Mas aventuras

The first weekend that Christy came in was fun. We went to a Kunstmann for a delicous freaking dinner and beers, a movie, The Invasion haha, then had a spectacular night at Copa. The next day we chilled. Went out and had a slumber party with Allison one night. Some beach time. Then the Bunker one night, and I'm not really sure what else (I'm writing this quick and from 3 weeks ago so my memory has slipped sorry).

So this last week was amazingly wonderful, as every weekend is, and also jam packed. This last weekend we doubled up our class time for three days so we could have an extra two days off for the weekend. It worked out lovely and we got out of class on Wednesday.

That Wednesday we had a discussion at Christy's cabana and picked delicious black berries on the way to see Unstoppable, hit the Clover as usual and then just four of us went out to a couple discotecas. It was a fun night like usual with some hysterical stories that hopefully I'll remember 10 years down the road (I feel like everything is happening so fast that it is just one big blur where all I will know is that I once travelled to South America). Then Kate and I basically took a two hour power nap before waking up and packing for Pucon. So that Thursday morning we headed out to Pucon to start some amazing times. We got in and tried to figure everything out. Pucon is an amazing town that's small gorgeous, unique, with SOOO much to do around it--you know that's the truth because there is 12 tourist companies on every block. Nonetheless it was hard to decide what to so but we decided to do canopying, rafting, and hydrospeeding (sadly not hike the Volcan Villarica for $80-though we hear it's worth it- and horseback riding). So we went to the hostal and then met up to go canopying.

The canopying is the longest zipline tour in Southern America that is 3400 m with heights of 120 m and speeds of 30-70 km/hour. After our bus ride to the hot springs, where you get your gear for the canopy line, we got dressed and loaded into the vehicles (look at the packed truck) to pretty much go drifting up to the canopy start-Scotty you'd be thrilled by their driving here. Then once at the top they dropped us off with no instructions so everyone just waited till they came back 15 minutes later with more people. Now the good part. The ride was GORGEOUS! And I nearly peed my pants from laughing so hard at Kate and Allison spooning their way down one of their circuits and Maddy almost having a heart attack because I wasn't slowing down soon enough. The sun was out and gorgeous and we could not have been happier. We met these three guys too who we saw the next day. Ziplining was great to say the least. After the fun we were planning on going out but instead got some bread, chicken, cheese, and apples from the market and crashed at the hostal.

We woke up the next morning and Allison and I met our roomies. One girl from Wisconsin who's studying in Buenos Aires for a year and another girl who's volcanoe hike got cancelled due to smoke. The volcanoe sounded amazing though- 5 hour intense hike through volcanic rock, sand, and snow. Then the crater is huge at the top and you can see the smoke billowing constantly. Then on the way down they give you a plastic sled you clip onto your pack about the size of Grandma Nocky's frying pan and you slide down the volcanoe off and on. Sounds great and Mitchell and I want to do it after out internship going up to Santiago but we'll see how money allows. We ate the most amazing delicious organic dinner at our vegetarian hostal. Almost keeled over when I saw the multi grain bread.

Anyways....We went rafting. Rafting. Rafting. Freaking white water rafting like I'd never been in my ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!! I left my camera since Allison took her waterproof one and we went to the Upper Trancura River that was class IV with one class V. And it was impresionante! First off the people were really nice and were impressed that girls from the United States could speak spanish and kept asking us if we understood what was going on in the safety demos. Then we got our gear and wet suits on and loaded up with out guide Luchin. (The 2 kayaker guys there were awesome and there was a guy who worked there from Boise, Idaho). Our guide was amazing and I was stoked because Marcos-kayaker guy 1- told us that we got the crazy guide which always ensures a great trip.

Rafting was spectacular....don't know what else to say. The views were gorgeous and the rapids splendid. We did stuff there that we would never be able to do in the United States. We went and paddled into the rapids after passing and got everyone into the front part of the raft and got dunked under water for what seemed like 20 seconds but I don't really know how long (Allison's face was priceless). Then we literally rafted onto a ginormous rock that was at probably a bit more than a 45 degree angle to all almost fall off and barely make it off with just one guy falling in. [People fell off 4 times and I fell off when the raft doubled in half and and the Osorno man took my spot=quite hilarious]. Then we stood on the outside of the raft with our oars for balance and went down one of the little class threes seeing who could stand the longest. Then we hiked part of the way and jumped off a waterfall into the rapids. It was spectacular. It was a fun day for first because Kate had never been rafting, and all three of the other girls had never jumped off rocks or from one that high- all you Idahoans reading have probably done higher but I've never gone into the rapids right after so that was new for me too.- And then we also abandoned the raft and bombed down a class II rapid in our wetsuits. It was so fun. At the end we were taking pictures (we had the most amazing pictures from the whole trip with all these little adventures) and everyone everyone that went rafting was jumping in the picture and took us all down in the water...just fun people, a fun time, and an unforgettable experience.

Sadly our bus that was supposed to leave at 10:30 at night left at 7:15 instead so we couldn't go hydrospeeding-but that's ok because I think Mitchell and I have a date for doing it on the way up to Santiago. But I was beyond heartbroken because I had my eyes set on it so hopefully I still get to do it before I go leave. So instead of hidrospeeding we went around the town and were planning to go to the black sand beach, BUT Allison's camera got stolen.....

Sooooo we looked for it and what not, but she accidently left it on a shelf; Kate and I both felt bad because it was an amazing camera and it had some SWEET pictures. Hence there will be no rafting pictures since it was her camera and also none of me canopying because we switched our photo skills. Allison is just now getting over it pretty completely so we're happy because she was beyond down when she found out. So while we went and saw the beach there wasn't time to do much so we went back and mourned the death of the camera over a couple pitchers of beer and a case of raspberries before the bus. RIP la camera de Allison.

Saturday was nice but I can't remember for the life of me what we did. I'll come back and edit this once I talk to the girlies.

Saturday we had a little girl pow wow an Miss Techy Allison taught me to do more stuff on my computer in half an hour than I'd taught myself in the past 5 years. That night we were going to go do girls night but the others were pooped so I went out with the boys to the casino and karaoke. We also saw some friends of ours at the Bunker before we went out and talked to them shortly, but I came late because I went from pajama mode to Adrian's "dress to impress" in five minutes. The casino was fun, although I didn't gamble, and Brian was the only one who walked away with some money. It's kind of crazy gambling in a different language or seeing different games that you're not used to. The casino is also the place appearantly for all the crazy, gambling, chainsmokers to go.

The next day we woke up and hit Niebla beach in the morn to get a tan on. It was super fun. We met more people. These guys went cliff jumping. On the beach the group played volleyball, Brian skim boarded, I played soccer with some guys. It was pretty hilarious slash scary asking those guys to play because I walked up and said hi then asked to play. The convo went like this: "You want to play what?" -"Is it ok if I play soccer with you guys?" -"You want to play soccer?" -"Yes I want to play soccer." -awkward silence when they all looked at each other. -"I'm not amazing but ok." -"Yeah you can." Then we played and they were surprised a girl could actually play. There were people on the beach yelling at me because I was a girl playing (weird because usually I play on a field and it isn't strange there because I knew people going in). Anyway it was a super fun day!! Came back home and besides the money lost on sunscreen I still got burnt.

The week was fun as always and we had our spanish class for history which was really interesting. And I know I'm one weekend behind but I have stuff to do out the ying yang and sleep is singing to me so I'll write later to tell you all about Noche de Valdivia weekend. Love and miss you all!

Patagonia continued...

Fishing video still didn't load. Sorry! I waited a long time and don't have anymore patience. ...........alright so we'd visited Las Manos and saw where the old school was. Then we walked home and it was a gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous sunset. Once we got back we scavenged for a bonfire and ate. It was a very relaxing night with everyone and Allison and I just chatted before we went to bed.

Then in the morning the boys slept in so there was no fishing, so the three girls went on a walk down the river and then over to the river basin.

It was a peaceful and gorgeous walk; the water was also very chilly. I had a grand idea for running down the river on the rocks and through the water in my soccer shorts and tevas, which would've been fine but there were the evil, pokey, invisible, weeds hidden in my path. Nonetheless I cut my feet up a bit but the water was cold enough that it was fine and numbing. The view was beautiful and worth it.

Then we walked a while down this road, such a simple thing was beautiful with the mountains hanging overhead, to the river basin. The sandy shores were lower than they'd been in years and it looked like the river was smoothly painted amongst the brown sand.

After that we went back and went to meet up for our bus ride out. The road to the airport was one pretty switchback after another. Then we finished our homework while traveling. Mitchell and I lucked out and not only got to sit by each other on the flight back, but got three seats to split, AND a window seat. The view the entire time was magical. The pictures are bad because they're through the airplane window, but still show such a cool view.

It was so sad to leave. I think I left a little bit of my soul in those mountains.

Patagonia

Mountains peak into the sky

Reaching into heaven's ceiling,

Leaving me with just a sigh

As I gaze disbelieving...

The flowing water carves its way

Sharing its life and glory,

Spreading the green along the bay

Exploring and leaving history.

With the sun beating on my face,

I am warmed with emotion

Thinking I have found my place.

Overwhelmed by this notion

The wind whispers that I am right.

I could melt into sturdy rock

And forever take in this sight,

Muted towards any alarm clock.

But as I drift into my dream

The solid glacier shatters

Revealing the evil scheme

Of all that "really" matters.

I am not a rock, or a tree,

Or water; I'm a mere mortal.

Everyday trapped undersea

With a personal battle.

I want money and success;

But love and happiness more.

My mind and heart is a mess...

My life should not be a war.

The nature here eases my strife

Momentarily as I aspire

To live this everlasting life

Each moment until I expire.

Yet I cannot stay forever.

So I leave part of my soul

Floating in the blue river

As memories fill the hole.

Thus, next time concrete conquers,

Recollections from my heart

Will use their calming powers

And divine repair will restart.

Always reminding me there are cures

In the landscape's sacred art.

PATAGONIA

Alrighty folks, this last week has been remarkable!!! So last Wednesday we went and watched the soccer game and it was so insane! The game was incredible, the fans crazy loud and had so much energy. I learned some songs that were for the team and it was cool. It was also great because the team's side we were on (La Universidad de Chile) ended winning 3-2. Such a great game! Walking to our hostal was crazy because the other team Colo-Colo was harassing already (and we went to the wrong gate which was pretty histerical and were yelled at like "you're an embarrassment for wearing that shirt" and much worse). There were coppers every direction and tanks on the entrances of the stadium. Afterward was fine though because we stayed 30 minutes after the game talking with Chileans and singing to our victory. I still don't know all the parts of the song but they were pretty fun/weird. They call the goalie a shark when he makes a great save and one of their forwards a puma porque he is so fast. Then there were some bad songs having to do with the other team's mother. The experience is so different than you expect it; there is smoke of all kinds there and the people mosh and it's rowdy fun. I AM SO BUMMED though because I got an awesome banner for Scotty's present and left it at the hostal in the morning. Sorry Scotty I guess you're out of luck.

After that night, we cruised back Thursday morning and left that afternoon for Puerto Montt so we could catch our flight out Friday morning to Coyhaique. While the group was going to Patagonia, we missed our dear Kate and Adrian while they went up to Santiago, Vina del Mar, and Valpo for some city life. While they were enjoying their life kicking it on rooftops, beaches, and with Starbucks we went soared into the mountain dreamland. . .

Coyhaique was a cute little town where we stayed the night we got in after looking at some rivers and eating. Then the next day waited to a bus (bus system in Chile is horrible) and what was supposed to leave at 9 am left at 6 pm. While the boys and Maddy went to the plaza to get on their facebooks, Allison and I went to the Reserva Nacional Coyhaique and bombed it up a gorgeous trail. The drive in itself to the trail head was amazing. The trail was cool but very wide and not too hard (although still out of shape for backpacking as I'd see the next day). We saw some gorgeous views, birds, a haunted house, lake, and the Edges up eating. Grabbed a snack and chatted with them and then went back down the road to meet the group to ride to the next town Villa Cerra Castillo.

On the van/bus were two guys from the Santiago area going to the same place. Andres and Cristolbol are by far the two of the funniest and nicest guys I've met here. They're doing a cool doctors without borders kind of thing in rural parts of Chile and traveling on the weekends. The bus ride was beautiful, as I feel all of them will be. Once we got into the town we discovered that it was very small with the main restaurant being built in a bus called La Cocina on the side of the road (still good and cheap though), and without service. We talked to some Israelis who'd just been on the mountain we wanted to go up and heard that the Laguna Verde we were planning on going to was beautiful but there were cliffs that people usually got lost on and not possible to do in one day. I was the only one who had a sleeping bag and would stay out so the girls decided the next day we'd go up and try to make it, then if not I'd have my stuff and camp out while they'd turn back (while the boys went fishing and had major success).


The next morning we woke up at 4:30 to leave with our headlamps and start the trail. The trailhead is behind someone's property, through the cow corrals, to the right of a bridge, past a stream and at the end of the rainbow. But we ended up finding the path and the day was phenomenal. We were on top of a mountain in the meadow when the sun came up. The view was breath taking the entire way- the view at the top of Cerro Castillo could see all the mountain ranges, river, plateaus, river basins, and Puerto Ibanez that was 95 kilometer away; pure gorgeousness. Words, pictures, and stories can't describe it because my eyes couldn't even believe it. And then Laguna Verde...I've never seen such contrasting green and blue against a gray rock. It was magnificent. While we ate our lunch at the lake part of the glacier broke off and cascaded down the waterfall and rocks into the lake. Such a powerful sound that was layered with a graceful breeze so it was incredible to watch. It was like a fantasy where only my heart, and sore legs, told me that it was reality.

The hike altogether was about 13 miles (3 of those spent "exploring"). We got back and ate and went out for more adventures again. The foreign night was amazing with the canopy of stars overhead. And the sunsets and sunrises created a time table that kept you smiling from start to end... The next day we woke up and wanted to go to Puerto Tranquilo to see marble caves but found out that there was no bus back the next day (hence making it a possibility to miss our plane ride). I was all for hitchhiking back and I'm still convinced we could've made it back but nobody would go with me so I was persuaded to stay, which was fine though because we went fishing (those caves looked amazing though). The fish was FABulous (I hoped you imagined me saying that in a high voice). Prepare yourself for this video of the fish coming to the top of the river where there wasn't even any vegetation! Don't have a heart attack Papa.

Also we talked to this guy from Detroit in the airport who went on a 10 day fishing excursion and caught brown trout bigger than 20 inches, he lost count in a day of how many 20"ers and bigger that he caught. Insanity. After we fished the hole we ate, read, fished some more, and jumped in to swim. Some funny stories always and Brian dove from above which was pretty good.

We left to go back for an actual dinner, somthing not just pan and pears. Then we went and hiked a couple miles to a Native American site. Sadly it was closed but we weren't going to let that stop us so we jumped the fence to get to the trail anyway (Maddy was still a good soul and left some money under the door). It was called El Paredon de Las Manos. On the way there we saw this beautiful gorge and then this little part where we entertained ourselves with a game of Cowboys and Indians. The rocks there were amazing to look at, painted with history of life. . .

On the way back the sunset was magnificent again. I love the group and got to know them so much more this trip. We played a game of what you'd be with people as:

Mitchell: fish-changed to horse

home grown steak

redwood tree

Brian: bird

rice pilaf

river

Allison: rabbit

fruit salad with yogurt

glacier

Maddy: sea turtle

slice of rye bread

wind

Kate: seagle

white chocolate mocha starbucks

vine

Adrian: beagle puppy

enchilda

pineapple

Me: monkey

chili relleno with cheese

cloud

BUT the last fishing video couldn't load :( sorry (I'll try to do it next time again and see if it works) and there's a thunder storm here we want to go check out before we go to the movies and go celebrating [finished class 2 this morning with a final---AND I got an A in my last class so it proves I'm actually working here too!!!]

Anyways I love you all and I'll get back on here in a couple of days or less to finish my Patagonia stories. Miss you all!