For a while now Laura and I have wanted to go to Cajón del Maipo, an area in southern Santiago and try some of their outdoor adventures that they are known for (namely rafting, horseback riding and trekking). I asked my friend Pablo the best way to get there and he decided it was in auto and that he would graciously take us! So on Saturday we all met up in the morning and off we went. Cajón del Maipo is a very quaint part of Santiago and consists of one long road along the river. As you drive through you are presented with places offering everything from rafting to paintball and there may have been about 75 or more small, family-run kioskos offering "empanadas de pino, mote con huesillos, pan amasado and heladitos". The entire way it was one after the other, each being manned by one or two people, just simply relaxing and being ready to serve at a moment's notice. After making it all the way through this part of it we passed through San José de Maipo, a super adorable municipality and then continued on to the mountains. We traveled along a not-so-well-beaten road for about 2 hours, even having to physically move the boulders to the side on occasion and finally came upon paradise within Santiago's limits.
It was absolutely unbelievable. The lake is actually a water reserve in the middle of the cordillera that collects the water from the snow in the mountains and takes it downriver to Santiago where it is consumed by the roughly 5,300,000 people that live in the city. It was absolutely amazing to just spend time there for free rather than paying $30 or more to ride horses for an hour or go rafting and freeze. 
Before heading out for the day we stopped at Lider (supermarket) and picked up the necessities: meat, meat, and beer. It was definitely a day where we would be eating like real men but hey, when in Chile! I also tried for the first time the famoso "Fanschop" which is a mixture of orange Fanta and schop which is the term for a glass of beer. Although that may sound a bit strange, it was actually very delicious and gave me just enough energy to crash in the car on the way home.
Our asado from Saturday consists of the following: world's best choripán, chorizo + toasted bread (preferably marraqueta, Chile's deliciously popular bread) followed by half of a cow. If you are wondering if four people could finish all that, the answer is yes, but don't worry, two of them were Chilean men, and let me tell you, these guys can eat.
Overall it was a great day and although we didn't end up doing any of the seemingly "normal" activities in Cajón del Maipo, we got to see a somewhat "hidden" sanctuary of nature up in the mountains!Yesterday was mother's day and unfortunately I had no mother to celebrate with. I went to Ellie's house for another asado where her dad spoiled me with all kinds of meat and some of Chile's finest wine, and then came home and spent time with my family here. Although I missed mama it was fun to spend time sharing with my family without a "buffer" in between us!
This week it is going to be study, study, study (well, maybe) and continue to enjoy Santiago! Until next time! Besos a todos!
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