The Color Run

When there is the opportunity to run through the streets of Santiago whilst being doused with strange colored powder, you just say yes.  We had done one Color Run before in Austin which was less Color and more mud due to some last minute rare Texas rain, but this time we were not disappointed when we, along with many of our Gringonation friends, got up early on a Sunday to make a mess.  I put my camera in a plastic bag, only slightly diminishing the photo quality, and captured some great moments of what really is the happiest 5K on the planet.  

Tutu in its second run through Santiago...

getting colored is serious business

Premature coloring

All before the race... Chileans aren't very patient people

8am dance party

There was at least a little running

Pure happiness

Even the street dogs got in on the action

This picture is called "Sorry concierge for bringing this into our building"

It was a great way to spend a Sunday morning, complete with color-themed karaoke at each station... (I'm blue aba dee aba dai... They call me mellow yellow....You see your TRUE. COLORS SHINING THROUGH), techno dancing, and post run brunch.  5 gold stars guys!

Jac Attack Part One

My college roommate and first faithful travel companion Jacqui is currently on a round-the-world trip (I know... awesome right.  You can read about her adventures here, and you should.  She is bouncing around all over the place).  I was so excited for her arrival in Santiago for the Chile portion of her trip.  Honestly, there aren't very many people that could share our shoe box apartment for a month sin problemas... actually that list is one, and it is her.  

The only slightly unfortunate part about Jacqui being here in November was the part where Michael and I were still having to work like real adults (super fome), but we sitll managed to take advantage and fit a surprising amount of things in on nights and weekends while she was here.  Of course, she did plenty during the days too, truly getting the Santiago experience... not sure if that is good or bad.  We'll have to read her blog.

Here's our first reunited pictures in front of the fancy fountain in the park down the street.  Nothing says bienvenidos like bright colors and homeless people.

Anyway, inn our first weekend, Michael had to work on Saturday so I took Jacqui on the short bus ride to Valparaiso and then over to Vina del Mar for a quick glimpse at the Pacific.  We managed to get through the day basically unscathed, despite the cold (yes, it is summer... no, the beach didn't get the memo that day).  

Valpo is super confusing to get around with every street curving and swirling, but with some help of the locals and some pure luck, we got where we intended to go.  

Jacqui had her first of many Chacereros... a typical Chilean sandwich with green beans on it.  

When we were leaving from Vina del Mar, there was a slight hiccup in our bus situation... as in, we missed the first one we actually had tickets for, but after the initial "There is nothing I can do, you have to buy a new ticket" and a response from me of... "Nope, I'm not going to do that, you are going to have to help me", a rare glimpse of decent Chilean customer service reared its head and we were on our way.  Success!!

Los Molles and the Northern-ish coast

Hop in your time machine folks because we are going back to August when we took advantage of a long weekend (remember the one Chile gave me for my birthday?) and headed to a tiny beach town about three hours North of Santiago with our friends Estephan and Annie.  I met Annie in my Spanish class back in October of last year, we were instant friends.

Anyway, these guys have a car, so we loaded up early (by Chilean standards... 8 am) and hit the road to avoid the mass exodus from Santiago that happens every long weekend.  We spent a very relaxing weekend in a cabin with a fantastic view exerting only the energy it took to walk along the beach (although admittedly, we walked more than a decent amount before it was said and done) and make ourselves food... and drink wine... I mean, what good Chilean long weekend doesn't include wine.

Mainly, this is to share the beautiful pictures that we came away with.  Since the all-purpose, indestructable unless you lose it in the Andes camera had not yet been replaced, and we were traveling by car, we had our nice camera.  One day was spent a little further North at the small town of Pichidangui, and our last day was spent passing through the fancier towns of Zapallar and Cachagua (where there was a great coastal trail along the rocks that gave us views of a penguin island) on our way home.  Also, August was cold.

Chilean Pep Rally gone wild

In early November, the kids at school began talking about the big Interescolar competition that was coming up.  Many of the larger private schools in Santiago would participate and winning any of the events not only earned bragging rights, but a feriado, o sea, a day off from school.  Talk about incentive.  At CPH-CJA, our mascot was the canguros... Yup... The fiercest of all the animals, the kangaroos.  The Friday before was the inspiration session that was so chaotic it would make any American-bred teacher twitch, complete with drumming, so much red, and a fire extinguisher... Oh yeah... And a creepy kangaroo mascot.  All ages welcome.

Apparently the yelling worked and our "baile de la cancha" won first prize which meant a Monday without school.  Rock on.... Also, the baile was the closest thing to UIL marching I've seen in this country... Formations, synchronizations, etc.  you know... Except for actually playing the music... I believe there was Miley Cyrus in their dance... Yeah, now I'm embarrassed :).