Valparaiso

As soon as we arrived in Valpo we felt the city calling us to explore it. This place is hands down one of the most fascinating cities I have ever been in. Its like a giant trash sculpture. The city is dirty and grimey, but it is covered with murals and littered with artist. It is an amazing place.

At the top of one of the many mountains that surround the city there is an abandoned prison built in the late 1800s. This prison has been converted into a city park for the purpose of giving artist a place to work. Here is the artist prison.

We came across a flyer for a puppet show that night, held in a theatre within the prison.
Of course we went.
The show reminded me a lot of Bread and Puppet, only with smaller puppets and in spanish. The audience was filled with adults and children, within the show were acts for each.
It was wonderful to see such communion among the ages.

The last act used shadow puppets and it discribed the history of South America.
How Europeans seeking religious freedom, more land and wealth drove out the native tribes and conquered their land through violence. Sound familiar?

We head to Santiago sunday to watch the super bowl with ben (go cardinals!). Laney and I both wish we could spend more time in Valparaiso, so we are thinking of returning for the month of September, just before we fly home. Its just too nice for only one weekend.

Last day in Olmué

Last day in Olmué We leave for Valparaíso tomorrow. Staying on the Inca GoldFarm has been a blast its full of exotic fruits and eccentricpeople. Here are some pictures. We will update when we get to the coast.

The Crew

Dog and Guitar

On a Tractor

Native american art

The mighty Cuke-asaurus

This was the fruit we harvested.

The Family we are Staying with

Their Kitten















Their Baby Chickens















Little Nuggets

The Work

The Oregano Field

We Got Saddles the next Day

Jameson Cut his Finger on a Sickle

Today we learned how to ride horses

Bareback!

We were brought to this mountain (andes mountains- full of cactij , eucalyptus trees, and camomile) and immediatly were thrown upon horses to climb the Remaining kilometers up. Jameson and I rode Together, he in front and me behind. He sat on a foam pad and I sat on a potato sack. The ride up was brutal. The horse ran up the narrow rocky path, slipped and fell on its knees twice, and nearly got its head caught in barbed wire. We made it to the top though, and it was absolutely breathtaking.

Once our camp was settled our chileno guides handed us sickles and we all began to cut oregano. Its a tough job. Sounds much more romantic than it really is. You have to bend over for hours in the sun and try not to cut yourself. Jameson and I both sliced our fingers a bit. At least the work has a pleasent smell.

I finally had one of those "you have arrived" moments, watching the mountians as the sunset atop my horse,surrounded by cliffs. This is really what we came to do. Challege ourselves and learn new skills. Now I feel like I could ride horses with the best of them.

Laney

Dogs

During our stay here at the first farm Laney and I have been sleeping in a tent, which would usually make me very happy. Only on this farm there are 20 some odd dogs here, and not the kind of dogs who are chill and just like to be pet and hang out. No these k-9s demand your attention at all moments, especially if you are sleeping in a tent next to them. Needless to say I have been stressed. Most of you already know my anxiety over dogs. Its not so much a phobia as an annoyance. In order for others to understand I often compare it to being in a room full
of crying babies and cheerleaders filing their fingernails on chalkboards, and yes, its that bad.
I have worked all week on overcoming this "phobia", but it has been to no avail.
Tomorrow Laney and I move up the mountains to a different farm, leaving Isaac behind for a few days. We will met up with him this weekend. Hopefully this will calm my nerves.

Hindu's believe that dogs are the reincarnation of criminals and murderous. I think they are on to something.

- Jameson

Under the sea

We got our caricature drawn in the park today. This is how the locals see us.

Avocado tree

first day on a farm

Today we left with isaac,who arrived safely,to our first farm
in Olmue. When we got off of the bus we were rather lost so an
awesome bee farmer named Bill pointed us in the right direction
and even paid for our cab to get here. Meeting people like that
as you travel gives you faith in humanity. When we got to the farm
there were more workers then there was room, so we had to sleep in
a tent under an avocado tree. Not a bad deal. After we pitched the tent instead
of working the farmers took us on a vineyard tour, where we drank four glasses
of wine, tough work I know. There are about 12 workers on the farm and 25 dogs.

On The Bus:

Local Wine:














Our Home:














View from the Tent:

Cable Car ride to La Virgen (Mother Mary)

Cerro de Santa Lucia

Palacio

Fuente de Neptuno

View of the city

The climb

Santiago (James City)

Graffiti

Plaza de Armas

Little Plaza near our apartment

flying snail

Our hosts: Ben and Dasa

Top story from Santiago:

Top Story from Santiago:

We fixed the blackberry! Laney got so excited she karate chopped the window and broke it into a thousand little pieces! Just kidding, she fell into it.

Series of unfortunate and fortunate events:

Today’s travels were mixed with positives and negatives. So we’ve decided to make a list:

Positives:
#1 - Laney dropped $110 dollars in cash as she was boarding a plane and the man behind her returned it to her.
#2 - Guacamole cost $2 extra at the burrito place in the food court, I didn’t get it, then I found an avocado on the trash can, for free.
#3 – We didn’t die in a plane crash.
#4 – We found Ben’s house fine. Ben and Dasa are amazing people, and have taken care of us so well.
5# - The weather here beats the hell out of whatever weather you have.
6# - A bag of 7 avocados cost 1000 pesos = $1.50.

Negatives:
#1 – Our plane was delayed 4 hours.
#2 – Jameson threw up on the plane, twice.
#3 – Laney didn’t claim a banana she got on the plane to customs, so she had to pay a $180 fine.

Even though we hit some walls we are here, and very happy. We explored Santiago with Ben and Dasa. We had a stray dog follow us for about 10 blocks, so we decided it was our spirit animal.

Then we ate pizza next to a fountain, but not one of those weak one squirt fountains. This fountain was huge and had colored lights. Laney compared it to a water show she saw in Vegas.
Also, apparently, people make out where ever they damn well please. In the park, in the street, in restaurants. People make out a lot here. So Laney and I have some catching up to do.

Laney and I finished the night by watching an art piece that was projected onto the front of an art museum. The columns of the building at one point became syringes full of different colors and then squirted the colors across the building. It was an amazing show.

We have a week here in Santiago before we meet up with Isaac. So we have lots to take in. Much love.

J & L

photos

art

gato

cheap avocados

fountain

eating pizza