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There 4 different grades of transportation from the Airport to central Santiago.

Taxi - Most expensive. About $20

Transvip - Approx. $8 - front door service - best if you have luggage. You can make reservations online. Not necessary when arriving but necessary on departure. Transvip

Centropuerto Bus - About $2. Blue with big yellow letters. Stops along Bernardo de Higgons Ave. Not good if you have luggage. Used mostly by locals. I use this bus. First stop is at Pajaritos Metro station. This bus is actually owned by the TurBus company but is not luxurious by any means.

Tur Bus - About $2. Dark green with Tur Bus written on the side. Nicer bus. Stops at Pajaritos Metro station then on to the TurBus Station near the Universidad de Santiago Metro Station. You can not go further than this into the city with this bus. You must then transfer to the subway/metro Santiago Metro or take the Micro (bus).

When considering time the taxi is the fastest, then the Transvip. But during rush hour a combination of the metro then bus may be the faster way. The metro is very fast but you must transfer to a bus at the Pajaritos Station on the Western part of the city.

You can find additional information about the airport at Aeropuerto de Santiago

Galleria Umberto is a public gallery in Naples, Italy designed by Emanuele Rocco. It was constructed between 1887-1891. At that time it was the cornerstone during a rebuilding period of Naples that lasted until World War I. The Galleria is named for Umberto I, King of Italy at the time of construction. Originally it was intended for multi-use, combining businesses, shops, cafes with apartments on the third floor.

Visual Link Spanish will teach you Spanish FAST! Guaranteed!

For some of us learning to speak another language is a very challenging task. Having endured almost a decade of college studies I find it very difficult to crack open a text book. Even if I do find the motivation to sit down and begin to study my attention span is very short. I enrolled in a Spanish course but stopped attending after the first 3 weeks. I have tried various software packages and texts hoping to find that magical combination that would keep me interested and that is easy to learn.

After several fruitless attempts and years of telling myself I would learn Spanish I finally found a software package that worked for me. It is the "Visual Link" system. It is a very unique and intuitive way to learn to speak Spanish. Just spending a little time each day going through the lessons will go a long way towards learning basis Spanish.

I paid full price but you can save 30% by clicking on the link below:

Receive an INSTANT 30% discount on Visual Link Spanish


There are 13 Lessons:



Each lesson is subdivided into three sections:



Screenshot of the interactive "Learn" section:


Screenshot of "Vocab. Exercises" section:


Screenshot of the interactive "Review Game" section:



Screenshot of the interactive "Practice Quiz" section:



Screenshot of the interactive "Learn" section:

Rome is a very beautiful city full of rich history. It seems everywhere you turn there are fine examples of ancient Roman architecture. The Pantheon is one such building among many.

The Pantheon (Latin Pantheon^[1], from Greek Πάνθειον Pantheon, meaning "Temple of all the gods") is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt circa 125 AD during Hadrian's reign. The intended degree of inclusiveness of this dedication is debated. The generic term pantheon is now applied to a monument in which illustrious dead are buried. It is the best preserved of all Roman buildings, and perhaps the best preserved building of its age in the world. It has been in continuous use throughout its history. The design of the extant building is sometimes credited to the Trajan's architect Apollodorus of Damascus, but it is equally likely that the building and the design should be credited to the emperor Hadrian or his architects. Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Christian church. The Pantheon is currently the oldest standing domed structure in Rome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 metres (142 ft). - From Wikipedia

Here are some great books on Rome from Amazon.com.

Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)

Top 10 Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)

Pocket Map and Guide Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE)

Rick Steves' Rome 2008 (Rick Steves)Roman Architecture

City Walks: Rome: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks)

Fodor's Essential Italy, 1st Edition: Rome, Florence, Venice & the Top Spots In Between (Fodor's Gold Guides)

Time Out Rome (Time Out Guides)

Well, I was stuck in Cordoba, Argentina. One of the few passes between Argentina and Chile was closed last Tuesday. That is one of the risks traveling by bus during the winter months through the Andes. Unfortunately I had to return the next day because I am flying back to California on Friday. Hmm, buying a ticket the same day of the departure is always good for the wallet.

Guanajuato is a wonderful colonial city located in the geographic center of Mexico, about three and half-hours from Mexico City and is the capital of the state of the same name.


Guanajuato was founded in 1554 and received the designation as a city in 1741 and is well known for its wealth of fine colonial era Spanish architecture.


Although nestled in the Veeder mountains, over 2,000 meters (6,562 ft) above sea level, Guanajuato is easily accessible on foot. Buildings of various colors climb the side of the mountains surrounding the city center. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and city planners must follow strict guidelines when building and rehabilitating buildings in order to maintain their colonial integrity.


The name "Guanajuato" comes from the Tarascan (P'urhépecha) word, "Quanax-juato", which means "place of frogs".

"The city was originally built over the Guanajuato River, which flowed through tunnels underneath the city. However, after years of raising buildings to accommodate repeated flooding, in the mid-twentieth century, engineers built a dam and redirected the river into underground caverns. The tunnels were lit and paved with cobblestones for automobile traffic, and this underground road network carries the majority of cars driving through the city today. It is one of the most noticeable features of the city.

After central Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico coast, Guanajuato was one of the first areas of Mexico colonized by the Spanish, in the 1520s, for its rich silver deposits. Guanajuato's colonial architecture is very well preserved along with over 35 old churches in its capital alone, and is very European in nature." Source: en.wikipedia.org

Suggested Books, Guides and Maps at Amazon.com:

Colonial Mexico 2 Ed: A Guide to Historic Districts and Towns

Guanajuato State & Guanajuato City Map

Guanajuato State Map by Guia Roji

Guanajuato, Mexico: Your Expat, Study Abroad, and Vacation Survival Manual in the Land of Frogs

The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico: The Expatriate's Guide to Moving, Retiring, or just hanging out

Mummies of Guanajuato

United States Visas

A brief explaination of what a visa is and which types exists are explained below (taken directly from www.unitedstatesvisas.gov

If you're a citizen of a foreign country, in most cases you'll need a visa to enter the United States.

A visa doesn't permit entry to the U.S., however. A visa simply indicates that your application has been reviewed by a U.S. consular officer at an American embassy or consulate, and that the officer has determined you're eligible to enter the country for a specific purpose. Consular affairs are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of State.

A visa allows you to travel to the United States as far as the port of entry (airport or land border crossing) and ask the immigration officer to allow you to enter the country. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter the United States. He or she decides how long you can stay for any particular visit. Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

There are two categories of U.S. visas: immigrant and nonimmigrant.

Immigrant visas are for people who intend to live permanently in the U.S. Nonimmigrant visas are for people with permanent residence outside the U.S. but who wish to be in the U.S. on a temporary basis - for tourism, medical treatment, business, temporary work or study.

Categories of Temporary Visas:

• (B-1/B-2) - Visitors of Business or Pleasure
  
• (D-1) - Crewmen
  
• (E-1) - Treaty Traders
  
• (E-2) - Treaty Investors
  
• (E-3) - Australian Professionals
  
• (F-1) - Student Visa - more information can be obtained here.
  
• (H-1B) - Temporary Professional Workers
  
• (H-1B) - Temporary Agricultural Workers
  
• (H-2B) - Temporary Skilled and Unskilled Workers
  
• (H-3) - Trainees
  
• (I) - Foreign Journalists
  
• (J-1) - Exchange Visitor Visa - more information can be obtained here.
  
• (K-1) - Fiancees of U.S. Citizens
  
• (K-3) - Spouses of U.S. Citizens
  
• (L-1) - Intracompany Transferees
  
• (M-1) - Vocational Students
  
• (O) - Persons of Extraordinary Ability
  
• (P) - Athletes and Entertainers
  
• (Q) - International Cultural Exchange Visitors
  
• (R) - Religious Workers
  
• (S) - Witnesses and Informants
  
• (T) - Victims of Human Trafficking
  
• (T and U) - Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000
  
• (TN) - Canadian and Mexican Professionals Under NAFTA ("TN")
  
• (V) - Certain Spouses and Children of Permanent Residents
  

Categories of Permanent Visas:

• Family Immigration
  
• Adopting a Child
  
• Marriage fo a Foreignn National
  
• Diversity Visa Program (Diversity Visa Lottery) - more information can be obtained here.
  
• Employment Visa
  
• Employment: Iraqi or Afghan translator/interpreters
  
• Employment: Iraqis - Worked for/on behalf of US Government
  
• Employment: Religious Workers
  

Useful Links:

Visa information to prospective students.
How to get a U.S. Visa.
Locate a consulate office.
Answers to frequently asked questions

Visa Statistics - Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas Issued at Foreign Service Posts - 2007:

Immigrant Categories:

Immediate Relatives - 154,760

Special Immigrants - 701

Vietnam Amerasian immigrants - 102
Family Sponsored Preference - 131,407
Employment-Based Preference - 29,712
Armed Forces Special Immigrants - 1
DV Diversity Transition (Lottery) - 48,085
Schedule A Worker - 0

Total - 364,768

Nonimmigrant Categories:

Visas Issued - 4,881,632

Border Crossing Cards - 0
(B1/B2/BCCs) - [836,407]

Total - 4,881,632

Quebec City truly has a European feel. Many people here speak French (or prefer to). The older section of the city is wonderful. If you are in the Northeast region of Canada you should definitely try to visit. Quebec City is my most favorite city north of the Mexican border. It may be a little more expensive to fly too since it is not a major hub. I usually rent a car from Montreal and drive there.