My Chilean Tour Guides (Julia and Nina)

I am big and white, I don´t exactly fit right in here! HAHA. The girls have made it easy for me to enjoy everything this country has to offer. Even the simple task of ordering food or using a computer was close to impossible for me to do on my own, but with Julia´s help I learned how to ask for certain things. Nina has the native lingo down and is great at bargaining. She has also saved my stomach from eating things that I randomly select off of menus. If it weren´t for Julia and Nina, I would be overwhelmed. I have been practicing my spanish as much as possible and I have learned a lot from being exposed to the culture constantly. Now I can form sentences and keep up in simple conversation, and if I get overwhelmed or flustered I turn around and there are my walking dictionaries ready to lend a hand. Julia bought electronic translators for me and her family so we can communicate easier. I am excited to see the Southern region. Now we are anxiously awaiting our 13 hour bus ride from Santiago to Puerto Montt.

Here is what we have been up to:

So far I have tasted most street food like:

empanadas (there are like 6 flavors varying with the inside ingredients like olive, onion, ham, cheese, fish, eggs, etc)


churros(fried dough sticks)


completos italianos (Chilean style hot dogs with avocado, tomatoes and an unhealthy amount of mayo- we eat these twice a day and they are AMAZING!!).


Unfortunately, now is not the season for fresh lobster, but other seafood is very tasty and cheap. I had baby shrimp with cheese when we were in Vina and it was delicious :)


Last night, we played cards for hours with other americans from colorado, and after many cervezas it was time for FOOOOD! we walked three blocks, to a small restaurant and got completos, french fries, and my first churrasco (shaved beef with common burger toppings).

As for the beer my favorites in order of greatness: (1) Escudo, (2) Cristal, (3) Puerto del Sol (from Valparaiso). The beer is very cheap and available until 3 am.


This is reflective of the wild night life here. The clubs usually don´t open until midnight, and they cut the music some time around 5 am. I went out the first night in Valpo (short for Valparaiso) with other people at the hostel, while Nina and Julia got some rest. El Yoyo is managed by people in their twenties, so it is hard to avoid the night life. The three of us went out the second night, so by the time last night rolled around, I was exhausted. We stayed in, I had some Escudo with fellow Americans. Last night Nina and the guys from Colorado realized they had friends in common, one of there best friends since elementary school lives across the hall from Nina at Wesleyan. Chico mundo (Small world). We look forward to writing again from Puerto Montt (Home to some of the girls´ family). Chao.
-George