tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30408107658368987522011-11-27T21:08:59.445-03:00Moved to Chile with two Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs. Experiences and travels in this LONG country.Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.comBlogger141100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-90892983715285932702011-08-25T15:55:00.000-03:002011-08-25T15:55:16.153-03:00

Hummingbirds. We have plenty here in the yard. When I take the dogs out in the morning, I'm sure to see one or two feeding on the flowers in the garden or bathing in the puddle of water that collects near a drain by the house. If I am lucky, they will remain still long enough for a good look. Most of the time they take fly away before I can see what kind they are.  They dogfight for territory in

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-16217606173231187362011-08-18T12:46:00.001-04:002011-08-18T13:36:08.265-04:00

We often get striated clouds over La Serena. I was curious about them and found some information on the NOAA Website . The clouds are formally called altostratus undulatus, but I like the term "wave clouds" better. On a walk to town this morning, I couldn't help but look up at the sky (and yes, I did trip once or twice). These clouds strike me as unusual and threatening, but La Serena is named "

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com0La Serena, Coquimbo Region, Chile-29.90078 -71.24476600000003-30.19662 -71.57893700000002 -29.604940000000003 -70.91059500000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-91289397482592649622011-08-16T16:57:00.000-04:002011-08-16T16:57:55.797-04:00

We live on a hillside in Region IV of Chile overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The town of La Serena, or the newer area of town with the big box stores and the mall, is between us and the ocean, but I hardly notice when I look out the window. I see the boats and the birds, but I especially notice the light in the morning when the sun breaks the Andes behind us ... and the sunsets. What sunsets they

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-24878858926012964492011-08-07T15:46:00.001-04:002011-08-07T15:49:05.206-04:00

I was amazed by the street art in Valparaiso, Chile. This seaside city on a series of hills was full of surprisingly detailed graffiti. It seemed as though every blank wall was covered with something colorful. Click on the photo to see the entire album. Valparaiso - Street Art We only spent two nights in Valparaiso. I would like to go back and explore more of it's streets to see what other

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-51609316055670512552011-08-04T15:16:00.004-04:002011-08-04T15:33:07.787-04:00

Riley has Surgery The following afternoon, my friend and I headed back to the vet at the appointed time with one very hungry Swissy. We walked in to the office, where the vet was waiting for us. He tells us to go through to the exam room as he put the "Cerrado" or closed sign in the window and locked the front door. We took Riley back to the exam room. It appeared much as it did the day before

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com1La Serena, Coquimbo Region, Chile-29.90078 -71.24476600000003-30.19662 -71.57893700000002 -29.604940000000003 -70.91059500000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-39403734372415107842011-07-14T12:15:00.000-04:002011-07-14T12:15:15.888-04:00

We left off as Riley, my friend, and I arrived at the vet's office. This was our first office visit in Chile and I had brought my friend along for her Spanish translation ability and her familiarity with this particular vet; she'd been using him for 3 years.  The vet led us down a hallway to the exam room. It was more like an alcove off the hallway rather than an actual room.  The hallway

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-84352894138325177612011-07-12T13:10:00.000-04:002011-07-12T13:10:31.242-04:00

Riley Goes to the Vet I knew the day would come. I knew that I would have to take someone to the vet here in Chile. And I knew that it would be different.   Riley, the smaller of the two Chilean Swiss Mountain dogs had a problem. The nail and quick of the outside toe of her left foot had become separated. It was obviously bothering her as she was licking it and it was red and I assumed painful

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com1La Serena, Coquimbo Region, Chile-29.90078 -71.24476600000003-30.19662 -71.57893700000002 -29.604940000000003 -70.91059500000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-41693847355142148092009-12-18T17:02:00.002-03:002011-07-12T10:44:55.076-04:00

Reserva Nacional Pinguino de Humboldt - or the National Reserve for Humboldt Penguins  With our layers of clothing zippered to our chins and our hoodies tied tight around our ears, we motored toward the reserve as Saint Andrew, the patron saint of fishermen (and tourists, I hope) watched our back. I hoped to see many penguins, sea lions, and dolphins, oh my! Our little boat was surprisingly

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com1La Serena, Coquimbo Region, Chile-29.90078 -71.24476600000003-30.19662 -71.57893700000002 -29.604940000000003 -70.91059500000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-47089897611114185762009-10-20T17:41:00.002-03:002011-07-12T10:48:14.495-04:00

Reserva Nacional Pinguino de Humboldt - or the National Reserve for Humboldt Penguins  Sorry to disappoint those readers looking for another posting about Emmett and Riley adventures here. This one is a people adventure that I wanted to share. Penguins...Humboldt penguins. Now, La Serena is very desert like in appearance. It reminds me of Arizona, only it sits on the ocean. There's fog or

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-36447132322887944892009-10-13T17:05:00.000-03:002011-07-12T11:32:42.732-04:00

Admittedly, the yard is beautiful. It's very private as there is a 9 foot tall evergreen hedge surrounding the  property.  but it's not as Swissy friendly as I would like...yet. There is no fence and Mr. Opportunity, as I like to call Emmett, can squeeze himself through amazingly small spaces. For instance, the other day, I was outside with him on the leash. He had an upset tummy and was eating

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-44140685006581014242009-10-08T16:42:00.002-04:002011-07-12T11:31:57.183-04:00

The Drive - Santiago to La Serana  - 5 Hours and Two Dogs Nancy came well prepared with clorox wipes, baby wipes, dog food, extra towels, and, most importantly, RICE CAKES! Yes, rice cakes! Ambrosia for the dogs. They will do ANYTHING for a rice cake. An amazing secret that a Swissy breeder shared with me at a show when I was looking at her dogs.  Low calorie and yummy, at least to dogs. I find

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-79992416307689561982009-10-05T16:15:00.001-04:002009-10-05T18:46:04.002-04:00

Dos Perros And now the story gets really interesting, crazy, and stressful. Nancy and I successfully found each other at the airport. Now, with all of my bags in tow, we had to find the driver, Ramon. At this point, I'm stressed out and exhausted and ready to find my dogs and begin the 5 hour car ride to La Serena. Again, I didn't want to do another leg on a plane with the dogs. Besides, there

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-76245281466089173812009-10-04T13:30:00.001-04:002009-10-05T18:45:22.545-04:00

Santiago - Immigration For those that have flown on overnight international flights, you know that time about an hour before the flight lands when the flight attendants are running around making as much noise as they dare in order to wake the passengers? The time when you crack your eyes open and immediately someone is there asking "coffee?" That's when I awoke from a deep sleep. The exhaustion

Emmett and Rileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02330609909168264823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3040810765836898752.post-52359602330341629892009-10-02T17:44:00.001-04:002009-10-03T07:13:11.469-04:00

Baltimore to Atlanta What a long long day it was. We left Baltimore with Auntie Ursula riding shotgun in a rented Dodge Grand Caravan with Stow and Go seating for Atlanta on Tuesday, 29 September, at 3 am. Why 3am? It seemed like a good idea at the time, especially when traveling with two big dogs. With an 11 hour drive, we had 4 hours of extra time to stop and walk pups. Why Atlanta? Well, I

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