R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 162
January 22, 2016
Fun Photo Friday — Still More Favorites from Elqui Valley
Fundo Los Nichos
Below are today’s Fun Photo Friday offerings. Next week we leave Chile in the rear view mirror of the Golden Princess bridge and sail into Paracas, Peru.
Monument to Nobel Laurette Gabriela Mistral (Lucila Godoy y Alcayaga)
Moscato
La Serena Lighthouse at Dawn
Coquimbo Waters and Colorful Rocks
Filed under: Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation Tagged: Chile, Elqui Valley, Fun Photo Friday, Monte Grande, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel pho...
January 20, 2016
Monte Grande, Vicuña, and Lunch by Solar Power
Monte Grande Church
I showed you the exterior of the church at Monte Grande earlier in this series on Elqui Valley. Here’s the interior:
Monte Grande’s church
Our arrival to Monte Grande happened to coincide with the noon rush hour:
Rush Hour in Monte Grande
We headed back to the west, but first we would stop for lunch. The fascinating thing about this eatery was the method of cooking — solar ovens and solar broilers. And, yes, lunch was delicious. So much so that I forgot to photograph it.
S...
January 18, 2016
Inside Fundo Los Nichos
The Pisco Awaits
Today we’re inside Fundo Los Nichos’ pisco aging cellars. As you can see, it’s quite the charming place to be.
Aging Bottles of Pisco
Our little tour group has gathered here for a sampling of Los Nichos’ wares:
We’re WAITING!
But before we partake, let’s wander around a bit:
Stoned at the pisco distillery
There is quite a lot of art here, and not just the statuary above:
How one feels after too much pisco
I absolutely loved the storing niches built into the cellar walls:
Some...
January 15, 2016
Fun Photo Friday — More Favorites of Coquimbo and Elqui Valley
Crystal Clear in Coquimbo
Here is today’s Fun Photo Friday collection of some of my favorite shots of Coquimbo and Elqui Valley, Chile:
Oasis
Inside Monte Grande’s Church
Elqui Valley
Motley Crew
Filed under: Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel Tagged: Chile, Elqui Valley, Fun Photo Friday, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation
January 13, 2016
On to Fundo Los Nichos
A map of Elqui Valley
You’ll notice from the above map that to get to Pisco Elqui we first passed through the town of Monte Grande. Monte Grande is considerably larger than Pisco Elqui, but still a small town. It is also a great place to take photos. Here’s one of the church in Monte Grande:
Monte Grande Church
And just beyond Pisco Elqui? That would be Fundo Los Nichos distillery. Fundo Los Nichos are far from being the biggest pisco distillery, but they are one of the oldest. As such, they...
January 11, 2016
The Town of Pisco Elqui
Pisco Elqui Church
This small town in the heart of the wine growing region of Elqui Valley used to be called La Unión, which is rather ironic in that we came a long way (El Paso, Texas) to visit a La Unión when we have another just up the road from our home — La Unión, New Mexico.
Pisco Elqui
And before it was La Unión it went by the name La Greda. But today this is the town of Pisco Elqui. It was renamed Pisco Elqui way back in 1936 to assist Chile in laying claim to the name of the distille...
January 8, 2016
Fun Photo Friday — Coquimbo and Elqui Valley Favorites
Elqui Valley Panorama
I hope you enjoy today’s Fun Photo Friday favorites of Coquimbo and Elqui Valley:
Iglesia Inmaculada Concepcion Steeple — Vicuna Plaza
Elqui Valley Vineyard Panorama
Coquimbo
Monte Grande Church
Filed under: Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation Tagged: Chile, Elqui Valley, Fun Photo Friday, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation
January 6, 2016
Heading into Chilean Wine Country — Elqui Valley
Growing grapes for Pisco
Ever tasted Pisco? Well, you’re in for a treat over the next several weeks as we explore the region famous for Pisco. That would be the Elqui Valley region of Chile. Hope you enjoy the visit.
Elqui Valley
One of the first sights our tour guide pointed out to us upon our entrance into Elqui Valley was the observatory atop Cerro Tololo. This observatory is part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory group that also runs Kitt Peak Observatory in Arizona.
Cerro Tol...
January 4, 2016
Arriving Coquimbo, Chile
Coquimbo Tugging at Your Heart
The Golden Princess left Valparaiso on March 14 and arrived at the port of Coquimbo, Chile, the next morning. You won’t see a whole lot of Coquimbo because Ursula and I didn’t see a lot of Coquimbo. We had another destination in mind, one that will take up the better part of the next couple of weeks.
Fishing Fleet
Coquimbo is just over 210 straight-line miles/340 kilometers north of Valparaiso. We arrived very early in the morning — before dawn even — so the pic...
January 1, 2016
Fun Photo Friday — Snowstorm Favorites, El Paso 2015
Fog on Snow
It was fun while it lasted. But El Paso snows seldom last for long. Best to take advantage of them when they arrive to snap some memories.
El Paso Snowstorm 2015
Here is today’s gallery of some of my favorite shots from this past weekend’s snowstorm (Click on any image below to enlarge and bring up the slide show):
Oh, and let me wish you all a very, very great and wondrous New Year.
Filed under: Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker Tagged: 2015 Snowstorm, El Paso,...
