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My little NAV/OSD project - under construction
Posted 14 June 2007 - 05:49 PM
I have an EB-85A GPS module (5Hz updates) and feeding a dsPIC30F4012 controller. So far I've managed to get the whole thing running at 115kbaud and pumping the output to a 16x2 LCD display (mainly for diagnostics - LCD will not be in the final config I think). The GPS is working and I have Lon, Lat, Heading, Speed, Alt, all coming out nicely. The module itself doesn't start reliably though, sometimes I have to disconnect power and reconnect - I need to look into this but it's not a major concern for me right now. I'm just happy to have the basic platform and code working now.
Next, I'll be slapping on the OSD (BOB-4 for the higher resolution - I like the pretty fonts) and getting the SPI portion working. Unfortunately I will be away for a few days from tomorrow onwards and won't be back till mid-week. Once I get back, I reckon I should be able to get everything going within a day or two.
After that, I'll be adding bells and whistles - homing stuff, voltage reading, etc. The BOB-4 OSD is very expensive and so is the GPS module. Between the two, we're already almost at US$200.
After I get done with that, I'll be starting on the artificial horizon unit. Anyway, that's the plan. I'll try to post updates as I move along.
Posted 14 June 2007 - 07:31 PM
good luck,
Posted 15 June 2007 - 12:06 AM
just add a lithium coin cell to the battery backup,
then the EB85 works and remembers their settings, and aquire sats darn fast
Posted 15 June 2007 - 01:14 AM
As for my tests - I took the GPS out for a ride just now and noticed that the unit needs good GPS coverage in order to produce reliable altitude readings. This may be a problem of mine because I had the GPS sitting on the dashboard and driving in an urban area often with tall buildings obscuring the sky view. My tests, however, led me to think that a barometric altimeter may work much better for navigation. I guess that's what I'll be looking into next. I'll also have to start thinking about current readings and getting hold of a hall-current sensor.
What's encouraging though, is that the basic platform is working very well and now it's a matter of adding code and peripherals. I find with these projects that the hardest part is getting it off the ground and going.
Posted 15 June 2007 - 06:30 AM
Posted 15 June 2007 - 08:38 AM
The other thing that I'm trying to do is to see if I can run the SPI in a uni-directional mode, ie. I just want to send stuff to the BOB-4 and I really don't care about anything that's coming from it. If this works, I can cut down on one extra wire. There is also a supposed problem with the BOB-4's 75MHz clock interfering with the GPS signal. For this I have ordered a 74MHz clock to replace the troublesome part but that will have to wait a while. Right now my main concern is to get the interface working properly, grrr.... why can't they make up their mind about their operating voltage.
Does anyone know if the SPI will work if I just send data from the master to the slave device and not connect the return data path (assuming I only care about sending the data and there is only one device on the bus)?
Meanwhile, I've improved the GPS code a little bit and it's really nice looking at the info showing up on the LCD. I'm thinking of getting a bigger LCD for more on-screen info. The comms is interrupt driven so it should be quite robust. I need to test to see if it suffers from the lagging updates problem that Thomas mentioned. I'm running this at 115kbaud and I seem to recall a bit of lagging in the altitude earlier on, but was not sure if that was due to the satellite lock changing or if there is a problem with the system. The controller is currently running at 20MIPS so I should have enough computing power to get some other nice things done.
Posted 15 June 2007 - 10:54 AM
the way the height is calculated with GPS units makes height the most unacurate parameter, just dont change the height to fast up or down,
since it can also screw up your position information.
I have now also yesterday found another bug on the EB85A:
sometimes when changing direction and height fast,
the speed readout can goto 0 for 1-5 sec !!
while this happen all other parameters count fine, proving the NMEA still run fine.
try to fly 100m with the wind and 100m towards the wind,
and when you fly with the wind try to dive a bit so your ground speed change fronm 20kmh to 120kmh, the dive can be 10-20ms,
you need a powerfull plane or just plenty of wind,
I have a video clip that show I can make the SPEED indicator flip out this way,
I dont know if it is the direction change, or height change that confuses the EB85
but I have double checked the readouts and calculations to be relayable from 0-1500kmh
Posted 15 June 2007 - 01:58 PM
I just swapped out the 75mhz clock for a 74mhz on my Bob-4. It completely fixes the interference.
Posted 20 June 2007 - 10:05 AM
In the meanwhile - Woohoo!!!! Progress!
I must say, it's a nasty thing trying to interface 5V logic with 3.3V logic. I just spent 2-days straight with hardly any sleep trying to get the microcontroller talking nicely with the BOB-4. Halfway through that, I realized that the GPS wasn't talking either (it was earlier on another board) - which led to some panic, thinking I blew the GPS module. After much anxiety and lack of sleep, I finally nailed it down with a small level shifter (1-transistor ugly job but it works) - and the GPS was talking to the controller again.
So back to the BOB-4, after poring over it for hours upon hours, I still could not get it to talk on the SPI bus (although the UART interface works). As it turned out, eventually, there were a bunch of things wrong. First of all, that interface thing is finickier than I had anticipated. Furthermore, there was some confusion on my part as to the SPI I/O pins with the labelling. Then there was a problem that BOB-4 will only work properly in framed (handshaking mode) which was not mentioned anywhere. On top of that, it could not accept the clocking speed that I was testing at, which wasted me a lot of time barking up the wrong tree. To cut a long story short, I finally nailed each of the bugs down and got the framed mode going. When I powered up the controller, I thought something was wrong because the screen cleared - and to my surprise, text started showing up!! Before it was just gibberish!
So, right now - I got the GPS working and talking to the controller. I've taken it out with me for a few rides and it actually works quite well sitting on the dashboard. Usually I get about 10-11 satellites when driving on open roads. The GPS altitude is still a little quirkier than I like - there's still some lag on it (serial running at 115kbaud). Maybe it won't happen on a plane but I've not tested it. I should also add that I have added a connected on my controller for an LCD display which I can plug or unplug as needed. It's currently a 4x20 character display but can easily by a 2x16 one (which was what I was using earlier before I got the bigger display). This allows me to test the unit away from the computer (and show it off to my friends :-)).
I have the whole thing on a board about the size of the BOB-4 (SIMM version) and the two boards are stacked with brass spacers so it is quite small (though not as small as some of the dedicated units). I have ordered a pressure sensor to test so I'll be looking at that. Right now I need to clean up the code and get the basic display going before I start adding too many features. The good thing is that the biggest hurdles are over and I can't wait to really test this thing now. I'll try to post some photos of the board (now in it's second ugly incarnation) later. It's pretty compact and I'll probably just use it as it is although I'm likely to build another one, neater, now that I know all the design issues.
Posted 20 June 2007 - 08:31 PM
Posted 21 June 2007 - 07:06 AM
For most of the code testing, I am presently using an LCD display to give me more mobility. Of course, the LCD will not be on the plane (unless I want it there). The backlight consumes quite a lot of power but I can turn it off if I want to.
I have currently disabled the BOB-4 while awaiting the crystal to swap into the board so as to avoid interfering spurs on the GPS frequency. With the BOB-4 on, the GPS has a really hard time getting a lock from a cold start. In fact, I suspect my controller circuit may also be contributing somewhat to that. I'm going to try to find some ferrite cores and put them on the GPS module cabling to cut that down a bit if possible.
Here are some photos of the module thus far - this is my second test board.
Edited by Daniel Wee, 21 June 2007 - 07:08 AM.
Posted 22 June 2007 - 12:19 AM
Posted 22 June 2007 - 02:09 AM
Thanks for the heads-up. As a matter of fact I did find that site earlier but their proposed schemes didn't work. It looked very attractive because they offered a very simple passive solution but in the end I needed an active solution for the GPS UART interface. The diode scheme worked for the SPI interface though.
Now I wish I had another SPI port because I could have added logging to an SD card. Alas, pins and time are always too little. I'm running into a hardware resource crunch right now. In order to implement a homing scheme, I will need 2 PWM outputs and 2 PWM inputs, but I also need those same pins for my barometric pressure sensor. I also need another 2 PWM inputs to talk to my other pitch/roll attitude board (dedicated board running computations off the 5DOF IMU), and another PWM input for controlling the OSD remotely. At this moment, it is impossible to implement all of that so something must go. I reckon, I'll give up the artificial horizon for the moment and maybe just have a simple rudder home scheme without elevator control. I've no idea how this will work out though.
Meanwhile, I've got quite a bit of the OSD done and it's starting to look quite nice. I'm working on a nice recticule for the heading and homing indicators. I'll post something once I get some nice results.
Posted 22 June 2007 - 11:46 AM
Posted 22 June 2007 - 05:37 PM
And if you want to see the short clip of it in video format (DiVx):-
OSD Test Clip 1
Posted 22 June 2007 - 10:22 PM
Posted 23 June 2007 - 06:27 AM
I've started adding more advanced software features to the unit. One of the features I have is a progressive low altitude warning - that is, the further you are, the higher the altitude floor warning goes. Some of the information, such as peak values, will only show up once the plane has come to a stop. There are a few more such features I'm including. I'm still trying to decide on the final feature set. I've also moved the GPS data to a better position and added code so that this info only appears when hunting for satellites at startup and when you go below the altitude warning is active. Normal flight will not have the GPS position data visible, only when too low or landing.
Edited by Daniel Wee, 23 June 2007 - 06:34 AM.
Posted 23 June 2007 - 08:32 AM
Posted 23 June 2007 - 04:39 PM
Posted 23 June 2007 - 05:01 PM
Now, I will have to measure the camera and TX to try to see how much operating time I can get out of my batteries. I wonder how much the other OSDs are drawing as a norm. There's nothing I've got to compare with but I suspect those that are not using the BOB-4 in their designs are likely to draw a bit less.


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This product can only be shipped within the United States. Please don't hate us.

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Masks 2 Windows Masks Scubapro Masks
This product is also available in other sizes/colors: Scuba Pro Spectra Two Window Mask Black/Bronze Scuba Pro Spectra Two Window Mask Black/Silver Scuba Pro Spectra Two Window Mask Red
Related Categories: Spectra Two Window Mask | Scout Two Window Mask | Ist Pro Ear Two Window Mask | Genesis Sl Two Window Mask Ice Blue | Solo One Window Mask | Tusa Geminus Two Window Mask | Pro Ear Two Window Mask | Liberator Plus Two Window Mask
This product has a limited warranty of 12 months.
www.scubapro.com(800) 468-2822
Whats in the box:Mask with Mask Box
(based on 21 reviews)
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Great Mask... Amazing price!!!
This Is a great mask. I bought mine for 84 at my local scuba shop and couldnt believe the price when i found it here at leisure pro. I was thinkin is this too ...Read complete review
This Is a great mask. I bought mine for 84 at my local scuba shop and couldnt believe the price when i found it here at leisure pro. I was thinkin is this too good to be true but its the real deal. i would highly reccomend the Black silver color scheme. It has the black skirt and lack and silver frame. the black skirt is softer and in my opinion seals very well. Overall I would say DO IT!!!
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Mask seems high quality, but with little pressure it would push on my brow bones where the plastic frame comes together in the middle of the mask. I don't have oddly prominent bones structure ...Read complete review
Mask seems high quality, but with little pressure it would push on my brow bones where the plastic frame comes together in the middle of the mask. I don't have oddly prominent bones structure or anything so may be a problem for others. I am returning it for a frameless mask like we ordered for my wife. Feels much better.
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Best Mask For Me!
By Timo
from Mexico
About Me Advanced
See all my reviews
Comments about Scubapro Scuba Pro Spectra Two Window Mask:
Well, I can't comment on the size because everyone has a different face. It fits mine, thats all I can say. What I can comment on is everything else. Range of vision is really good, and it never fogs (if you do the right "treatments" first). Just remember to either rub the lenses with a non-gel toothpaste to remove the chemical film that the manufacturer puts on it. Burning it off is also an alternative. Then treat it to the usual predive spit (or baby shampoo, but experience has taught me that spitting is more effective against fogging). Lent it to a friend while trying to find her own mask on the bottom of the ocean, and she loved it too.All in all, I love it (mine is black and orange). Best fit for me. Still better to try different masks on in a dive shop or elsewhere prior to buying online. Sure, replacement is easy here but it can become a pain after the third time of sending it back.
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Emilio Garcin
By chinosg
from mexico
Great mask! it leaks a bit when you have a mustache, but otherwise it works perfectly and it is extremely comfortable! Easy to purge too.
excellent mask, a little tough to clear.
By judah neill
from fl
About Me Casual/ Recreational
Excellent quality mask looks great feels great works great just a little tough to clear compared to other masks.
No leaks and fits great!
By Scuba G
from Washington, DC
Mask is great. Tried it on at a local dive shop to make sure it'd work for me. Very low volume and extremely easy to clear. The adjustment straps are a bit of a pain to use, but other than that, great mask.
Best purchase Ive made yet!
By Bird
from FLA
About Me Beginner
I have a big head and nose, so I had to look for a special mask to fit my chrome dome! This mask was perfect!
Scuba Pro Spectra Two Window Mask Silver/Blue
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Rolex Rankings No. 52
Rolex Rankings No. 36
This is the first year for the event.
Can Stacy Lewis defend her title?
This week is all about...Anna Nordqvist
Chella Choi answers 18 fun questions
Karin Sjodin and Jodi Ewart had the Frontier Perfect Landings during the third round of the Wegmans LPGA Championship.


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Maya Angelou is a poet and prize-winning memoirist. She is the author of the critically acclaimed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
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Maya Angelou - On the Pulse of Morning
Listen to the poem Maya Angelou read at President Bill Clinton's inauguration on January 20, 1993.
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A short biography of author and poet Maya Angelou who wrote the bestselling autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."
Alice Walker - The Mysterious Wonder of Life
Author Alice Walker began writing early in life. When an injury to her left eye afforded her the chance to go to College, Walker began to work towards her goal of becoming a professional writer.
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While at Spelman College, Alice Walker turned down a scholarship to study abroad in Paris in order to go to Mississippi to pursue civil rights equality.
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Play NowMaya Angelou. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 03:04, Jun 19, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/maya-angelou-9185388.
Maya Angelou. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/maya-angelou-9185388 [Accessed 19 Jun 2013].
"Maya Angelou." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Jun 19 2013, 03:04 http://www.biography.com/people/maya-angelou-9185388.
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Maya Angelou. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/maya-angelou-9185388. Accessed Jun 19, 2013.
Writer and African-American activist Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Maya Angelou's five autobiographical novels were met with critical and popular success. Her volume of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. In 1993, Angelou wrote a poem for Clinton's inauguration. In 2008, she earned a NAACP Award.
"The caged bird sings with a fearful trill/ of things unknown but longed for still/ and his tune is heard on the distant hill/ for the caged birds sings of freedom."
"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."
"We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated."
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
"Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning."
"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"
Early Years
Multitalented barely seems to cover the depth and breadth of Maya Angelou's accomplishments. She is an author, actress, screenwriter, dancer and poet. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Angelou had a difficult childhood. Her parents split up when she was very young, and she and her older brother Bailey were sent to live with their father's mother, Anne Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas.
As an African American, Angelou experienced firsthand racial prejudices and discrimination in Arkansas. She also suffered at the hands of a family associate around the age of seven. During a visit with her mother, Angelou was raped by her mother's boyfriend. Her uncles killed the boyfriend for the sexual assault. So traumatized by the experience, Angelou stopped talking. She returned to Arkansas and spent years as a virtual mute.
During World War II, Angelou moved to San Francisco. There she won a scholarship to study dance and acting at the Labor School. Angelou worked for a time as the first female African American cable car conductor. In 1944, the 16-year-old future literary icon gave birth to her son Guy. Angelou worked a number of jobs to support herself and her son.
Career Beginnings
In the mid-1950s, Angelou's career as a performer started to take off. She landed a role in a touring production of Porgy and Bess. Angelou later appeared off-Broadway in Calypso Heat Wave and released her first album Miss Calypso. A member of the Harlem Writers Guild and a civil rights activist, she organized and starred in the musical revue Cabaret for Freedom as a benefit for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Angelou served as the SCLC's northern coordinator.
In 1961, Angelou appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean Genet's The Blacks with James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett, Jr. and Cicely Tyson. While the play earned strong reviews, she moved on to other pursuits. Angelou spent much of the 1960s living abroad. She first lived in Egypt and then in Ghana, working as an editor and a freelance writer. Angelou also held a position at the University of Ghana for a time.
Angelou returned to the United States. At the urging of her friend, writer James Baldwin, she began writing about her life experiences. The result of her efforts became the 1970 best-selling memoir about her childhood and young adult years entitled I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This poignant work made Angelou an international literary star.
Angelou soon broke new creative ground, becoming the first African American woman to have her screenplay produced. She wrote the 1972 drama Georgia, Georgia. Continuing to act, Angelou earned a Tony Award nomination for her role in the 1973 play Look Away and an Emmy Award nomination for her work in the 1977 television miniseries Roots.
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They are the famous African-American writers who have fearlessly examined cultural stigmas, provided intimate life details, presented new ideas and created remarkable fiction through literary works. For their prophetic genius, these men and women have received Pulitzer Prizes, NAACP awards and even Nobel Prizes, among other honors. Our list of prominent African-American authors includes Toni Morrison, who has detailed the lives of black characters who struggle with identity amidst racism and hostility; Langston Hughes, a founder of the Harlem Renaissance; and Maya Angelou, who has eloquently chronicled various eras of her life through her autobiographies.
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We stayed at the hotel for a wedding we were attending. The walls around our window were crumbling and moldy. You could tell this was an old hotel that they had tried to update. The next morning was Sunday / Mother's Day. We were all dressed up and coming through the lobby at 11am, the floors were wet and we... More
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Keep clothes neat and tidy with this charming apron. Made of sturdy, easy-to-wash cotton canvas, its colorful vegetable appliqués are accented with satin stitching.
- 19.5" wide x 18" high
- Sewn of pure cotton percale with appliquéd vegetables.
- Features three pockets to hold cooking tools; tie closure.
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Please allow 5-7 business days for delivery. Delivery estimate includes monogrammed and gift-wrapped items.


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Baylor Handbook on the Greek New Testament
What distinguishes this series from other available resources is the detailed and comprehensive attention paid to the Greek text of the New Testament. Each handbook provides a convenient reference tool that explains the syntax of the biblical text, offers guidance for deciding between competing semantic analyses, deals with text-critical questions that have a significant bearing on how the text is understood, and addresses questions relating to the Greek text that are frequently overlooked or ignored by standard commentaries, all in a succinct and accessible manner.
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Colorectal cancer screening
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. There are many tests available to help detect this type cancer. Colorectal cancer is generally more treatable when it is found early, before it has a chance to spread. In fact, the American Cancer Society reports the five-year survival rate is about 90 percent.
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Contact your Cardinal Health sales representative for information about these products that help with the detection and screening of colorectal cancer.
Beckman Coulter® — Hemoccult® ICT testDetect human hemoglobin from blood in fecal samples with this rapid, qualitative immunochemical fecal occult blood test. The Hemoccult® ICT test offers significant benefits over traditional guaiac paper tests. It is specific to human hemoglobin, which results in fewer false positive readings. An increased specificity to lower GI bleeding makes it an ideal tool to screen for colorectal cancer. The test also helps eliminate the need for diet and drug restrictions, which makes it easier for patients to comply with the test. The safe and noninvasive test can be performed in a physician's office or at the patient's home. Results are clear and easy-to-read. CLIA-waived. Controls are also available separately. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo and Hemoccult are trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. and are registered in the USPTO. |
Beckman Coulter® — Hemoccult® SENSA slide testThis paper slide test is used for the enhanced detection of fecal occult blood. It includes the on-slide performance monitor feature to check the function and stability of each slide. Sensitive test is indicated to detect fecal occult blood. It is particularly useful as an aid in early detection of asymptomatic gastrointestinal conditions, including colorectal cancer. Test is easy-to-use and provides results within 60 seconds. Single-slide configuration includes applicators and developer solution. Stable for 36 months from date of manufacture when stored as directed. Beckman Coulter, the stylized logo, Hemoccult and SENSA are trademarks of Beckman Coulter, Inc. and are registered in the USPTO. Beckman Coulter® Hemoccult® SENSA slide test literature |
Hemosure® — iFOB testHemosure® iFOB tests are specifically designed for colorectal cancer screening. Clinicians can expect higher patient compliance due to no dietary or drug restrictions. Compared to guaiac testing, the test is more sanitary and user-friendly. Also provides higher specificity, sensitivity and accuracy as compared to the traditional guaiac test. T1-CK30 is ideal for use in a doctor's office, while T1-CK30T and T1-CK50 are excellent for use in a laboratory setting. |
Quidel® — QuickVue® iFOB testThe QuickVue® iFOB test is intended for the qualitative detection of fecal occult blood with results available in 5 to 10 minutes. Designed to be more sensitive than traditional guaiac-based methods, it has no dietary restrictions and requires only one specimen collection from the patient. It offers analytical sensitivity of 50ng hHb/mL buffer or 50μg hHb/g feces specific to human hemoglobin. The specimen collection tube doubles as a convenient/sanitary dispenser. Kits can be stored at room temperature for 24 months from date of manufacture. External controls (positive and negative) are also available separately. CLIA-waived. |
Immunostics — Hema-Screen Stat™ Slide testHema-Screen Stat™ is a self-contained testing format with the developer directly attached to the slide. It is released by pulling the patented DEVEL-A-TAB™. This one-step format provides simplicity, reliability and includes an on-slide control. Hema-Screen Stat™ reacts positively to hemoglobin levels of 2mg/mL with the Hema-Screen Stat™ test. Kit includes 50 two-hole slides with on-slide control and built-in developer and 50 applicators. Test is designed to help eliminate:
Aerscher Diagnostics — HemaPrompt™ FG Gastric and Fecal Occult Blood testsThis guaiac-based in vitro slide test can be used to detect fecal occult blood in feces and gastric aspirate or vomitus. The developer solution is built-in to each slide, so there is no developer bottle to misplace or misuse. The test is portable and helps you avoid cross-contamination. Each slide is also equipped with internal controls to monitor the effectiveness of the chemicals and the test. Test is sensitive to 100μg hemoglobin/mL gastric juice and 2mg hemoglobin/g stool. Results can be read from the card through a clear plastic window after 60 seconds. Slides should be stored at room temperature (from 10° to 22°C) and should be protected from heat, sunlight, fluorescent light, UV radiation, humidity, volatile chemicals and gases. Do not refrigerate or freeze. Slides are stable until expiration date. 50 tests per box. |
- National Cancer Institute, http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/colorectal-screening
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/features/colorectalawareness
- American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/index


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Round out the cheese platter with dried apricots stuffed with a decadent mix of creamy cheese, crunchy almonds and tangy dried cherries. Just 5 ingredients total!
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To toast nuts, bake uncovered in a shallow, ungreased pan at 350°F for 6 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. They're done when they're light brown.
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I'm back on Virgin Gorda after a few years away (except for a daytrip last year from St. John, which hardly counts) and falling in love with it all over again. Here's a link to my blog with full trip report and photos:
Falling in love again: Virgin Gorda
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I am soooo envious- we love Virgin Gorda. Have a wonderful time and thanks for the trip reports and photos!
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Looking forward to more photos and daily updates. I'm going to live vicariously through you while I nurse this silly cold.
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thanks for reading, y'all. Here's the next installment, with lots of photos, of our travel day and first whole day on Virgin Gorda. I'd meant to write these up as we went along, but time got away from me!
http://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2012/10/virgin-gorda-2012-travel-day-day-i.html -
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This one isn't a trip report so much as some photos of flowers and animals of the island:
Some I wasn't sure if I identified correctly. Any tips?
Emily -
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Next installment: a day spent at Spring Bay, then drinks at Mad Dog, then home for dinner and a dip in the pool.
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Might have been helpful if I'd actually included the link for Spring Bay, etc.:
http://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2012/10/virgin-gorda-day-ii.html -
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I always enjoy your reports. We have the same taste in islands. One day I'll get back to Spring Bay, but until I do, it's nice to have your pics in the meantime.
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Thanks, Jimmie. I live vicariously through other folks' trip reports and it seems to help!
Here's the next installment, whch is a photo tour of the villa in which I stayed:
http://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2012/10/photo-tour-of-euphoria-villa-leverick.html -
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Is there a decent beach around there? That seems to me to be the only drawback of the Leverick Bay area.
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We didn't love the Leverick Bay beach--pretty small, and not really interested in swimming there with all of the boats. we drove to beaches each day, but since we usually do that on vacation, it was never a big deal to us.
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really enjoying your report & photos. i like the night/flash pics of flowers quite a lot. thank you for sharing
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Thanks, Virginia. I was completely taken by surprise how some of those flash photos turned out. I rarely use a flash at all, but now I might experiment some more.
here's the next installment, in which we spend the day at Savannah Bay and dine at Nail Bay & the new place, CocoMaya -
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Shoot! Looks like I forgot to include the link again:
http://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2012/10/virgin-gorda-day-iii.html -
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Lovely, lovely report, as usual. I love reading your blog! We've been to many islands in the Caribbean but Virgin Gorda is one we haven't yet made it to. We're off to Grenada in a couple of weeks, another newbie for us.
I look forward to the rest of your trip report. -
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sharona, I hope you love Grenada and I look forward to reading all about your time there. Where are you staying?
Sorry about the delay in updating, but real life has reared its ugly head. here's the next installment (with lots of photos!), in which we visit the Baths, make a new friend, and in general enjoy the villa life:
http://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2012/11/virgin-gorda-day-5.html -
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Here's our last full day on the island, in which we visit Savannah Bay, Leverick Bay, and CocoMaya. Tons of photosL
http://asthecrowefliesandreads.blogspot.com/2012/11/virgin-gorda-day-6.html -
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Ahh, Virgin Gordaaaa...I think this is my favorite island (although we only went to St.John, Anguilla and VG). Thank you for the memories.
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Love love love Virgin Gorda. Took island hoping a few times until we found the island that was exactly what we were looking for. Thanks for the post and the photos. I can't wait to go back!
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Daystone, VG is fine for a toddler with adventurous parents. Not much in the way of sidewalks or playsets in the park but the beaches and people are very kid friendly.
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I agree with floatpilot: as long as you're not looking for entertainment beyond the beach or the flora & fauna for your young one, it would be great. no kids clubs, no entertainment geared towards the little tykes, etc.
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Auto Service in Leominster
Auto Service Deals
Lube 2 Go
Teams of detailers steam-clean car exteriors with eco-friendly water-vapor methods, and treat rims and tires with protectant
Mr. Perfection Inc
- Multiple Locations
In about four to six hours, staff thoroughly hand washes, buffs and waxes vehicle's exterior, as well as vacuums and steam cleans carpets
Lord's Detailing and Car Wash
- Downtown Everett
Techs scour interiors with vacuums and clean doors, windows, and dashboards before hand washing and waxing exteriors
Can You Hear It Car Audio Inc.
- East Longmeadow
Installed Pioneer radio comes with auxiliary jack to connect to iPod, MP3 player, and phone, as well as AM, FM, CD, and MP3 connectivity
Touch of Class Auto Salon
- Providence
Audiovox remote-starter system allows drivers to turn on the ignition with a key fob from a remote location
Top Class Auto Detailing, LLC
Thorough cleanings to vehicle exteriors include hand washing, bug and tar removal, rim and tire cleaning, and buff wax
Jamaica Plain Car Wash
- Jamaica Central - South Sumner
Automated wash tunnel cleanses cars with slick wax, wheel bright, tire shine and undercarriage foam wax
Recommended Auto Service by Groupon Customers
With each cleaning, Bubbles Car Wash's staff strives to leave cars thoroughly polished and shining. Customers choose a Single, Double, or Triple Bubble wash, with options that range from a basic bath and towel dry to a luxurious scrub that involves triple-foam polish and protective coats of Teflon. The auto experts and two-time finalists for CityVoter's Best Car Wash in 2011 and 2012 also venture into interiors during auto detailings, which evict grime and stains from seats and mats, and focus on their motto, "We don't sell car washes, we sell services." As car owners wait, they can surf the web on free WiFi.
At A-Z Auto Center, brothers Billy and Fredy run the detailing, auto-body, and mechanical-repair shop started by their dad more than 40 years ago, earning remarks for their "rare integrity" on sites such as Citysearch. As members of a AAA Approved Auto Repair service center, A-Z's automotive technicians uphold ASE standards during every repair, from replacing windshields to matching multilayer factory finishes as closely as possible through a sophisticated paint system. To simplify the repair process, team members can provide free estimates via uploaded vehicle images as well as quickly process insurance claims through their fleet of carrier pigeons. They can also give customers lifts home or help coordinate car rentals should their vehicles require extended service.
For 34 years, The Clean Machine's facility has been snatching unsuspecting autos right off the road, infusing them with liquid lifeblood, and scrubbing their sullied frames and interiors until they shine. Customers can steer their cars, SUVs, or vans into the car-care center and listen to the satisfied slurping sounds as their trusty steeds guzzle as much Exxon conventional oil as they need (synthetic oil is available for an extra fee). During the exterior car wash, the staff scans the car from bumper to bumper, using water and soap to wash away dirt and road debris. Drivers then choose to smother either the rugs or seats with shampoo, which helps clean out splotches from spilled soda, shoe muck, and backseat psychologists administering homemade Rorschach tests.
Though it has adopted advanced technology in its cleaning tunnels, Waves Car Wash still powers some of its services with the original drier: the sun. On the roof are 160 solar panels that soak up rays, fueling up to 20% of the facility's electrical output. The panels reflect Waves Car Wash's emphasis on green initiatives—others include biodegradable cleaning products and a recycling system for waste water. The shop also channels its vehicle-sprucing expertise to benefit charitable programs such as Wash for a Cause and Wash Away Thirst.
Meticulous treatments and a familial ambiance have enabled the wash spot to achieve its current level of altruism. Car washes ranked from Basic to Extreme glamorize vehicles with water, wax, and wheel pampering. Detailing, buffing, and headlight-restoration services leave cars looking so flashy that they'll begin attracting disco balls. Enamored patrons can even join the Always Clean Unlimited Wash Club, which grants them infinite cleanings in exchange for a monthly fee.
Drop off your horsepowered horseless carriage at Glenville Terrace Auto Body, where experienced professionals stand at the ready to remix your oily fluids and filters, allowing your ride to run smoother, longer, and with significantly less sweating. It's recommended to stop in for a change every 3,000 miles or, if you're one to spend your days off rolling back the odometer before your friend's dad finds out, every six months. After all, oil changes are an important part of routine car maintenance and can help you avoid interstate breakdowns and awkward silences in the cab or the tow truck. Glenville's friendly automotive masters will swap out your vehicle's black-liquid soul two separate times, ensuring effortless rides for 6,000 miles.
From their three locations, the auto mavens at Platinum Car Wash & Oil employ advanced water-reclamation systems and power-conscious equipment during cleaning and maintenance services. The facility's full-service car-wash tunnels spray paint jobs with Simoniz soaps, waxes, and foams before staff members dab rides with microfiber towels. They continue hands-on touch during signature or 20-minute express detailing sessions that unfold as auto owners explore the waiting area's magazines, complimentary WiFi, or leather couch cushions.
Opposed to using recycled or reprocessed oils, the crew spurs pistons with Mobil oil and complimentary top-offs between services. They also help boost car with lube services, such as transmission drains, tire rotations, and VPS fuel-rail services that dislodge harmful debris and misplaced CDs from fuel- and air-intake systems.


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Welcome Brisbane Home BuildersBrisbane Home Builders - OJ Pippin Homes builds affordable quality homes through out Brisbane and South East Queensland. Our company strives to give our clients a stress free building experience, whether it be to live in or to invest. All of our homes are Full Turn Key – no more to pay, 12 week build (single storey) with quality assurances and customer service second to none. If your looking to build on your own land, view the OJ Pippin Homes House designs page or if you also require land, OJ Pippin Homes have sourced land for great value House & Land Packages through out Brisbane, Goldcoast and the Sunshine coast. |


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The Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum will debut the film "O Say Can You See" Saturday. The film is a high-tech projection experience about the Star Spangled Banner and its significance in sports.
"O" Say Can you See: The Star Spangled Banner in Sports, was created by the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation in cooperation with the city-wide effort to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the war of 1812 and the battle of Fort McHenry in September, 1814.
The film will employ a new technology that projects images onto multiple surfaces creating a high-tech film experience. The film concludes with a composite rendition of the Banner, featuring bits of the song as performed by various artists and bands at sporting events.
"Many people are not aware of the historical connection of the Star Spangled Banner to sports, much less its connection to Babe Ruth," said Mike Gibbons, executive director of the Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation. "For instance, one thing you'll learn from the film was that Babe Ruth was the pitcher during the first game of the 1918 World Series in Chicago in which President Woodrow Wilson requested the song to honor World War One wounded veterans who attended the game."
On February 9, in addition to the film premiere, author Morris Eckhouse will host a special program about Babe Ruth's "Called Shot," one of baseball's most mythic and iconic moments at 11:00 a.m. at the Birthplace. Eckhouse has written and spoke about sports for over 30 years, and is the co-author of seven books.
A birthday cake celebration in honor of Ruth will take place at 12:30 p.m., followed by an additional historical program at 1:30 p.m.


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System and data backups
Mondo shows that backups don't need to be time consuming or difficult. This amazingly simple tool backs up complete hard disks or individual directories.
Imagine you spent days tweaking a system until you finally have everything working perfectly. The partitions are exactly as you need them, the operating systems are installed, and everything is working to your satisfaction. Before you actually put the system to productive use, it might be a good idea to back up your dream machine so that you can quickly restore the system if disaster strikes.
The open source Mondo backup utility can back up a complete operating system configuration. Mondo can back up your whole Linux installation or even an entire hard disk – including partitioning and the boot manager – onto a DVD, CD, or external NFS server. You can use Mondo to make an easy-to-restore copy of your Linux system. One of the goals of Mondo is to allow changes to the underlying system – such as the hardware or the filesystem – and still preserve the previous system configuration.
Read full article as PDF »
Mondo_and_Mindi.pdf (248.35 kB)Tag Cloud
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The new release supports nine architectures, 73 human languages, and zero non-Free components.
Alpha Version of Fedora 19 Released
Fedora developers release the first alpha version of Fedora 19, known as Schrödinger's Cat, for general testing. The final release is expected in July 2013.
ack 2.0 Released
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SUSE Studio 1.3 Released
New features in SUSE Studio 1.3 include enhanced cloud integration, VM platform support, and lifecycle management.
Xen To Become Linux Foundation Collaborative Project
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RunRev Releases Open Source Version of LiveCode
Open source version of LiveCode is now available for developing apps, games, and utilities for all major platforms.
OpenDaylight Project Formed
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how does objectivist politics stem the power and influnce of corporations? asked Jan 06 '12 at 15:28 trivas7 Greg Perkins ♦♦ |
Outside of regular and perfectly rational concern for objectivity in pursuit of justice, if politics has no power to influence the economy then there is no reason for economic entities to influence politics for economic purposes. The real issue is: how do we keep politics from interfering in economics in the first place? The answer is laissez-faire, and as a necessary philosophic foundation and practical prerequisite for that, a population constituted predominantly of individuals who understand in at least some form the epistemological and moral basis for laissez-faire and who act accordingly anywhere that thought about, discussion of and action upon the issues are indicated (eg inter-personal discussions, school as appropriate, the marketplace, the voting booth, and so on). JJM answered Jan 06 '12 at 19:36 JJMcVey ♦ |
Corporations would be subject to the same limitation that everyone else is: they cannot violate individuals' rights through force or fraud. answered Jan 06 '12 at 23:23 ericmaughan43 ♦ |
The short answer: There is only one standard of justice in the field of economics: the verdict of a free market. - The Ayn Rand Letter answered Jan 06 '12 at 16:03 dream_weaver ♦ |
What power and influence to corporations have? Doesn't it mostly involve the power to influence government to make laws that favor their business or disfavor their competitors? The first step in protecting against that is to not allow government to make such laws. There should be a clear separation of economics and state, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation between church and state. With government influence in the economy removed, any remaining potentially bad power and influence would involve the use or threat of force or fraud -- which are crimes. Protecting individuals from that kind of thing is the only valid role of government. All that remains is the ability for corporations to try to persuade others, peacefully, using reason. There's no need to curtail that type of power or influence; it's something that everyone participating in an economy has, to one degree or another. answered Jan 07 '12 at 10:00 Rick ♦ |
There is a widespread misconception that if left to their own devices corporations would expand and grow and take over the world. Presumably this is the unstated aspect of the questioner's question that has not been addressed by previous answers. In microeconomics (i.e. the economics of a corporation or a household) there is a powerful concept of "economies of scale." The most famous example of this is Henry Ford's ability to drive the price of cars down so low because he was able to mass produce them. While economies of scale is hugely important, an equally important concept (which is not discussed nearly as much as it should be) is DISeconomies of scale. The larger the organization the more "friction" there is to getting things done. Talk to anyone who's worked in a fortune 100 company and you'll quickly get overwhelmed by stories of inefficiencies and problems that hold the company back. Stories of political infighting, factions waging war against other factions, product A in the company stealing market share from product B in the company, misappropriation of funds, cronyism, etc. All of these limit the growth of a company. Note, in the above I haven't even mentioned competition, which is another external force that dooms all companies from getting too large. Thus, the entire concept of a company getting "too large" or "too powerful" is an invalid one in a free economy. If the government starts to dictate favors as many of the other posters have pointed out, then the companies can get larger, but these forces will still limit their growth. The laws of economics are just that. Laws. They cannot be violated. They are as immutable as the laws of physics. answered Jan 09 '12 at 08:11 John Hoffman ♦ |


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First and foremost -- GOD PARTS OF THAT MOVIE WERE DULL. The title card with the painfully slow-revolving moon to reveal "new moon" (backwards, so that I had a good 2 or 3 seconds to lol at 'oon') pretty much set the tone, I find.
Also, RPattz and KStew acting together is like... like... I don't even know. It's like watching kids in seventh grade drama read their lines off a page except they can only sort-of read so they take about two or three minutes to actually complete each line, with lots of stammering and mumbling. KStew does this weird blinky thing all the time, she constantly looks taken aback, and RPattz mumbles and talks through his teeth. I haven't really seen them in other roles so I don't know if it's just bad directing/source material or if they're legitimately godawful, but holy crap. Edward and Bella were as exciting as watching paint dry in the books, and in the movies omfg, I don't even. Did they really date in real life? If yes, why is their chemistry so nonexistent on the screen? All of their scenes together are like:
So anyway one of the first scenes is them in English class watching some old version of Romeo and Juliet and because they are BAD INFLUENCES DISRUPTING THE CLASS (lol, and everyone else seems to be super attentive, too -- Asian Kid cries) they sit there talking. And Edward's like, "MAN, I'M SO JEALOUS OF ROMEO!" And Bella's all, "why, because Juliet is hotter than me? IT'S BECAUSE SHE'S HOTTER THAN ME ISN'T IT!!!" and Edward's like "No, because humans can kill themselves so easily and I am Ancient and Forever!" And then he lists ways to kill yourself and tells her about his own suicide contigency plan, which is Plan Sparkle To Death. Omfg, I don't even know. I'm pretty sure this basically happens in the books anyway, but I've mostly wiped the books from my memory and seeinig it on screen complete with the stellar acting really hit it home. Do Edward and Bella ever have fun together, jw, or do they just sit around gazing and talking about their crippling insecurities?
So the whole time Lis and I were just like
And then he breaks up with her and ditches her in the forest and she wanders around for a while, and the whole sequence of Bella angsting is ust as painful as I remember it being in the books, where "painful" means "dull and tedious" rather than "compelling" or "well done". They did the blank-pages-of-angst thing by having Bella sit in a chair while the camera revolves around her really, really slowly and the seasons outside the window. It's basically like this:
Eventually we see a bit more of Jacob and there are occasional cameos from Bella's human "friends" (aka the poor souls she deigns worthy of her presence only when there are no more interesting supernatural creatures for her to be around), and those were probably my favourite parts of the movie. All of Bella's human friends are like fifty times funnier and more interesting than any of her vampire buddies. Face Punch was a legitimately hilarious scene.
And the Jacob/Bella stuff was pretty much how it was in the books, which is to say "more interesting than watching her interact with Edward". It almost even develops naturally! I've never cared enough about this series to care about ships, but I just don't understand Edward/Bella. So the middle of the movie carries on and it's kind of interesting for the most part because Jacob and Bella occasionally do things like smile or talk about stuff besides how in love they are, and the humans are awesome. And every so often Bella does something retarded so she can hallucinate Edward. There's a good one where she first does it, where she rides a on the back of a motorcyle with a total stranger while Edward repeatedly goes "NO!" or other similarly helpful advice. It's pretty much a series of scenes like this:
Blah blah stuff happens werewolves exist etc. I think one of my favourite parts is when Edward calls to see if Bella's dead and Jacob's all "CHARLIE IS ARRANGING A FUNERAL" and it cuts to a shot of Edward in some hovel of an apartment in the dark in a ripped shirt with the glowing Christ the Redeemer in the background. He makes an Angst Face and then CRUSHES HIS CELL TO DUST IN HIS HANDS. God it was awesome.
Volturi, angst, etc. I think the bit where Bella stops Edward from sparkling to death is probably the first/only time in the entire movie that RPattz smiles, just saying. What a happy couple. The meeting with the Volturi was pretty dull, because in Twilight even Italian vampire mafias are boring as hell. Dakota Fanning gets her Crucio on, stuff happens, there's some slow-mo matrix fighting.
All of this is unimportant because suddenly we see THE BEST scene HANDS DOWN. Michael Sheen is all "OMG SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH WE SHOULD KILL HER LOLZ" and Alice is like, "BUT SOON SHE WILL BE SPARKLY LIKE US! I'VE SEEN IT! I'LL DO IT MYSELF!" And it cuts to Alice's ~vision~ of the future.
The second the forest frolicking scene becomes a gif I want someone to let me know immediately.
Anyway they go back to Forks abruptly and Edward is creepy s'more. They do the family vote on Bella's vampireness and then they have a few more conversations about souls. By this time it was like 1AM and RPattz and KStew were acting off each other again and I was just like
Eventually Jacob shows up and angsts and they foreshadow Eclipse a bit more and it ends on Edward's "WILL U MARRY ME?" while KStew blinks and looks taken aback. As soon as the screen went black and the credits started I was pretty much like
In sum, it was kind of the movie equivalent of tl;dr. There was some interesting stuff in the middle but it was framed by such boring shit I didn't even care. The lulz were not abundant enough.


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First of all, I would like to thank all the devs for creating a wonderful OS. I tried Ubuntu and it wouldn't pick up my Nvidia card, but Sabayon did .
Ok now onto to the question.
I was wondering if there was a way to install MSN using the Windows emulator, wine. If there is, can someone please explain to me how this could be done? If you're curios as to why I want MSN when theres Pidgin, aMSN etc. Well its because I need a messenger that allows Video support. I know Kopete has Video support but I haven't been able to emerge it. I keep getting the same error over and over again even after I try to fix it.
Thanks in advance,


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1776...As the American Revolution rages on, the New Jersey Militia crosses into Queens to disarm and arrest British loyalists in Newtown.
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Highlights: Chile (Santiago, Puerto Bories, Puerto Varas, San Pedro de Atacama, San Antonio Valley)
Chile from tip to tip takes you on a journey through some of the highlights of this beautiful country blessed with breathtaking sights. Chile is a country with some of the most amazing natural beauty on earth. On this trip, travel across the country from the southern Patagonia, to the snow capped mountains of the Andes mountain range all the way north to the jaw dropping landscapes and skies of the Atacama Dessert. And to top it off, visit the wine region with no need for a flight, just south of Santiago. A real treat for nature, photography and adventure lovers, through a combination of private and small group excursions (8 people at a time) you will discover a number of wonderful sights Chile has to offer. For more of Chile, ask us about Easter Island, Chiloe Island extensions or more!
Private airport transfer in Santiago with a guide and driver.
Please note: Upon arrival by air, American and Canadian visitors to Chile are required to pay a reciprocity fee of US$131 for American and US$132 for Canadian. Other nationalities will vary. Upon payment, cash, credit card or travelers checks, a receipt will be stapled at the back of passport and is valid for the duration of the passport. Subject to change without notice. Please consult with the Chilean consulate for full details.
Located at the Airport of Santiago with easy access to several areas of the city, this hotel features a modern design and is equipped with the highest standards of services. The hotel offers 112 rooms distributed on five floors. All rooms have king or 2 queen beds, and flat screen tv's. Moreover, there is a restaurant, bar, room service, heated jacuzzi, 2 single saunas, parking, Wi-Fi in all areas of the hotel, and seven conference rooms to accommodate up to 170 persons.
Lan Pass - At time of booking, there may be a reduced airfare for your flights within Chile. Ask your Sales Consultant who will be able to assist you with this request.
Fly direct from Santiago to Punta Arenas. The flight duration is approximately 3.5 hours. Please note: Direct flight is subject to availability at time of booking. Flight rates and availability are subject to change until booking
Upon your arrival into Punta Arenas airport, you be met by a driver from The Singular Patagonia for your shared transfer to the hotel. This shared transer is offered as a complimentary service for guests of The Singular only.
The hotel is located in the converted "Frigorifico Puerto Bories", a post-Victorian cold-storage plant built in 1915. This industrial complex was originally built by the "Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego" to process and export frozen meat to Europe. The cattle came from all over the Patagonia, including across the Andes in Argentina. The factory was in operation for 70 years, generating work and contributing to the development of the region. After a long period of neglect, the building was restored to its former industrial grandeur and as a result of the meticulous conservation, was declared a National Monument in 1996.
Choose from a wide range of options during your stay at The Singular Patagonia.
Basic, Medium and Experts level activities are available at your disposal; from trekking to horseback riding, to kayaking, you are sure to have a fantastic day exploring this beautiful landscape! Following is a list of some of the expeditions available, for more details please ask you Sales Consultant:
Basic Level
Full Day: Trekking Sierra Baguales, Trekking and sailing – Isla Focus, Discovering Torres del Paine National Park
Half Day: Sailing to Punta Jamón, Visit to Shotel Aike Wetland – Cerro Castillo, Visit to Puerto Bories Industrial Museum, Puerto Natales, Land of Pioneers, Cycling around Puerto Natales
Medium Level:
Full Day: Sailing around the Patagonia Fjords: Serrano and Balmaceda Glaciers and Lago Azul, Horse riding to Puerto Bories
Half Day: Cycling around Laguna Sofía, Trekking Seno Ultima Esperanza or Last Hope Sound overlooking point, Trekking to the Mylodon Caves, Trekking and Watching Andean Condors, Horse Riding around Laguna Sofía – Las Cuevas, Horseback Riding to Mylodon Cave, Horse riding to Puerto Bories
Expert Level:
Full Day: Trekking to the base of Torres del Paine and The Wonders of Torres del Paine National Park
A variety of expeditions await for you to explore the Patagonia today!
Another day to enjoy a variety of expeditions included in your package at The Singular Patagonia.
Upon checking out, you'll be met by a driver for your shared transfer to the airport in Punta Arenas. The transfer takes approximately 4 hours.
Fly direct from Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt.
Enjoy a private transfer from Puerto Montt to Puerto Varas with private vehicle and English speaking Driver. Approximate transfer time is 30 minutes.
They are a concept hotel aiming to blend the highest level of service in the region with the warmth and comfort of home, nestled in the natural beauty of Puerto Varas, in the heart of southern Chile. They invite you to be moved by the amazing views from our world class rooms, while you experience their unique style of service, designed to complement the awe-inspiring surroundings.
Depart from Puerto Varas with private vehicle, driver and English speaking guide for a short drive north to the city of Llanquihue, industrial town where the natural outlet for the waters of the Llanquihue Lake is located (the Maullin River). From this cute town, take a country road mostly used by locals and dairy trucks, on the lakeside, that will provide beautiful sights of the mountains and the bucolic countryside. On the way, you will see some of the main products of their region: sugar beet, potatoes, but above all, the salmon farms that have made Chile the third producer in the world of this delicious fish. By noon, Frutillar is reached. A village settled like many others by German immigrants, but unlike other villages, still keeping its European influence in its architecture and gardens. Frutillar is very famous in Chile as a summer resort, mainly due to its calm waters and its Classic music festival. A good piece of advice would be to visit its German Colonial Museum, an outdoor museum that transports visitors to the 1850s while enchanting them with scents coming from its botanic park, amid which, the museum is located. In such a relaxed atmosphere, lunch awaits. After lunch return trip to your hotel in Puerto Varas.
We will start our tour from Puerto Varas , known as the "City of Roses", headin towards the Osorno Volcano, bordering the Llanquihue Lake, enjoying beautiful sceneries decorated by the Osorno and Calbuco Volcanoes. We will drive to "Ensenada" area where we will start to climb the Osorno Volcano until we get to the Ski Centre, located at 1.240 meters over sea level. We will stay at this place for about an hour so you can enjoy the view and take pictures of the Lake and Volcanoes with their eternal snow caps. Lunch on site included. Afterwards, we will continue to the Petrohue area, located at the borders of the lake of Todos Los Santos (All Saints Lake) in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Here you will enjoy a soft hike on trails surrounded by the everlasting green colors of our forests. The majesty of the Osorno Volcano and the turquoise waters of Petrohue River decorate wonderfully this activity. Visit to the Petrohue falls before returning to Puerto Varas
Departure from your hotel to the enchanting Chiloe Island. We head first towards Puerto Montt and then take the turn-off to Pargua, a small fishing village whose inhabitants work in the extraction of sea urchins. On arriving in Pargua we board a ferry (shared service) to cross the Chacao Canal and on the way we will have a chance to observe the great variety of marine birds and sea lions that accompany us during the approximately 30 minute crossing.
When we arrive to the Chacao village, we will visit the Main Square and Church. Chacao, founded in 1567, and its church dating from 1710, were visited by Charles Darwin in 1834. In his book The Voyage of the Beagle he describes the town in several passages. We then head towards Dalcahue where we will stop for a coastal walk and visit the craft market, museum and church. We continue or tour to Castro and after lunch we will visit the 'Palafitos de Rio Gamboas', the main square and its church. Our last church visit for today will be in the village called Nercón.
We continue on to Ancud where we stop by the Foundation 'Friends of Chiloé`s church'. Through the pier street we access to Fort San Antonio, where we learn about the history, customs and legends of this mythical island and we can appreciate an excellent view of the bay of Ancud and Lechagua.
Return to your hotel at day's end.
Transfer from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt in a private vehicle with a driver guide. Approximate transfer time is 30 minutes.
Fly direct from Puerto Montt to Santiago. Fights are subject to availability. The flight duration is approximately 2 hours.
Situated in one of the most prestigious areas of Santiago, Plaza el Bosque Suites is a great choice for families and those who like space. The 84 suites are well-appointed, with a small kitchenette and beautiful views of the city. Breakfast is an array of fresh fruits, dairy, pastries and other morning favorites. Dine at any of the numerous restaurants nearby, which serve everything from Chilean traditional dishes to international specialties. Make use of the abundance of facilities, which include a sauna, fitness room, and a games room with pool tables and chess.
Today is a day when you will experience life as a true local, otherwise known as a "Santiaguino". Your guide will pick you up at your hotel and together you walk towards the nearest Metro station to board one of the most efficient and clean subways in the world, Santiago's Metro (Metro ticket is included). In it, you will reach the classic and most important subway station in the city, Universidad de Chile where gigantic murals of local artists are displayed showing a piece of Chile's rich urban culture. Upon exiting the station you will be in the middle of Santiago's busy downtown. You will walk about the Stock Exchange and the classic streets, having a Santiago traditional coffee experience, in one of the many cafés called "Café con piernas" translated as coffee with legs…you will see firsthand where the name originates from. After enjoying coffee (not included) we will walk through the Paseo Ahumada, viewing the different shops and shoe shine stands and all sorts of local characters. We will arrive to the main square or Plaza de Armas which is a meeting point for several immigrants from neighboring countries. We will visit the Cathedral. We will continue walking through Puente Street which is characterized by the large amount of shoe stores where locals shop. We will reach the Mercado Central (local fish Market) where we will see the different types of fish and shellfish that the Pacific Ocean has to offer. In this market we will have lunch at one of the many restaurants enjoyed by locals and generally unknown to tourists. Your guide will be with you at all times explaining local culture and helping you to translate and interact with shop vendors, waiters and anyone you want to meet.
After lunch at Restaurant El Galeon, walk across the Mapocho river to visit the Vega Central (local food market) here you will see the different fruits and vegetables that the fertile lands of Chile offer. After the visit walk through the Bellavista district, also known as the bohemian district where you will enter a local bar to try out a refreshing local drink called "The Terremoto" which translates to the Earthquake (drink is not included). After this stop we continue to San Cristobal Hill. On the way we try out some of Chile's classic and refreshing snacks such as Mote de Huesillos or any snack that you feel like.
At San Cristobal Hill we will reach the top in the traditional funicular. From the top enjoy a panoramic view of Santiago from which, with your guide, you can track the places visited during the day. Here, your vehicle will be waiting for you to take you back to your hotel after a day of exploring Santiago and being a true "Santiaguino".
Pablo Neruda, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971, is known for his poems, his collections of bric a brac from his journeys and his eclectic houses. The tour begins heading towards Isla Negra, where his house has been turned into a museum and library, stuffed with his manuscripts, collections of bottles, ships prows, shells and other items he collected during his life. Following lunch, return to Viña del Mar and stop at the other house in the port of Valparaíso for a visit to La Sebastiana, on Cerro Bellavista with an amazing view across the bay.
Fly directly from Santiago to Calama airport. The flight duration is approximately 2 hours.Please note: Flight rates and availability are subject to change until booking.
Shared transfer by minibus for about 1 hour to Tierra Atacama.
Tierra Atacama is a boutique hotel on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama. It was created by the Purcell family, long time owners and operators of the Portillo Ski Resort and Hotel, famous in Chile for its excellent skiing, food and warm hospitality. Like Portillo, Tierra Atacama provides guest experiences that combine outdoor adventure and sports with indoor comforts, hospitality and service. Tierra Atacama's rooms all have private terraces and views of the Licancabur volcano. The interior decoration is casually elegant in the neo-minimal style. Our decorators scoured local villages looking for the unique hand-made textiles and crafts to add authentic desert cultural pieces to each room.
Adventures on four wheels
1. Altiplanico Lagoons (Villages of Toconao & Socaire, Miscanti Lagoon) Duration: 6 to 8 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart the hotel in a vehicle to the village of Toconao. Visit the church in Toconao. Visit the village of Socaire and the church there. Visit the lagoons of Miscanti & Miñiques. Box lunch here. Return by vehicle to the the hotel. Description: This adventure includes the discovery of important facts about the atacameñan culture. In the villages of Toconao and Socaire, life as it is today can be observed. On arrival at the highland lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, (4,200 m/13, 860 feet high) there is time to view the large numbers of birds which live here and admire the beautiful scenery.
2. Salar de Tara Duration: 6 to 8 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart the hotel and drive to the Salar de Tara. Visit the "nuns" of Tara Lunch. Return to the hotel in vehicle. Description: Heading east from the hotel, we head towards the border with Argentina, befote turning off to the south at a height of 4 200m/13 860 feet approximately) Formations of igneous volcanic rock have formed the "nuns" of Tara, a marvellous sight in the middle o fan amazing plateau. Lunch here before returning on the same road back to the hotel.
3. El Tatio Geisers Duration: 7 to 8 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart the hotel and drive to El Tatio. Visit to the Geothermal field where the geisers are found. Return to the hotel by vehicle. Description: The El Tatio Geisers are located at a height of 4 300m /14 190 feet. The geothermal field has close links to the volcanic activity in the zone and consists of huge steam columns which reach heights of 12 metres /almost 40 feet. Intense sulphur odors and pools of boiling water and mud make this place seem like the initiation of life. Breakfast is served as dawn breaks. On the way back to the village, there is the opportunity to spot numerous families of vicuñas and if we are lucky, foxes and Andean ostrich. Return to the hotel by vehicle for lunch. ** As this excursion departs early and is 8 hours long, it counts as a full day excursion. Please ensure you have the correct clothing, including gloves and a hat – temperatures can reach -20°C/-4°F in winter.
4. Machuca Duration: 3 - 4 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: By vehicle to the north, passing through Guatin. Visit the village of Machuca. Return to the hotel in vehicle. Description: This journey reaches heights between 3000 and 4000 m. ( 9,845 – 13, 123 feet) and visits typical dwellings, known as "cactaceas", traditional to the area, they are built of stone and used by the local people today in their tranhumance method of keeping livestock. The village of Machuca has a privileged site surrounded by nature and in its only street we can see the roofs made of cactus and maybe taste barbecued llama, offered by the villagers. The church is of special interest for the cultural significance and many birds can be seen in the area also. Return to the hotel in vehicle
5. Puritama Duration: 3 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart from the hotel in a vehicle heading north. Bathe in the hot springs of Puritama. Return to the hotel in a vehicle. Description: This journey combines a unique pleasure in surroundings where to find water is a complete surprise! Hidden at the bottom of a steep sided gorge, surrounded by vegetation, the River Puritama has 8 natural pools, with water which has an average temperature of 33°C/ 91°F at a height of 3500 m asl. (11, 482 feet) Following a lovely bathe, return to the hotel in a vehicle.
6. Viewpoints in the Salt Mountains Duration: 3 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart from the hotel in a vehicle heading towards the Salt Mountains. Discover different viewpoints of the fascinating geography traveling in a vehicle. Return to the hotel. Description: This journey allows participants to appreciate the beauty of the landscape from the many viewpoints in the Salt Mountains, such as the scenery of Death Valley, Moon Valley and the Andes mountain range. A must for photo buffs!
7. Atacama Salt Flat (Chaxsa Lagoon Flamingo Reserve) Duration: 4 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart the hotel in a vehicle towards Toconao. Visit the Chaxsa Lagoon, a flamingo reserve. Return to the hotel in vehicle. Description: The journey starts with a brief visit to Toconao where the main square and the historic church are the main attractions. Also see the handicrafts produced by the local families. Continue to the National Flamingo Reserve in the Atacama salt flat. There are three types of flamingo to be found here, which live off the microscopic lagoon life. The views of the Andes as the sun sets are truly amazing
8. Padre Le Peige Museum/Quitor Fortress/Tulor Village Duration: 3 to 4 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: By vehicle to the Padre Le Peige Museum By vehicle to the Pucara de Quitor. By vehicle to Tulor Village. Return to the hotel. Description: The history of the Atacama is fascinating, and helps to explain the culture and the idiosyncrasies of the desert peoples to the visitor. The museum displays give a broad understanding of events here and the visits to the archeological sites uncover vestiges which still exist today.
9. Petroglyophs Duration: 3 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: By vehicle to the site Visit to the site of the petroglyphs. Return to the hotel. Description: Rupestrian art displays many forms of expression – man has tried to record experiences, common elements, symbols and signs. The description and understanding of these through a science, archeology, gives rise to a greater understanding of the human race. Petroglyph: an inscription or engraving on rock, fundamentally made by hand and with another hard object. This place is incredible and is witness to the travelers, shamans and merchants of the past who converged here and left evidence of their stories.
Walks & Hikes
10. Cornices Duration: 21/2 hours to 3 ½ hours Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart the hotel in a vehicle on the old road to Calama and get out when the tunnel is reached. Walk along the cornices. Descent via the main dune to Death Valley. Return to the hotel in a vehicle. Description: A fun excursion for the morning or afternoon. On arrival at the old road to Calama, the walk starts with a visit to some archeological sites and wonderful views of the volcanoes of the region. At a height of around 2 600m/8580 feet, descend via the huge dune to Death Valley – an unforgettable experience which takes everyone back to their childhood!
11. Kari Gorge Duration: 1½ hours to 2½ hours. Level of difficulty: Easy, but following a narrow path at first. Itinerary: Travel to the Kari Lookout point in a vehicle. Walk along the Kari Gorge. Return to the hotel in a vehicle. Description: An amazing morning or afternoon hike through incredible scenery. At a height of 2550m (8000 feet) enjoy an incredible phenomenom. The water, wind and temperature extremes have joined forces to produce this unique gorge in the Salt Mountain Range. We walk between dried up clay riverbeds, where crystals of salt and lime can be seen. There is a sense of the mountains growing around us. Return to the hotel in a vehicle.
12. Devils Canyon & Vilama Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours. Level of difficulty: Medium. Itinerary: Depart the hotel in a vehicle heading towards the Catarpe Valley. Walk through the Devils Gorge and to the area of Vilama. Return to the hotel by vehicle. Description: A morning or afternoon excursion. Depart the hotel in a vehicle and head to Devil's Canyon to start the walk. The altitude here is approximately 2450 m.(8038 feet) We walk on flattish ground for about an hour, on the dry river bed through formations of lime which are part of the Salt Mountain Range. The trail then rises to take in amazing views of the surrounding volcanoes, Following an ancient caravan route we pass petroglyphs showing the former commercial activity in the area and finally finish at the old settlement known as Vilama. Return to the hotel in a vehicle.
13. Guatin/Gatchi Duration: 2 to 3 hours. Level of difficulty: Medium. Itinerary: Travel by vehicle to the Guatin Valley. Walk through the valley of the Vilama River. Return to the hotel by vehicle. Description: Depart the hotel in a vehicle heading northeast of San Pedro de Atacama to the Guatin Valley. At a height of 2800m (9 186 feet) The confluence of two rivers takes place here – one coming from the warm thermal springs of Puritama, and the other is the Purifica river, whose waters are from the Andes mountains – this unique mix of warm thermal spring water and cold clear mountain snowmelt gives rise to the new river which supports the unique ecosystem of the Guatin Canyon. We walk here, alongside waterfalls and rocky climbs whilst marvelling at the amazing Candelaria cactus.
14. Guatin/Puritama Duration: 2,5 to 3,5 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: By vehicle to the Guatin Valley. Walk along the northern Guatin valley floor. Bathe at the Puritama thermal springs. Return to the hotel in a vehicle. Description: This excursion is better done in the morning because of the temperature changes. The walk starts at an altitude of 2 800m /9 186 feet to the northeast of San Pedro de Atacama. The walk is a steady uphill climb, through the valley which is scattered with igneous rocks from the volcanic explosions of the past. Passing between the native pampas grass which grows alongside the rivers of the area, we can view typical birds of the area. Accompanied by the gurgle of the water, we eventually arrive at the the Puritama Thermal Springs, 8 pools of limpid warm water where there is a chance to bathe and relax before returning to the hotel in vehicle.
15. Machuca/Rio Grande Duration: 7 to 9 hours. Level of difficulty: Medium. Itinerary: Travel by vehicle to the village of Machuca. Walk from the village of Machuca to the area of Peñaliri. Lunch in Peñaliri. Walk from Peñaliri, to the village of Río Grande. Return to the hotel in a vehicle. Description: This walk takes place at a height of around 4000m / 13 200 feet and is a great way to acclimatize to the altitudes for people who want to climb a volcano during their stay. The walk follows the river bed and on the way we can see llamas, alpacas and birds which are found in this habitat. Stop for lunch in the abandoned mountain village of Peñaliri. Following this well deserved break, discover the abandoned terraces of the gully and continue on to the village of Río Grande, the last in this odyssey of discovery, where typical highland corn and vegetables are grown. Return to the hotel in a vehicle.
Bicicyle Rides
16. Devils Canyon / Catarpe Duration: 2 ½ hours to 3,5 hours. Level of difficulty: Medium Itinerary: ½ hour approx. by bicycle to Catarpe. 1 hour aprox. by bicycle in the Quebrada del Diablo. ½ hour approx. to cycle back to the hotel from Catarpe. Description: Depart from the hotel on bicycles heading towards the amazing Salt Mountain range, and the beautiful Devil's Canyon. The ride takes place at an average height of 2400m / 8000 feet) approximately. To the north of the San Pedro river the surrounding countryside is a mix of the stark landscapes of the Salt Mountains and the Oasis of San Pedro. The trail through the Devil's Canyon is flanked by clay cliffs and is sometimes sandy, with a constant gentle climb until the final labyrinth. The return journey follows the natural course of the San Pedro River until we reach the village and the hotel.
17. Sejas Lagoons Duration: 4 hours approx. Level of difficulty: Medium Itinerary: Cycle from the hotel across the Atacama Salt Flat to the lagoon. About an hour for a bathe and a rest in the heavily salted water of the lagoon. Return by vehicle to the hotel. Description: This is a morning excursion to make the most of the temperature at this time of day. Depart the hotel heading south by bike to the Salt Flat to the lagoons of Sejas. The terrain is mainly flat and slightly uneven in places. On arrival at the lagoon, the view of the thick salt crust which has formed around the water hole is amazing. The salt concentration is incredibly high here and one floats in the spectacularly clear waters. Following time for a swim and a rest, return to the hotel by vehicle.
18. Windy Lookout Point (Death Valley, the Dune) Duration: 2 to 3 ½ hours. Level of difficulty: Medium with some technically more challenging parts Itinerary: Depart the hotel towards the Salt Mountain Range. Ride for 30 minutes to an hour along the cornices. 20 minutes to descend in to Death Valley. 20 minute ride through Death Valley. Return to the Hotel via the paved highway. Description: A morning or afternoon excursion. Depart from the hotel heading northeast then head north towards the Salt Mountain Range enjoying marvellous views of the Andes and the volcanoes. Continue along the cornices viewing the formations of Death Valley from above, before descending via the old trails into the valley itself. Once at the bottom, continue on to Death Valley and cycle through the amazing scenery before returning to the hotel.
19. Bike Ride through the Ayllus (Atacmeñan Communities) Duration: 1,5 to 2,5 hours. Level of difficulty: Easy. Itinerary: Depart the Hotel on bicycles. Visit the local villages and communities "ayllus" of Sequitor and Solor. Return to the hotel. Description: Depart the hotel in the morning or early afternoon. The nearby oases villages are typical of the local culture and in many ways their inhabitants still follow the same way of life as their distant ancestors. View the local agriculture and the unique irrigation system. This is a great way to be introduced to the village and the climate of San Pedro.
20. Toco Duration: 5/7 hours. Level of difficulty: Medium. Itinerary: 1 hour 30' approx. by vehicle to the foot of the volcano. Hike of 2 hours to 4 hours uphill to the summit. Half an hour on the peak. Descent of 1 to 1 ½ hours. Return to the hotel in vehicle, a journey of 1 hour. Description: The journey starts from the hotel, traveling in a vehicle for 1 hour 30 minutes to the starting point of the walk at a height of 4800m approx (16,500 feet) The peak of the volcano is at 5650 m. /18,645 feet and from the top there are great views of the Bolivian altiplano and the Atacama Salt Flat to the west. After time for a break and a rest, the descent is taken slowly and safely down the same route until the vehicle is reached. Return to the hotel by vehicle. This excursion requires previous acclimatization to the altitude and the appropriate clothing (gloves, hat, windbreaker, good hiking boots and warm clothing. NOT appropriate for people under the age of 18 years. Guests who wish to participate in this excursion should allow a minimum of 5 days in the area with previous hikes of a strenuous nature to get used to the altitude. If their time and the weather permits we can arrange more challenging volcano walks once Toco has been successfully conquered!
Bird Watching
21. Altiplano and gullies of the Atacama Description: Places such as the Nacimiento and Guatin canyons, the Atacama Salt flat and the northern Chilean Altiplano are habitats which house a wide variety of differing species of birds. For example, the Salt Flats are home to the Chilean flamingo, Andean flamingo, Andean avocet and Puna Plover. The open altiplano wetlands houses Andean geese, Rufous bellied seedsnipes, Golden Spotted Ground Doves and Ochre Naped Ground Tyrants amongst others. Other species to be found in the area include the Chiguanco Thrush, cordilleran canastero, Scale Throated Earthcreeper, Andean Negrito and Horned Coot amongst many others. The time of year, migratory cycles, availability of food, temperature, altitude, etc., are all determining factors when birdwatching.
Flora & Fauna
22. Altiplano and gullies of the Atacama Description: The altiplano is a huge plateau at an altitude of 4000m/13 200 feet. It is an area of vast expanses of land cut into by deep channels and valleys, spotted with high salt lakes and where dark masses of lava from volcanic eruptions change the terrain. Rain is rare, temperatures vacillate wildly and the atmosphere at this altitude is transparent and luminous. Although the conditions are harsh, many plant and vegetable species exist here and have adapted to the demands of the climate and terrain – this voyage of discovery of the local flora and fauna is fascinating.
Horse rides
23. Atacama on horseback Descriptión: We can arrange a selection of rides with Atacameñan horses. Our saddles are Chilean (Western) style. The horses are mounted at the entrance to the hotel and we travel with our guide to discover the desert scenery. Depending on experience and wishes of the participants, the rides can take between 2 and 5 hours.
Enjoy the many excursions at Tierra Atacama including:
Adventures on four wheels, archeology, walks & hikes, volcanoes, bird watching, flora & fauna and horse rides!
Enjoy another day of excursions at Tierra Atacama!
Ashared transfer to the airport is provided for Tierra Atacama guests only. The minibus transfer takes about 1 hour to the Calama aiport.
Fly from Calama to Santiago. The flight duration is approximately 2 hours.Please note: Flight rates and availability are subject to change until booking.
Enjoy a private transfer from Santiago to the San Antonio Valley with an English speaking guide.
The Matetic Vineyard "Casona", guest house was built in 1900, with seven Chilean style and luxury rooms well situated in the heart of the Vineyard in a quiet area surrounded by colored gardens and finely decorated, creating a cozy and stylish atmosphere. During your stay you will discover state of the art winery of Matetic Vineyards that has developed the most modern techniqes to produce organic and world class wines.
A variety of outdoor ctivities are avialble at La Casona Matetic. Ask your Sales Consultant about pre-booking any activities or book them localy at arrival in La Casona.
These activities seek to connect the visitor with the natural wonders of the Rosario Valley through contemplative circuits or action filled activities. Some of the highlights include: Walking on the Huayun trail, the "Trail of the senses" or simply enjoy the rolling hills and beautiful valley while observing the local flora and fauna. Following is a list of the activities available:
Hiking - Trails, which cut through native forests, mountains, hills, valleys, ravines, and plains, are all well-marked, perfect for self-guided walks ranging from 1½ to 2 hours in duration.
Biking - Choose from short to longer circuits:
Standard bike: A 20-to 30-minute circuit through the property. The path, approximately 3,000 meters long and two meters wide at its narrowest, runs past small farms, through prairies and over bridges, with periodic rest stations. The bikes are standard, model 1939.
Mountain bike: A 1½- to 2-hour circuit through different types of terrain such as valleys, mountains, and river beds. There are also ramps for jumping, security fences, equilibrium trails in the gorges and a lookout and tunnel for more expert riders. Beautiful lookouts are located within both the native and introduced forests. The path, 5,000 meters in length, is 50 cm wide.
Horseback Riding - Horseback-riding experience is recommended. Short rides last one to two hours, with a 30-minute break; long rides last three to four hours with a break for either lunch or snacks. Terrain includes ravines and hilltops and spectacular views of Rosario Valley. Five or six guests per ride.
From La Casona Hotel, tour of the wine cellar with a view of the organic vineyards, and an explanation of the processes of wine-making, bottling and storage. At the end of the tour, visitors will taste two wines from the Corralillo premium line, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.
Wine Cellar Tour + wine tasting 1 reserve and 1 premium wine
Tuesday to Sunday - Tours: 10:30 - 12:30 - 15:30. Restaurant: 12:30 to 16:00 hrs
Enjoy a private transfer from San Antonio Valley to Santiago with an English speaking guide.
Please note obtaining a visa is your responsibility. These requirements change often and therefore it is best that you check with the Embassy of Chille for the most up to date visa information.
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