The Thin Country

A view of the countryside near Parral, the birthplace of Pablo Neruda.

As a Christmas gift my friend Paula, the friend who--with her husband-- accompanied us to Chile last November, gave me the book Travels in a Thin Country.  I have been reading a little here and there--and loving it--but recently decided I wanted to sit with the book and really internalize the stories of people and places contained within. So for the last few days I've done just that.  I love this book!  As I've visited Chile three times I can't say how someone who'd never been there would experience this book but I suspect they'd want to immediately make a reservation.  As I'm nearing the end of the book, last night I ordered more books involving Chile:  Pinochet and Me and The Motorcycle Diaries of Granado and Guevara. 

As the beneficiary of travel privileges as the result of my husbands 32 years with the airlines, we travel as often as we are able.  Though I have loved traveling in Europe and getting to know the individual countries and cultures with their long histories and magnificent architecture, there is something about the "thin country" that keeps calling my name.  The variety and beauty of the land is one reason but the more I learn of its struggles for survival against revolutions, dictatorships and other adversities, the more I admire the fortitude of the Chilean people..  I want to continue learning about this wonderful country and its people and I definitely will travel there again and again.

To get a feel for this country--at least the part that I've seen--scroll down the sidebar to my two photo albums and enjoy a taste of Chile.