Perfect Portillo
In a word Portillo Ski Resort is perfect. The resort has everything: challenging slopes, excellent instructors, a beautiful hotel and great ambiance – not at all pretentious as an upscale resort can be.
We spend a full week skiing and snowboarding at Portillo. Here is an example of my perfect day. Sleep in as late as possible – typically until 8:30am since everything seems to start an hour later in Chile than the U.S. Go to the cafeteria to fuel up on coffee and carbs. Ski lesson starts at 10:30am. The instructors are top-notch and I learn so much: pressing down on the lead ski, height change, knees apart and most important, “feel the snow”. While I take lessons, Paul skis and the kids snowboard. We have a leisurely lunch in the cafeteria which looks out on the mountain – amazing view! I spend the afternoon practicing what I learn in ski school. In enjoy skiing with my new friends, Ann and Sherry, two lovely ladies from Canada who share an intense passion for skiing.
After skiing, I go to stretch class to ease my sore muscles. Then, I take a long soak in one or both of the large Jacuzzis. This is also social hour and I meet interesting people from Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and the States, mostly Californians. Apres snowboard, the kids go to the warm swimming pool, tubing, game room to play ping pong and pool, or huge living room to relax. 7pm – adventure movie time in the cinema (check out “Man vs. Eiger” – amazing short film). Finally, time for dinner back in the cafeteria. The food is hearty and plentiful.
After dinner, Quinn plays hide and go seek in the hotel with his new friends. Connor likes to see a movie at the cinema. If Paul and I can keep our eyes open, we listen to a live band, sing karaoke (Paul only listens and laughs) and even dance at the disco. We finally collapse in our 4-bunk dorm room. Somehow, I get a top bunk which makes bathroom trips at 3am quite a challenge. (BTW – the resort has nice hotel rooms with gourmet meals in the fine dining room, but we opt for the budget accommodations.)
Portillo draws top skiers and boarders from all over the world, primarily due to the steep terrain. The lift to the expert slopes is called va con viente in Spanish (go with the wind), which is basically a 5-seat poma. At the beginning of the week, this is what I wrote to a friend: “The pomas whisk skiers straight up a steep mountain. The pomas are made just for Portillo. I took one yesterday during a lesson and screamed all the way up, much to the amusement of my ski instructor and fellow students. However, I suppose that the skiing made up for the terrifying ride. You would love it! Check it out – va et vient slingshot lifts: http://www.skiportillo.com/ingles/lifts. Per the website, ‘they… are actually quite simple and fun once given a try.’ Not true!” By the end of the week, I can go up the poma without being terrified, but am still shaking by the time I reach the top. Scary, but the great skiing is well worth it.
On a few of my va con viente excursions, I share the poma with famous skiers, Daron Rahlves (a Truckee local and ambassador for Sugar Bowl, my favorite CA resort) and Chris Benchetler (a Mammoth local and ski film actor extraordinaire). They are at Portillo for an Atomic ski photo shoot and I am intrigued in their lifestyle. How cool to get paid to ski! Both guys are very friendly and gracious when I request photos. Chris designed his skis, which would look great with my crazy purple and turquoise zebra striped ski pants. The designer skis will be available via Atomic next year, but I think will be out of my price range… You can check out a video of the guys at Portillo at Daron’s website: http://daronrahlves.hookit.com/members/daronrahlves/
Besides the slopes, Portillo is reknown for the food. Paul arranges for a tour of the kitchen with the Executive Chef. He is impressed with the operation and after the tour, our family gets served a gourmet meal of abalone, ostrich and decadent desert. The next day, several people comment about how Paul will cook that night. Due to the language barrier, Paul is not sure what is expected from him, but shows up at the kitchen at 6pm sharp with his knives, ready for anything. The Chef has Paul watch and taste every course – salmon tartare on Belgium endive, rack of lamb served with on squash and potato puree with a huckleberry sauce, and chocolate mousse torte. Paul greatly enjoys the experience.
On our last night, I participate in the torch light parade with the ski instructors and a few guests. We go up the chair lift and grab torches, then I notice that the instructors are rubbing their gloves and torches with snow. I ask why and they reply so that their gloves will not catch on fire. What?!!! I quickly do the same, then light my torch and race down the mountain, trying to stay with the parade without falling on the ice. I end up being the last to arrive since I refuse to go straight down at the end of the run. I suppose that I rather preserve my body than be cool…
All in all, a fantastic and memorable week! This experience is tied with the Galapagos as the best week of the trip. If Portillo gets more snow, we will go back before returning home. Think snow!
Tags: Chile
hwy1alltheway
metronidazole bijsluiter metronidazole buying tab flagyl
Generic Name. Drug information. [url=https://amoxicillins.online/]buy cheap amoxicillin online[/url]
All trends of medicament. Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions.
Everything about medicine. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
https://clomiphenes.online cost generic clomid without a prescription
Commonly Used Drugs Charts. Actual trends of drug.
tamoxifen ld50 tamoxifen mellГ©khatГЎsai tamoxifen sciatica
metformin acne.org metformin folsav metformin levoxyl
Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Medscape Drugs & Diseases. amoxicillin 500mg capsules price
Drugs information sheet. Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side.
atenolol endovenoso atenolol pathway atenolol biowaiver
metronidazole picture posologia flagyl dysenterie flagyl
All trends of medicament. Actual trends of drug.
[url=https://finasteridest.com/]can i order propecia without insurance[/url]
Commonly Used Drugs Charts. Get warning information here.
Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Generic Name.
https://clomiphenes.com where to get clomid no prescription
What side effects can this medication cause? Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
safe and effective drugs are available. Cautions.
https://clomiphenes.com where can i get cheap clomid without a prescription
Everything what you want to know about pills. Get here.
Drug information. earch our drug database. https://amoxicillins.com/ amoxicillin discount
All trends of medicament. Get here.
Commonly Used Drugs Charts. Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information.
https://clomiphenes.com where can i buy cheap clomid without prescription
Top 100 Searched Drugs. Long-Term Effects.
safe and effective drugs are available. Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side.
where to get cheap propecia prices
Actual trends of drug. Cautions.
Drug information. Actual trends of drug.
generic propecia without a prescription
Read information now. Read now.
Everything what you want to know about pills. Everything information about medication. [url=https://amoxicillins.online/]amoxicillin 875 125 mg tab[/url]
Actual trends of drug. Top 100 Searched Drugs.
Cautions. Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side.
where can i buy cheap propecia without a prescription
Get here. Everything information about medication.
lasix pruritus lasix itching teva furosemide
All trends of medicament. safe and effective drugs are available.
zithromax online no prescription
Get here. Top 100 Searched Drugs.
valtrex blog valtrex exercise valacyclovir azoor
trazodone confusion trazodone 150mg apo-trazodone wikipedia
п»їMedicament prescribing information. All trends of medicament.
[url=https://edonlinefast.com]ed pills cheap[/url]
Get warning information here. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
pregabalin tolerance pregabalin vs gabapentin side effects pregabalin as needed
Drugs information sheet. Read now.
https://edonlinefast.com top rated ed pills
Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe. All trends of medicament.
furosemide migraine lasix kaopectate furosemide hyperparathyroidism
neurontin formula vistaril gabapentin gabapentin discontinuation
trazodone kratom trazodone dyspepsia trazodone pictures
valtrex cheapest valacyclovir expensive valacyclovir instructions
synthroid bulas non-prescription synthroid atenolol synthroid
Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Generic Name.
https://edonlinefast.com top ed drugs
safe and effective drugs are available. Get here.
Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side. Some are medicines that help people when doctors prescribe.
[url=https://edonlinefast.com]top ed drugs[/url]
Get warning information here. Get warning information here.
Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information. Commonly Used Drugs Charts. amoxicillin tablets in india
Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions. Long-Term Effects.
glucophage nhs metformin angiogram glucophage phentermine
getting nolvadex starting tamoxifen tamoxifen spiegelbestimmung
lipitor music lipitor pens atorvastatin myalgia
lisinopril w942 lisinopril rash face lisinopril questions
What side effects can this medication cause? Drugs information sheet.
https://edonlinefast.com ed pills gnc
Actual trends of drug. Actual trends of drug.
trazodone gravidanza trazodone emsam trazodone lortab
was ist tenormin atenolol incontinence noten atenolol
Cautions. Read now.
https://canadianfast.online/# meds online without doctor prescription
Get warning information here. Read now.
Drug information. Best and news about drug.
https://canadianfast.online/# canadian medications
drug information and news for professionals and consumers. Drugs information sheet.
Medscape Drugs & Diseases. All trends of medicament.
[url=https://canadianfast.com/#]buy anti biotics without prescription[/url]
Get information now. Get information now.
Cautions. drug information and news for professionals and consumers.
[url=https://canadianfast.com/#]meds online without doctor prescription[/url]
Drugs information sheet. Everything what you want to know about pills.
earch our drug database. Cautions.
https://canadianfast.com/# comfortis for dogs without vet prescription
Prescription Drug Information, Interactions & Side. drug information and news for professionals and consumers.
overdosis lipitor lipitor thirsty lipitor sensitivity
gabapentin neurology neurontin withdrawal schedule neurontin tinnitus treatment
generic lyrica names what is pregabalin 150 mg used for aphthous stomatitis pregabalin
valacyclovir impetigo famvir valtrex valtrex yeast
Cheers! Good information.
https://essaywritingserviceahrefs.com essay writing guides
What side effects can this medication cause? Long-Term Effects.
[url=https://canadianfast.com/#]online canadian pharmacy[/url]
Cautions. Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information.