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!!

la playa is la awesome

Since moving to Chile, I have been terribly excited about the prospect of having the beach so close.  At times when I have expressed my excitement, people have tried to crush my dreams by saying things like, "ooooh but the water is REALLY cold", or "It is nice, but not great", to which I have replied... "You obviously don't get it."

We grew up in the desert--- 13 hours en auto to the closest beach, which was the Gulf of Mexico in Corpus  Christi or Galveston, or somewhere equally as filled with jellyfish carcasses and oil rigs in view.  It does not matter to me that the water is cold or that better beaches exist in the world because it is only 1.5 hours in a bus from my current location.  

Last Tuesday we took a day trip to the beautiful city by the ocean Vina del Mar.  We caught a double-decker bus with panoramic windows at Central Station and within an hour and half, we were at the beach.  Now, it is obvious that Vina has a lot to offer--- it is a city, not a beach town.  It has a giant casino, a metro system of its own and many beautiful buildings--- We will explore those things another time.  This trip we walked along the beach, toes in the sand, and played with an American football (which attracted a few gawking passersby).  It was a wonderful way to spend a free weekday, and it was wonderful to escape the smog.  It was perfect weather (until it was cold), and I obviously being super white realized once we returned that I was in fact, RED (even with sunscreen).  

We rode in the second story of the bus... right at the front.  The scenery en route was beautiful.

I was amazed by the number of people that were playing the water fully clothed.  Jeans + Sweaters + Ocean  seems to equal happiness.

 This is me playing with the panoramic setting on the camera.... Well done me!

Michael is contemplating staying forever...no matter how cold.

I am leaping for joy... as if to say.  Vina is number one!!

Needless to say, for me... la playa was "la awesome."***

***I hate dealing with gender in Spanish.  For me, it is one of the most difficult things to remember (No se por que), but I have begun saying that things are boys or girls to myself when someone corrects me.  Ex: "Quiero una cafe"... "Tu quieres UN cafe"--- me... "ohhhh coffee is a boy. GOTCHA!"  Anyway I just decided that "awesome" is a girl... obviously.  :)