A quick run down

It's funny, I started this blog as an Israel travelogue.  So now I'm going to revert back to the original purpose of tracking my travels while I am away from home.

I am very ready for a nap, so here goes a quick run down:

Sunday morning: flew in at sunrise, phenomenally beautiful (picture not adequately representing, below).  The Andes are amazing.  Very cold when we arrived (7 3

0), met up with other group members, took the bus into Santiago.  Checked into "rent-a-home," which are furnished two bedroom two bath apartments.  We are in a quaint area, very c

onvenient to the metro.  I am roommates with my friend Christin (from Florida) which is super.

Sunday later in the morning: too excited to nap, Christin and I took the metro to Plaza de las Armas.  It was Father's Day, and as it was Sunday, the museums were free.  We listened to a

 great band, watched the celebrations, had lunch at a little cafe (traditional Chilean soup= one large chunk each of: carrot, pumpkin, potato and a hefty leg and thigh of chicken, also in one piece on the bone, in a shallow dish of hefty oily broth).  We went to the Natural History Museum (enlightening), walked through an artists neighborhood, grabbed cafe con leche to people watch, came back to the hotel and crashed; first full group meeting at 7 (orientation); went to eat with ten others (ordered a big plate of empanadas!); then home and bed.

Monday morning: alarms didn't go off- frantically scrabbled to get ready in ten minutes.  No coffee- yikes.  But we found a McDonald's on the way, which pleasantly provided us with cafe con leche...grande.  Class started at 9 and went to 1 (more descriptions of the classes later), after which we had a reception (more empanadas and sandwiches).

Monday afternoon: Christin and I went to a large hill in the city and received 360 degree views, phenomenal.  At the top is a gigantic white Virgin Mary, arms outstretched over the city (much like Jesus in Rio).  

We took a funucular to the top (a large wooden trolley of sorts took us up the very steep incline).  We decided to walk back from the mountain top, which took about 2 hours.  We found some very nice stray dogs who helped lead us back, one we named "Chilean Lassie."

We were exhausted when we got back so we bought empanadas and jugo de pina at a little shop next to our hotel, went home and did some reading for the next day's class, and went to bed early!

Tuesday (today): alarms worked!  Had a small breakfast provided downstairs.  Class once again 9-1 then Christin and I caught the metro to a rather large market selling typically traditional wares- a lot of alpaca items, lapis azul stones, and other crafts.  We found a nice little cafe and had empanadas and diet cokes. (are you getting the drift that I love empanadas?)

And now, relaxing and reading for a bit before we meet up with the group this evening.  We're watching Motorcycle Diaries- I've seen it probably 6-7 times, but since I am watching it in Chile, I think it will take on new relevance.

Much love to all!