Chile, In Photographs

In July 2010, I travelled with 12 other students to Santiago de Chile for five weeks. Everywhere you travel in Chile, you have a spectacular view of the Andes Mountains. Also, Chileans put avocado on everything. I’ve found my second home.

I could write a novel about my experiences in Chile. Instead, I decided to pick my favorite photos and tell you about them. There are quite a few, so buy a hat and hold on to it, ladies!

Santiago de Chile

First day out, first picture taken. Downtown Santiago. The city is quite smoggy. Those are the Andes Mountains in the background. No, I did not go skiing.

Pomaire, Chile

Pomaire, Chile is about four square-blocks in size, but boy does this tiny town pack a punch. This is the place for fun, cheap souvenirs. Each vendor is fully stocked with handmade pottery, pots, vases, toys, home décor, clothing, jewelry and antiques. That last picture is of my dear friend Kayley. She made my trip. We fell in love durig our day in Pomaire.

Festival de la Virgin Carmen

Latin America loves their Virgins. Our trip fell during a weekend festival for la Virgen de Carmen ... or something. Fun costumes! Dancing! Music! Fue muy divertido.

Valparaiso, Chile

We visited Valparaiso twice. Once as volunteers for TAC, an after school program for high schoolers; and a second time as tourists. Both trips were a blast. We helped upgrade a terrace/park that was previously a trash dump. I worked on a mosaic of a fish on a bench! Arts and crafts are universal among all cultures.

Our second trip to Valparaiso involved much less crafting and much more alcohol. We explored downtown Valparaiso during the day and played on the beach in the afternoon. Our guide, Valentina, took us to Vina del Mar, a neighboring city, to watch the sunset over cocktails. Hilarity and alcohol abuse ensued (not photographed.)

....More Chile in the new year. Happy 2011, everyone!