31 October 2013

La Campana

La Campana is a mountain and national park about 2 hours inland from where I live.  Below are some photos of our hike!





26 October 2013

Isla Negra

Isla Negra (Black Island) was one of Pablo Neruda's houses.  It is located about an hour and a half south of Valparaíso, Chile, and is not at all an island.  Neruda is one of Chile's most famous writers and one of two Nobel Prize in Literature winners from the country.  He is buried here on the 'island,' facing the sea, as he requested.  I'm told the name comes from the color of the house and rocks when seen from afar as Neruda saw them.  They appear (you guest it!) black.  Today this area of the city of El Quisco takes its name from Neruda's home.  



This bell was rung each time Neruda arrived, to tell those around the area he was home.



The tomb of Neruda and his 3rd wife







View from the house
Bust of Neruda with the house in the background.



19 October 2013

Al Mundial!


Chile, as a whole, has been fairly quiet as of late. They keep telling me the weather is warming up, but I'm not convinced just yet.  I still find it cold and windy most days.  School is going well for me.  I can't believe I have just a few weeks left in the semester.  It has gone by so quickly.

In other more exciting news, last Tuesday Chile qualified for the World Cup in Brazil next Summer. Every bar in the country with a TV was packed. The streets were full of people dressed in red in support of the team. Once Chile won, people were dancing and celebrating in the streets until the wee hours of the morning. Cars were driving by honking with people hanging out the windows waving Chilean flags. It was a grand night for the country! 

Estatua Cristo Redentor en Rio de Janeiro con bandera chilena
Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro with Chilean flag
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06 October 2013

Carnaval Mil Tambores

Carnaval Mil Tambores (Carnival of 1000 drums) is an event held each year in Valparaíso as a protest. It began in order to protect public spaces such as parks, plazas, and art areas from city development or destruction.  Today, it serves these purposes as well as fighting for rights of Chile's Indigenous Peoples.  Nothing quite like this exists in the U.S.  Despite what you might think from some of the photos below, it is an event for all ages.  Without a doubt, it is one of the most unique cultural events I have experienced here in Chile. 


View of Concón (on the left) and Viña del Mar (center to the right) from Playa Ancha


Many paint their bodies for the parade through the streets





Dancer from Escuela de Samba Valparaíso (Valparaíso Samba School)

Dancer from Escuela de Samba Valparaísa (Valparaíso Samba School)

Dancer parading for Indigenous peoples' rights


Unicyclist
Fire Juggler