To the Sea

So, a few weeks ago we decided to take a romantic trip to the ocean for a little sightseeing and dinner. After asking around we learned that the closest beach was a little seaside town called Puerto Saavedra. We were warned repeatedly that "it's not that beauiful," but, it is the ocean we thought, how bad can it be?
We set out for the bus thinking it would be a nice two hour ride with beautful scenery and maybe we could take a little nap. Boy, were we wrong. We boarded a bus with about 50 people already on it. Arden stood face to face with about three other people for the two hour ride.
As we approached the the end of our ride, we began to anxiously look for the ocean and the place we would spend the afternoon. As we deboarded the bus we were smacked in the face with wind and dirt/sand. We had to put on our full winter coats and hats. As we peered though the dirt, we saw there was no seaside town, no romantic view, just a few boats and stray dogs. Immediatly we were chased  by the only person in the port who spoke English, begging us to eat at his restaunt. As much as we tried to resist, there was nothing else to do. We spent the seaside day inside in a "restaurant" teaching the waiter English.
However, the food was amazing and so fresh. I think the man caught my fish and the cooked it while we had drinks. The two dollar bottle of wine wasn't so bad either.

Upon our return everyone asked us if we had seen the famous Lago Budi, the only salt water lake in S.America, and the Cliff with amazing views of the sea?

Ooops. Its seems we got off the bus one stop too soon...

These are a few of our favorite things...

The Best Things about Temuco (so far):

Cerro Nielol- a beautiful park with beer on top
Portal Temuco- the mall where we work & shop
Helado - EVERYONE eats ice cream all day
Gohan- The fab sushi restaurant on our street. yumm
Anna- the woman who serves us FREE breakfast EVERY morning
Ensenar- every student wants to be there & says gracias
Bessos- everyone kisses you hello and goodbye (if you are a woman)
Colectivos- cheap(less than a dollar) shared cabs that run on routes like a buses
Chorrillana!- Their bar food-Bennihana on top of french fries[[ AMAZING]]

"work out"playgrounds- outdoor gym disguised as a playground

The Portal Temuco

Work

The view from the top of Cerro Nielol

Arden's Heaven

Protests! A Country shut down.

Santiago- Chile is bracing for a nationwide, two-day shutdown as unions, students and center-left political parties demand fundamental changes in society.
They want to replace Chile's dictatorship-era constitution, which concentrates vast power in the presidency, with a new charter enabling popular referendums and making free quality education a right for all citizens. They also want pension reforms, a new labor code and more health care spending.
 (This is from the AP).
What this means for us here in Temuco is possible delays in the buses and protests downtown. No public employees are working. No children, from kindergarden to college, are attending schools. No teachers teaching, well except us.
The news here makes us feel like we are watchig the civil rights movement live on TV. There is lots of spraying of water hoses, dogs barking and both peaceful and angry people. The footage is a bit scary, but the heart of the action is far from us.

Homeward Bound

After a gruling week of private vineyard tours in the Casablanca Valley (Chile's wine country), 18th century outdoor "elevator" rides in Valparaiso (Chile's San Francisco built around its largest naval port), sun-bathing with sea lions in Vina del Mar (Chile's Malibu), ocean-side Jaiba Camaron Empanadas (crab, shrimp, cheese fried by the gods) in Con Con (known for its surfable sand dunes and seafood empanadas), and afternoon cerveza (beer); we boarded our double-decker Tur Bus for the 9-hour trek south to Temuco.  At last...WE ARE HOME! 

                                                                 Indomita Winery

                                                     Casablanca Valley view from Indomita

                                                           Valparaiso from the elevator

                                                                     Vina del Mar

Sea lions on the rocks

                                                          View of Valpo, Vina and Con Con

                                                            ...and of course afternoon beer!

Licked by a Giraffe

Needless to say, Amber was jealous.   We visited the Zoologico Nacional de Santiago (National Zoo) on Wednesday where we made several new friends including a Tigre Blanco (white tiger) that roared ferociously at Amber, an Elefante that farted on Amber, a Cebra (zebra) that also farted on Amber, and a Jiraffe (giraffe) that gently licked my hand.  Chilean animals have great taste...

more cowbell

After a 12 hour plane adventure that served 5 meals and free beer, we arrived in Santiago at 5 am... and I assure you, there is no need for more cowbell. The streets are filled with protesters banging pots and pans to the tune of political protest. Students are demanding free education!
We are staying in Providencia, a hip section of downtown Santiago. Today we ate lunch Chilean style, for 3 hours followed by a siesta. 


Dinner was fabulous affair at Junta Nacional, a local hot spot. We drank Borgoña(red wine with strawberries and "secret ingredients") and devoured Ostiones Gratinados (scallops with parmesan) sooo yummy!


Our hostel is very COZY and walking into our very small room this morning I could not help but think of the Bob Marley lyric..." and share the comfort of our single bed," only to walk into dinner and hear the whole song playing. I guess it was meant to be. 


more to come - now to our spacious twin...


Buenas noches. 

Almost Adios

In three weeks from today, we will be arriving in Santiago, Chile!
On August 9, 2011 we begin teaching English and exploring our new home.