña del Mar, Chile.
::Try an ¨empanada¨:: The national savoury pastry snack filled with mince meat, egg and olives, at any corner bakery.
::Rioja Palace:: (Palacio Rioja). Get dressed up and visit this French style Palace which is now an environmental museum and cinema. It is located on one of the Vina del Mar’s main streets “Quillota”. Open Hours10am-2pm, 3pm-6pm Mon-Sun. Ph.+ 56 32 883322.
::Sports Club:: Parque Sausalito (Sausalito Park ) is an excellent place for the more active tourist wanting to fit in a bit of tennis, swimming, jogging even a bit of shooting practice. Avenida Sausalito Viña del Mar, Chile. Open 24 hrs.
::Valparaiso Sporting Club:: Enjoy a day at the races. At a very English style Derby day the first Sunday of every February. The first Derby Day, based on the British race, was held in 1885. On Saturday before the race, the traditional antique cars parade takes place through the streets of Viña del Mar, with the Queen of the Derby making a special guest appearance in the parade. Los Castaños 404, Vina del Mar, Chile.
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!
Hi everyone,
This year we went down to the local park Inez de Suarez, Providencia, Santiago, to celebrate Independence day and took some photos. We had some ¨churros¨ which are doughy sweet sticks covered with icing sugar, tried some Chicha (sweet fermented wine) and had a dance to ¨La Cueca¨ under the Chilean Flags.
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.
