¡Hola!
Well my first weekend in Chile has been a 'whirlwind' experience. So many things happen in the span of an hour, let alone one day! I thought my program was going to be small and that everyone would be in Patagonia. Turns out, English Opens Doors/Inglés Abre Puertas is a program throughout Chile. People have placements in the North, in Valparaíso, and in Santiago......and I'm in Patagonia???? I definitely should have done more research. All of the participants in the EOD program are staying in the same hostel in Santiago, so there are plenty of new friends to explore the city with. I am on the fourth/top floor of the hostel and had to haul my suitcase up 4 flights of stairs....luckily I did not get a hernia or pass out. I am staying in a small, 6 person room with bunk-beds. Not only am I on the top bunk but my luggage locker is high off the ground, so taking out items to wear or even grabbing my freaking toothbrush is quite a process for my 5'4" self. One of my new friends knew someone in the city and he (Roberto) has been taking us on daily expeditions to various neighborhoods and on several hikes. Roberto is a photographer and has been showing us very beautiful parts of town. I'm so glad we have been hanging out with him because until then I had only seen pretty hideous sections of town that made me seriously doubt coming down here. I will hopefully figure out how to post pictures on this blog/facebook/snapfish.
I hiked up two different mountains yesterday and got quite the workout! The second mountain, San Cristobal, was a nice 40 min hike UPHILL that made any entry point to Chataqua/Mt. Sanitas seem like a joke! I would have totally taken the tram to the top but other people in my program decided to walk, and since I have been on a straight meat and carb diet since I arrived I thought it would be good for me. By the time I got to the top I decided that I would rather be fat and bloated than hike that ever again.
The food here is...well...interesting. Italianos are everywhere, but since I am not a fan of mayonaise, I can't get down with hot dogs smothered in both avocado and mayonaise....at least not every day. My favorite meal so far is called 'Biffe a la Pobre'--a huge piece of steak next to a huge pile of french fries topped with two eggs and fried onions--it's delicious! I ate it yesterday for lunch at a restaurant called 'Las Vacas Gordas' (the fat cows)...Now you see why I felt I had to go on that arduous hike!
I was going to get a phone my first day here, but other people in my program advised me to wait until I get down to my region so making calls to other people in my region/my host family wouldn't be as expensive. I have a skype account, but it's not letting me sign in. I may have to restart my computer.......just tried doing that and no luck. I guess I'm going to have to be nice so someone will want to help me...lame! (just kidding!)
More to come either tonight or tomorrow, there's just too much to put in one post! Hopefully my pic of Santiago will show up in this post!
¡Besos y abrazos!
Keeley : )
What does a vegetarian do for food? How about the time difference ? When I took you to the PUB in Penn Valley you really downed the french fries, so I know you can keep up in Chile. Is there any organic food there?
ReplyDeleteSounds like you will be developing muscles! Get used to the hikes you will probably have lots more in Patagonia. AND, prepare yourself for winds.
ReplyDeleteHave you found any markets and how are you enjoying the wine? Have they suggested you change your money into Chilian pesos or are you using U.S. dollars? This is a great experience, I love your blog.
Kathy
I was waiting for you to respond on skype! I guess everyone in Chile gets a lot of exercise so they can continue to eat! What's the altitude there? Those mountains look just like the Flatirons!
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom
Have you found out where you will be going? The mountains outside of Santiago are really are really high! Did you say they are over 24000ft.?
ReplyDeleteI guess you will have to look for vegetables and fruit, but since chile is known for it's grapes etc. I am sure you will be able to find them.what kind of classes are you taking?will you be going to the wine country?
Aloha,dad
So, so happy that you're having such an amazing time. Is the hiking harder down there because of the altitude? Or just because of the hot dogs, steak, eggs, and french fries? Whatever the case, this whole experience sounds delicious!
ReplyDeletePlease do Mr. Pepper a favor. We would like pictures of the different types of local brews you find around Patagonia. More specifically, we would like pictures of you enjoying the local brews (in between arduous hikes, of course).
Take care of yourself and update us when you get settled down there. I can't wait to hear about your host family!
Love love
Peppers on Parade
I have been enjoying the local cuisine.....too much....there are vegetarian restaurants and vegetarian options for food so you can definitely make it work, there is even someone who is vegan in my program! I have been using Chilean pesos to buy food, but there are meals provided by my program, either at the hostel or coupons to restaurants around the hotel where my orientation is. The mountains are definitely different from the flatirons MOM. Wayyyyy different!!!!! I have not found out where I will be going yet, but I did manage to pick up some apples from a local fruit stand (yum!). It's really funny because a Chilean salad is 90% avocado most of the time! I will be trying to go to the wine country next weekend, but we'll see what happens. The hiking is not harder down here, I've just never been a fan of going uphill! I will help Mr.Pepper with the local brews so expect some pics in the very near future!
ReplyDelete