Tony’s birthday, Dec. 8, happens to fall on the Day of Immaculate Conception. That would be awesome in itself, but bonus! – we also usually get that day off work in Chile. Unfortunately, it fell on a Saturday in 2018. That didn’t mean we had to sit around and cry, though. We took off for a weekend trip to San Jose de Maipo with our friends Stella and Ian.
Just an hour from our Santiago neighborhood, Trattoria Calypso offers outdoor seating with mountain views, fresh air, decent food and wine, and great people-watching. We were the first ones there for lunch, but it wasn’t long before the place was packed. We’ve heard people often wait hours for a table.
After lunch, we drove a bit further to our stunning accommodations at Lodge Andino el Ingenio. Our room’s French doors opened to a lush lawn and shady trees with views of an expansive walnut orchard and the nearby mountains. We dropped our bags and immediately hopped back in the car to visit the hot springs at Termas Valle de Colina.
Nine outdoor pools feature mineral-rich water heated by the San José Volcano to temperatures ranging from 25 to 55℃ (77-131℉). Soaking in the pools is said to cure joint pain, skin ailments, and even depression. Who knows? But simmering in a natural hot tub in that stunning setting, looking around at all the smiles, and sharing such a weird experience with special friends, I did feel pretty darn blissful.
Note to self: Bring drinking water next time. By the time we finished our steamy soak, we were completely dehydrated.
Back at the lodge, we hung out on the lawn for awhile before heading inside for dinner. Stella may or may not have smuggled some of these decorative walnuts out in her bra.
The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast al fresco.
Isn’t it great when a weekend get-away feels more like an extended holiday?
