Compremos la fruta y verdura más barata de Santiago / Getting the cheapest fruits and vegetables in Santiago

Que piensas dónde se realiza un 20 % de todas las transacciones

de la ciudad de Santiago de Chile ?

Exactamente, en la auténtica "Vega Central". El lugar se hizo bastante

conocido por su gran variedad y los precios bajos, pero hace poco tiempo

está teniendo competencia.

Cruzando la "Avenida General Borgono" y pasando por "La Vega Chica" uno

llega a un edificio nuevo que abrió como "La Pérgola" hace unos meses.

Uno encuentra muchos immigrantes de Perú o Colombia, vendiendo

productos de sus países para precios bastante convenientes. Se ofrece

comida casera, verdura y fruta exótica, pero también productos de uso

diario como leche, queso, pan, etc.

Las estaciones de Metro más cercanos son "Patronato" y "Puente Cal y Canto"

de la linea amarilla 2, desde dónde uno necesita approximadamente 10

minutos a pie. El lugar es bastante limpio y se encuentra en un ambiente seguro,

en todo caso se recomienda ir durante el día y evitar la oscuridad.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where do you think is the place in Santiago where 20 % of all transactions

take place ?

Exactly, its the authentic "La Vega Central". The place is famous for its

great variety and low prices, but since a while it has gotten some

competition.

If you cross the "General Borgono Avenue" and go through the "La Vega Chica"

you will arrive to a new building which is called "La Pérgola".

One meets many immigrants from Perú or Colombia selling products of their

countries for really convenient prices. You will find typical food, exotic

fruits, but also goods of daily use like milk, queese, bread, etc.

The closest subway stations are "Patronato" and "Puente Cal y Canto" of the

yellow line N°2, from where you need more or less 10 minutes walking.

The place is quite clean in a safe atmosphere, anyway, we recommend going

during the day and avoid the darkness.

Los cerditos de Pomaire / Pottery piggy banks of Pomaire

It seems many chileans know Pomaire already, but among tourists it is still a quite unknown place. Only 1 hour outside of the capital city Santiago de Chile, one is able to discover a real authentic chilean village selling beautiful pottery and amazing food to affordable prices.
Getting off the metro at the "Estación Central" station, one has to find the "San Borja" bus terminal from where you have direct access to Pomaire.
The price per person is 1.400 chilean Pesos (approx, US$ 3) and it takes, as said, more or less 1 hour. I recommend buying immediately your return ticket when arriving in Pomaire. It is the same price per person and allows you to avoid waiting a long time to be able to get back - in fact, it is quite likely you need more than 1 hour to Santiago. The last time I went, I needed 2 hours due to a lot of traffic going out of the small village, because many people take their own car.
The most typical "souvenirs" in Pomaire are the piggy banks. You will find them in almost every shop in many different sizes. I recommend asking for the prices at many places before buying, because the rank is quite high and goes from extremely cheap til quite expensive.
In general one finds many more clay animals in different colours, cuttlery, mugs and plenty of decoration objects. I hope you plan to have lunch in Pomaire, where typical authentic food is already waiting for you. The unique huge "empanadas" of 1 kg (!), the "pastel the choclo" and a cup of "chicha" are probably the most popular choices. But try as well the "Mote con huesillos", as it is a tasty refreshing beverage, especially during summer (octobre - april).
Pomaire is the perfect place for those who want to taste the typical chilean flavour, who want to buy a great birthday present or in general want to get out of Santiago on the weekend to breath some fresh air. The shops and restaurants are open from around Wednesday until Sunday, and public holidays.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parece que el pueblo de Pomaire ya está bastante conocido entre los chilenos, pero sigue siendo un lugar desconocido para turistas.
A sólo una hora desde la capital de Santiago de Chile uno puedo descubrir un pueblito auténtico chileno dónde venden cosas variadas de creda y comida típica que son bastante baratas.
Bajándose en la estación de Metro "Estación Central" uno tiene que caminar arriba hacía el terminal de buses "San Borja", donde hay acesso directo a Pomaire.
El precio por persona es de 1.400 Pesos chilenos (aprox. US$ 3) y se necesita, como ya mencionado, más o menos 1 hora. Recomiendo comprar directamente el ticket de regreso cúando lleguen a Pomaire. Es el mismo precio por persona and permita asegurar una llegada mucho más temprana a Santiago. En todo caso es muy probable que uno necesite más que 1 hora debido a mucho trafico en el pueblito, porque mucha gente va con su propio auto.
"Los souvenirs" más populares son los cerditos de creda para ahorrar monedas. Uno puede encontrarlos en casi cada tienda pequena de diferentes tamanos. Recomiendo consultar los precios en varios lugares antes de comprar, porque el rango es bastante alto y va desde muy barato hasta bastante caro.
En general uno puede encontrar varios animales, cubiertos, tazas y objetos de decoración de creda. Espero también que quieran almozar en Pomaire, donde una gran variedad de comida típica chilena ya te está esperando. "Las empandas" gigantes de 1 kilo (!), "el pastel de choclo" y un vaso de "chicha" son probablemente las elecciones preferidas. También pruebe "el mote con huesillos", que es una bebida refrescante especialmente durante el verano (octubre-abril).
Pomaire es el lugar perfecto para los que quieran probar el auténtico sabor chileno, los que quieran comprar un regalo de cumpleanos diferente o en general para los que quieran salir de Santiago para respirar algo de aire fresco. Las tiendas y restaurantes están abiertos entre miércoles y domingo, y cada día feriado.

La subida al "Cerro Pochoco"

Como muchos sabemos, Santiago de Chile está dentro de una cuenca y hay varias montanas en los alrededores. También son conocidas las posibilidades de Trekking, y ahora les voy a contar mi experiencia subiendo el dicho sendero del cerro Pochoco.
Aunque es pesado hacerlo un día del fin de semana, recomiendo levantarse temprano y tomar el metro en dirección a la estación Manquehue, ubicado casi llegando a Los Dominicos de la linea 1 en la comuna de Las Condes.
Arriba uno puede tomar un taxi, o mejor y más barato, un bus público llamado "micro" hacía la Plaza San Enrique en la comuna de Lo Barnechea. Allí hay que tomar un colectivo hacía el cerro Pochoco, lo que cuesta aproximadamente US$ 2 más. Cuando llegado, es recomendable pedir el número de celular del conductor para poder volver a la Plaza San Enrique y tomar nuevamente una micro hacía una estación de metro.
La entrada al sendero es gratuita.
La primera parte del Trekking es bastante empinada, y recomiendo hacerla lentamente con muchas pausas. La vista en general es muy bonita - se puede ver la Cordillera de los Andes, la Cordillera de la Costa y dependiendo del esmog una (gran) parte de la ciudad de Santiago.
Recomiendo hacer el Trekking entre Mayo y Septiembre, porque en el invierno chileno las temperaturas no suben tanto como en verano, y un día con sol puede ser muy agradable. Addicionalmente se puede ver las Cordilleras con nieve. Para subir hasta la cima son entre
2-3 horas de Trekking. La bajada es obviamente más rápida, pero hay que tener cuidado en las partes empinadas. Mucha gente pierde el control y se cae.
El sendero es una muy buena alternativa para los amantes del deporte al aire libre, pero también generalmente para los que no tienen mucho dinero, pero quieren pasar un lindo día y ver la ciudad de Santiago desde otra perspectiva.
Tomando una rica cerveza después lo hace más fácil olvidar de haberse levantado temprano.

Un viaje a la playa más hermosa de Chile

Hay varias formas de llegar a la dicha playa más hermosa de Chile.
La más rápida es en avión - hasta el aeropuerto de Copiapó y de allí hacía Caldera.
Se toma un colectivo y en 10 minutos más uno está en Bahía Inglesa.
Yo decidí a tomar un bus desde Santiago. Son unas 12 horas.
Si viajan con la empresa Expreso Norte y van por la noche, una pequeña cena y un desayuno están incluidos en el precio.
Pagué 10000 Pesos chilenos, que son un poco más que US $ 20 - salí de la capital chilena a las 21:00 horas y llegué bien descansado y sin hambre a las 8:30 más o menos a Copiapó. A unas 3 quadras de dónde llegó el bus, tomé otro a Caldera, que sale cada 45 minutos. Me costó 3500 Pesos chilenos, para la ida y la vuelta.
Después de un poco más que 1 hora llegué a la plaza de Caldera, dónde ya esperaban varios colectivos para llevar gente a la dicha Bahía Inglesa.
10 minutos pasaron y estuve al frente de la playa más hermosa de Chile, y sí, era hermosa. Nunca he visto una playa tan bonita en dicho país.
El agua es turqueso, tivido y apto para el baño. Asi por lo menos fue cuando yo fui - en invierno, temporada baja.
Como es un pueblo bastante pequeño y dependiente del turismo, los precios son altos y por eso recomiendo alojarse en una cabaña, llevar comida y cocinarse.
A parte de la playa se puede visitar varias otra llamadas Playa Loreto, Playa La Virgen, la ciudad de Caldera, el Parque Nacional Pan de Azúcar, las varias minas del sector y el Parque Nacional Nevado Tres Cruces. Lo que no puedo recomendar es recorrer la ciudad de Copiapó - es caro, sucio y la gente atiende mal.
Es mejor quedarse un día más en Bahía Inglesa o volver a Santiago / su país.

Twitter...

Hey guys,
How are you doing ?

I just want to inform you that Im using the twitter network now: www.twitter.com/svenonvacation

(You can see all my posts there to your left)

From time to time I will leave a short message about what Im doing in my freetime, sometimes with a picture !!


Many greetings from sunny Chile

Happy New Year to ....

... everyone of my dear friends out there in the wide wide world !!!
Hope you are starting the new year in a great company, and additionally staying healthy and having success with every aims you are having during 2011 !!!

Im taking off soon to the coast, will be celebrating with friends and people from "couchsurfing" at someone's place on the beach !!!

Take care !!!!!!!!!

HOLIDAYS !!!!!!!!!!

Since Wednesday Im having holidays, or lets say I dont have to go to university anymore - had my last exam and now I know that I passed all of them and can concentrate finally in my work and save money for my planned journey in February - I cant wait ;)


Greetings from sunny Chile :p

Pichilemu...

I had a really good time going to the beach again for the weekend and escape from Santiago. Now Im back and have to study for my last exams,


See ya !!

Heat..

There is approximately 30 degrees in my room on the third floor and still a lot to study left - tomorrow french and the following weeks several other exams. I hope I will be done by the 15th of dicembre, and then be able to use most my time working for my vacation - would like to go up the coast until Columbia in mid-February for around 4 weeks...

Oktoberfest in Chile...

Yesterday I went to the "Oktoberfest" - No, I didnt fly back to Germany, it was in Chile. Sounds strange, but its right. Had a great time there, even though it was quite expensive !!

Prost


Here I got a link to watch a video made by a friend of the event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu6EwFmfXr0

It's getting..

.. hot in here !! 00:34 - thats the local time. 21 - thats the number of degrees in Santiago and in my room on the third floor probably more. Summer is coming and Im already enjoying those nice temperatures and sunshine everyday...
Yesterday we had an amazing Halloween-Party at our place with plenties of nice people. Tomorrow Im off, no classes at university, not going to work, just relaxing and finishing some stuff,


Bye bye

Amazing trip..

Hey guys, how are you doing ?
I just came back from one of the most amazing trips in my life. I have been travelling a lot the last years, but never seen so many amazing sights in such a little time. Will be creating a video with pictures the next days and load it up.

Cheers

"Fuerza Mineros"...

Right in this moment more than half of the 33 miners have left from their underground bunker. Its amazing that they have been living down there for more than 2 months. The escape spectacle is shown on television right now all over the country and many people are celebrating on the street. Even the friend of a friends uncle was down there - he told me yesterday night ...

More than a 100 people...

.. at my place having one of the craziest parties ever !!!
Last Friday I had such a weired night - The whole house full of people and afterwards even more fun stories to tell. But now its getting serious again - Im will be having a few important exams this week before I can go for another long weekend (Monday public holiday :D)..

Many greetings from crazy Chile !!

200 years...

.. of Independence to celebrate in Chile NOW !!!
I just came back from my last term of work and will be off until Monday. The next 4 days there will be a lot of ceremonies around the whole country. Im really looking forward to have a good time, getting to know new people and simply enjoying comfortable temperatures (around 25 degrees at the moment)and freetime - Because from university Im already off since last Friday ;)

Take care

Best of Bolivia-Video...

And again I`ve got some pictures to watch for you - I was creating another videoclip, this time a "best of" from my vacation in Bolivia. Enjoy it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzTwxhQePu4

Best Of Video...

I just created a video with the best pictures I have made during my time staying in Santiago, just check the following youtube-link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybNnVW2q0h4&feature=search


Greetings

First semester over..

Hey guys,
How are you? How is everything going?

Im very good, last week I finally finished my first semester at university and actually Im quite happy about the results and that I
don´t have to repeat any course. From now on, I will have a 2 weeks holiday until the 16th of August (!!)

Next week I will be working almost every day and on Saturday, the 7th of August, Im heading first to San Pedro de Atacama and then to Bolivia - im really looking forward.


But let me tell you first something about the previous semester:

Well, when I went to university the first weeks, obviously everything was quite exciting, everyone very friendly, etc. But what I really didn´t like was that I had almost too much freetime and too little money. I actually didnt expect to be able to work, but our french teacher invited us for an job interview at the company where he was / is still working: www.turistik.cl

We had to learn something about the history and sights of the city and express ourselves (other classmates and me) in English - and if I remember well in the beginning of May they accepted me and now Im working part-time (3-4 times a week) at the already mentioned company.

My job is to attend to all the turists who enter the red double-decker buses, give information about the city, help if they have any questions. Compared to Germany, my earnings are quite low (~ € 2,50 an hour), BUT anyway its a good practise working in tourism, speaking different languages - and additionally I can get some credits as an internship at my university. So you see, there are just advantages and even though I wont get rich, its a nice feeling to earn my own money - and in the end of the months it is about having € 200 extra or not (that you realize how much Im working actually)...

At university I wrote my first exams in Spanish, gave the first presentations in my life in Spanish AND English, and additionally was starting to learn another language - FRENCH !! Last week I went to a group in Santiago who is meeting once a week to just speak french and I honestly was surprised about how much I could already express myself - I hope I will have enough time to go there in the future again ! I really like french, its an interesting language !

About the other subjects: I was going to the English advanced classes quite a while, I enjoy(ed) the company a lot as I really like the teacher and the small group of other students. But I got to a point where I said to myself that I didnt really need those classes as I got always the best marks, so I spoke with the teacher and we made the agreement that in the future I just have to come once a week and also for the exams. So I have another day available for going to work, what I really appreciate ;)

My worst mark I got in geography which was simply a lot of material to study and in general many many new words for me in spanish. But still I passed the course with a 4,8 (best mark is a 7)...

Algebra was the only subject I was really disappointed by. The only difficulty in the beginning was to understand the questions in spanish. The material we did remembered me of the 6th class in Germany when I was like 13 years old. The teacher and the classes sometimes were just ridiculous. In the end we did at least some more sofisticated stuff and I was free of the final exam: mark 5,9 !!

About turism itself I learned a lot in "Introduction to the turism industry" where I actually don´t have my final result yet

The administration classes werent that interesting, but in the end I got a remarkable 6,0 =)


But I also had a life outside of university:

The first months I didnt do a lot of sports as I was either working or having classes at university almost every day. It must have been around the middle of June when I realized that I have to go out to play some soccer again, what was not that easy actually. I went to a place to ask for an amateur soccer club close to the house where Im living, but it was more difficult than I expected. At university the service was quite bad as well, as the guys at the reception just gave me an E-Mail-adress and then no one responded my mails asking about the days when the soccer team is playing.
Where Im working people are meeting every 2 weeks to play some soccer, what I actually enjoyed a lot, but one of the problems in Chile is, that everyone tries to commercialize as many things as possible - in this case charging for renting a soccer field ( ~ € 3,00 - 4,00 per person per hour)...

So I knew a lot of people who were asking me all the time to play soccer, but I just didnt want to pay everytime for it as Im simply not used to pay for playing soccer or in general doing sports (except of going to a gym)...
Fortunately I discovered a beautifull park close to my place where a public soccer field is located. Only last week I went there 3 times and every time I enjoyed it more =)
The first two times I went there with one the best friends I made from university called Mehdi, a guy from Marocco. Every time we got to know other people playing together great matches. And last time we both met with other guys from university just playing amongst us. The soccer ball we bought was definitely one of the best investments of the last weeks =)

One of the highlights was definitely our 3-days trip at university to the central coast region, where I have never been before. There we had to analize a lot concerning touristic sights, attractions, restaurants, etc. but I also had the chance to get to know some class mates a little bit better outside of the university.

To summarize the first semester with the party I had last night at my place, I have to say that I definitely got to know the chilean culture in a very deeply way, I learned a lot about turism in general and in Chile, could improve not only my Spanish but also my English and French language skills and by the way made very good friends - Im feeling good in Chile !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here I`ve got a video from a city-tour I made with some couchsurfing-people: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2Lh8T1Kvg0


Take care guys,
I hope I get some answers from you, because Im also quite interested in what you are doing, how you are, etc..

Bye bye


Sven Bornemann

Elena Blanco 993
Providencia / Salvador
Santiago de Chile

+56 9 84 98 46 48 (mobile phone)
+56 2 69 23 00 (landline telephone I)
+56 7 61 83 16 (landline telephone II)

svenbornemann87@gmail.com (E-MAIL I)
svenbornemann@gmx.net (E-MAIL II)
www.sveninsantiago.blogspot.com (my BLOG)
redman87@web.de (MSN)
svennaughty (SKYPE)

Bolivia...

(<<<--- Today`s view from my window)

Today I finally bought the tickets - from the 7th of August I will be staying in the north again for one week getting to know Bolivia. Tomorrow, on Monday and Wednesday I will have my final exams and by next week Thursday the first semester will have come to an end. I will let you know about the results, but in any case I didnt have any big problems at university...

Lost against the World-Champion...

It is a pitty that Germany the last years has lost always against the future Champion (2002 against Brasil, 2006 against Italy, 2008 and 2010 against Spain)..
I really hope this team can win a cup one day, because they really deserve it !!
Im very proud of what I have seen during the World Cup anyway, even though could "just" get the 3rd place..

In any case I really enjoyed the World Cup time as I wasn`t only watching with germans but also going to celebrate on the streets with thousands of Chileans - Thank you South Africa, the World Cup was a great success !!!