Valpo and Orientation

Over the weekend I caught a bus with some friends to Valparaiso, the cultural capitol of Chile.  Under two hours away from Santiago, Valpo was for centuries one of the region's most important port cities.  Recently it's been struggling somewhat, facing high unemployment rates, and it shows in the grit of the city.  Thick bundles of wires hang over head, potential pick-pockets and street performers hover near-by, and--no joke--packs of wild dogs control the city.  Ricky Bobby wasn't kidding, it's a problem over hear.  As we wound our way up and down the narrow streets of the hilly city, we were forced to stop and turn around as we rounded a corner directly into several ferocious dogs of varying size and bark.  as we backtracked, we were told by a local couple (which, by the way, totally watched us originally make our way down that street) that following that road was a bad idea, as we were sure to encounter more pissed-off canines.  Dogs aside, the city's murals and grafitti paintings leave you feeling like you are walking through a living art exhibition.  As the sun set, we grabbed some empanads con carne and made our way back.

Lazy Sunday was speant mostly conversing with fellow hostel dwellers.  Most of the EOD Americans were either out exploring the city, or were making their own trip to Valpo.  This left a few of us to chat it up with four Isrealis spending their last day at the hostel.  Two guys and two gals, all in their early 20s, are making their way up north, having spent the last three months hitch-hiking from the continent's southernmost point.  The girls explained that the two of them are both fresh out of their two year mandatory stint with the military.  Meirav told us about the standard issue M-16 she keeps in her closet, while Opal told stories about the hostel in Jerusalem at which she worked.  Though the guys and girls are on seperate trips, they keep meeting up, as their routes are more or less the same.  I even got to see a video a few days ago, on yet another Isreali's digital camera, of the group sliding down snow-covered mountains on some metal ass plate, equipped with an ax that is somehow meant to keep you from dying.  Hopefully one day that'll be me sliding axe-first down a mountain side.  For now I'm focusing on reaching my host-family in one piece.

Sunday afternoon we wandered over to an art musuem, met a local who showed us damage on the museum from the 2010 earthquake, and chilled out over drinks and Peruvian seafood (though I'm still booze-free do to the antibiotics).  This morning we started orientation, which is held down the street in a hotel conference room.  Everyday we get an hour break for lunch alongside a 20 minute coffee break pool-side in the hotel.  Fancy shmancy.  In the afternoon a few friends and I walked around looking for flip-flops, among other things.  Real Madrid (the soccer team, rather than not-fake Madrid) flip flops for a thousand pesos (two bucks), can't beat that.

My hometown friend Barry stopped by the city today, which caused a bit of a stir.  Apparently he and his wife, Michelle, flew down with the kids for a little vacay.  Wish he had let me know ahead of time, we could have met up and talked all things Chicago in Santiago.  Actually, Obama's visit caused the city to lock down every street within 10 blocks of the presidential palace (which, it turns out, is just down the street I guess).  Several of us were inconvenienced in our shopping with long detours, but a few folks got to see the caravan drive by.  How ironic that after four years of being delayed to class, work, etc. by caravans (presidents, VPs, ambassadors and the likes) in college, I fly way the hell down here and still manage to walk directly into barricades.  Having speant longer than I care to admit on a friend's laptop, rather than with real human beings, I'm beginning to wonder how feasible uploading albums and blog posts will be laptop-less.  Either way, for now enjoy the pics.  There should be a video somewhere, but I'm too tired to look.  Also, if anybody know what the heck is going on with Libya, feel free to fill me in via the comment section or FB.  I'm clueless but worried.  What else is new?


Valparaiso, the hostel, and a few shots of the city:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2415516&id=5321418&l=01a5445c9a

-Pablo