Viña y Valpo

Over the past weekend, I traveled an hour and a half outside of Santiago to the coast to stay with an aunt named Sandra. She lives in a city called Viña del Mar, which means vineyard of the sea in English (it was given this name because of the fact that there were so many naturally growing vines of grapes in the area when the city was founded in the 19th century). The city has around half a million people and is located right next to Valparaíso (seen in the photo), an important port city that also has over half a million inhabitants. Combined, the two cities span for miles along the Chilean coastline, allowing for an incredible view of the ocean from the land, but also a picturesque shoreline or brilliantly colored buildings and homes. The cities consist of many different hills that intertwine and make for a great vantage point at nearly every location.

I had a great time and the trip was definitely very relaxing. I really enjoy just strolling around and taking in what is going on around me, especially when it is at the ocean! There is nothing like waking up in the morning, opening the window, breathing in, and experiencing the crisp morning air. Being on the coast definitely reminded me of being in Monterrey, California where my aunt lives, as it is one of my favorite places to be. One of the marked differences between Monterrey and Viña/ Valpo is that there are dog droppings everywhere (different than in Santiago where the same phenomena happens, but gets dealt with very quickly by, I imagine, the city employees that are responsible for keeping public areas tidy!), which adds an additional element of... excitement and surprise to one's journey. One of the highlights of the trip was going to La Sebastiana, one of the three homes of Nobel Prize winning poet Pablo Neruda. The home was very interesting, full of bizarre objects, relics of the author's past, and a rich history. In fact, I have written an essay for my literature class based on my experience at the house.

Apart from my trip, everything is going well for me. I am still well ahead of schedule in regards to all of my classwork, although I have yet to get anything back from my professors--so we have yet to know if they like the work I am producing! September is an active month here in Chile. Many people celebrate the change from winter to spring that takes place right around now, although, it has been pretty dang cold these past few days! On September 11, they mark the anniversary of when the presidential palace (La Moneda) was bombed and the coup took place ousting Salvador Allende, replacing him with Augusto Pinochet. On September 18, the nation stops to celebrate its independence day (really, the entire week consists of partying), and on the 19 the country recognizes the armed forces. The entire country celebrates with barbecues (asados) and chicha (hard cider) none stop. I am told that there is a national law mandating that everyone hang a Chilean flag in their home. After building up this holiday so much, I guess it sounds silly to say that I will be traveling to Colombia during this time for 9 days to visit a friend, ha.