Pedro de Valdivia?

So the little bit that I have gathered about Pedro de Valdivia is that this man was one of the first to come to Santiago and he created a fort to protect Santiago at Cerro Santa Lucia. I also know that there are many streets named after him, a metro stop in Providencia, and I am assuming the city of Valdivia as well, which is where I went this past weekend for 4 days in the south of Chile. 

I had a long weekend off from school due to 2 different holidays and some other gringas were heading down there. It was also a good opportunity to go since Kellie and Catie live down there, and are leaving Valdivia at the end of the month. Therefore I had to get down before the month was over. After much back and forth planning, the plan was final...

I left Wednesday night with Ashley to do my first overnight bus ride, which wasn't so bad. I was a bit surprised and basically slept the entire ride down. There was a few wake up cramping moments, but then back to bed. Good thing I am a panda and can sleep basically anywhere. We got there bright and early in the morning, and Ashley and I, being the smart people that we are assumed that the other person would write down the the address and the ladies' phone numbers. But alas, we did not. However we did not mind since it was so beautiful and fresh in the south of Chile. We wandered around the town...and after much ado (our original plan didn't work since it was a major holiday and everything was closed) ...we made it to Kellie and Catie's cabana, and since they were worried about us---they called the right people and got our numbers!

View of Valdivia from the Isla Teja bridge

The first day, the four of us went to the island Niebla to the ferria where we got to eat some fresh and cheap seafood. It felt like Fiestas Patrias all over again with the live cueca music and anticuchos. We then also made out way to the beach, which had black sand. Really cool looking, but extremely hot! 

Me, Ash, Kellie, and Catie overlooking Niebla beach

That late afternoon, Kellie, Ashley, and I took a nice little walk around Isla Teja. Not that I like to run at all, but I would definitely be more motivated to run and exercise outside if it looked and felt like Valdivia all the time. The pollution and heat in Santiago is kind of a buzz kill. I kind of felt like I was back in Margate. We had a dinner with the neighbors and some french sauce and had a relaxing night meeting new people. 

Flowers that I was obsessed with outside of their cabana

The following morning we went into Valdivia, walked around and enjoyed the beautiful, tranquil scenery and town. We walked to the seafood market, which of course wreaked of fish. There were a lot of sea lions, also known as marinas lobos, hanging out since the seafood vendors give them the scraps. We then walked around, trying to put some money on my cellphone, which was a feat, as well as going to the Chocolateria-Entrelagos. They made their own chocolate there, and everything looked really appetizing. The only thing that stopped me from being a fat pig was that things were pretty pricey just for chocolate, so that was my excuse. Then we went to some ferrias, shops, and then the big momma of ferrias... a huge ferria where they sell a lot of handcrafts. Basically the same thing as Santiago, but a ton more of wooden artesianal crafts. The place was huge with three floors. 

Central Ferria

Crazy large and fierce sea lions

Catie and Kellie in Entrelagos

That night we went to a gymnasium show for skaa and regaae music. I felt like I was back in high school going to one of my friend's band shows. It was fun hearing live music, and the skaa music had a cool twist with brass instruments. I had some white wine with strawberries, which is delicious! Apparently, there is a more common and equally deliciously drink with red wine and strawberries, a Chilean version of Sangria.  Afterwards we went to a new friend's house and I got to practice my Spanish and try new food and drinks. I also tried this dish called "crudo," which I have only heard of in Valdivia, but it is toast with well seasoned ground meat on top, which is then covered by a white sauce, quite similar to tzizikye sauce, with a lot of lemon. It was suprisingly very yummy! 

The following day, the rest of the gringas joined us, Ronna, Chrissy, Karen, and Amy. We went to the Kuntsmann Brewery. The most common beers in Chile are Cristal, Escudo, and Brahma. Another common one is Kuntsmann, which is my favorite. I love their honey beer! The food was a bust, very large portions, but quite dry and not very good. However, basically all of us had the tasting of all of the beers. So now I have a new love, not Kunstmann Miel, but Kuntsmann Bock, which is a dark beer- similar to Guinness. Afterwards, we basically did the same thing as the day before so the new ladies could see what we did. Valdivia is cute, but there isn't much to it.

Beer Tasting

All of us with some creepy Kuntsmann dolls

Catie and especially Kellie were fabulous hosts, so many thanks to them! The one thing I did wish I could have done in Valdivia was check out the rainforst, but our gracious hosts and a lot of people were not sure exactly how to get there... oh well, just have to visit the south of Chile soon and see what fun nature things are in store for me! It definitely felt nice to get out of the city for a bit with a new change of scenery, but I am still glad that I chose to live in Santiago. This trip also reinvigorated me to do more things and to explore more places. Instead of going out to discotecas, I need to just explore more places and branch out more to see what else Santiago and all of its barrios have to offer.

Fruits, Veggies, and Flites. Oh My!

So my kitchen has been looking sad and empty for a while now, and I really would love to head over to La Vega and begin making some fresh food again. Therefore this shall be my little homage to La Vega, the Central market for fruits, veggies, nuts, meats, and whatever else you need for food... besides things that are easier to buy in a supermarket... :o) 

My fridge AFTER La Vega. Right now its basically all bones.

La Vega is just over the very dismally sad Rio Mapocho and near Mercado Centro, which happens to be another place to get seafood and a smaller marketplace for fruits and veggies. Things are pretty cheap here, but you need to make sure your change purse is full of monedas (coins), because you don't really use the bigger bills for each individual vendor. I have only been here twice, but really would like to go more often, but it is not the most convenient. It is kind of a trek and I still don't really feel comfortable going alone. Here is why I am not there EVERy week: 1) It is always kind of hard for me to find. 2) The area is somewhat shady (muy flite alli) and you need to be even more protective of your belongings... especially if you are fumbling around with money and vegetables and heavy bags. That is another reason I don't have any pictures of La Vega...I already stick out like a sore thumb and really do not want to attract more attention by waving around a camera. Also I am usually too busy checking out the prices and goods, that by the time I realize I want a picture, my arms are too full. 3) It is only open in the daytime, so therefore I can't go during the week thanks to school, and if I am busy on the weekend in the early morning, I can't go. However I really must try harder since you get so much for such affordable prices. In general it is not a pretty place, but when you look at the colorful glistening fruits and veggies, it is just mesmerizing.

A cute little kitten hanging out and taking a nap with the garlic in La Vega

La Vega is also very close to Barrio Patronado, which is like a little Korea and your go to place for Asian groceries. I still have not gone shopping there since my arms are always too full with produce, that it deters me from buying anything else to carry. However, I must go since I always have a hankering for Korean food. I made it once, and I was kinda proud that it was a success. Granted I made nothing that required skill, but still nonetheless, it was a delicious Korean dinner right in my own home. Really, must do that again! Mommy, send me recipes!!!