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Published: February 1st 2010
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bellavisa
one of the patios at bellavista Aaahhh!! I've been out of the United States for an entire month (officially tomorrow, actually, but who's counting?) I can't believe it...the weirdest thing to think about is that it feels so normal to be here. Honestly, it's almost like going to school at USC but people speak Spanish and the city's a lot bigger. Hmm, when I actually put that thought into words it sounds silly...I'm just gonna stop trying to express my thoughts and just give a summary of these past few weeks, which I realize is only barely more interesting. But don't worry, there are about 100 photos from the past few weekends that I'm putting up, and I think y'all will be jealous about how awesome everything here is 😊
Anyway, so yea, it's been about two weeks since I've posted last so I'll try to write everything I remember. Two weekends ago Anna and I and Julie, a girl from the program with whom we have become good friends, went to a bunch of open-air markets around the city because they're really popular during the summer. To start our shopping extravaganza, last Friday (the 23rd) we went shopping on the streets by the Plaza de
bellavista
another view of the patio Armas...I needed shoes because the ones I brought are not really made for all the intensive walking we've been doing around the city, and I got some awesome sandals so I was happy. After that we went to this artsy/hipster neighborhood called Bellavista where there's an outdoor artesan's market and a crazy patio with a bunch of outdoor bars and classy restaurants and stuff. I didn't get anything but it was fun to walk through, and Friday night I went back with a friend we all met the weekend before at the hostel at Vina del Mar and we had a delicious seafood platter and walked around more of the neighborhood and it was a good time. And then on Saturday we went to another artesan's/fruit and vegetable market at Los Dominicos, which was right off the last metro stop that runs east/west. I can't describe that artesan's market as well as the pictures I have can, but it was really beautiful and peaceful and we had excellent empanadas and again didn't buy anything (the prices were really high because apparently it's a tourist market...but still worth a visit) but I saw a bunch of beautiful apalca-wool sweaters that I
los dominicos
a view of the entrance to the artesan's market at los dominicos want! But would be impractical to buy because I would probably never wear them. Anyway, after that I went to Cerro San Cristobal and the views were absolutely amazing...again, the pictures are better at demonstrating than my words. Let's be honest.
So then I had school Monday-Thursday, blah blah blah, boring stuff, and then this past weekend was really fun too. Thursday night a bunch of the kids from the program went over to one of our friend's apartments for her birthday party (21st...'nuff said. just kidding.) and some chileans from our school came and some chileans the girl knew from last semester (she's been here for a semester already...jealous...) and it was ballin'. And then Friday we (everyone in the program) went to Pomaire, which is a tiny tiny tiny pueblo that was pretty much just two streets, one intersection, but it's famous (relatively speaking) for its clay pottery, and I bought this precious little teapot that I'm hoping will legit work when I get back to the States because that would just be awesome. After a few hours we went to Isla Negra, which is about half an hour away to the west (so it's on the
los dominicos
another of the market at los dominicos coast) and is where Pablo Neruda has one of his houses. He's a Chilean poet who won the Nobel Prize in the 70s and he has 3 houses in Chile and one in France, and one of them is in Isla Negra on the beach and it's like a national museum thing. We weren't allowed to take pictures, which is really a shame because it's absolutely beautiful and he has all this interesting stuff in it. I haven't tried to search for pictures online, but I'm betting you can can find some of the inside of his house on google or whatever. And then Friday night a few of us stayed on Isla Negra to go camping (on the beach...daas right). We walked south about 10 minutes to get to the spot and set up our tents on the site, went to each shrimp and cheese empanadas (aka my favorite food I've gotten here so far, besides the ice cream) and bought a bunch of junk food from a supermarket and made a fire when we got back and had a grand 'ol time. The next morning we stayed on the beach for a few hours and then went home
los dominicos
there were a bunch of birds and cats and dogs and other animals and this parrot was there and I wanted it! but didn't get it... to recover from the past two nights, haha. And then on Sunday Anna, Julie and I went to one of the public pools with one of the chilean guys from our school. It was next to a public park and it was really pretty and relaxing.
So that was a very brief summary of the past two weeks. The internet in our apartment has been working fairly well recently though so hopefully I'll be able to update every week? Fingers crossed. So until next week, and I hope everyone has a great start to your February! -cheesy thumbs up-
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Julie the famous
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I'm famous
Excellent summary. Let's be honest.