Punta Arenas, Chile

Here you can see the largest city south of the 46th parallel, Punta Arenas. It is the capital of Chile's southernmost region Magellanas and Antarctica Chileana, and one of only two free ports in the country. As the kind sender Ramon mentioned, there are also Croatian landmarks in the city, as many have migrated there between the two wars.

There is not only Chile on these stamps, but also a popular comic book character Condorito, read throughout the whole of the South America - I am not entirely sure where I first 'met' him, but I think it might have been Ecuador, although he was 'born and raised' in a fictional Chilean town of Pellotilehue (and he is as old as my mum :)). I even bought one of the comic books as a souvenir, hmm now I wonder where i put it...And this is the third and the last entry for this week's Sunday Stamps, letter C! I guess I either skip it or overdo it *grin*

Gerlache Strait, Antarctica/Chile

Just one more! As its still a bit chilly ;) The card is showing Antarctica but is sent from Chile, one of the two countries closest to Antarctica. This is a view from the Gerlache Strait which separates the Palmer Archipelago from the Antarctic Peninsula (the Danco Coast). The Belgian Antarctic Expedition, under Lt. Adrien de Gerlache, explored the strait in January and February 1898, hence the name.

Another great card from Alvaro, with Copa America stamp, thank you! :))

Patagonia Chileana

When it comes to amazing nature views, Patagonia must be on everyone's top-list...Another one of those desired trips...Muchas gracias Alvaro, for such a soothing sight of the Torres del Paine national park.

UNESCO - Churches Of Chiloé, Chile

The Chiloé Archipelago consists of several islands lying off the coast of Chile, widely known for its distinctive folklore, mythology, cuisine and unique architecture. The perfect example of the latter are these beautiful, colourful wooden churches which represent a tradition initiated by the Jesuit Peripatetic Mission in the 17th and 18th centuries, continued and enriched by the Franciscans during the 19th century and still prevailing today.

There are about 70 churches built in similar way, sixteen of them excelling as an outstanding examples of the successful fusion of European and indigenous cultural traditions. Just lovely, gracias Hernan :)

 

UNESCO - Rapa Nui National Park

I have waited for this postcard for a year but it was well worth the wait - Rapa Nui or Easter Island is one of the most mystical places on earth, more so as it is so far away from the mainland (3512km from Chile).

The large stone statues, or moai, for which Easter Island is world-famous, were carved from 1100–1680 CE - so far a total of 887 monolithic stone statues have been found. Ahu are stone platforms on which the statues were or are found; this card showing the Ahu Vai-Uri, not the most famous but equally impressive line of moai.

Another reason why I love this card is the Condorito stamp - while I was travelling South America a few years back i came across this cartoon character and instantly became a fan, also it was kind of easier to learn spanish while reading the comics..! Many many thanks to Daniela, who spotted my Condorito avatar and offered to use the special stamp :))

 

Recently I've received another view of these cool statues - this time the site Ahu Naunau on the Anakena Beach, one of the two sandy beaches on the island. In front a young woman performing a Sau-Sau traditional dance. Gracias de nuevo Hernan :)

Illustration Card Chile

 

I won this lovely illustration card in a lottery, I think I pretty much like anything that has a cat in the picture heh. Gracias Hernan!

Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile

Parque Nacional Torres Del Paine is situated in southern Chilean Patagonia, 312 km north of Punta Arenas. The landscape of the park is dominated by the Paine massif, rising dramatically over the Patagonian steppe. Pictured is a view from Pehoe Lake. Torres del Paine was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by Unesco and is on its tentative list :)

As I like to learn about flora and fauna of different countries...The area is home to a plant with stunning flowers called Calceolaria Uniflora, and endangered Chilean Huemul - the South Andean Deer <3

The stamp is simply gorgeous! The grey lines are actually shiny silver, and is from the series for 'preserving the polar regions and glaciers' from 2009. Then there is a curious round green sticker and two different postmarks. In all, I was very happy to find this in my mailbox - thank you Dani!

(San Pedro De) Atacama, Chile

San Pedro de Atacama is a small  town at the edge of 'the driest desert in the world'. It is the major tourist hub for visiting Salar de Atacama, Valle de la Luna  and other surrounding sights.

The first people to inhabit the Atacama area arrived at the place by the year 10,000 B.C., at a time when the area had large lakes and mighty rivers on account of the end of the glacial era. The Atacama culture reaches its classical phase during the first seven centuries of the Christian era. The Hispanic urban pattern and architecture, combining the Spanish contribution and native techniques, have also survived. All this and much more is why the place is on the Unesco WHS tentative list.

                         

We walked into the desert as far as we could in one day, which didnt bring us to the most famous spots but i am still thrilled to have done it :))) Valle de la Luna is one of those places where EVERYONE goes and does the same thing. Sometimes its worth it. I wonder about this one. But how to predict?

A nice set of Antofagasta stamps, a port city just west of San Pedro on the Pacific coast. The cards took a while to arrive, i remember being worried about them...All's well that ends well :)))