After goofing around in the valley and taking a bunch of silly pictures in the ancient Inca baths we made our way up and out onto our next destination: Valle de Elqui. There we were to have a "wicked" asado and go to the Mamalluca (mama-YU-ka) observatory and then camp out for the night. (As an aside, the names of the places only get stranger, so stick with me.) After getting there we had a few hours to kill so we decided to find something new and exciting: eat, have a beer and play pool. We did this and while in the middle of our intense game of billiards Pablo got a phone call. It was Mamalluca and unfortunately the weather was cloudy so the observatory canceled all of its tours for the night, which actually proved to be a big letdown because Chile has some of the world's best observatories and I was hoping to get a sneak peak at the stars (which, as many of you may know, I love). We made a reservation for the following night and then skipped along to Guallaguaica (wai-a-WIKE-a) where our friend Arlan happened to have a family friend with a weekend home. Patricia and Arturo just happened to be there and very graciously opened their home to us.
The next day we left early (on Chilean time) - 10 am - and headed for Punto Choros to go on a boat ride to the National Reserve of Isla Damas. There are penguins, pelicans, sea lions, vultures and a plethora of other types of wildlife. The drive was about 2 hours and something but was totally worth it. We finally got a change of scenery, more than once! It began with the ocean and we were driving along it for quite a while until we came to a turn and headed into a more desert-like setting. We got to Punto Choros and made it for the dock where the boats take off. The tour was awesome and the boat we were on was so small. Just think: 12 people, one small boat and the big blue sea. It was pretty 'righteous,' as some may say.
We went back to Patty's house to see if we could see the stars from there, didn't stay long and then headed back to Coquimbo, which is like the Sauk City to the Prairie du Sac, only to La Serena. We got some amazing ice cream and sat outside and froze while eating it. I'm so glad that people from Wisconsin aren't the only ones who like to eat ice cream in the cold. After that we of course bought some more Escudo and found a cabaña. We ditched our stuff and then headed out in search of what else, but food. Ellie and I got some sandwiches while the boys got chorrillana: greasy french fries topped wi
We got up on Sunday morning and Pablo, Arlan and I went to mass in the cathedral in La Serena and met up with Ellie and Chama after for lunch at El Plebeyo which was a simple little restaurant in La Serena just across the street from the beach. We each ate enough for the day, including loco (a crazy type of marisco), ceviche (a salsa made out of fish and lime) and congrio a la plancha (grilled fish). It was a delicious and expensive meal but you can't put a price on being able to walk on the beach with Ellie afterward and giggle like girls without a care in the world. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun.
Highlights of the trip:
-Singing in the car while Arlan played the guitar and learning two new songs in Español.
-Using the 10 second timer function on my camera.
-Drinking beers on the orilla del mar two nights in a row, different locations.
-Hanging out with Ellie and discovering so many more things we have in common.
-Seeing a real jote (HO-tay) (vulture)! There is a term for guys here in Santiago that are always trying to get with girls and that is a jote. I never got a decent explanation so seeing a real one cleared up the definition for me.
-Boat ride on a sunny day in the ocean and seeing pelicans.
-Trying to flip my coin into the 'cave of wishes' when we were in the boat and having it bounce back. Apparently I demand too much with just one wish!
-Eating amazing empanadas and ice cream.
-Seeing the different landscapes and a couple of amazing sunsets.
-Being called a chiquilla all weekend long.
-Playing hangman with Chama and Ellie on the way home.
-Learning the phrase, estoy como quiero and using it to the boys' disadvantage.
-Seeing all the cacti, especially the ones with flowers.
-Not having a care in the world for the weekend.
-This picture:
More to come,
Kelsey Marie
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