It’s spring in the other half of the world and last month we traveled north to La Serena and the Elqui Valley. Both places sit at the southern end of the Atacama Desert, the driest place in the world, So green isn’t the most ever-present color in the area. But in the valley floors where streams and rivers might flow – green is everywhere.
The northernmost vineyards in Chile are found in the Elqui Valley. These are the grapes which are crushed, fermented and then distilled into Pisco, a brandy-like elixir.
A big surprise for us was discovering papaya is grown here. Grown on the steep sides of the mountains you identify them by their dark green color.
September is bud break time for grape vines.
As you drive closer to the Argentina border you leave the vineyards behind and enter into areas where the most green you may find is on a road sign.
woolyandraeski 