Pichilemu

I went to Pichilemu, a little surf town, yesterday to get away for the day. I needed some solo time.

First, though, I went to San Fernando with a friend of Ana´s to buy yarn, as she is knitting me a dress. It was fun to travel with her. She is so nice. While we were on the mini bus, we experienced a bit of a competition. There are many bus companies in Chile, as it is the main mode of transportation. When we got on the bus, we were the only ones on the bus. By the time we hit Nancagua, there were more people getting on. All of the sudden I felt like we were going super fast. I looked at Cecilia and said, are we going fast or is it just me? She says...we are going fast and I don´t like it. It is scarying me. When she said she didn´t like it either I was relieved that I was normal, but I asked her...Why, are we going so fast? She says, the buses are competing. Sure enough, as I looked out the front window, the bus ahead of us was not too far ahead. When he pulled over to pick up passengers, our driver flew by to get a good leg ahead...it was a little nerving. I think the driver heard Cecilia when she said something about calling the company to report his driving...because he slowed down. Thankfully.


After San Fernando, we went back to Santa Cruz and I stayed on the bus to continue on to Pichilemu. When I got there, about an hour later, I had to go to the bathroom so bad. I have only turned down one bathroom in Chile so far and I almost turned down the one I was directed to when I got to Pichilemu. It was a resturant but it looked more like a bar...a bar full of men...a bar full of men that didn´t hold back the whistles, kissing noises, and verbal comments. All I could think was oh my! If it hadn´t been for the fact that I had to go to the bathroom SO BAD, I would have found another place. But, in the moment, another place didn´t exist.

I looked at the man behind the bar and asked him if I could use the bathroom. Some guy walked in holding a long fur coat, asking me if I was interested in buying it. All I could think was...it is hot outside and I am at the beach...why the hell would I want to buy a fur coat? I told him no and ignored him while I was waiting for change...the bathroom was 200 pesos. After I paid for the bathroom and walked around to the back and used the bathroom. It wasn´t a very nice bathroom, who knows how long it had been since the toilet had been flushed (it was broken), but I used it very quickly....I have become a whiz at hovering (...no pun intended), as most toilets here don´t have seats...even if they did, I wouldn´t sit on them. ha ha. I saw a back door to sneak out of to avoid another attack of the wolves which was a relief as I was dreading the walk out. Thankfully, I had some hand sanitizer in my backpack for my hands...but I almost wanted to shower myself in it after being in the bar...


From the bar, I walked down to the beach. The bus had dropped me off in the center of town and the beach was only a few blocks away. The walk was mostly downhill, so I was able to see where I was going, which was nice because I could see a small group of men that I wanted to avoid...didn´t want any more whistles, or even worse those the kissing noises...yuck...old dirty drunk men making kissing noises at you isn´t appealing.


The beach was quiet. I found a little spot near a family and another couple (safe) and took a little nap. The sky was kind of overcast, but you could still feel the warmth of the sun. It was a perfect temperature for taking a nap in jeans and a t-shirt...not swim suit weather. I rested my eyes for a bit, then watched the dogs, the birds, the ducks, and the surfers. A man walked by selling something...food and beverages. The last thing I wanted was to have to go to the bathroom again, so I passed on the drinks and I didn´t even consider the food.

I walked along the beach, which is all dark, mostly black, sand....very few shells. The water was fridged cold, but refreshing. I put back on my shoes when I got to the end of the beach and walked up the stairs to the main walkway. One of my students was sitting there with her little brother...very random...so I said hello and chatted with her a bit. Her Dad came back from buying a snack so I met him too. Wasn´t expecting to run into a student while I was there...so it was a pleasant surprise.

From there I walked up the rest of the stairs and along a main street. All the stores were closed, as it was lunch time. They really don´t take a siesta here...it is just a long lunch and all the stores close for an hour. I stopped and chatted with an old lady in the souvenier shop, the only one open. Then, I stopped at the little ice cream place for an ice cream. It is always interesting to see what you ordered...what I thought would be a little cup of ice cream ended up being quite a large (tall) cup of ice cream....complete with a paper pinneapple attached to my straw! I sat on the bench and ate my ice cream while watching what few people were out and about. High season for Pichilemu wouldn´t be for another month or so...so it was mostly locals.

I walked along the street, thinking that soon the shops would start opening, but they didn´t seem to be and really I wasn´t interested in buying anything. I asked one woman where I could catch the bus. I could catch it about three blocks up the road, she said.

Well, I decided to walk just a bit more before heading that way. There was a little artesania market that I popped into. There wasn´t a whole lot happening there...but I it didn´t hurt to browse. I ended up talking with this woman for quite awhile, as I could tell she wanted to practice her English. Sometimes this can be frustrating...you get tired of the drill...where are you from, what are you doing here, how long are you here for...maybe I should start wearing my t-shirt that says I am a volunteer for the ministry of education in the program English Opens Doors! But, this was a day that I just wanted to be a normal person and not have to talk...so after about ten minutes, maybe even more, of conversation, I just bought a hat and said good bye.

I headed to the bus stop which was on a main street but away from the center. There were two men sitting on the bench and I could sense they were on the verge of saying something, so I quickly asked them if this was where I could catch the bus to Santa Cruz? They said, yes and then they were rather quiet. One thing I have noticed from walking around, is that if you talk in Spanish and if you say hello to people when they are giving you the ¨who are you and what are you doing here gringa look¨ they relax a bit and sometimes even smile. Of course, I don´t go around saying hi to everyone...but the ones that are staring at you...maybe it is just my way of saying ¨boo¨. (Boo is what I heard one of the students at Life Skills say to another student because the student was starring at her...of course, there was a little bit more tension in that situation...but the purpose is just about the same...let someone no you are watching and that you notice...and you aren´t afraid to say something...)

The bus came about five minutes later. When we arrived in Santa Cruz, I went to the supermarket to buy ingredients for another batch of cinnamin rolls. Then, I walked to the souvenier shop of my Chilean friends. I chatted for a bit. They informed me of the rain they had received while I was in Pichilemu...and we talked about the elections. It is time to vote for new Mayors and, let me tell you, I cannot wait for it to be over. I will have to talk about that another day.

From the store, I walked home. I was going to take a collectivo, but the pickings were slim and the ones that passed seemed to be full. It was a nice night to walk.

Well...better get going. I have to get a lesson together. We have daylight savings here too...so the time is ahead an hour. I am completely not tired, but wish I was...I have a feeling tomorrow will be a long day....

Salud!

jami