09-18-2010 Bicentennial

Tonight I went to a friend's BBQ where I bumped into old friends from California--go figure. I had the best view in town for the firework display. It was beachfront and 18 stories high. Just good food ad conversation: almost like I was home with my friends again in Colorado. After dinner, I walked down to the local bicentennial fair. The bicentennial celebration was originally thoughts to be a shoulder to shoulder rager--the largest party a person will experience in their lifetime. However, it was quite the opposite. It ended up just being a huge fair where everyone in town hung out at. I tried chicha-a local alcoholic beverage of choice. Man was it nasty! Known for putting honey on my vanilla lattes, I found it too sweet. It was thick too. It coated my mouth like cough syrup... not a fave.

Tomorrow, Fletcher has to return to the boat in the afternoon... which means blondie will be traveling on her own.

09-18-2010 Varpariso

It says "Turn off your Television and live your life."

I took a collectivo (group taxi-why they don't have these in NYC is beyond me) to Varpariso to do, what else? shop. The town reminds me a lot of San Francisco with its rolling hills and colorful homes. I even took an Ascensor ride (like the cable cars in SF) to the top of the hill to walk down the other side. The walls of the town are filled with graffiti art by locals. Some of it is very cool. Fletch explained some of the walls are leased so the artists can display their talent while other art is very much lacking. Just like in Peru, the streets in Chile are filled with stray dogs. Kind of makes you wonder why PETA never comes down this way. After a few hours of walking the hills and eating brunch, I came back to Fletch's to nap.

Tonight is the bicentennial celebration I have been looking forward to. I got to experience a little taste of it today when I was walking through Varpariso and stepped over drunken locals from the night before. I cannot wait to see what tonight brings...

09-17-2010 Vina del Mar

The view from his place.

Fletch's place

Within a few minutes of the cab ride from Santiago to Vina del Mar I fell asleep. Only to be awoken by Fletch an hour later to show me his city in all its glory. It was like I was living a dream. The way all the houses bordered the bay was pure magic. When I pulled up to his place I was groggy and still very sleepy. I squished into the tiny elevator and 18 floors later I was standing in front of his door. He told me an American girl nicknamed his place "panty dynamite" and now I know why. He lives in an ocean front four bedroom penthouse. Enough said.