Chile

Chilean wines are increasingly appreciated the world over, as more people become aware of the premium vineyards that produce in the South American country. This title goes beyond the vineyard to explore the people and the land that has created wines of distinction and character.

Isabel Allende evokes the magnificent landscapes of her country; a charming, idiosyncratic Chilean people with a violent history and an indomitable spirit, and the politics, religion, myth, and magic of her homeland that she carries with her even today.

The book circles around two life-changing moments. The assassination of her uncle Salvador Allende Gossens on September 11, 1973, sent her into exile and transformed her into a literary writer. And the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on her adopted homeland, the United States, brought forth an overdue acknowledgment that Allende had indeed left home. My Invented Country, mimicking the workings of memory itself, ranges back and forth across that distance between past and present lives. It speaks compellingly to immigrants and to all of us who try to retain a coherent inner life in a world full of contradictions.

"Nostalgia is my vice," admits Isabel Allende in My Invented Country. A question about nostalgia propels an exploration of her past, including the complicated history and politics of Chile, where she spent the better part of her childhood. Despite her strong connection to Chile, Allende says she has "been an outsider nearly all my life." Her stepfather was a diplomat, so her family moved quite frequently. In her travel diary, Allende compares everything to Chile, her "one eternal reference" point.

"From saying goodbye so often my roots have dried up," she notes. She successfully reclaims them, however, through two channels. Allende relays anecdotes about what she calls her untraditional family--whom she has based some of her novels upon, including The House of the Spirits. Like a few of her novels, though, her own story is lost in heavy policy analysis. Interspersed among her ancestors' tales is an all-too-exhaustive report of Chile: the terrain, its people, customs, language, its heroes and villains, and the government.

Allende fled Chile after the military coup on September 11, 1973. Twenty-eight years later, and now living in the United States, this date haunts her when terrorists attack New York City and Washington, D.C. Allende admits that the place she is homesick for may have never existed. In spite of that, Allende asserts that she can live and write anywhere: "I don’t belong to one land, but to several, or perhaps only to the ambit of the fiction I write." The irony is that she steadfastly has "one foot in Chile and another here." --C.J. Carrillo

Legendary account of the author's voyage around Cape Horn in a 32-foot sailboat, sailing east-to-west (thus the Horn is to starboard, or on the right). This is a notoriously difficult and dangerous passage, especially in a boat this size.

This book contains an account of a trip to Patagonia along with extensive information about its wildlife and history. It includes information about the early explorers and the Indians (now extinct) who lived in the area for thousands of years. Also covered is the present political and investment situation.

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Frommer's Chile & Easter Island is the premier guide to the country, with complete coverage of Santiago, Valparaiso, the Carretera Austral, Patagonia, Easter Island, and more. You'll visit rugged wilderness preserves, sleepy beach towns, the bustling, colonial captital, and the spectacular Easter Island. Whether you're a history buff, an outdoor adventurer, or a partier in search of a good time, Chile presents so many diverse travel options that it'll make your head spin. You'll travel like a pro with our handy Spanish-language glossary and detailed regional and town maps. And our Suggested Itineraries chapter will help you plan your trip and organize your time.

Photo by Viu Manent

The mysterious, dangerous and largely unfrequented waters of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia are the setting for this story of a Millennium cruise in the 36-foot classic wooden yacht, Marelle. At the climax of the nine-month voyage, which began and ended in Falmouth, England, lay Cape Horn, the most challenging cape to round for generations of sailors.

The author complements the drama of his own voyage with colorful tales from the heroic age of seafaring-of the adventurers who braved these hostile seas, from Magellan and Drake to Cook, FitzRoy and Darwin.

According to the Latin Business Chronicle, Chile is the third most popular South American destination and had 1.8 million visitors in 2005, 10.6% more than in 2004.

The 2003 designation of Valparaiso as a UNESCO World Heritage site, increased interest in Chile's wine industry and in adventure travel to Patagonia, plus a continued fascination with Easter Island all contribute to the rise in tourism.

Chile is one of the most stable South American countries and appeals to a variety of vacationers with romantic beach holidays, wine-focused vacations, snow sport options, alpine attractions, and desert tours.