San Pedro Part two

After being on a bus for 25 hours we finally made it to San Pedro where Jenna and Cesar the manager of our hostel Las Kana met us. After eating some wonderful pizza at the picnic table under the stars we hit the sack so we could get up in the morning and figure out which tours we were going to take.

The next morning (Sunday) Jenna and I got up and went for a run which was a little difficult because of the high altitude (about 2500 meters above sea level.) Afterwards Pam, Jessi, Jenna and I went to find out about tours. After speaking with two different agencies we decided to spend a little bit more and book tours through Yassna a friend of Cesars because she was really nice and helpful as opposed to the other guy. We decided to book 4 tours starting with the Valle de la Luna y Valle de la Muerte, then the Tatio Geysers, then Lagunas Cejas, then Lagunas Altiplanicos. Our first tour left at 4 pm Sunday so after talking with Yassna we went and ate a bbq chicken lunch at a place that Cesar suggested. For about 3 dollars a piece the four of us shared a full chicken and a big sharing of french fries.

At 4 oclock we met up with our tour group and headed to Valle de la Muerte. Our tour guide was able to explain to us what caused the great canyons (water and ice during the ice age.) We also got to see the youngest mountain range in the world and boy was it small compared to the Andes! Valle de la Muerte was awesome, orginally it was called Valle de Marte (Mars) because it looks a lot like Mars. As we walked through the Canyon we kept getting pelted by the sand that the wind tunnel between the two dunes created. The sand was a wonderful mix of red and golden yellow and the canyon was breath taking. We even got to see people sand boarding and sand skiing down the big dunes.

After walking through the whole canyon we got back in the van and headed to Valle de la Luna. Valle de la Luna was neat because there is a mixture of rock and sand formations. We got to see what used to be the "Tres Marias" (stone formations that appear to be a lady kneeling and praying) but is now just the two Marias because a tourist climbed on the third one and broke it before the Valle de la Luna was under protection. We then climbed up a big dune to watch the sun set over the desert. It was especially neat because while the sun was setting on one side the full moon was coming up over the desert on the other side. After we got back we headed to bed because we had to get up at 3:30am to go to the geysers.

Travelling Plans

I am done with classes and am now a travelling woman! After handing in my last paper yesterday and getting my grades from a class (a perfect 7 on a 7 scale!! Almost impossible to get!) I packed my bags and headed that night ( Nov. 27) for the first trip of the month! As I am writing this I am on my way to San Pedro de Atacama in the north of Chile for a six day trip. I will then return to Vina for 3 and a half days before hopping on a plane to go to Peru! I'll be in Peru for 8 days and then back to Vina for about 5 days for some family and beach time and then I'll be leaving to get back to the states. It's crazy that I'm already almost done!

Done with Classes!

Yesterday (November 27th) I finished up my semester at La Catolica. Let me just say it was the most relaxed finals week I have ever had! It was nice because I never actually had any final exams, all final papers and projects. My biggest project was a 14 page research paper (in Spanish of course) that I wrote about the role of drugs in the society of Colombia. Finishing up classes was a bittersweet event though, yes I am happy to be done and have it be "summer" but it's sad because it means the end of my time in Chile.

Here are some pictures of what I've been up to recently.

Hiking in La Campana, about an hour away from Vina.

Enjoying a little beach time at the beach 5 blocks from my house.

Band concert of my friend Samantha's pololo (boyfriend)

Sandboarding and sledding on the dunes in Renaca.

Futbol!

A while back I got the opportunity to go see the Santiago Valparaiso Wanderers, our local Division 2 futbol team play. This was not just a normal game but was the semifinals, if the Wanderers win the finals they move up to Division 1 to play about teams like the U and Colo Colo. The game I went to was hosted by the Panzers our neighboring team in Con-Con but was held in a stadium closer to Wanderers territory. Because of that there were a lot more Wanderers fans at the game. Let me just say the fans are crazy! The police force was intense although I'm not sure how much influence they really would have if something got really out of hand.

Just to get into the stadium was an experience, after waiting in line to get our tickets we went through security and then were told to form a line to get into the stadium to our seats. We formed the line but then all of a sudden a big group came through and it became a stampede to get into the stadium, even pushing through the police and guards. Once in the stadium people were climbing all over fences putting up banners and flags. As the game began everyone was singing/chanting the hymn of the Wanderers. As the players came onto the field confetti was thrown, toilet paper rolls, toilet paper, and bottles, really pretty much anything that could be thrown was thrown onto the field. During the game flame signals were lit and of course they let off a lot of smoke making it hard for the players to see. At one point a smoke bomb was thrown on the field and the police in full riot gear had to move it off the field. Fans also were letting out fire extinguishers to make it hard for the players to see on the field.

In the stands we definitely met some interesting (fleighty) people. The people sitting by us thought it was awesome that we were Americans and kept offering us pot and then told us that they were going to go sniff cocaine and sat and did it right next to us. Talk about sketchy!

It was a wonderful experience though. I love the excitement of the futbol games here. Even though it was a tie the fans had so much energy it as great. My apartment is on the way to the stadium so at night after the games I hear the fans come back singing. When the Wanderers won the championship and moved up to Division 1 the fans were so crazy that the police had to ride beside them to calm them down. I am such a big fan of futbol now, I just wish I understood it more.

The Completion of the Food Groups (the end of Mendoza VERY late)

The main food groups while in Mendoza for us have been chocolate, carne, wine, fernet, more carne(beef), and more chocolate. Today we were going to go to the termas by Mendoza but we decided not to since Rossy can't actually go in the termas because of a health condition. So instead we slept in a little and then went searching for a belleza (beauty shop) to get mani/pedicures. Unfortunately since it was Sunday pretty much everything was closed until at least 1pm but most of the shops were closed all day. After waiting for a long time for the mamas (yet another miscommunication) we took off for the supermercado so we could pick up wine for the evening. When we got to the grocery store we decided we would pick up food for a picnic in a park. We also picked up chocolate (cheaper than La Cabana and better I think!) We then went and sat on the grass in the sun and shared a roasted chicken and three different types of potatoes, and did I mention a bottle of wine? We spoke with a wonderful couple at the supermercado and they helped us choose a wonderful Hereford Savignon Blanc and a Rosado de Syrah, Vendimia. We sat and enjoyed our picnic while a drunk crazy guy kept talking to himself about us. After lunch we all fell asleep on the grass like true Mendocians with the sun shining on us and occasionally a whiff of pot smoke. We then went to an outdoor restaurant with the mamas where we continually got honked at and even sprayed with water guns. Afterwards we were hoping to go to an outdoor theatre presentation but couldn't find it so we went to the mall to go see "Las Vuidas de Jueves" an Argentinian film which was interesting. All in all an amazing trip!

Lost In translation- Mendoza day two (10/10/09)

After hardly sleeping last night because I thought I had bugs crawling on me I got up and went for a run with Pam while the mamás got ready for the day and while Jessi and Jenna continued to sleep. After breakfast (2 medialunas and coffee or mate) we went back to the room and go ready for the day. The mamás left to go find another place to stay and we thought they were gonna come back to get us. After waiting for three hours we finally decided to leave the hostel and leave a note with the front desk for when the mamás got back.

We then went to the Tenedor Libre and ate all the food we could! Beef, salad, pasta, and desert too! It was really good. After we stuffed ourselves we went to Plaza Independencia and explored the feria. It was funny walking around and having a lot of people smoking pot and selling bowls also. In Argentina it is legal to smoke marijuana and have it in a “personal” amount. The funny thing is that there is no regulation as to what defines a “personal” amount. In the feria I was able to find lots of gifts for pretty much everyone on my list! Jessi and I also got a troza put in. A troza is a hemp braid attached to the bottom of your hair.

After getting our trozas we went to go meet the mamás where we told them we would meet them. They didn’t show up and we were a little concerned by that. We even went to go look for them in the casino (a favorite place of both mothers!) When we didn’t find them we decided to go hunt for chocolate since Mendoza is famous for it’s chocolate. We found a chocolate store and all bought some chocolate to snack on and then went and got submarinos. Submarinos is steamed milk with pieces of chocolate in the bottom, with cinnamon sprinkled on top and then a piece of chocolate resting on the side of the glass. They were muy, muy rico (very, very good.) We then went and got pizza for dinner and ate outside while getting sang to by street entertainers. After we went to buy Fernet (a very popular liquor here in Argentina, kinda like a caramel and herb flavored rum but with a very strong taste.) After buying the fernet we went back to the hostel and each had a traigo while waiting for the mamás to return. Rossy and Tani showed up a little bit later and told us about the many adventures they had had.

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Welcome to Mendoza land of the full hostels and late nights

Welcome to Mendoza land of the full hostels and late nights. After getting on the bus at 8:30am and driving through the snowy Andes (a lot less snowy then when I went through just two a half weeks ago though!) and seeing vineyards literally as far as the eyes can see we made it to Mendoza. Once we got into the bus terminal it us awhile to change money and then reserve transportation to the thermas (10.45 Argentinean pesos, about $2 dollars for about an hour bus ride) Once we got all that squared away we took taxis towards Plaza Chile to try and find a place to stay. We were hoping to get an apartment since there are six of us. After a long time we found a place to stay it definitely has character.

We are staying in Lifehouse hostel in a room for eight (that we later found out they don’t rent out unless everything else is full since it’s in such bad condition.) The beds are shaky, whenever Pam who slept above me moved the whole bunk beds would move, there were no pillowcases, the lights were literally hanging by a wire, no shower head and you have to reach in a hole in the wall into the tank of the toilet to flush it. Now for those of you who don’t know me too while I’m sorta a germaphobe (sp?) so this was not my cup of tea. Rossy (my host mom) and Tani (her best friend, host mom of my friend Jessi) called it our luxury suite. Rossy made up a whole story about how I’m her hija with her American husband and that I have awful allergies (the truth!) Oh and did I mention that we have a view of the mar (ocean) in Rossy’s room and a view of the mountains out Jessi’s window? We wish!

After dropping our stuff we went to find a place to eat. It is funny to travel with las mamás because they get side tracked very easily. We finally found a cute place with tables outside. For about 40 pesos (about 10 American dollars) I ate bife churrasco (huge chunk of steak) with ensalada (salad), and a drink. For dessert I had a bombon escosia, kinda like a Klondike with ice cream in the middle with chocolate covering it with chocolate sauce and manjar (a mix of caramel and dulce de leche.) The ice cream has a flavor of liquor and was really good! We then went back to the hostel and had pillow fights, and some laughs about our luxury suite. Even after the lights were out we kept hearing the mothers say “chuta!” (shoot!) and then giggle about something. It was as if the mamas were little girls at a sleep over.