Pinguinos

Yesterday we rented a car from Valparaiso and drove up the coast. We are back safe and sound despite the fact that I drove for a few hours. A lot of places are closed for the season but we discovered many beautiful beaches. I´ll post photos once we arrive in Portillo. I figure I´ll have a lot of time on my hands recovering from skiing and will need something to do while resting my weary legs. And...will post a photo documenting the first time I´ve eaten fish in 10 years. I just couldn´t take the crappy vegetarian fare anymore so ordered up a congira frita (anyone know what congira is? Eel?). It was delicious and I am happy as a clam to return to vegetarian fare for the next 10 years.

But the highlight of the trip so far was seeing penguins!!!! We traversed large rocks at low tide to get the closest possible view of la isla de pinguinos. We spotted many penguins waddling amidst other sea birds. Words cannot describe how incredibly cool it was to see these little cuties in their natural habitat, and not in the zoo. I could have stayed for hours (we didn´t quite stay that long) but needed to find a hotel for the night. We were able to get a closer-up look when a local offered to share his binoculars. So so awesome.

We drove all over the coast and a little bit inland too. - I5 runs all the way through Chile - the Pan American highway. This afternoon we happened upon La Verde Laguna, a beautiful beach nestled among verdant valleys. It´s very much like the Pacific Northwest here, except there are palm trees and penguins.

This evening we´ve had a small series of disappointments, back in Santiago. First, trekked out to the stadium thinking there was a futbol match this evening only to find dark stadium lights and a deserted stadium (I think maybe Suzanne Vega or even worse a Suzanne Vega cover band was playing?). Back to Santiago Centro for dinner, found a good place for sandwiches and pisco sours ... and then arrived back at the home of the best ice cream in the world just moments after they closed! The agony... The good news is Ryan and I were having a great time talking about the nature of our work - not actual work projects but big picture stuff.

We are off to Portillow tomorrow morning! Andes here we come.