Beach Camping!!

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Trip Start Jan 12, 2008 Previous
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  Concon, Chile
Sunday, February 17, 2008

Sunday we had to get up and pack up our tent since we were kind of out in the open in the campgroundīs soccer field.  then we headed south towards valparaíso looking for any camping.  over a sand dune we saw some tents and got real excited. ismael pulled off the road and we walked down a little dirt path to go find out how to get there and if we could camp.  things didnīt look good though.  there was a big sign that said "camping prohibited".  of course that was right above a small encampment of about 10 tents and 25 people.  we asked some girls and they told us that itīs not allowed to camp or to stay overnight, but everyone does anyway.  they told us to drive around to the entrance and tell them that we were going to the beach, but not to mention the camping. 

after a trip to the grocery store we went to the beach and set up our tent.  itīs actually really cold and windy.  i had to put on pants and socks.  we had a small fire and ismael made us hobo meals with pork rubbed with cumin and onion and tomato, honestly the best meal weīve had so far.  that night we went over and talked with the group from that afternoon.  then we went down and walked along the water, running from it when a big wave would come.  ismael did get attacked by one though, up to his shins.  fell asleep to the sound of the waves.  pure bliss.

monday morning we woke to the sound the very loud, slow train that went by 20 feet from our tent.  it made everything shake.  i woke up freaking out that something was attacking us.  not a pleasant way to wake up.  but we cooked bacon and eggs for breakfast, again probably the best breakfast weīve had.  then packed up and headed to valparaíso. 

this town is crazy.  we were on the main road along the coast and we came into town.  i told ismael to turn the first chance he could, but every road was one way coming at us.  how do we get off of this road?  when we were finally able to turn we were at the other side of town than where we wanted to be.  we made our way back over, but didnīt like hostel, so we had to head back across town.  valpo, as itīs called here, is built on very steep hills and was obviously not designed for cars.  streets are small and winding and some will suddenly end.  we havenīt figured out how to get anywhere without first going in big circles around our destination.  after finding a rather cool hostel we cleaned up and hung out most of the night, thankful to have actual furniture to sit on.

now i didnīt grow up in an outdoorsy family.  we didnīt camp or hike, so iīm learning all kinds of lessons on this adventure ismael and i are on.  for example--lesson #1:  when showering in a public place, such as at a campground, turn on the water to see if itīs hot before getting undressed.  lesson #2: not everything tastes better with sand.  lesson #3: sometimes itīs better not to ask what iīm eating.  lesson #4: i have no clue how to build a fire.  i canīt wait to see what other lessons i have to learn. .

camping prohibited

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building a fire	sunset 1	sunset 2	fishing in the fog
aren't i so pretty?

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