Santiago, Chile to Buenos Aires, Argentina: From the Pacific to the Atlantic

Today, I left my home in Santiago and flew across the Andes to Argentina.  The view on the first flight was incredible the whole way!

On the way to Buenos Aires, I had a layover in Mendoza, which was supposed to last five hours.  However, since I was alone, they bumped me to a flight that left immediately after I cleared customs, which meant I didn't have to wait in the airport!  Yay!  As a result of my immediate departure, though, here is my hello-goodbye picture of Mendoza.

The flight from Mendoza to Buenos Aires was also pretty, though in a completely different way--lots of clouds, farmland, and a few hills.  I did sit next to this lovely Argentinian women, however, and we chatted it up the whole time, so that was nice (and good practice for me).

When I got to Buenos Aires, I found my hostel, then headed out to check out the plethora of street markets that exist on Sundays.  There were people everywhere enjoying the spring weather, and lots of cool little craft and artsy markets in all of the plazas I found.  I am excited to continuing exploring this city tomorrow!

Santiago, Chile: One Last Adventure

Last night, Kim, Sophia, and I, along with Marcela, had a nice dinner out to celebrate our last night together in Santiago.  Above, Kim and Sophia with our deserts...

...and here, Marcela and I.  We ate at a Peruvian restaurant, and the food was amazing--if this is what I have to look forward to in Peru, I can't wait!

Today, on Kim and my last afternoon in Chile, we walked down Providencia, the main street on which we spent loads of time this path month, and made a bit of a tour of our favorite shops and food places.  First stop: the elusive Starbucks (had a bit of trouble getting a centered shot...obviously)!

Next stop: Bravissimo, for one last taste of their delicious gelato.  Yum!

After Bravissimo, it was time to head home and pack and get ready to leave.  This is the last picture we took together, right before we parted.  Thanks to all in Santiago (especially Kim!) for a great month!

Santiago, Chile: Our Favorite Restaurant

Today, Kim, Sophia, and I ate at our favorite restaurant in Santiago for the last time.  We don't know the name--in fact, I don't even know if it has one--but the food is absolutely amazing, and you get a huge plate with a salad and fresh peach juice for the American equivalent of $7, including tip, and the food only takes five minutes to come out (because they only serve four or five plates).  The best part is that that waitress knows us and loves us (we think because we are the only non-Chileanos we have ever seen in there).

Part of the reason we think the restaurant is so local is that the outside looks like this--no sign, no inviting table or ads, and not really the cleanest storefront we've ever seen.  Despite all this, the charm on the inside makes this one place in Santiago that I am truly going to miss!

Santiago, Chile: Starbucks and Salsa

Today was a full day of school, Starbucks (Kim, Sophia, and I finally found a Starbcuks in Santiago...it only took three and a half weeks!), more school, studying, and then tonight...salsa!  Though I am excited to travel, I can't believe that my time in Santiago is nearly over--it seems like I just got here yesterday.  At least I have three more fun nights to look forward to!

Santiago, Chile: Santa Lucia

After class today, Kim, Sophia (another German girl who just started living with Kim), and I went down to Santa Lucia, which is an area of Santiago that contains a hill with a castle, a park, and a local artisan market.  We visited all three, and though one would think that this place would have some cool history, the only thing I could find there or on the internet was that the hill itself is a remnant of a 15 million year old volcano.  Anyhow, here we are on top of the hill...

...and again with the Arabic-esque castle in the background.

This is the Feria de Santa Lucia, the cool artisan market that is near the hill.  It was definitely worth the trip, as we all found some nice local crafts to take back to our respective countries.

After our sightseeing, we had ice cream, studied, and then had dinner.  When I got home around 9pm, I was greeted by the adorable Matias, who was dancing salsa on the table and had a great big smile for me.  What a lovely reception :-)

Santiago, Chile: Back to Classes x2

Today I began my last week of classes in Santiago, and I also began a week of private lessons to prepare myself for volunteering in Peru.  Fortunately for me, my four German friends and one Australian friend and I took a break between classes to get some Italian food, which turned out to be awesome.  More studying, a trip to the store, and my last Santiago Monday will be complete!

Pichilemu, Chile: Across the Country to the Beach

After our hike, we exited the mountain by following the signs ('salida' means 'exit'...and yes, there were literally exit signs on the mountain), then commenced our drive across the entire country of Chile.  The drive, which took about five hours, took us from an altitude of roughly 4000m, 50km from the eastern border of Chile, to an altitude of 0m, at the western border of Chile.  The landscape in between was varied and beautiful, from plains to vineyards to forests, and almost all the roads we took were winding two-ways, so we passed through lots of small towns.

We got to Pichilemu, our destination for the night, just in time to see the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.  Not a bad day's work!

This morning in Pichilemu was cloudy and a little chilly, which wasn't great beach weather.  Since we had to be back in Santiago by 4pm to return the car, we decided to make the most of our morning and fulfill one of Kim's life-long dreams...horseback riding on the beach!

For Kim, who has a horse, this was bliss, but I will admit I was a bit nervous, since I tend to be a little accident-prone and these horses were not the tame trail-horses we have in the USA.  However, it was totally worth it--riding a horse through the surf was incredible!  I even learned how to stay on when the horse was trotting and galloping!

Kim, of course, was in heaven, which made the rest of us really happy too.  You can see the town of Pichilemu behind her, along with the rest of the main beach (which is usually a great surfing spot, but the waves just weren't cooperating today).  After our ride on the beach and a cup of coffee, it was time for another pretty drive, though this time we ended up back in Santiago.  It was an amazing weekend, and I am so glad I got to see more of Chile!

San Alfonso, Chile: Monumento Natural El Morado

After school on Friday, Kim and I, along with Eddie (from California) and Laura (from Melbourne), rented a car, then headed east to go and explore the Andes.  After getting out of the Friday afternoon traffic and Santiago suburban area, it only took about thirty minutes until we started seeing views like this.  We were really excited!

We stayed in this cabana in San Alfonso, which was about a forty minute drive from our Saturday hiking destination.  Since we got to San Alfonso before the sun went down, we decided to drive up towards El Morado as a sort of 'dry run' for Saturday morning.  We were glad we did, because...

...we got to see the sun set over the mountains!  It was beautiful.

When we got back to San Alfonso, we headed to the only open restaurant at the only traditional hotel in the town.  Basically the Chilean equivalent of a five-star adventure resort, we had amazing food (Eddie's goat was literally roasted over a campfire at the entrance to the restaurant) and wine for a very reasonable price next to a rushing river.  It's amazing how well you sleep when your belly is full, the air is clean, and you can't hear any traffic!

On Saturday morning, we got up early and drove to Monumento Natural El Morado, which is basically a national park for hiking and mountaineering.  Before we began, we ate breakfast at this German ski lodge near the park.  It was actually one of our favorite parts of the trip, because we walked in (the only people up and about, by the way, because apparently getting up before 10am just isn't done in Chile), and the man said to us, "Would you like some breakfast?".  Of course, we said yes, so--with no menus, price, or any sort of discussion--he went and made us some breakfast.  It was hilarious, but the food was awesome, and eating with the view above just can't be that bad.

After our breakfast adventure, we started our hike to the base of the glacier in El Morado.  It was pretty from the bottom, and even better from the middle, as you can see above.  However, the real view was from the lake at the base, right where there started to be snow on the trail.  Take a look...

...and be awed!

I'm including it one more time, just so everyone can properly appreciate the awesomeness of El Morado.  I'm so glad we got to see this part of Chile!

Santiago, Chile: Max's Last Day

Today was Kim and my last official day to hang out with Max, since we leave tomorrow and he leaves on Saturday.  As such, we decided to class it up a bit, and head to Chile's nicest mall, Parque Arauco.  Unfortunately for us, 'nicest' coincided with 'most expensive'.  Still, we had fun looking at all the things we couldn't afford and walking around the nicely-laid out indoor/outdoor complex.  Some highlights include the escalator with waterfalls on both sides...

...the only Starbuck's we have found in Santiago (we were really excited!)...

...and Yogurt Life, the Chilean equivalent of Yogurt Land, which was just wonderful.  In between food stops, we also caught a movie (in English with Spanish subtitles) at the mall's theater.

Our final event of the day was dinner on a terrace overlooking the mall's main plaza.  The three of us had a great time on our last day together, though we are glad we still have one day of classes left.  We'll miss you, Max!

Santiago, Chile: La Chascona

Today, a bunch of students from the school and I visited La Chascona, Pablo Neruda's house in Santiago.  He had three houses in Chile: this one, the one in Valparaiso that Kim and I visited two weeks ago, and one on Isla Negra, near which he is buried.  This house he built for his mistress, who eventually became is third wife and was the love of his life.  Above, some friends and I near the entrance.

Although we weren't allowed to take pictures inside the house, thus somewhat limiting my blog material, I was permitted to take this picture from the outside looking in.  Strange and eccentric like the house in Valparaiso, La Chascona is a hodgepodge of items from the world over, including some works by the likes of Picasso and Diego Rivera, who were apparently close personal friends of Neruda.

Teresa (another German friend) and I on the terrace of La Chascona, just about to leave and get some ice cream.  While I'm glad I got to see another house of Pablo Neruda (and this time I actually got to read some of his poetry), it left me with a stronger-than-ever conviction that there really is a fine line between genius and madness.

Santiago, Chile: Where the Government Lives

After class today, Max and I went to visit el Palacio National de La Moneda, which is the seat of the Chilean president.  Originally constructed in 1784, it served as a mint (hence 'La Moneda', which means 'coin') until 1929, when it became the seat of the government.  It was partially destroyed in the 1973 bombings that marked the start of Chile's twenty-odd-year dictatorship, but has since been rebuilt.  We went with high hopes of being able to tour the inside, but had no such luck.

We were, however, able to visit the three subterranean floors of La Moneda.  These floors are billed as the National Chilean Cultural Center, but for all Max and I could tell, aside from the toy museum, the basement was just a place for the government employees to go eat in the cafes and play with giant games originally designed for children.  Naturally, Max and I joined in.  Max beat me at tic-tac-toe...

...then got insanely excited by this wheel that makes the man in the pictures on the inside look like he is moving.

Next, we both pretended we were dolls.  After that, we decided we'd better leave before they kick us out.

Behind La Moneda is the biggest flagpole I think I have ever seen, but the Chilean flag does look nice against the blue sky.

Finally, we got some ice cream, then ate it on the lawn in front of La Moneda, since it is finally warm here.  Though it would have nice to see the inside, I'm glad I got to see La Moneda before I leave Santiago.

Santiago, Chile: Studyin'

Today I started the next level of Spanish classes, which, although doable, is fraught with much unfamiliar vocabulary.  Therefore, after class and lunch, my day consisted of one activity: studyin'.

Santiago, Chile: Getting to Know the City a Bit Better

Today, after going to Mass with Kim and Marcela (the woman with whom Kim lives), and eating the delicious lunch that Marcela made for us, Kim and I headed downtown to check out the Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Beautiful Art).  I am standing in the atrium in the photo above...

...and here is Kim between a painting reminiscent of the German flag and a painting with faces of the world.  While the building that houses the collection is one of the prettier ones that I have seen in Santiago, the collection itself--while nice--was not incredibly extensive or varied. 

Still, it was good to see some Chilean art, and since it was free (all Sundays are free here!), we were both glad we went.

After the museum, we took a walk downtown, and the sky was absolutely perfect for taking pictures.  As such, I just had to include this one of the 18th-century cathedral with the brand-new skyscraper in downtown Santiago--quite the contrast!

Of course, we had to get ice cream.  We are going to have to find a new place soon though--I think they recognize us at this one now, which is rather embarrassing.

Just before we hopped on the metro to head back to our respective homes, we found this awesome local market.  Though we didn't have much time to shop around today, we will definitely be returning in the near future.  On our way out, a nice man volunteered to take a picture of us with the mountains just barely visible in the background.  Happy Sunday to all!