Can you say exciting?

Wow. What a week this has been. It went by incredibly fast and there have been so many adventures in between. As I look back on the first half of the trip (because oddly enough, I can say we're in the second half), I am amazed at how much has changed. Almost 2 weeks ago, I got into a car with strangers who were nice enough to house me and now I look forward to coming home to hang out with them. Almost 2 weeks ago, I thought the language barrier would be the worst part but it's been an adventure all on its own. Thanks to Google Translate and a lot of smiling and laughing, the language difference has been fun. I am sad to think that I will be ending the entire Chile journey in less than a week. I have become so comfortable and happy with the people on my trip and the amazing Chileans I get the privilege to interact with every day. When I first imagined coming to South America, all I could think was it should be fun but it's not Europe. I have been proven wrong indefinitely by the views I've seen, the friendliness I've encountered and the wonderful people I've met along the way. Europe can wait. Chile is an awesome place! It makes me happy just looking back at all the pictures I've taken and remembering everything that went with them. Although the pictures don't do the place justice, I am thrilled we live in the time with digital cameras so I can try my best to explain through pictures and journal entries the amazing experience I have had.

Salto del Laja was a beautiful place. This was part of Weekend 1 adventures. We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the falls then got to walk around to craft stands before seeing the falls themselves.

My family understood my obsession with horses and they were amazing enough to find a place for me to horseback ride. My wonderful host sister, Barbara, went along for the ride.

This puppy is the perfect picture of the reaction I get when I continue to see so many dogs around any parts of Chile. There are so many dogs everywhere and this one's cuteness is only scraping the surface.

Ahh Connie. Her excitement and energy is always so much fun to be around. We stopped by a little amusement park on the way home from Salto Del Laja. Her face on the ride has been my face the entire time in Chile. 

To top off a fabulous weekend, we went to great Mexican restaurant called Tijuana with an even better view. 

This picture does not do this beach justice. After lunch, we drove down to a museum then stopped at this beach. It was beyond beautiful. It was hidden in the back but was well worth the drive back there on roads almost as bad as those in New Orleans. I was also blown back at the fact that they have black sand when I'm used to the sugar white sands of the Gulf. 

Connie loves our adventures just as much as I do. She had never been to this beach so it was a new and fun experience for the both of us and although she speaks only Spanish, I know she enjoyed it.

The whole group took a trip to the beautiful campus of Universidad de Concepción. It was such a pretty day on campus and our tour guides were more than great. 

This would be just one of the many walls of art they have plastered around the campus.

Wednesday packed an entire adventure of its own. We took a trip to Chiflon del Diablo. It's a mine under the Pacific ocean that we got the chance to explore! It was a tight space but well worth the claustrophobic ride down to the mine. 

Our tour guide was a miner with over 30 years of experience. He was the best tour guide and he shared some personal stuff with us that made my heart go out to him. I can't say I know what it's like to be a miner but he gave me a thought and my I have such respect for those others like him. I hope things continue to go well for this wonderful man.