Chile ROCKS!!!

These last ten days have been absolutely amazing.  While it seems as though the Chilean government must be paying me to be a walking commercial for the country, indeed I have come to feel this way on my own.  Santiago not only has so much to offer, but the last two weekends I have managed to take 3 day trips to some of the most breathtaking beauty I have ever encountered.  Together with some amazing new travel friends, I'm convinced that some of the memories I have made will stay with me forever. 

Last Saturday a group of us headed out to Cajon de Maipo, a place for hiking, hot springs, and catching a gorgeous peek at the Andes.  We originally wanted to enjoy the hot springs, because who wouldn't want to sit in a 90 degree Jacuzzi like spring?; but when we arrived we found out that they are only about 60 degrees during this time of year, and that it wouldn't be quite what we were hoping for that day.  Instead we took a bus to San Gabriel.  The winding roads allowed for some gorgeous views of cacti, rivers, mountains, and a nice sunrise; but it also meant that I would be nauseas for about the next hour or so.  Somehow upon arriving to San Gabriel, and taking a peek at what we were about to explore/summit, that nausea subsided and I felt like Louis and Clark about to go into one of the tallest and rockiest places I have been.  My friend Sarah and I stuck together as we headed up the mountain, deciding which path to take, or when to stop and capture a photo.

 We stopped and chatted with some Chileans, most of them were there to allow their kids sled down the mountain or even there to camp out.  There were a few moments when the snow would completely fall out below my feet, and the fact that I was wearing jeans and standing about 3 1/2 feet into the snow quickly became a REALLY cold and wet experience.  That didn't stop us though!  We met up with our friend James who had already been to the top and back (he's a beast), and he was so kind as to make little foot steps in the snow for us, as to avoid the 3 foot surprise drops that had been happening.  After we got to the top, all taking a few moments to take in God's beautiful creation (which my mom calls God's playground), we chatted about how to best get down to the bottom.  James decided that it would be best to make this moment into a fun video in which he rolls down the hill, somersaulting, and flipping his way down (when I have proper internet and my own laptop I will be sure to post this!).  Sarah and I decided it would be best to take off our coats and sit on them so that we could slide the way down.  Can I just say, this was the most one of the most fun experiences I've ever had.  We flew down the hill- giggling like children and catching some serious air!  What a seriously amazing day. 

The next day a group of 8 of us went skiing in Valle Nevado.  We headed out at about 7 am, which was extremely challenging, but as the sun came up over the mountains it stirred in me that feeling that all is well in the world, and we were in for an exciting day of adventure.  My goal of trying something new this year was about to come to pass!  The two hour trek up the mountain, sharing a fun conversation with the van driver about the history and details of the nature and towns surrounding us on the drive up, alone was worth the money we had spent to go skiing.  When we got there I began to look for the bunny slopes on the slope map.  Sure enough, there weren't any bunny slopes.  NO BUNNY SLOPES.  So here I am, all bundled up, skis in hand, and about to get into a cable car that will take me up to a green slope (for beginners at least), having never had a lesson and growing up in Florida.  Needless to say, it was quite the adventure.  There were moments of pure fun, pure fear, and then the moments in which I sat on the side of the mountain and cried (all of them were an important part of day 1 skiing in the Andes).  After taking on the green slope, and I write this is the most hesitancy possible, I headed down into the lodge and found my friends, all having enjoyed the day tremendously. 

From the top of the green slope

The experience became really wonderful when we loaded up the van, put on some good tunes, and went down the mountain enjoying the most gorgeous sunset I have ever seen.  Life is so good.