Author: reweidman50

Talca, Chile

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Our daughter spent over 10 months as an exchange student in the charming city of Talca, Chile, which is located approximately three hours south of Santiago. After we arrived in Santiago and spent a day exploring the sights, we headed to Talca via a comfortable motorcoach (we watched the 2004 romantic comedy 50 First Dates dubbed in Spanish along the way!). Once we arrived in Talca, we checked in at the Eco Hotel (highly recommended, by the way!), which overlooks the beautiful Alameda street park and provides an ideal base for exploring the city. We strolled along the Alameda in the morning and headed to the Plaza de Armas. We also visited the Cerro de la Virgen, a spectacular hill overlooking the city that features a huge statue of the Virgin Mary along with panoramic views of Talca and the distant Andes Mountains. In addition, we took a brief tour of the beautiful Casa Donoso Winery and sampled Chilean cuisine such as the delicious Completos – hotdogs piled high with chopped tomatoes, avocados and mayonnaise. All and all, we had a great time in Talca and hope to be back one day!

Santiago, Chile

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We took the sky lift up San Cristobal Hill for great views of Santiago and the surrounding Andes Mountains. The huge statue of the Virgin Mary was donated by France in 1904. Gran Torre Santiago is the tallest building in South America. Believe it or not, Santiago’s population of approximately 7 million is nearly half of Chile’s total population. A wonderful city with great people, great food and great wine!

Sala’s Hawaiian Slurp Shack

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One of our favorite eateries in Apopka is the eclectic and laid-back Hawaiian Slurp Shack, where you can enjoy delicious Hawaiian cuisine, along with ice cream and shaved ice as you immerse yourself in the colorful Hawaiian-themed decor. I personally recommend the Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl – it’s so damn good that I’ve yet to explore anything else on the menu! Sala’s Hawaiian Slurp Shack is located at 1803 East Semoran Boulevard. It is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday and closed on Monday.

Hebron Colony Falls

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A true hidden treasure, Hebron Colony Falls (aka Hebron Rock Colony) can be accessed via a short trail located off Old Turnpike Road in Boone or from the Boone Fork Trail, which begins at Julian Price Memorial Park (Milepost 297 on the Blue Ridge Parkway). Characterized by a series of scenic mini waterfalls amid a field of huge boulders, Hebron Colony Falls is very popular among Appalachian State University students. It’s a rather strenuous and strategic journey to the top but worth it for a remarkable view of the surrounding wilderness.

Remembering Sonny’s Grill

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All that’s left of Sonny’s Grill is this commemorative plaque that can be found in front of the outdoor patio at Six Pence Pub in downtown Blowing Rock, North Carolina. A beloved local institution opened on December 13, 1954 (note that the plaque erroneously states 1955), by the late Sonny Klutz, Sonny’s Grill served as the archetypal small-town eatery where you could fuel up with a delicious ham biscuit, stack of sweet potato pancakes or juicy hamburger fresh off the grill. Author Jan Karon even alluded to Sonny’s as “Mitford’s Grill” in her popular Mitford series of books, which were inspired by Blowing Rock. Unfortunately, Sonny’s closed its doors for good in 2009 and is greatly missed.

 

 

Grandfather Trail

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We hiked a very small portion of the strenuous Grandfather Trail at Grandfather Mountain the other day. The Grandfather Trail winds its way from the Swinging Bridge Parking Area for 2.4 miles to Calloway Peak with plenty of majestic views along the way. Due to time concerns, we had to abandon our effort before reaching some of the more perilous ladders and cables along the route (believe me, this trail is not for the timid!). However, we plan to knock the entire trail out next time. We’ll be back!