Fab Foodie Mama

Day three in Chile had us headed to a four day stay in Vina del Mar, a beach resort city on the Central Coast.  We were going there for New Year's celebration and to see the beaches.  We took two vehicles, Juan Carlos' Ford pickup with all the bags in it and riding were me, Juan, Ron and Will.  In Veronica's Jeep Grand Cherokee was all the food and passengers Juan Carlos, Veronica, Coke and Rachel. It was about a two and half hour drive to Vina.  We stopped for sandwiches along the way.  Most sandwiches in Chile seem to be topped with smashed avocado, tomatoes, and mayonnaise (which is like our sour cream in the US).  Most everyone had a beef sandwich with those toppings 'El lomito italiano'.  I had a hot dog with those toppings.  Really good!  And the sandwiches are huge!  See recipe below.  The bread is something probably not as readily found here.  At least not where I live. We had to drive through some small mountains t...

Veronica and Juan Carlos both had to go to work on our second day.  Vero is an Agricultural Engineer for a large international company and Juan Carlos is a Logistics Manager for a Chilean asphalt/civil engineering company. So, Juan Esteban had plans to bring us to Santiago, the capital of Chile, to tour the city.  We left at about 11:00 AM in Juan Carlos' Ford F150 (no 4WD needed in Chile, of course) for the drive to Santiago.  Josefina 'Coke' came also.  I was really trying to speak Spanish this day.  I did ok.  We parked in a large parking garage and then came out in the Central Station in Santiago.  It is a beautiful, clean place, with a huge shopping center.  Every US store was there.  The design of the actual station was done by Eiffel (yes, of France). We walked around the vibrant city.  So nice and warm and so full of young people.  Santiago has a great amount of universities.  I don't know how many but seemed...