What a Stellar View

Words cannot describe the beauty I saw today.  The pictures can't even do it justice.  And the way I had to get to the scenery made it that much more rewarding.

We decided to do a hiking trip in a reserve right outside Santiago.  I was down for a couple of reasons.  First, the smog starts to get to me.  And second, it was only going to cost me a metro ride out to Las Condes and back, and I like cheap fun.

Meeting at the metro was the easy part, but then we had some dificulties figuring out which bus to get on because we weren't sure of the direction we needed.  That didn't stop us for long, and we were soon on our way to the Reserva Ecológica Contrafuertes Cordillerano (that's Spanish for Andean Mountain Buttress Ecological Reserve).  

Clea, Chloe, and Jemma waiting for the bus

 We got there and started hiking.  We, or I at least, was not quite expecting what we had gotten into.  It was tough.  It got especially tough for me when we started to get up higher- my lungs were struggin' with the altitude.  We kept going though.


We wondered if we were taking the right path a couple of times, but we followed the arrows made of rocks and found our way up the hill.  

Helpful arrows point the way up the hill

 

 

 

We had to stop and play in the snow that hadn't melted yet:

Snow!

 

 

I want you to understand that I am making this sound like a walk in the park compared to what it actually was.  There was sliding down loose gravel and fearing we were going to slide into a cactus or two.  Not to mention it was beyond steep at points.  Jemma even slid down some parts on her butt.  And I almost ended up on my butt a couple of times.  When I got home, my feet and ankles were black with dirt, and I was wearing shoes the whole time.  After hours of pressing on to get to the top, we were rewarded with one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen: The Andes (without the haze and smog blocking a perfect view).  Look:

This is a real photo.  I know it's hard to believe, but it's not a postcard.  And it's not photoshopped.  To be honest, this picture doesn't do it justice either.  It was amazing to clearly see the mountains.  The hike was a bitch; the altitude made it really hard, and combined with the terrain... but the view once we got over that hill was spectacular.  


The grossest part of the whole adventure was being above the smog.  Looking down trying to find Santiago and only being able to find a gray cloud of smog was straight up nasty.  And I live in this:

All in all, it was awesome.  I got to challenge myself hiking up the Andean foothills for about 6 hours or so, and I was rewarded with a stellar view. 

Double D's: Dry and Dirty

I have decided that I am going to nickname Santiago "Double D's" because it is so dry and dirty.  I have used well over half of a (small) bottle of lotion since I got here!  I wake up and put lotion on before I get dressed and every night when I get out of the shower.  And my skin is still dry sometimes!  It is insane! 

The second D is for dirty.  Yes, there is silty dust and trash in the streets, but the big thing that is crazy to me is the smog.   I don't think I have had a clear view of the Andes since I have been here.  I don't think I have even had a clear view of Cerro San Cristóbal from any distance away.  I also almost always wipe my nose at the end of the day, and there is black gunk.  Gross.  This can't be good for my lungs.  There isn't really that much traffic.  Streets are less congested than the metro is during rush hour, but the city is like a bowl, so the smog can't get out.  The Andes helps keep it all in.

Speaking of the Andes, I went for a huge walk all over the place yesterday, and I have decided that the Andes are like I-80 back home.  Travis tells me that many people in Iowa figure out their directions based on where they are in relation to I-80: If I-80 is to your south and you are facing that direction, you know you are facing south and so on.  Well, I use the Andes in much the same fashion.  When I see the Andes in front of me, I know I am facing east, if they are beside me I am north or south, and if they are behind me I am facing west.  I wonder if this is a trick Santinguinos (and Chileans in general) use. 

I also can't get over seeing the Andes.  Every now and then they pick out from between buildings and I am struck by how awesome they look.  And seeing them between buildings is also pretty neat.  Seeing the Andes also reminds me of where I am and how awesome this is.

There is so much other stuff I want to write about! There is finally internet at the apartment, but I have to plug into an ethernet and have a user name and password so it is still a pain to use.  I am hoping that I can get caught up with the blogging soon though!  I have a whole list of things I want to write about!  And even some pictures to share!

Peace from Santiago.