Pichilemu

I was away again this weekend, to Pichilemu, a beach town about three hours south of Santiago. I was with Shawn and the people from the grape picking weekend, so it was lots of fun! We arrived late on Friday night and went straight to the beach to meet some of the others. The water was freezing but I still managed to get soaked, and generally had a lovely time frolicking on the beach like a child in the darkness... Asado for dinner was ready about 2am (as usual) and was delicious, and there was the usual chilean party involving guitars and the beat box and lots of singing. There was some talk of a swimming contest in the lake, though I was warned that there is a monster that lives in the lake, that only attacks blondes. To be fair they may have been alluding to the guy that I was going to be racing against... Anyway, the contest didn't end up happening so I didn't have to deal with any monsters.

The next day was a bit slow (it was quite a party), but we went down to the beach and paddled and built sandcastles with the kids. Pichilemu is a surf spot, with really long breaks, and apparently sometimes montstrous sized waves (last week they were 9m apparently). Pretty quiet while we were there though, with only hardy souls in full boiler suits, hoods and booties venturing out. I really was tempted to go swimming, but it was pretty damn cold. About the same as Dunedin in winter (though that never used to stop me - maybe I am getting old?!)

Lunch was at a cheap and delicious beachside restaurant. I have ceviche, which is a Peruvian dish of fish sort of mashed and pickled with lemon and lime juice, and possibly a bit of chilli. My description doesn't really do it justice as it is a taste sensation. Shawn had to go back to Santiago (thus abandoning me with a group of Spanish speakers) so after dropping her at the bus we headed out to Punto de Lobos - where the serious surfing is. We arrived at sunset and it was breathtaking. There were plenty of surfers out in the water trying out the more substantial looking waves, and it reminded me a bit of Dunedin, and the surf point not far from Aunty Trish's house that I can't quite remember the name of - Longbeach maybe?? Anyway, sunset was spectacular.

Was off to the supermarket to buy food for more asado, and I was impressed to watch the men take complete charge of the shopping. The night was a bit quieter with the exit of a few people, but really fun. There was a bit of salsa, and I was able to talk a little with everyone which was great. I am still hopeless, but I think they are getting more used to my hopelessness and finding it easier to decipher!

Drive home was interesting, as Eduardo speaks even less English than I do Spanish, but we managed to fill in the time, and had a real laugh trying to find our way through Santiago in the dark with no map! It didn't help that the driver was having trouble distinguishing right from left, and is a little short sighted, so I had to read the signs (in my appalling accent), and he had to try and decipher what I was saying. I got very good at saying "no otra derecha!!" (no the other right!!). Made it home fine though, and generally had a great weekend. I think this weekend I am actually staying in Santiago, though I believe I am going to someone's cousin's 21st or something on Saturday night.... I have been ultra lucky to meet such a nice, forgiving and patient bunch of people. I can only hope that I would have done the same in their position! Communication is seriously difficult, but they keep inviting me places and trying to help me. I have learnt that smiling and trying really does get you a long way!

In other exciting news - I won a trip to Peru. Yep, I won something! Its pretty amazing really. I entered a competition with Intrepid, the company that I went to Vietnam with last year, for an 8 day trip in Peru including the Inca trail and Machu Pichu, and I won! I have to pay for the flights, and the local payment, but given this is an experience I would have been paying for in total later in the year, it is pretty lucky for me (and is worth about NZ$1000). So flights are all organised and everything is confirmed - I leave on the 6th of June. The only uncertainty is whether they will actually be able to get me a permit for the Inca trail, as it is limited to 500 people per day and this quota is usually filled a month in advance. However, I will get to trek the Lares trail if the Inca is full, which still goes to Machu Pichu, so it will still be awesome. Am slightly worried about how I might cope with the altitude - the highest point on the Inca trail is 4200m, and Cuzco itself sits 3300m. Anyway, no idea how it will affect me, so there is really no point in worrying too much. I will see what happens when I get there!

Have a few new students in the last couple of weeks, business men. The latest one is quite high up in ScotiaBank, in charge of overseeing the economic investments section for Chile, so maybe I will learn something about this financial crisis from him. They are all really nice people and I get on well with them, and am really enjoying all my classes at the moment. Its interesting that I teach 13 men and only 2 women... Apparently women aren't in the high positions and therefore don't often get the luxery of learning English. I guess this is still a developing country even though it is difficult to remember that when you look around.

OK, better go. Got to go to the notary which is my least favourite job as they speak to me in rapid Spanish which I don't understand and then refuse to do what I want them to. And I am left guessing what it is I have done wrong.

Until next time,
KiwiKaz

PS. Pics are of Shawn and I on Picilemu beach, Punta de Lobos at sunset, and the lagoon in Pichilemu at sunset.