The place where the sea, wind and quiet meets

If I have to talk about beaches, this is all about a bittersweet experiences for me. First, I am from the seaside so spending some time in beaches near my house is something common for me, and I have been in other beaches along the country, and I have to be honest, I enjoy beaches but always something happen that makes my experience a little bit rare. But I do not want to talk about rare situations, so I have to say that I do not go to beaches  just for swimming or sunbathing, actually I prefer to walk  on the sand, observe the scenery and the marine wildlife, that results more interesting for me. But now I remember a visit to a beautiful beach I did with my family a few years ago -when my parents were still together- and it was a really good afternoon walk because that beach was very special, I do not know why but I think I am still in love with that place, the hidden essence it has and the quiet you find there, I am talking about the Matanzas Beach. This popular destination for surfers is located in the VI Region, at the north of the Cardenal Caro province and it belongs to the Navidad commune and is easy to arrive there by buses you can take in the nearby locations, for example from Rapel Village, La Boca Beach - which is a beautiful beach too- or also the Navidad Village and from Santiago it takes two and a half hours of trip. When I went there, in the bus I were watching the scenery and the lot of houses built around, actually this region is famous by the modern houses that people built there, even some TV personalities has its holiday homes there. But I think what most caught my attention was the quiet, the feeling of being alone, away from the hustle of the city, that unique opportunity of find yourself, and I think that is something you do not find anywhere. Matanzas is an special place, I have been in a very few places like that, and feels so sad let pass 7 years and still not go back there.

The view from the edge of the beach

The sea hits the rocks and produces a sound

that brings peace to my mind

The Rapel river mouth, nearby the beach, is

another visual spectacle

Amsterdam with Love

Since I was a child, I have been interested in visiting new places, I am not pretty sure why, actually if I have to be honest I do not enjoy too much to spend some time in a car or a bus or any conveyance. Anyway, back to the above, I have an special interest in visiting new places, of course is even more interesting if the culture of that place is different than mine, but until now I have to recognize I am not a big traveler, and I have never been in another country (it sounds so sad) but I feel lucky to have visited cities and villages in the North, Center and South of Chile. Now that I study architecture, my interest in new place is more related to the discipline too, and countries in Europe are more suitable for the development of my career, and Netherlands have been in my wish-list since a long time ago, specifically Amsterdam. This beautiful city is a romantic tourists destiny and a perfect mixture between the old architecture of the XVI and XVII century and the modern culture of Europe. Talking about architecture topics, the sustainability has been an important element in the development of the city and nowadays the people and the city authorities are very educated in the subject and disposed to continue with this development as a way to construct a society more friendly with the environment by the balance among the architecture, the life quality and the natural resources. This subject is something really interesting for me, and Amsterdam is just one of many cities that are already working with this sustainability parameters, in Europe and other continents. In a future I would love to travel to Netherlands, know its places and have a pleasure stay, but of course it would be nice to settle in Amsterdam, and work there as an architect in the sustainability area or in the town planning, and it would be great to move there with my boyfriend and work together. Anyway, the gay culture in Amsterdam is also a good excuse to move there.

Front of the Rijksmuseum and the iconic 

"I amsterdam" sign

The Amsterdam Canals at night

The Tram is part of the transport system of the city and a 

good response to more sustainable alternatives

The bikeways are also part of the transport system and the 

bicycle culture and its education starts at elemetary school