After a year-long hiatus from architecture class, I geeked out a bit when I moved into the new apartment.

Navy Day

I returned back to Valparaíso in time for El Día de las Glorias Navales, which celebrates the Battle of Iquique, one of the many confrontations over the northern territories between Chile, Peru, and Bolivia.

The entire city was out for the parade, packed into the cold winter-shadows and the absurdly hot sun.

It Takes Two

The Tango was originated in Buenos Aires and is heavily influenced by the immigration melting-pot that characterized the city for much of the last century.

The dance has a huge presence in the touristic areas of the the city, and it's always easy to find a performance, whether in dinner-shows,

or on the streets of San Telmo.

San Telmo

Set in the oldest barrio of Buenos Aires, the San Telmo antiques fair is an incredible place to explore.

Even on a rainy morning, the cobbled streets were filled with people, hoping to make their own discoveries of trinkets and knick-knacks

An Omega from WWII.

The Presidente Sarmiento

Sitting along the walkway of Puerto Madero, this tall ship was open to the public.

In addition to the large sails, the ship was outfitted with a steam engine.

Through it's history, the ship has made it around the world and the harsh seas of patagonia many times. The ship has barely been refurbished for the public and for this, the deck is filled with beautiful moments that show the wear of seasons at sea.

Buenos Aires and The Recoleta Cemetery

With an extended weekend, we hopped a jet across the Andes, to Buenos Aires. First stop on the tourist checklist was Recoleta Cemetery.
The initial most astonishing aspect of the cemetery is the abundance of cats.

I think I would prefer not to think to deeply into why the cats are surviving so well.

The original layout of the site was designed by French engineer, Próspero Catelin.

Although the plan of the cemetery is interesting, the individual tombs show the most character.

I found some rickety scaffolding to scale in order to get this shot of the many adornments and skylights of the tombs.

Statues and Cats.

Likely the most recognizable name in the cemetery is Evita Perón. People are constantly arriving to her door, bringing flowers.

A less appreciated tomb.

Cajón del Maipo: second day

We woke to a sleepy morning and hiked up the valley of El Morado National Monument.

The hike was a gentle trail winding up toward the jagged peak of El Morado.

Yellow grass and wild horses.

At the base of El Morado, several glacial tunnels beckoned some spelunking.

Day 1: Cajón del Maipo

Still had enough light in the afternoon to run along a nearby trail and scramble up a steep dike in the rock.

And found some (nearly) all-female climbers clinging to some precariously bolted routes.

Neglecting duty.

The road back to camp.

The Structures of Cajón del Maipo

Cajón de Maipo is a central andean region to the southeast of Santiago. During the summer it is bustling with city-folk trying to get their mountain-feet.

But we arrived when winter was coming fast, and the little town was largely abandoned.

All of the funky structures, undoubtedly lively during the warmer months, were boarded up and prepared for a long period of hibernation.