San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

So here in Chile their independence is a huge deal, therefore, everything basically closes down for the week so people can celebrate. Our school was closed the entire week last week, meaning no class for us! We had a vacation from our vacation! So on Friday we went to the bus station in Vina and bought tickets to San Pedro de Atacama, the very very northern part of Chile, which happens to be a desert. The bus ride was only a little more than 24 hours...each way! But when we arrived in San Pedro, we all realized the long bus ride was well worth it. If you get a chance google San Pedro to get a better idea if my pictures aren't enough. It is one of the most unique towns I have ever visited. The roads are dirt, the buildings remind you of an old wild west town. the restaurants are outside, no heat, no ATM and they turn the electricity and water off at night! We had some amazing adventures up there. We went sand-boarding in the desert (take snowboarding and put it in the desert, but you have to walk up the sand hills!) we hiked up to watch an incredible sunset and moon rise from these mountains, we woke up at 4am to go to -11C weather to watch the early morning geysers steam, we swam in hot springs, visited a flamingo reserve, hiked around some salt flats and ate some amazing food, bought some great hats, mittens and socks and ultimately had an incredible time. This town with a population of only 1,900, is an incredible oasis, unlike any other I believe I will see. People travel from all over the world to visit this incredible place and I could not be more happy that we decided to sit on a bus for 24 hours in order to experience it!

Portillo, Los Andes. Chile

I think it is safe to say that I had a top ten ski moment of my life today! We left this morning at 530am and headed for The Andes. At about 930am we arrived at Portillo, a small mountain resort smack in the middle of the Andes Mountains. This incredible place is one of the most magnificent locations I have ever seen. Although small, Portillo had some incredible opportunities to offer! We could not have asked for better weather, sunny, clear, and WARM, wow, at times warmer than Vina! There was no one on the hill, Oh except for the US SKI TEAM, the Canadian ski team and some Austrian and Norwegian skiers! They were gate training! Apparently we picked the right spot! The area is pretty small, maybe a couple Aplentals, not too much steep terrain, but the beauty of the surroundings, the weather and the soft spring snow made up for that. They also not only have chairlifts, they have 5 person palma-lifts that drag your ass up a steep steep run. They have 4 of these scattered around in places where it would be too steep to put a chair. Talk about an interesting experience. Take a rope-toe, that goes straight up with a tiny seat, going 3omph haha WHOA, what an experience. I cant wait to explain this all in person, but i hope that gave you a little insight, and again, pictures do this place no justice. It is a MUST SEE first hand, resort. AND it's cheap too!! Oh and also on our way up, an avalanche fell on the road right before we reached it....then we waited while they cleared it and kept going, WOW!

Arriendo de Bicicletas

Our first excursion on our own was a bike trip to the next beach town to the north. We rented bicicletas and rode along the coast to Renaca. What a beautiful ride, the pictures really do not do this place justice. I wish you could all come down here and check it out! We have been doing dance classes a few times a week to learn La Cueca, a traditional Chilean dance, that imitates roosters dancing, because next week is Chilean independence and it is a huge party and people dance la cueca in the streets. We will now be adequately prepared....well maybe, ha-ha right now we all look pretty ridiculous doing this dance. The weather seems to be warming up some, we can survive without the propane heater. It is supposed to be close to 75 this weekend yay, but still about 40 at night, que frio!!!
I just set up a Skype account, QUE BACAN! that's how cool in Spanish. I love Skype already, it is so cheap and you can call cell phones, land lines and computers, who knew!! right now we are in the process of planning a trip this weekend. It look slike we can rent a car for about $30 a day, so with 4 of us, very cheap. We would drive to Santiago and then on to the mountains, ski a day and then just explore until Wednesday. We need to be here then because that is the big party for independence day!

Gringos Del Mar

Our first "ASSADO" also known in the US as a BBQ! Last night we had a BBQ on our patio with all of us roomates, some of Pamela's Chilean friends and others. I was able to capture a few pictures that give you a little insight on their version of a BBQ. Basically you cook sausage and meat and hang out, drinking Pisco, a native Chilean alcohol that can be compared to Rum, and Chilean beer. Except BBQs dont start around here until 11pm and end at 2am and then you go to the discos until 5am or so!! As you can tell I am having an amazing time and would love to here from everyone about how things are going in the states!

Clase de Espanol con Jennifer

Today was our first real day of spanish class. Yesterday we did an orientation at school and then went to a winery for wine tasting and tour. So today was really the first day. I had forgotten how exciting it is to learn new things...I mean in a school setting, ever since I graduated I havent really sat down to learn anything, so being back in a class environment and using my brain, retraining to speak spanish, is so refreshing. I have spanish class from 1pm to 4pm everyday starting now for 2 weeks then we have a week off for Chilean independence week (HUGE PARTIES) and then one last week. So i basically explore in the mornings, run along the boardwalk, then go to class, and explore until sunset, eat dinner and hang with the girls at the house. Tonight our director Pamela who lives with us made us dinner, it was very sweet. Unfortunately it started raining this morning and isnt supposed to stop until friday, also it is FREEZING, I dont go anywhere without my blanket at the house, of course we have no heat and concrete walls and floors....haha oh well is fun to laugh about! Tomorrow we are going to go to a salsa class and learn some dance moves and go out on the town, so ill update you all after I do that! CIAO

Vino, New Friends & Sunsets! I love Chile already!

BEAUTIFUL