Blogs from Valparaíso Region, Chile, South America - page 9

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to go to bed. Ever. I feel like I haven't slept in the whole two weeks I've been here! I'm going to bed at like 5 A.M. and waking up at 9. I can't seem to "turn down." Thank you Lil Jon for personally writing my theme song, my Chilean anthem. There's always something beautiful to see, something cool to do, or someone fun to hang out with. People are more nocturnal here. Prime example: Last week, all of us "young people" went to bed and my host parents were still downstairs talking and watching TV at 2 A.M! It was impressive. I'm a night person too so I'm really loving this. Another reason I can't "turn down" is because I've been hanging out with my host brother ALL ... read more

I'm back in Chile baby! It's been EXACTLY two years to the day since I left but now I'm back and I cannot express the full amount of my contentment nor joy at being here again. It's like I'm back home. It's weird. I got here today with my best friend Brittney who doesn't speak Spanish and we're staying with my old host family for a whole month. When our airplane landed I was so excited! And then instantly it's like I got back into a rhythm I thought I had forgotten. My host family asked if I needed help getting to the house but I was like, "No. I got this." And I did have it! Santiago, the capital, is an hour and a half away from Valparaiso where we're staying. But this time I ... read more

Mendoza, Argentina to Vina del Mar, Chile..... We were to spend two nights here in Mendoza and take in the cultural and winery scene, well some of us stayed for three nights and really enjoyed the city. We went to Lopez Winery for lunch on our last day and we were in for a treat, this will now become part of our next Tarmac Tour. Gerardo, along with Bob and Mary, went onto Uspallata for the last night in Argentina, while we, D Duke and D Nurse stayed the last night in Mendoza, we made an early start, getting away by 8.00 am the next day and made a run for Chile...After a refuel and a coffee for us in Uspillata, a quick look at the Puente del Inca, we caught up with the advance party ... read more

Geo: -33.0206, -71.5548As I try to finish up my blog post from Valparaiso, I need to be somewhat sensitive to the tragic events currently being visited upon this coastal Chilean city. Fires are raging through this UNESCO World Heritage Site and are the worst since a fire in 1953 wiped out most of the city. Already, 16 people have died and more than 3,000 homes have been destroyed (so far 11,000 people have been evacuated). The fire began a few days ago in a forested area above ramshackle housing on one of the city's many hilltops, and spread quickly as high winds rained hot ash over wooden houses and narrow streets. These formally colorful neighborhoods hug hills so steep that people often have to use staircases and funiculars, rather than streets. Many homes have been built ... read more

Now that I was in the know about the changing of the guard, I had my plan of attack. First on my list was to finish packing my stuff, store it and check out of the hotel. Next was a déjà vu of my first day. I went to the café across the street and had a smoked salmon bagel and café Americano. Things were falling into place and I couldn’t be happier. After a quick Metro ride, I was in front of the Moneda Palace ready for the changing of the guard. In Lima this ceremony was done behind big iron fences, giving all of my pictures the illusion of being shot from inside a jail cell. Here we were kept at least 30 to 40 yards behind big fountains with a glass wall surrounding ... read more