Santiago Cheap Flights

“From the bustling city of Santiago, with its backdrop of mountains, to the wilds of Patagonia and west to the quite wonderful isolation of Easter Island, Chile offers a fantastically diverse and dramatic landscape,” reports Nick Laing, Chairman of Steppes Travel.

At over 2,600 miles long and stretching from the chilly seas of the south Pacific to the heat of the tropics it is hardly surprising that Chile encompasses such dramatic variations. My whirlwind trip took me from the cosmopolitan, bustling city of Santiago, with its backdrop of mountains, south to the wilds of Patagonia, north to the dryness of the Atacama and then west to the quite wonderful isolation of Easter Island.

t the southern end of Chile lies the wild, windswept, flat, barren expanse of Patagonia. Once heavily forested all that remains now is the odd clump of stunted beach trees, bent and sculpted by the wind. The rest has become a huge grazing area for sheep, beef and horses split into estancias ranging from 7 – 50,000 acres. But within this otherwise desolate land lie some intriguing areas and none more beautiful than the Torres del Paine national park. Covering an area of 600,000 acres this UNESCO biosphere reserve rises from a myriad of turquoise, ultramarine and grey lakes to the dramatic heights of the Torres Del Paine from which the park takes its name. Essentially an outdoor activity destination, my days were spent on easy walks beside blue glaciers or to catch the tantalising glimpse of soaring peaks. An afternoon of riding found muscles that were long forgotten although the BBQ that followed had beef that would convert a vegetarian. Mountain biking and fishing (at the right time of year) were also available.

A flight via Santiago took me to the opposite end of the country to the Atacama. The driest, highest desert in the world where I again stayed at the Explora Hotel, an oasis of comfort. Days were spent exploring, although the spa and pools were a tempting distraction. Mountain biking in a variety of terrains and long drives which took us to over 13,000ft where remote lakes reflected the ever changing colours of the surrounding peaks. The local village of San Pedro de Atacama is a back packer haven and consequently little cafés had sprung up serving delicious cheap food. In the evenings we were taken out to the salt lake to watch the sun transform the mountains from rich red to deep purple and, as the last rays flickered, so the flamingos glided in silently to begin their nocturnal feed.

Back to Santiago and the 5 hour flight to Easter Island. It might sound like an unnecessary addition but do not be discouraged. It is worth every minute of the journey. Smaller than the Isle of Wight, looking like the west coast of Scotland and dominated by three extinct volcanoes, it retains a magic that is hard to pinpoint. Populated by a fun loving Polynesian people who migrated around the 5th century AD, the small town has plenty of small bars and restaurants. The highlight, of course, are the moai, the extraordinary statues standing some 30ft tall representing the ancestors of the people. There are long easy walks to be had along the cliff tops or up to the crater edge. Toppled moai are everywhere, a testament to the inter clan fighting which destroyed this culture somewhere in the 12th century. I loved it.

My final half day was spent on a walking tour in the port of Valparaiso, about an hour from Santiago airport. We passed brightly painted houses clad in corrugated iron and vibrant street art (now the subject of a book), rode a 19th century funicular (there are 6) which still serve the city, visited museums and ended with a really delicious lunch. Valparaiso is just emerging as the trendy place to live and consequently has an excitement to it. It is also well located for visits to several excellent vineyards.

Originally published here.

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Steppes Travel specialise in holidays to Peru, China holidays and South Africa safari.

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Nittany Lions Complete Day One of Big Ten Indoors
EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Penn State men’s tennis team completed day one of the Big Ten Indoor Tournament on Friday afternoon at the Michigan State campus. The Nittany Lions had a tough day, picking up one doubles win.

Published Oct 29, 2010.
Read more: GoPSUsports.com

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Three months before the much-publicized theatrical release of United 93, the same true-life tragedy was faithfully dramatized in Flight 93, an equally praiseworthy TV movie that was originally broadcast on the A&E network on January 30, 2006. The fourth plane to be hijacked on September 11th, 2001 – and the only plane that didn’t reach its intended terrorist target – is the riveting subject of this film, which unfolds in real-time (similar but not identical to United 93), beginning with the terrorists’ preparations and boarding of the ill-fated flight. We then follow the notorious events as they unfold, and from that moment on, it’s nearly impossible to take your eyes off the screen. The intense drama focuses on the passengers who ultimately thwarted the terrorists – they include Tom Burnett (Jeffrey Nordling), Todd Beamer (Brennan Elliot), and Mark Bingham (Ty Olsson) – but as their counter-attack plans are being made, the action also reveals the chaotic nature of the ground response, from the White House bunker (where Vice President Cheney was moved for security) to Offices of the Federal Aviation Agency, Verizon headquarters (where in-flight calls were monitored), and United Airlines flight control, where pilots and terrorists alike could be heard throughout the terrible ordeal of the hijacking.

To his credit, director Peter Markle steers clear from any sense of exploitation (it helps that there was a five-year gap between the 9/11 tragedy and this respectable film); furthermore, both Markle and screenwriter Nevin Schreiner avoid the pitfalls of melodrama by keeping the action rooted in the facts as we know them. Speculation is necessary for some of the dramatic details, but Flight 93 benefits from a well-chosen cast of unknowns, which enhances our belief in them as ordinary citizens under extraordinary circumstances. As you might expect, several scenes are inherently unforgettable (up to and including the now heroic phrase “Let’s roll!” as the counter-attack begins), and the authentically played emotions are further intensified by realistic special effects by Gary Gutierrez, who performed similarly laudable duties on The Right Stuff 23 years earlier, at the start of his visual effects career. Produced with the cooperation of surviving family members of those who perished on Flight 93, this well-made TV film handles difficult material with grace under pressure, and that alone serves as an admirable tribute to those brave passengers who gave their lives so that others could be saved. –Jeff Shannon

Flight 93