South America Blog
About this blog
Wayne Bernhardson is the author of Moon Handbooks to Buenos Aires, Chile, Argentina, and Patagonia. Here he shares his vast knowledge of South America and its people.
Recent Posts
- The Papal Cumbia
- The Uruguayan Sacraments: Tango & Mate
- Taxing the Tourist: Argentina's AFIP Aims Low
- Fortress Falklands: A Book Review
- Pope Argentinus I, The Musical: Ragtime Meets Tango
- Credit Where Credit Is Undue?
- ¿Adios Hugo?
- When "No" Is A Positive
- Chile and Its "Crazies"
- The Oscars: A Post Mortem, So to Speak
- Sacrificing the Atacama? A Chilean View of Dakar
- Chilean Oscar Faceoff? "No" v. "Kon-Tiki"
- Friday Digest: Southern Cone Nuggets
- Dancing in the Mud? The Andean Aftermath
- Floods & Mud: Summer Storms Hit the Andes
Día del Amigo
I’ve always been annoyed by what I consider “greeting card days,” mainly Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, in the United States. They’ve always seemed manufactured celebrations that should be utterly unnecessary for any thoughtful husband, wife or child, and I always tell my wife and daughter that I’d rather ignore them. more >>
Coffee & Cannabis Controversies
I neither like nor drink coffee, and would never even consider going to a Starbucks because, among other reasons, I detest overbearing chain franchises. Likewise, I would never consider including any of them in my guidebooks when there are far better local alternatives. more >>
What's In a (Sur)name?
Traditionally, Chileans and many other Latin Americans use double surnames to identify themselves; a child takes both the paternal and maternal surnames, in that order.
Salvador Allende Gossens, the late president, took the name Allende from his father’s side, while Gossens comes from the mother’s. Normally, Salvador would go by the surname Allende, but he would sign legal documents as Salvador Allende Gossens. After marrying Salvador Allende, Hortensia Bussi Soto became Hortensia Bussi de Allende. Their daughter Isabel, a current Chilean senator, goes by the surnames Allende Bussi (the California-based novelist Isabel Allende Llona is their niece) .Another Airline Down: Uruguay's Pluna Grounded
Recently I wrote about the origins of Aerolíneas Argentinas and Chile’s LAN Airlines, and the different routes they have taken – in the former case, to inconsistency and unreliability, in the latter case, to rapid growth and expansion that’s made it South America’s most reliable airline. The recent merger with Brazil’s TAM has only increased LAN’s prestige and, presumably, its profitability. more >>
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.