Beautiful Day in Santiago :)

Saturday, July 16, 2011
3:44 PM

Hello all! It is a beautiful day in Santiago today. I went for a run outside this morning for the first time since getting here. Usually the pollution is bad enough that running outside is discouraged, which is annoying when gym memberships are expensive and the gym in your building only has free weights and a bench press. It’s been raining off and on for the last two days though, so today is gorgeous and free of pollution. The difference is palpable when you walk outside – I’m glad I’m only here for two months, because I’m not sure I want to expose my lungs to so much pollution for much longer than that.

Yesterday the group went to Isla Negra, a little town a couple hours outside of Santiago most well known for being home to the most important house of Pablo Neruda. As far as the houses themselves go, I probably like his house in Valparaiso the most, La Sebastiana. But as far as locations, Isla Negra is pretty great. It’s not actually an island, but is next to the ocean with forests behind. Very, very pretty. Pablo Neruda’s house is very strange, and I don’t think I’m really a fan of his “style,” but I highly enjoyed the visit. We also ate at a nice restaurant there, where I tried empanadas de mariscos (seafood) and tollo (a type of fish). I figured I should try the stuff that I can’t eat at my Jewish host family’s house, especially since Chile is known for its fish and seafood, but to be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan. Which is good, because then I know that I’m not missing out by eating kosher most of the time!

Sad to be missing my mom’s cousin Andrew’s wedding today in Michigan… other than that, am enjoying my weekend and looking forward to going to Viña del Mar again tomorrow with my host uncle’s family. Right now, I’m off to visit a dulcería (candy store/bakery) with some friends. Yummmm. More later!

Brianna