Vacation, all I ever wanted

Thinking about the next two weeks is giving me little twitches, so I decided that I needed a little vacation.

The wonderful thing about Chile is that you are always close to the beach. When your country is shape like a snake, and lines the coast, the ocean is always just a two hour drive. Or bus ride. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you about Chile's (or Santiago's, I should say) fantastic bus system:

1) You can take a trip on a fancy, semi-cama (half-bed) bus for less than $10. Buses always leave on time. They will leave without you. However, they will also stop if run after them screaming and holding an ice cream pop. Of course, ice cream pop is optional.

2) You can drink on the bus. In fact, you could have a romantic dinner for two in your semi-cama seats. I suggest: Roast chicken, steamed carrots, chocolate chip cookies and a nice carmenere in a nalgene bottle. I am all class.

3) The bus station is the absolute greatest place in the world to get to know the locals. You can get to know some very colorful phrases about the female anatomy. This trip is just such a learning experience.

A few more travel tips:

4) When approached by an old paco(carabiniero)/young paco team for a traffic violation, chances are you are not going to talk your way out of it. Especially if you speak perfect Chilean spanish. And are 6 feet tall and look like a Mormon. And don't have breasts. If you are going to break any traffic laws in Chile, its best to be a girl and not speak Spanish. Trust.

5) When in a Chilean bar (and this is very important) always assume that one golpeado of tequilla is worth two American shots. This is infinitely important when trying to adhere to the "three tequillas, too many tequillas" rule. Also, just because Luke's mom says its ok, you still shouldn't drink tequilla out of a tumbler.

6) Dancing is always ok.

7) Always Always Always ask a neighbor for keys, if you find that yours are not working. This is infinitely important, and doing so can avoid situations like this:

Careful viewing above the above photo will alert you to the fact that the fence next to me is padlocked, as was every other door to our little house in Algorrobo (a ocean-side resort town, slightly more down to earth than Vina del Mar, where we spent the day). You'd think that three good friends could figure out some way to open the gate (or turn on the gas, but that's another thing altogether). We couldn't. You know who could? Juan, our neighbor. Of course, he didn't tell us this until this morning, as we were making our last climb OUT of the house. We also never asked.

8) Whether or not you are a beach person (which I'm not. I find the woods to be much more serene) there are certain things that will always make you happy. One of them is the sunset by the pier, with a good friend, and a cold Escudo.

Thanks Chile!