Birthdays, Visits, and La Copa Mundial!

Hey followers,

It has been a long time filled with lots of fun things! Bear with me, this will be a long post!

So the last time I wrote was before my birthday! The week was a normal week and then bday time!!! First, thanks to everyone who was in on my Party in a Box! I was soooo happy when I got it! I told everyone about it too! On Friday night I went to see one of my friends play at a local bar. I snuck Meme's small thing of vodka with me and split it with Hillary. Then Hillary and i split a blue drink that looked funny but was yummy. Then at midnight, my friend and her band sang to me and i got a free piscola! A couple of my chilean friends met up too! Then we went into Valparaiso to a bar which was fun :) It was a good way to ring in 5/29. On Saturday I literally did nothing. Maybe a little hw. I wanted to help mama prepare for my party, but she ended up doing it all without me. I literally vegged all day waiting to help, then she did it all but thats fine :) It was weird actually, when I woke up she and Martin were both not home. Maybe it was their birthday present, haha! She went all out for my party it was so cute. We made the cake together on Friday, I took pictures! It was chocolate with a little rum ;) with raspberry and frosting made from chocolate and manjar. anyway, for the party she made guacamole and fancy little finger food. she also made fancy fruit cups with homemade whipped cream. and we had champagne with pineapple ice cream in it. i had mine in my fancy cup, thanks mommy! she bought me a crown too. hillary also bought me a princess hat thing. there are pictures. mama also made homemade sushi. i didnt eat it but it looked really pretty! Some of Martin's friends also came. Then a couple of my friends and I decided to go dancing in valpo. i was pretty tired, actually we all were, so it wasnt a super late night. all in all, a very good 21st birthday!

then, skipping a few days ahead, on wednesday june 2 i woke up at 4am to take a 5am bus to the airport to pick up greg! we had a great time together. it actually felt like a much needed vacation. We got back to vina, checked him into the hostel and went straight home. he met mama, we had breakfast and then i took him to class! I had a debate in psych and then a test in literature, so he just chilled. Wednesday night we had dinner all together, where he actually got to meet mama and martin. Then we went right to the hostel because I had to study for a test the next morning! I went to take the test, then picked up greg to have lunch at home and drag him to school for the rest of the day! He was a good sport. Thursday night he finally met some of my friends. On Friday we went on a tour of one of the Casablanca Valley vineyards and La Isla Negra. The wine tour was really fun. We got a beautiful day for it too. At the end we got to taste 4 different kinds. I bought some afterwards (look at me being all 21 like!) and we also bought a bottle for mama. From there we went to La Isla Negra which is another one of Pablo Neruda's houses. This one is by far the most beautiful. We snuck pictures :). It had the most amazing views, it is literally right on the beach. Neruda had so many collections, it is unbelievable. I'd like to go back one more time, just to take it all in again. Then the tour company stopped at a yummy restaurant. That night we went dancing for a bit in Valparaiso. On saturday hillary and I showed greg around Cerro Concepcion, which is one of the coolest places in Valparaiso, in my opinion. We also shopped a little at one of the feria's. On sunday we cooked breakfast for mama and martin. Greg brought maple syrup and my working coffeemaker! So we made pancakes and french toast and potatoes. mama makes pancakes, but we never eat them with syrup and it was just sooooo good! my coffee was also heaven. :) From there we went to the sand dunes in Con Con, which is a town near by. It was so cool. It's like standing on top of a mountain looking at the water, but its just a huge heap of sand! I'm still cleaning the sand out of my hair and bag, but it was totally worth it. They have sand boards for rent but we decided just to chill. We took it easy that night and geared up for our day with mama. Monday mama went with us to the feria's in vina. it was really fun! She and greg totally hit it off. They bonded over culinary things...she even brought out her case of knives!!! I told her to put them away they were big weapons and she could kill, and she goes of course carolina why do you think i keep them way over there hidden?! i think you might have had to be there, but it was really funny and we laughed a lot.

Tuesday was when we set off for Santiago! We got to our really cool hostel and decided to explore and not waste the rest of the day. We went to Cerro San Cristobal in Bellavista, which is a very bohemian area. On that hill was the biggest mary statue you ever saw. We didnt care much for the jesus aspect, but the view was absolutely amazing. you can see all of Santiago, and youre practically in line with the smog :). It is really cool to see the skyscrapers, and the Andes. We took a bunch of pictures and just kind of meandered. Then we went grocery shopping and made our own supper. On Wednesday we did more touristy things! I wanted to show him Plaza de Armas cuz it was fun when the fam was here. Unfortunately there are no tours of La Moneda because if the earthquake so I was a little bummed. La Moneda is like the Chilean White House. There was a protest going on, so that was fun. I don't know what this one was for, but its always enjoyable. Then we went to El Museo de Artes Precolombinos (museum of pre-columbian art). We both really enjoyed it. The exhibits were awesome and featured art from all across Latin America. We wandered around a bit more and looked at some of the art work sold in the Plaza. None were as pretty as when I was there the first time, sadly. Then we moved from the hostel to the hotel, thank you to Greg's rents! It was really nice to not share a bathroom. Love hostels, but not so much sharing showers... That night we went out for typical Chilean food. The restaurant was a little shmancy, and it was fun!

Thursday was a fun adventure. I wanted to go to Pomaire because daddy had originally heard about it, and another girl from ciee had been and said it was fun. Getting there was the most eventful portion of the day. Santiago's version of Grand Central was so so confusing! We found the bus portion about 30 mins later to find that there is no direct bus to Pomaire. So we took a bus to another city, but it dropped us and 3 other girls off at the side of the road to walk there. It wasnt too much but still weird. Pomaire is a town known for its ceramics. Everyone there makes their own pottery, and its a tiny little place. Since we went on a weekday not everything was open, and it was pretty dead. Everything there was ridiculously cheap! Like, you almost feel bad buying it so cheap! I bought a little bowl and spoon for mama, and it was 500 pesos which is a dollar, more or less. You walk into a lot of the stores and the owners are either at the wheel, or putting finishing touches on some new pieces. Greg and I each bought some nice things. We also had lunch at a cute, very Chilean local restaurant. the owner thought I was Chilean, hahaha! I took it as a compliment. When we got back to Santiago we decided to go back to Bellavista and see the nightlife. We had dinner at one cool restaurant, but noticed Game 4 of the NBA finals was on at the place across the street! We finished really quick and ran across and got a table right next to the tv!!! I was so excited! we got drinks and fries, and watched the whole game :) Seeing the Pru on tv made me a little sad, but it was great to see the game. who am i, i know....caring about basketball... On Friday we took it easy before greg went to the airport and i went back to vina. The visit really flew by, and we both lost track of time, which is exactly what i needed. School here really is tough. well, for me anyway.

Friday I got home and it was raining. I stayed in and did work because I have a project due tomorrow and a test due thursday. On Thursday night I leave for San Pedro de Atacama which are the deserts up north. It should be fun! not to mention the weather is a lot nicer in the north! When I get back I have a project due and two tests, yikes! It is pretty much getting into finals time. Can't believe it...

Some of you may know, or you all may know but probably don't give a crap, but it happens to be the World Cup. Here, it is a very big deal! Woohooo futbol! Yesterday lots of us from CIEE went to a pizza place and watched the US play England. We tied, and it was my very first soccer game :) Wednesday is when Chile plays Honduras. Its at 730am. yikes. But I'm sure the bars will be packed! I'm pretty sure there's no school too hehe. I think I am watching with my friend Corbin, who is a soccer player at UNC. I am not really allowed to ask questions though...hehe

Tonight I went to Chris's to watch the Celtics triumph beautifully over LA. It was a monsoon outside, and i am thrilled to have my rainboots! The rain was past my ankles. I think I will go back Tuesday to watch again :) Granted, I have to get my work done! Vacation time is over!

5 more weeks....sigh....

I miss everyone very much. Can't wait to see people, but at the same time, can't believe where my time here went. Talk to you all after Atacama!!!

Besitos,
Carolina