A trip to Santiago....and the Andes Mountains!

Last Friday, at breakfast, I was informed that my host father wanted to head to Santiago on Saturday morning, early, to visit the snow. We were already planning on going to Santiago on Sunday, because my host family had bought tickets for the Alegria, Cirque de Sol (or whatever it is called). The show was to start at 5pm. They had only three tickets, since they didn´t know I they were going to have a volunteer living with them back in march when they bought the tickets.Their plan was to leave me with another family for the afternoon. Sometimes, I feel like a kid, which is hard when you are 31. They never want to leave me home alone. Luckily, the family I was being left with is a nice family and I really like them, so it really wasn´t like I was dragging my heels.

ANYWAY...the story...so, I went along with leaving here on Saturday morning. My host father made a big deal about leaving AT 7am...not a Chilean 7am! So, I made it a point to be up and ready to go, even though in the back of my mind I had a feeling that 7am really meant 7:30-8am.

Well, Saturday morning, the three alarms I had set to MAKE SURE I would be up, didn´t seem to go off. I woke up in a haste at 6:30...my scheduled shower time was 6:00am. Frantically, I jumped in the shower, as it seemed as though no one was showering downstairs...which kind of had me wondering about this 7am departure.

I showered in record time and have myself downstairs and ready to go, with dry hair and all, by 6:50. Everyone else was getting ready and the table was being set for a quick breakfast. We were out the door by 7:15....not bad!

We made one stop along the way to SAntiago...SAntiago is only about 2 and a half hours away. One observation I made at the gas station/ truckstop was the not only the cleanliness, but also the cigartette rack above the counter. In nearly every gas station in the US there is that over hanging cigarette rack with the big marlboro or camel mark on it...this one had a huge pictures of nasty ass teeth. Yuck! We bought a coffee and some pastries and hit the road.

We arrived in Santiago. The family we were meeting is a family of 5, all girls..oldest 16 youngest 8. I had heard some talk about skiing, however, I didn´t get too excited, since last time I thought I was going, we didn´t. But, I was hopeful when I saw skis going on the rack on top of the car and all the girls in their snow gear.

We stopped at the grocery store, the gas station, and the shopping all before we hit the road to go skiing. The road to the ski area was incredible! Lots of turns and switchbacks...narrow, a few guard rails, and lots of pot holes. It only makes me think of hoosier pass on the Breckenridge side....except not nearly as well maintained. I was starting to worry about my safety when my host father started passing cars...I swear everytime he drives it is like we are in the Indianapolis 500 with obstacles. Yikes! Gracias a Dios I am alive! :)

One thing about the Andes is there aren´t any trees, at least in this region. It was a naked mountain. You could see the definate line between a desert like climate and snow. The hill was smaller than I had imagined, but it was a blue bird day!

I rented some skis and boots at the little shack. It is wierd to rent skis when you know you have a pair at home that you have been skiing on for the past 7 years! Luckily, I could see it was going to be a lax day and wouldn´t need to worry too much about proper equipment. The ski area had to T-bar lifts and that was it. There was another ski area connected to it with more runs, but it was about 3 times as much. Plus, I was skiing with the family and they were skiing the smaller section. We had a great time! I got sunburned....

I gave my host bro a lesson. Ha...my host mom said, you are too patient with Felipe, since I was helping him up and getting his skis, making sure he made it down ok....I said, I may not be patient when it comes to BBS (bureacratic bullshit) but I do have patience for people learning how to do something....everyone starts learning from somewhere...

At the end of the day, we went back to the apartment of the family we would be staying with and cooked up a big meal....ate, talked, had some wine...the next day we got up and went to the mall. WOW! It was a pretty mall. I saw a different part of Santiago this weekend...the higher end...we went back to the house for lunch adn then my host family left for the show. They got to the show and realized the show started at 15:00 meaning 3pm, not 5pm. So, they managed to get three more tickets for Thursday...and because my host father has to be out of town...I get to go in his place! So...Thursday I am skipping school to see Alegria! yay!

The family came back and because my host father wanted to watch the CHile vs Brazil football game at 9m with the father of the family we were visiting...we went to a fair in the area and then went bowling! It was a busy, busy, day!We drove home after the football game around 11pm. CHile lost, so it was a quiet ride home.

Now, we are back in Santa Cruz. It was a sluggish start to the week...but it is rolling now....

I am making a chocolate walnut tart, so better go!

ciao!

jami