Back in Santiago!

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I haven't added an entry in forever!!! It's way more fun to do this while traveling and seeing new things every second of everyday!

I headed back to Santiago directly from Cordoba, about a 20 hour bus ride (which I am completely accustomed to now). I boarded the bus in proper Argentinean style: Mate, thermos and blanket in hand! About 8 hours into the bus ride, I was woken up by freezing cold water pouring on my head- it was raining outside and though every other person on the bus was sleeping like a baby (not to mention completely dry), there happened to be a crack in the roof right over my seat. Unfortunately, there was not one open seat so I went down to the driver and (extremely pissed off, half asleep, cold and wet) let him know what happened. He told me he was sorry but there was no other option and I needed to sit there; obviously I refused and took my seat between him and his helper. From that point on, I got VIP treatment: heater, a comedy show from the driver and his assistant, extra boxed breakfast from the bus company, the whole she-bang. Ha.

While I was traveling, a friend of mine from the program emailed me saying that she was heading back to California early. I was bummed to lose the friend but excited about the open spot in her apartment! I immediately emailed her roommates and moved in the second that I got back to Santiago.
I love my apartment; it's in a way cooler barrio in Santiago. Last semester I was living in a kind of industrial part of the city, my current apartment is right downtown on the coolest street of the "alternative, bohemian neighborhood" (I think I really like it because it's much more similar to San Fran, which I can't wait to get back to!). I live with two Chilean boys; architects that graduated last year.

About a year and a half ago, my two roommates and two of their old friends, went in together and bought a building in Valparaiso (a touristy beach town about a hour outside of Santiago). They have been working on it since, building a hotel that is going to be beautiful (all out of recycled wood). I have gone and helped with some construction and have included some pictures!

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Photos

Santiago
The view from my friends apartment on a clear day. Usually the smog is so heavy you can't see the surrounding Andes all that well.

El Golf
The more industrial part of Santiago, super modern. Since the earthquake, Chilean flags are hung everywhere you look.

Andes
Big Bear and Tahoe ain't got nothing on this!!

La Moneda
My friends and I decided to see all the touristy sights one day. This is La Moneda, the white house of Chile.

Roberto
Meet one of my roommates, Roberto.

La Sala
The living room of my new apartment. We don't have a buzzer so when friends come over (or are just walking by and want to say hi) they yell up to these windows. We live on the second floor, so we throw down a set of keys and they let themselves up. Convenient.

My room!
I live with the two sweetest boys in Chile... when my friend moved in last semester, they realized that there was no closet or desk and built this the first week she was there.

La cocina
Welcome to my kitchen.

Sunday Sunday
The view from my living room, on a very quiet Sunday. I live a half of a block from the fine arts museum, 5 blocks from the Plaza de Armas, a block away from the castle on Cerro Santa Lucia and next door to an abundance of cafes, restaurants and used book stores!

Carrete!
And of course, some partying :)

Adobe
They are building the hotel keeping in stride with how buildings were traditionally built in Valparaiso. Using mud, straw, etc to create the walls before covering it.

Madera
I love what they have done with the recycled wood and lighting. The hotel is 4 stories.

Stairs...
So my favorite part (which you can hardly see here) is how they did the stairs. Rather than using big blocks of wood, they compacted skinny strips of wood so you can see all of the colors of each piece of wood, I love it!

Break time!
One day, rather than working, we went to the site and had a bbq and some beers.

View
The view from the hotel patio on the second floor. Valparaiso is one of the oldest ports in Chile.

Comments

[uncle paul]

see your back in the saddle
place looks great and so do you. looking forward to seeing you this summer. Love uncle paul