(no subject)
If you want to look at more Chile entries check out http://linabeanie.blogspot.com/
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I just had a very long and very oddly timed sleep. I had a nightmare that I was back home after my summer vacation but could not remember anything that happened in most of my time in Chile, nor Peru, nor Costa Rica. I was frustrated with myself and was mad that I had such a poor memory. I was also mad that I only wrote a few entries at the beginning of my trip. When I woke up I realized why... it hasn't happened yet!
So here I am, continuing on with my entries.
This weekend we decided to do a trip to Valparaiso, which is about 1 hr and 40 minutes away. However, the girls only wanted to see the nightlife, which definitely is not a complete enough trip for me. I would really like to see the daytime scenery as well... which I think is what the beach cities are for! To see the ocean, the view from the hills, all the colorful houses on the hill. However we arrived in Valparaiso at 6pm (after sunset), and left at 8 in the morning the next day. I didn't get to walk along the beach either :(
Instead of renting a hotel room or a hostel, the plan was to stay up all night dancing.
When Shannon and I first arrived in Valparaiso a rather handsome but older man noticed us at the bus terminal. He came up and talked to me and asked if I spoke English. He told me to be careful and watch my bags because it is dangerous in Valparaiso. Then he discovered that Shannon spoke Spanish and continued talking to her. Eventually he turned out to be a very valuable tour guide and showed us all around Valparaiso, some "classic" restaurant and bars, and escort us to Vina, as well as even give us some history lessons. We definitely lucked out, especially because of how suspicious he seemed at first.
In Vina we met up with the girls and had mediocre overpriced food. We also watched Brazil win 3 goals against Chile. The waiters were so angry I could see steam coming out of their ears.
We went to a completely empty bar. It was nice looking but no one was there except a cute bartender and a hostess. We tried some drinks, to which I decided to order my favorite drink from last summer - amaretto plus lemonade. We munched on chips and breadsticks for a few hours at the bar while watching a crushing defeat for Chile.. 1-6... how embarassing.
Next we stopped at McDonalds, and finally we decided to head back to Valparaiso. The reason we were in Vina was because 2 different Chileans told us that Vina was way better than Valparaiso. That it's just nicer and has a better nightlife and that Valparaiso is just dangerous. Raquel explained that it's because Chileans are so classist, and that the people who told us this were "quicos" -- from the upper class. Vina was just too quiet, and it did have some clubs but it wasn't the in "scene" at all. So we took a bus back to Valparaiso and finally went to a good club with tons of people our age and music we wanted. It was cheap too, only 2000 pesos (~$4USD). I didn't bring my ID however (I only thought they checked in the US!) and I was pretty worried that I wouldn't be able to get in. We did some covert moves and Diana had to slip me her ID when I bought my ticket. However there was a doorman also who was checking IDs and he was looking a bit more closely. Diana was about to slip me her ID again, but she changed her mind and kept it. So I just pretended that I dropped it and began scanning the floor for something that didn't exist. After a few seconds the doorman got impatient and just took my ticket anyway and let me inside. YES! it worked!
I danced the night away and had a wonderful time. We left Valparaiso in the morning, and I left behind me a beautiful view of the ocean and hills... I was sad to go. I must go back.
And oh how I missed the ocean. So very much. It was beautiful and I yearn for it. I've never been this long so far away from the ocean. The most was when I was in Illinois for 1 week. I have been in Santiago for 2 weeks now. Admittedly, I am looking forward to returning to work tomorrow.
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I just had a very long and very oddly timed sleep. I had a nightmare that I was back home after my summer vacation but could not remember anything that happened in most of my time in Chile, nor Peru, nor Costa Rica. I was frustrated with myself and was mad that I had such a poor memory. I was also mad that I only wrote a few entries at the beginning of my trip. When I woke up I realized why... it hasn't happened yet!
So here I am, continuing on with my entries.
This weekend we decided to do a trip to Valparaiso, which is about 1 hr and 40 minutes away. However, the girls only wanted to see the nightlife, which definitely is not a complete enough trip for me. I would really like to see the daytime scenery as well... which I think is what the beach cities are for! To see the ocean, the view from the hills, all the colorful houses on the hill. However we arrived in Valparaiso at 6pm (after sunset), and left at 8 in the morning the next day. I didn't get to walk along the beach either :(
Instead of renting a hotel room or a hostel, the plan was to stay up all night dancing.
When Shannon and I first arrived in Valparaiso a rather handsome but older man noticed us at the bus terminal. He came up and talked to me and asked if I spoke English. He told me to be careful and watch my bags because it is dangerous in Valparaiso. Then he discovered that Shannon spoke Spanish and continued talking to her. Eventually he turned out to be a very valuable tour guide and showed us all around Valparaiso, some "classic" restaurant and bars, and escort us to Vina, as well as even give us some history lessons. We definitely lucked out, especially because of how suspicious he seemed at first.
In Vina we met up with the girls and had mediocre overpriced food. We also watched Brazil win 3 goals against Chile. The waiters were so angry I could see steam coming out of their ears.
We went to a completely empty bar. It was nice looking but no one was there except a cute bartender and a hostess. We tried some drinks, to which I decided to order my favorite drink from last summer - amaretto plus lemonade. We munched on chips and breadsticks for a few hours at the bar while watching a crushing defeat for Chile.. 1-6... how embarassing.
Next we stopped at McDonalds, and finally we decided to head back to Valparaiso. The reason we were in Vina was because 2 different Chileans told us that Vina was way better than Valparaiso. That it's just nicer and has a better nightlife and that Valparaiso is just dangerous. Raquel explained that it's because Chileans are so classist, and that the people who told us this were "quicos" -- from the upper class. Vina was just too quiet, and it did have some clubs but it wasn't the in "scene" at all. So we took a bus back to Valparaiso and finally went to a good club with tons of people our age and music we wanted. It was cheap too, only 2000 pesos (~$4USD). I didn't bring my ID however (I only thought they checked in the US!) and I was pretty worried that I wouldn't be able to get in. We did some covert moves and Diana had to slip me her ID when I bought my ticket. However there was a doorman also who was checking IDs and he was looking a bit more closely. Diana was about to slip me her ID again, but she changed her mind and kept it. So I just pretended that I dropped it and began scanning the floor for something that didn't exist. After a few seconds the doorman got impatient and just took my ticket anyway and let me inside. YES! it worked!
I danced the night away and had a wonderful time. We left Valparaiso in the morning, and I left behind me a beautiful view of the ocean and hills... I was sad to go. I must go back.
And oh how I missed the ocean. So very much. It was beautiful and I yearn for it. I've never been this long so far away from the ocean. The most was when I was in Illinois for 1 week. I have been in Santiago for 2 weeks now. Admittedly, I am looking forward to returning to work tomorrow.