Blogs from Providencia, Santiago Region, Chile, South America - page 12

Pinochet died yesterday. It was wierd because it was the same day that the group we traveled down here with left on their flight back to Cali. Alot of the streets were closed, and so we ended up being dropped off by the bus close to the hospital that he had died at. There were alot of people who had sighns and candles and were yelling things along the line of "Thank you, Pinochet!". So we went into that crowd, just to look around. It was really disturbing being inside of a mob of people who support a mass murderer, mass torturer, who stole rule of their country and made the poor poorer. I cant even imagine supporting someone who used torture against innocent people. And the wierd thing was that there was both old and ... read more

It normally requires a lot to make me blush in the U.S. It may be the passionate expression used by Chileans that has influenced me to easily let that pink tint steadily climb up my face. Needless to say, I have blushed more in my 2.5 months in Chile, than I have over the past five years at home. It began with my endless battle with the word "alcachofa". Artichoke. Since day one of using that word I have only been able to produce "alfachoka", a variation of the original. It all came to a head on one of our visits to a favorite pizzeria here in Santiago, Cuidadano. I was ready. I practiced. The waiter approached, I made my attempt to order pizza with artichoke hearts, and failed. I could only say "alfachoka". I then ... read more

19th of oct. santiago. providencia.staying nacho´s place. a lot smog. but town is green and a lot billding has nice garden ,a lot nice park. people is also nice. not so defferent than USA, I was image .not so cheap here than I thought. and so hard to find climbing partner here doing the week. "cajon del maipo"is wonderful looking vally. I want to climb more there. but not much topo. I need to go to someone knows a lot. 初めての南アメリカ　チリ。でもメキシコやスペインを経験していたせいか　大したカルチャーショックもなくちょっとがっかり、Santiagoは盆地のせいか世界的に空気の悪い町らしい。でもここはアパート周り、歩道、公園すべてに手入れが行き届いていて、緑が多く小奇麗。それぞれ管理する使用人らしき人があちらこちらに・・・家には家政婦・・・日当なんと２０００円が当たり前の国。そのわりには食べ物そんな安くない・・・みんなどうやって生活なりたってるの？ ちなみに、チリのSantiagoで居候させてもらったのは主に、ナチョとその彼女の住むマンション。彼とは約束もしてないのにスペイン、フランス、アメリカのヨセミテとユタっと出会う縁を感じ、そして今回は　大変お世話になっちゃいました。実は、彼は弁護士、でもサイドビジネスでクライミング雑誌編集長をしている、やり手。だからクライミングでは顔が広いがみんな私よりレベル高すぎて一緒に登るにはちょっと引けちゃう、なんたって、雑誌に載るようなチリのトップの人達なのでね・・・... read more

So, after my arrival blog Santiago has turned into a fantastico place to be. Quite a lot of people have said they dont like the place but i love it. Very clean, freindly and easy to use and with as many universities as you can shake a stick at. Really i"ve not been in any other place on my travels thats turned up zero Starbucks and a pleathera of universities. I guess also the hostel im in helps a lot as there is always something going on and lots of new people to meet. After my day out as featured in the last blog my evening was spent chatting with various new best freinds which included some folks who persueded me at the 11th hour (literally, it was 11pm when i decided) to the next day ... read more

This entry is frank and honest and may not be for the faint of heart (Mommycakes I´m referring to you.) Had I written this blog this morning, you most certainly would have received a bleak and even sad description of my state of mind. However, having just finished an excellent pasta dinner and salad, my first with lemon (Monica, me gusta mucho la ensalada con limon) I am able to tell the story of my arrival in Chile with a happier tune. But, let me not step ahead of myself. Many of you are wondering, Chile? But what of Argentina? While enrolled in my TEFL course this summer I spoke with a number of people who highly recommended Chile. I was not fond of the idea of living in a large city, Buenos Aires is one, ... read more