backpacking through the south

i am happy to say that i didn't even remember that sunday 2/14 was valentine's day. my backpack and i hopped on a rickety POS bus and headed South out of Santiago. the bus was bumpy and smiled like old cat shit. my fellow passengers for the week included a Brazilian student traveling on her summer break (oh yeah, it's summer down here and hot as blazes), a 26 yr old Irish gal traveling around the world in a year and a Canadian brother/sister duo who apparently have a rich dad and no agenda.

Day 1: our first stop was Pichilemu...a beach town known for the best surfing in Chile, black sand and cacti at the beach. this stop was fun except that i missed the llama on the beach and the Irish gal and i were starred at relentlessly since we were in bathing suits and the whitest people to ever set foot in chile. the contrast of the black sand probably didn't help. i also got stalked by a cat at the hostel, this was ok until he followed me into the shower...then things got a little awkward and i made him leave...only to find him waiting for me outside my room.

Day 2: arrived in pucon...the "outdoor activity" capital of Chile. we decided to climb Volcan Villaricca the next morning.

Day 3: headed out at 6am to climb the volcano of death. i liken this experience to my half marathon...so let's just say that i'm so glad i did it. it was a long and tiring day. only our tour guide and i made it up. the irish chick made it an hour later only to throw up on my foot. the experience was awesome and the pics are amazing. the view was out of a postcard...and we got to slide down on our asses in a man made luge type thing. my ass was black and blue for days since i caught air and landed on my bony excuse for bum more times than i care to count. i was also pisssssed that i didn't get to see any lava or anything explode, putting me within seconds of life-ending danger...such a let down.

we ate BBQ (and yes, this IS a significant event, don't forget about said BBQ). we went to a hot springs and got thrown out for drinking 40s (devon, i spilled the 40...i'm sorry). i then awoke at 3am...and the 5 days of vommiting commenced here...in a hostel bathroom. yum.

Day 4: i slept all day. had a fever and couldn't get out of bed. barely got a glimpse of Valdivia...but the weather was horrid so no one really got to see anything anyways.

Day 5: still feel like shiza but i got the backseat of the bus to sleep so i consider that a win. made it to Puerto Montt...then to Puerto Varas...managed to walk around and enjoy both cities. then i bought a small chilean girl and paid for my hostel.

Day 6: slept on the bus...i, admitedly, threw up in my nalgene at some point during the day...i've since run it through the dishwasher. twice.

went to a beautiful waterfall and found a pony. still having a hard time enjoying things as i'm pretty weak and still angry at that sausage.

Day 7: back in santiago to join my fellow teachers! still barfing but loving life and grateful for a kick ass, real life experience! :) miss y'all!