Hey all! Im posting from gorgeous ( and hilly, man do my calves hurt) Valparaiso Chile. I havent posted in a long time, but Ill post about my last weeks in Guatemala at a later date. For now Ill just say that I painted a mural at el nahual, was super busy, and had a great goodbye dinner before heading off to Chile.
I spent my first couple days here in San Fernando, staying with my old host family and just unwinding. Wednesday I decided to go travel a bit, so until saturday I'm here in Valparaiso. Valparaiso is the cultural center of Chile, a university town, and famous for its street art. Its also very very steep and hilly, and laced with a sytem of stairs and old fashioned anscensores, or elevators to enable its senoras to get home to their colorful houses perched on cliffs.
I visited Valparaiso last time I was here, but with my host sisters class on a University tour, so I wasnt able to do any touristy stuff or go exploring. One of the things Ive always wanted to do was visit Pablo Neruda's residence here ( he also had a house in Santiago, and one on an island near here called Isla Negra). Yesterday I went, and the views are even better than can be imagined. The colorful hills, port, and wide blue ocean with its naval fleet and shipping boats stretches before you. I also splurged and bought a book of poetry.
Other than wandering around, Ive been spending my time getting together with friends from school who are now studying here, going to the beach in Vina (neighboring resort city) and drawing. So there you go. Saturday Im back to San Fernando ( with a quick stopover in Santiago), Sunday Im off to Pichilemu with my host brothers class and host mom, Tuesday or wednesday La Serena to see some of the North, and Concepcion for the weekend to visit some friends. Then San Fernando again for a couple days until the first leg of my journeys is over and I'm back to Seattle. I'll update you all when I can, but If I dont its just because I'm too busy enjoying myself.
Hasta Luego!
