So, I just got back from my final orientation in Iquique, in the north of Chile. It was only really a day and a half, way to short, and it went by so fast. It was also the district conference of District 4320, which meant we had to go to a meeting and say a few words in front of the presidents of each club of the district, which covers everything north of Santiago in Chile. We only went to the one meeting, and because there are 19 of us, we did not speak long, just where we were from and where we live in Chile, and the meeting we went to was only 2 hours or so. The rest of the time, we just basically got to spend time with the other exchange students, because it was the last time we would see each other.
We also got to go to the Zofri, or the Zona Franca, which is the mall of entirely tax-free shopping. We were there for about 3 hours, a long time, but it also gave us time to hang out all together. I think the weirdest part about the Zofri that I noticed was the fact that it really didn't have a roof. It basically just had a tarp overtop to make shade. Then I remembered where we were. Iquique is in the middle of the Atacama desert, the driest desert in the world, and it NEVER rains. So, obviously they don't really need a roof. Besides the Zofri, we didn't really have time to do a lot of other sight seeing. We all arrived Saturday morning around 1 am and had to leave to the airport or bus station around 4:30 on Sunday. It was a short trip, but I'm glad we had time to spend together one last time.
A few people went home in plane, but we (all the people living in Ovalle, La Serena, Copiapó and Vallenar) had to go in bus. That was because Rotary could not find us flights home. We were travelling on the 18th of May, and the 21st is Battle of Iquique Day, one of the biggest, maybe THE biggest national holidays in Chile. It is the day when Chile won the Pacific war with Peru and took all the land north of Iquique from them. Everyone travels on or around that day, so there were no empty flights for us. That meant we went home on bus, a looooong 21 hour bus ride through the desert, which really, is nothing. Just a lot of sand and really flat land. We left at 6:30 pm on Sunday afternoon and Nikolaj and I arrived at Ovalle, the last stop, around 3:30 pm on Monday. Luckily a lot of it was durin the night, so I slept a lot of the way, but not confortably. I remember waking up once and looking outside, and it was just flat and sand everywhere. I could actually see a lot, because that night also happened to be a full moon. I felt kind of like I was in Aladdin :P
I posted a few pictures of the trip on Facebook and you can view them here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=115790&l=8ef59&id=841485230
So, that was my trip. Definitely short, but well worth it. And since this may be my last entry here in Chile, I thought I'd just say a few things about my exchange year.
I was not sure at all what to expect when I got here. It was a especially hard for me, because at the Spring Orientation in Canada, there were no returning students from Chile, so I really didn't know a lot about what I was getting myself into. Even though Chile is probably the most well-off country in South America, it is a completely different life-style, and one that I got used to almost immediately. Everyone is so kind and open, and the daily pace of life is so calm. Although it still annoys me, I have gotten used to the fact that when someone tells you to meet them somewhere at 5, it really means between 5 and 6. And, even though I have missed spicy food, I looooove the food here. These are just a few of the MANY differences I have experienced this year. And, although there have been hard times, and even harder times, this year has definitely been the best year of my life. I was sad at first when I realized the choice was do this exchange or graduate with my friends back home, since I would be too old to do the exchange next year, and as hard as that decision was for me, it was well worth it and I would not change it for the world. I have met such amazing people this year, both my Chilean friends and family and other exchange students, and although it will be one of the hardest things I have to do to say goodbye to them all, I know I will keep in touch with everyone. This sounds really cliché, but this year really has changed my life and I will never ever forget the places I went and the people I met here. And for that, I want to thank both my host families here in Chile, all my friends, Chilean and exchange, but mostly I want to thank Rotary in Canada and my real family for giving me a chance to do something as amazing as this. Muchas Gracias!!
¡¡¡VIVA CHILE!!!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Peru!!!! (Cuzco)
We got to Cuzco at around 10:00 the next morning and the first thing I noticed was less humidity than Lima (which often has 100% humidity but almost never rains) and that my heart was pounding like I had just been running. It took me a while to figure out it was from the altitude. We were at around 3300 m above sea level (Edmonton is under 700 m.) I also started to feel sick and had a headache. Luckily we had nothing planned for that first day in the morning, so I just slept. When I woke up, my body was used to the altitude, and I felt alot better, but heart kept beating really hard the entire 4 days we were there. Even just walking around made it pound like I had run a marathon. In the afternoon, we went on a city tour of Cuzco. Our first stop was the Plaza de Armas, the central plaza of Cuzco. It had two curches, which is strange for any plaza in South America, normally they only have one. We went into the bigger one. We were not allowed to take pictures, but I wish I could have. There were about 20 alters all over the giant cathedral and all of them were covered in gold or silver or both. And they were huge some of them over 2 stories high, covered completely in gold. It was really beautiful. After the church, we took the bus to another monastery. In the central courtyard of the monastery had been built various room and small temples to show tourists Incan construction like that at Machu Picchu. After the monastery, we went outside Cuzco to where there were Incan ruins. First, we saw the ruins of a giant temple where they hold the Festival of the Sun during the winter soltice in July. We also went to a cave where they found the first tattoed mummy from the Incas. Then, we took the bus to another temple where there were three fountains that are still working from Incan times. There, we were over 3500 m above sea level. My host brother, who was still not used to the altitude, decided it was a good idea to run up the hill to the temple, and almost fell over at the top. If you drink from the fountains, depending on which one, you get youth, knowledge or fertility.
The next day was what I had been looking forward to the entire trip. We got up aroun 4am to go to the train station to Machu Picchu!! I was ok getting up too early, I was too excited to be tired. The train ride was about 4 hours, to the town of Aquas Calientes, the last little town before Machu Picchu. You can only take the train there, because otherwise there would waaaay too many tourists there. From Aquas Calientes, we took a bus for about 30 mintues in a zig-zag up the mountain to Machu Picchu. It was so beautiful, right in the middle of the jungle. Because of all the trees, you couldn't really see much of the ruins until you were right in the front gates, then suddenly, you could see them all. They were huge, way bigger than I ever thought they were. I decided to go in an English tour separate from my mom and brother to give myself a break. Our tour guide was really good, and knew alot. But most important was how amazing the ruins were. They were so beautiful. I still don't understand how they built something that huge on the side of a mountain, out of such huge rocks. Our tour lasted about 3 hours. I really wanted to stay longer, to see more, but we had to get back to Aquas Calientes to eat lucnh before the train came. But, hopefully I will get to go back. :) We got back to Cuzco at night and I went to bed right away, I was so exhausted from all the walking and climbing.
The next day, around 9am, we were picked up for our last tour. We went to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. That was the route they took to get to Machu Picchu, so there were lots of ruins. First we went to the town of Pisac, to a market. There, they raised guinea pigs to eat!! I never ate one, but apparently they are delicious. We did a tour through the entire valley, through all the little towns where the "campesinas" (country people) live and grow over 50 types of corn and potatoes. We stopped at a buffet restaurant for lunch. Across the road was a store that sold things made from alpaca wool. It was all so soft, and really expensive. After lunch, we went to what I call Mini Picchu because I can't remember the name of it :P It looked a lot like Machu Picchu, but smaller. We climbed to the top, and you could see the entire Sacred Valley. It was beautiful. After the ruins, we went to a town to another traditional market and an old church. In the market, they sold popcorn covered in sugar. The popcorn was made of white corn from the valley, and the kernals are 4 or 5 five times bigger than normal corn, so the popcorn was giant, almost as big as a small plum, and sooooo good. I bought two bags of it and ate it all :) We took the bus back to Cuzco and by the time we arrived, it was dark.
Monday, our last full day in Cuzco, was a free day. I went with my mom to the plaza and the market one last time. We ate at a restaurant at the plaza that made pizza in a giant mud oven, that made the pzza crust really crispy. We left at 7 the next morning from the airport in Cuzco. When we got to Lima around 8, I realized my heart had suddenly stopped beating hard. It was so strange how it just immediatly slowed down when I got off the plane. We had the whole day to wait, because the only flight to Lima was at 9 at night. We went to a hotel in Old Lima and I slept and read almost the whole time. We ate lunch at the plaza, and I had one last glass of Chicha Morada. At 7, we were picked up for our flight. I thought we should have gone earlier, because the traffic was crazy in Lima at that time, but we were on time (barely) for the flight. We got back to Santiago around 2 Chilean time (one hour ahead of Peru).
I was exhausted from the trip, but it was soooo amazing, especially Machu Picchu. It went way too fast, and I really hope I get to go back some day.
Instead of uploading a few photos, you can look at this album I made of my photos of Peru:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111197&l=abdb0&id=841485230
The next day was what I had been looking forward to the entire trip. We got up aroun 4am to go to the train station to Machu Picchu!! I was ok getting up too early, I was too excited to be tired. The train ride was about 4 hours, to the town of Aquas Calientes, the last little town before Machu Picchu. You can only take the train there, because otherwise there would waaaay too many tourists there. From Aquas Calientes, we took a bus for about 30 mintues in a zig-zag up the mountain to Machu Picchu. It was so beautiful, right in the middle of the jungle. Because of all the trees, you couldn't really see much of the ruins until you were right in the front gates, then suddenly, you could see them all. They were huge, way bigger than I ever thought they were. I decided to go in an English tour separate from my mom and brother to give myself a break. Our tour guide was really good, and knew alot. But most important was how amazing the ruins were. They were so beautiful. I still don't understand how they built something that huge on the side of a mountain, out of such huge rocks. Our tour lasted about 3 hours. I really wanted to stay longer, to see more, but we had to get back to Aquas Calientes to eat lucnh before the train came. But, hopefully I will get to go back. :) We got back to Cuzco at night and I went to bed right away, I was so exhausted from all the walking and climbing.
The next day, around 9am, we were picked up for our last tour. We went to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. That was the route they took to get to Machu Picchu, so there were lots of ruins. First we went to the town of Pisac, to a market. There, they raised guinea pigs to eat!! I never ate one, but apparently they are delicious. We did a tour through the entire valley, through all the little towns where the "campesinas" (country people) live and grow over 50 types of corn and potatoes. We stopped at a buffet restaurant for lunch. Across the road was a store that sold things made from alpaca wool. It was all so soft, and really expensive. After lunch, we went to what I call Mini Picchu because I can't remember the name of it :P It looked a lot like Machu Picchu, but smaller. We climbed to the top, and you could see the entire Sacred Valley. It was beautiful. After the ruins, we went to a town to another traditional market and an old church. In the market, they sold popcorn covered in sugar. The popcorn was made of white corn from the valley, and the kernals are 4 or 5 five times bigger than normal corn, so the popcorn was giant, almost as big as a small plum, and sooooo good. I bought two bags of it and ate it all :) We took the bus back to Cuzco and by the time we arrived, it was dark.
Monday, our last full day in Cuzco, was a free day. I went with my mom to the plaza and the market one last time. We ate at a restaurant at the plaza that made pizza in a giant mud oven, that made the pzza crust really crispy. We left at 7 the next morning from the airport in Cuzco. When we got to Lima around 8, I realized my heart had suddenly stopped beating hard. It was so strange how it just immediatly slowed down when I got off the plane. We had the whole day to wait, because the only flight to Lima was at 9 at night. We went to a hotel in Old Lima and I slept and read almost the whole time. We ate lunch at the plaza, and I had one last glass of Chicha Morada. At 7, we were picked up for our flight. I thought we should have gone earlier, because the traffic was crazy in Lima at that time, but we were on time (barely) for the flight. We got back to Santiago around 2 Chilean time (one hour ahead of Peru).
I was exhausted from the trip, but it was soooo amazing, especially Machu Picchu. It went way too fast, and I really hope I get to go back some day.
Instead of uploading a few photos, you can look at this album I made of my photos of Peru:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=111197&l=abdb0&id=841485230
Peru!!!!!!!!! (Lima)
Just when I thought my exchange was winding down, I got a nice surprise. I was supposed to go on a trip to Brazil with my class in January, but was unable to go. Since the travel agency still had my money, my host mom and I decided to use that money to go to Peru!! I have always wanted to go to Peru, especially this year, being so close.
We left last Tuesday for Santiago. On Wednesday morning, at 6am, the plane was supposed to leave, but seeing as we were in Chile, it did not leave until 6:45. The plane ride was under three hours and went really quickly. We got breakfast (I ate waffles mmmmm) and a snack. We arrived at around 10:30 at Lima. The first thing I noticed was that while Chile is technically a third world country but it is hard to tell, you can tell that Peru is one. It was a lot more crowded in the city and kind of dirty. I still love it, although I think I almost died about 10 times just driving from the airport to our hotel in the newer area of Lima, Miraflores. In Peru they say the drive by "La ley de la selva" or the law of the jungle, and it sure seemed like it. For such a big city, it had very few traffic lights, and the ones that existed were basically ignored 80% of the time. I got used to it by the 3rd day, but it really scared me at first, and my host mom hated it.
The first day we had lunch at the mall right on the coast, Larcomar, at a Tony Roma's overlooking the beach. After lunch, we had a city tour. There were 15 other people on the tour with us, most of them from English speaking countries. It was so strange after so much time surrounded by Spanish to suddenly be in a group of all Enlish speakers. The tour took us through the area of Miraflores and then down the main highway to Old Lima. It reminded me a lot of old European cities. It was beautiful. We went to the central plaza, the oldest in Lima, and saw the old government building and the oldest church in Lima. After that, we walked to the oldest pub in Lima, El Cordeno, which has been open sincs 1905. There, we tried a popular Peruvian drink, Chicha Morada, a juice made of purple corn, sugar and lemon juice among other things. I really didn't like it the first time, but when I had it after that, it started the grow on me. After the pub, we went to the first monastery of Lima. We got to see all the wall murals that have been around for a hundred years or more. Then, we went underground to the catacombs of the monastery. Here, the priests and wealthy families of Lima were burried, over43000 of them. Because of earthquakes, none of the bodies were still intact, but arqueologists found the bones and they are all still underground in the tunnels. That night, we went to the restaurant Junios, where they had a live show of all the traditional Peruvian dances. It was also an all you can eat buffet of Peruvian food, so all around a good night. I love Peruvian food, because it is spicy and in Chile there is really no spicy food, and I have missed it a lot. There were a lot of dances, the show lasted over 2 hours, but I really liked it.
The next day, we had another tour, this time to the pyramids of the Incas outside Lima, called Pachacamac. They actually also belonged to three other native groups years before the Incas, but were expanded and rebuilt by the Incas most recently. They were about 15 minutes outside Lima, on the edges of the Atacama desert, the same desert in the north of Chile where Iquique and Arica are located. We saw a palace, and two temples, the temple of the sun and the temple of the moon. The moon temple is where all the Incan women live until they are chosen by the Incan king to be one of his brides, or to be a sacrifice. The women thought being chosen as a sacrifice was the highest honor, which I thought was strange. The sacrifices took place on the top of the sun temple. We got back from the tour in the afternoon. I had a nap and at night went with my mom to a restaurant, another buffet that had a dance show. We didn't stay long, though, because we had to get on a plane the next morning to go to Cuzco at 9 the next morning.
We left last Tuesday for Santiago. On Wednesday morning, at 6am, the plane was supposed to leave, but seeing as we were in Chile, it did not leave until 6:45. The plane ride was under three hours and went really quickly. We got breakfast (I ate waffles mmmmm) and a snack. We arrived at around 10:30 at Lima. The first thing I noticed was that while Chile is technically a third world country but it is hard to tell, you can tell that Peru is one. It was a lot more crowded in the city and kind of dirty. I still love it, although I think I almost died about 10 times just driving from the airport to our hotel in the newer area of Lima, Miraflores. In Peru they say the drive by "La ley de la selva" or the law of the jungle, and it sure seemed like it. For such a big city, it had very few traffic lights, and the ones that existed were basically ignored 80% of the time. I got used to it by the 3rd day, but it really scared me at first, and my host mom hated it.
The first day we had lunch at the mall right on the coast, Larcomar, at a Tony Roma's overlooking the beach. After lunch, we had a city tour. There were 15 other people on the tour with us, most of them from English speaking countries. It was so strange after so much time surrounded by Spanish to suddenly be in a group of all Enlish speakers. The tour took us through the area of Miraflores and then down the main highway to Old Lima. It reminded me a lot of old European cities. It was beautiful. We went to the central plaza, the oldest in Lima, and saw the old government building and the oldest church in Lima. After that, we walked to the oldest pub in Lima, El Cordeno, which has been open sincs 1905. There, we tried a popular Peruvian drink, Chicha Morada, a juice made of purple corn, sugar and lemon juice among other things. I really didn't like it the first time, but when I had it after that, it started the grow on me. After the pub, we went to the first monastery of Lima. We got to see all the wall murals that have been around for a hundred years or more. Then, we went underground to the catacombs of the monastery. Here, the priests and wealthy families of Lima were burried, over43000 of them. Because of earthquakes, none of the bodies were still intact, but arqueologists found the bones and they are all still underground in the tunnels. That night, we went to the restaurant Junios, where they had a live show of all the traditional Peruvian dances. It was also an all you can eat buffet of Peruvian food, so all around a good night. I love Peruvian food, because it is spicy and in Chile there is really no spicy food, and I have missed it a lot. There were a lot of dances, the show lasted over 2 hours, but I really liked it.
The next day, we had another tour, this time to the pyramids of the Incas outside Lima, called Pachacamac. They actually also belonged to three other native groups years before the Incas, but were expanded and rebuilt by the Incas most recently. They were about 15 minutes outside Lima, on the edges of the Atacama desert, the same desert in the north of Chile where Iquique and Arica are located. We saw a palace, and two temples, the temple of the sun and the temple of the moon. The moon temple is where all the Incan women live until they are chosen by the Incan king to be one of his brides, or to be a sacrifice. The women thought being chosen as a sacrifice was the highest honor, which I thought was strange. The sacrifices took place on the top of the sun temple. We got back from the tour in the afternoon. I had a nap and at night went with my mom to a restaurant, another buffet that had a dance show. We didn't stay long, though, because we had to get on a plane the next morning to go to Cuzco at 9 the next morning.
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