just beach bummin'

I went for a much-needed run this morning but didn't make it anywhere near where I hoped to...the beach looked too good. I sat on the sand for a while and people-watched...until I looked at my watch and realized an hour and half had passed.

The fast-walk home along the highway was accompanied by the usual series of car beeps and bus honks, but my loud Brazilian music helps to drown out the annoyingness of those sounds. I am still smelling the scent of something dead when I walk by a certain spot each day...I really am convinced that Chile's version of the FBI may be searching the area next time I pass. Its that bad.

I'm noticing more pelicans and seagulls around every day, probably since spring is alllllmost here. It's definitely getting warmer- or at least its warm enough to unzip my jacket for a few hours during the day. As soon as the sun sets its a different story- winter returns.

After a healthy lunch of rice and vegetables with a tomato stuffed with tuna (?) I went back to the beach for some more deep relaxation. I have to note the juice that we drank with lunch today. I've never drank poison, but whatever that green liquid in my cup was surely seemed close to it. Cucumber was the closest thing that I could come up with- definitely not a fruit flavor. Lettuce, maybe? NO TELLING.

Everyone else went skiing today, but I chose sand over slopes- thanks to the horrible experience I had in Colorado a few years ago. I know its THE Andes, and I'm positively sure that I missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime thing...but for my own good, the beach was probably the smarter idea.

Shiloh? what a little cutie.

While sitting on the beach, I looked around and could count a total of 18 Chilean flags. Every day there is some sort of new celebratory item on the streets to prepare for next Saturday, Chile's 200th birthday. People suuuuuure are getting excited! A little while later I looked around and counted a total of nine beach-dogs on the beach, all very close to me. One was really cute, but scared the heck out of me when he dashed over and took a seat directly behind me...I thought it was a person at first, yikes!  A little while later the sun began to set. I looked around and saw 13 couples...I knew it was probably time to leave. The beach becomes romance-city around 5:45 each day. I got out of there QUICK. It was cold by then, anyway.

how romantic.

I'm home now, just relaxing and watching some BASEBALL! The Braves and the Cardinals...too bad no Rangers. Maybe tomorrow the since its the Yankees? But most likely, it's never going to happen.

Patricio is coming home tonight and Fernanda is over...which means a gooooood dinner tonight! YES!
And tomorrow I get to go watch Balty dance the cueca. How will I ever manage to hold in the smiles !? I hope I don't make him mess up...he has a costume and everything!

...

dinner was excellent, probably the best yet. Patricio made "anticocha?"...like kabobs with salchichas, carne, and cebollas. YUMMO. Afterwards, the five of us played a card game that I can't wait to show to the rest of the world when I come home...Nervioso :)
A good night.

Until manana,
Lesley