Puerto Nativo Flyfishing Lodge Isla Chiloe

... birds such as pelicans,cormorants,egrets, and adorable penguins fishing. About 1km south of Zapallar, along the coastal trail you come across Isla Pinguino, there's a small colony of penguins here. These are not the larger King or Emperor penguins of the Antarctic region, but look rather like the diminutive Chinstrap variety. After spending the day watching the real life discovery channel, you go have your pisco sours apertifs, a nice seafood dinner of sea ...

... of sustainable agriculture/permacultura and how big businesses are affecting the mapuche (especially the women). There was a madre mapuche who shared an awesome traditional mapuche dish (barley with some kind of great seasoning). Natasha and I shared quinoa and vegetables which was a big hit.
The taller was really enjoyable for me on lots of different levels. It was great to get out of Viña del Mar and be in a completely ...

... I wonder how life will change him in a few years. How did I even get here is a question that crosses my mind. After all, how much do I really know about this country? ...but then again, that's why I'm here to learn....

 Sitting in a classroom with other Americans, awaiting the arrival of my new professor, I notice my hands shake. Obviously, I shake all the time (thanks, good old genes), but for a class? Not usually. I'm nervous. What if I don't ...

... y el mar. Hicimos una fugata, cocinabamos pasta con verduras, hablabamos y al fin de la noche todos (tratabamos de) dormir en una sola carpa (Pablo se mudó afuera). Fue una noche increíble. En la mañana del día siguiente había mucha niebla y despues de dar un paseo encima de los acantilados regresamos a Viña.

... with them, and Pablo, Jenny, and I took off to meet up with their friends for a drink. La Flor de Chile was the name of the restaurant in Vina del Mar. I met several of Pablo's friends who couldn't understand how Pablo all of a sudden had a sister. (He told them on the phone that he was bringing his sister along too!) They finally realized when we arrived that I was an exchange student - known as la gringa sister de ...

... machiste, d'ailleurs nous nous faisons virer du premier car interdit aux filles (clientes). On peut lire a l'entree "Bienvenidos fumadores", ca change de la France, c'est marrant. Nous arrivons l'apres midi a Valparaiso. L'air y est plus frais et sent la mer, c'est genial. Nous allons chez Victoria et Lberty, deux americaines qui font des etudes d'espagnol ici et qui nous acceuillent. S'en suit une petite soiree theme mexicain avec des americains et des chiliens.

... with so many other people crammed into the same boat that i'm sure it wasn't seaworthy (but then there's no arguing with 1 pound for the trip!). It was a great way to see the city's layout and also the huge container ships and docking devices they have around. There were also plenty of seals floating around the bay (still alive, despite the oil) which was good to see. I went over to nearby Viña del mar for a day ...

... girlfriend Carolina. Rene is possibly the most hospitable host we have met on our travels and is a wealth of information on what to see and do in 'Valpo' and the surrounding area. So helpful and enthusiastic is this guy that we decide to extend our stay from 2 to 4 days before even upacking. We are treated more like friends than guests and immediately feel right at home. The building is located on one of the best hills and is a ...

... super bakán. We also got to see where he's buried which is right on the beach, facing the sea. Btw, this was my first time ever seeing the Pacific Ocean and it truly was inspiring to say the least. I think I took some of the best photos of my life walking on the beach there, watching these massive waves rush up to the coast and then harmlessly dissolve. I might go ahead and discredit Neruda of some of his brilliance since the sea is so damn awesome. just playin pablo. Cuidense todos, chau pat

... the docks, its like a wooden box on stilts. The town is full of colourful houses on stilts. Murals on the walls and some houses looking slightly precarious, it all adds to the charm. Others (like Alicia) just think its a bit of a dive!! About 2pm we've finished exploring for now, said goodbye to Manuel and off to see about our rooms. No, not now, the manager is having lunch, we have to wait! I have never been somewhere quite so unhelpful, we are beginning ...