Cruising Chil Antarct desert te IF, like me, the last time you thought about Chile was forever ago in Social Studies it’s time to take anoth- er look. We've been cruising down Chile's coast for nine days now and can quite believe that it's the longest country in the world as well as the narrowest. The north is the driest place on earth, the central region produces 12% of all the world’s wine and the south is kissing distance from Antarctica. Impressive statistics! @ Jan. 17 — Arica is our first port and looking from the deck the landscape is totally barren ina brown dusty way, not the golden sands of an Arabic desert. A local telfs us it hasn't rained for 12 years but that the record is 14. We're in the Atacama desert created by thermal inversion caused by it’s location between the Pacific Ocean and the Andean mountain range and I wonder why the weather patterns work the opposite in N. Vancouver. However an efficient: waterin program transforms the main square. wit looming hibiscus and bougainvillea providing a beautiful contrast and seducing us to sit and sip - pisco sours with the welcoming locals at one of the outdoor restaurants along the pedestrian boulevard. @ Jan. 19 — “Welcome to Coquimbo” announces the intercom, “place of calm waters”. Here semi-arid conditions produce a ., Mediterranean climate making the area popular for. seaside holidays so our day is spent strolling. the 16-km path that hugs the sandy horseshoe- shaped bay between La Serena and the ship. Men in wet suits collect bags of kelp and friendly happy children build sandcastles with shells. Some things are aiways the same. - Island Expeditions OUTSIDE Magazine has just published their list of top outfitted travel adventures: world- wide for 2000 and for the third time in the fast five years Island Expeditions Co. has been _ included in this select: group of adventure travel companies. | ’ - Island Expeditions has drawn on 13 years of outfitting experience in Belize, Central America to offer an‘ exciting and diverse selection of adventure trips. The Belize Adventure Guide, “; details trips ranging from sea kayaking along the Great Maya Reef, an adventure basecamp oa the * remote islands of Glovers Atoll to multi-day river Deluxe River Cruising “Depart June 15, 2000 ts Cruising 0.1 night First class hotel in Lyon +2 nights First class hotel in Aix en Provence © tipping and taxes on cruise included alr transportation & transfers -©7 nigh | The M.S. Cezann is limited - Now! e carries only 102 passengers @: if : Ca @ Jan. 20 — Valpo, locals call Valparaiso, is the gateway to Santiago, Chile's capital, 100 km away. Hugely important before the Panama Canal provided a shortcut to the west coast i: is still a thyiv- ing port and Chile's thin largest city. We arc tempted to take the full day tour into Concha v Toro Vineyard as it’s our house wine, however Valpo is too interesting not to explore with colourful houses perched tn inuicate layers down the cliff made accessible by cable car which run up and down for the equivalent of 20 cents. 81 Jan. 22 — Puerto Montt returns us to a small- er fishing village with a sprawling market selling Alpaca ponchos, Llama rugs and lapis lazuli set in silver. A short taxi ride and we're into the Lake district where the houses are built like Bavarian chalets, the gardens are in full summer bloom and snow capped Osano, an inactive volcano, glows in the sunlight. IB Jan. 25 — Our final port is Punta Arenas. Iee churks scraping the hull awakens us. Our weath- er has changed with rough seas spraying brine “onto upper deck windows. The crew are issued winter blue uniforms and passengers are now wearing the S.33 sweaters they bought at the last market. However nothing deters us from visiting a nearby penguin colony where the birds bray like mules and waddle around as if they're look- ing for the dinner party for which they’re so smartly dressed. When we sit still enough they cluster around as if to invite us to join them, something we hope very much to take them up on, sometime soon. — Ghynis Bolton boarded the Rotterdam Thursday, Jan. 6 in Fort Lauderdale on a Grand World Voyage. Watch fer ber dispatches regularly in the News, rated top outfitter trips, wildlife viewing, caving and the exploration of Mayan ruins in the spectacular Maya Mountains of southern Belize. Also new for 2000 is a multi-sport adventure with nine days of non-stop action on land and sea. Trips are from’3 to 21 days and range in price from US$599 to $2,899 and include guides, meals, camping, specialized equipment, hotels and transportation within Belize. Trips run from December to April. To obtain a free capy of the Belize Adventure Guide or for further informa- tion call: 1-800-667-1630 or visit their Website at . Sunday, January 30, 2000 —- North Shore News - 33 Photo Toni Dabts TARPON Springs sponge merchant George Billiris welcomes visitors to his ware- house, which is on the National Reg'ster of Historic Places. From page 32 Redington Beach Hilton Resort, 17120 Gulf Blvd., North Redington Beach FL 33708, phone (727) 391- 4000, fax (727) 397-0699, e- mail , Web _ site . Meals: The best breakfasts in the area are at The Frog Pond, 16909 Gulf Bivd., North Redington Beach FL 33708, phone (727) 392- 4117. The extensive menu lists various types of eggs Practice Kissing. Get ready for Feburary 6th when you'll have a chance win a makeover for yourself, or a feature. sweetheart in our to pucker-up and Valentine Makeover north shore benedict, omelettes, fritratas, quiche, crepes and waffles. The grits are great. For a lunch break in St. Petersburg’s cultural district, consider the Ovo Cafe, 515 Central Ave., St. Petersburg FL 33701, phone (727) 895- 5515. It bills its fare as “clean American cuisine,” but the dishes are nouveau versions of international favourites— spinach and Roquefort pero- gies, portobello mushroom“ lemberton Ave. ry 4) yn revels in heritage | quesadillas, Caribbean pizza, etc. . Fine dining is available at the Salt Rock Grill, 19325 - Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores FL _ 33785, phone. (813) 593- 7625. The expected lobster tail, grilled chicken, rack of” famb and filet mignon are pre- pared with a creative flare — fire roasted, jerk - glazed, coconut crusted or Havana ~ style, for example — and the specials are ‘worthy of the title. — TALKING Yl PAGES 7195 lascze ) a ~— , t j the profestioncls at Flight Pork Royal Mall North West Vancouver 1305 Lonsdale Ave., Worth Vancouver All acctions are cegistered with the B.C. Travel Register Cand.nons opply, prices per person ex {913-1640 . Taxis may epply»