Thursday, February 14, 2008

Vamos a la playa




Mariano, Sergio and Pato near playa chica ==>

(Cartagena, Chile)
If Viña del Mar, Reñaca and Concon are the most VIP of the beaches, Cartagena, I am told, is the opposite. It has a more down-home, proletariat feel to it. It´s the closest beach to Santiago and I may be the only gringo here.

Mariano came over from Mendoza to join what we´re calling the tri-national congress of party animals with Sergio and me. We got together in Santiago and then Sergio´s sister invited us to come stay with her and her inlaws near the beach for a few days. They are another superfriendly, goofball family. I´ve already been given the names blanquito, gringo and whitey, although pinky might be more appropriate after spending awhile in the sun without sunblock yesterday. It amazes me how out of nowhere a family will just invite a person in, make room for them to sleep, fit them into meals etc. Of course I have to share a bed with Mariano and Sergio, which is great fodder for jokes for the rest of the family.

In town there are two beaches, a small one and a big one. Both are completely filled with humanity in the afternoon. There is also a funky, State Fairlike atmosphere pedestrian street above the beach where there are some rides for kids, people selling food and souveniers. Totally chaotic and full of people as well.

I think we´ll be here until the weekend and then regroup in Santiago. No plans after that.

By the way, I bought a return ticket and should be back home March 6.



3 comments:

Anne said...

We're looking forward to seeing you in March, Dan!
Hopefully things will warm up here by then. :)

Unknown said...

should be? planning to miss your flight *accidentally*? i might too, if the weather doesn't change here...
can't wait to see you!
(that's my bday, btw)

bruski said...

ha you guys are too sweet. tambien tengo muchas ganas de reunirnos. lets do something that friday or saturday that weekend. snowboarding anyone?