Pablo Neruda and La Chascona

Pablo Neruda, one of Chile's two Nobel Prize winning poets-- the other being Gabriela Mistral-- had three homes in Chile: La Chascona in Santiago, a home in Isla Negra, and La Sebastiana in Valparaiso.  Both the home in Santiago and Valparaiso were damaged in the days following the September 11, 1973 coup by supporters of the military government.  Neruda, an ardent Leftist, had been an ambassador for Chile to France during the administration of President Salvador Allende.  He returned home to Chile with prostrate cancer.  He died on September 23, 1973 of heart failure, a few short days after the coup.

Neruda's homes were unique in architecture and adornment.  He loved the sea, and the homes reflect the architecture of a boat.  He also loved glass so the homes had many unique glass pieces and other collections that he acquired during his time of diplomatic service.  He also loved a good drink, and his homes had several bars.

His Santiago home, La Chascona, is the nickname attributed to his third wife, Matilde Urrutia.  Guests to the house include people such as Diego Rivera, who painted an image of Matilde that hangs in the home, and French mime Marcel Marceau.  His home in Santiago, La Chascona, has three majors parts.  The main house below has a dining room with the intimate feel of a boat-- low roof, a small channel of water ran past the window.  The second section was built to have a bit of the look of a lighthouse.  And the third section of the house includes his library and writing area.  Each section has a bar-- I did mention that he liked a good drink, right?  This photo is taken from the bar area nearest his library and desk.  Ordinarily, one cannot take photos indoors, given the policy of the foundation that governs Neruda's properties, but this place is one small exception-- so I had to grab a photo!