Week 2: Valapraiso & Vina del Mar

Classes officially started this week - although they appear to be much less strenuous than those at ND (phew!).  Most of us are only taking 4 classes - Spanish and Latin American Finance on Wednesday and Ethics/Sustainability and Latin American Economics on Thursday - which, thankfully, leaves ample travel time.

Jessica got into town on Thursday evening and the long weekend was most definitely action packed.  We had planned to go to Mendoza, Argentina and were told that we could just buy bus tickets the morning of the trip but unfortunately, didn't realize that both Monday and Tuesday were public holidays so the tickets were sold out.  Regardless, we made the most of it.  We spent Thursday and Friday nights at discotecas with new Chilean friends (Spanish is slowly getting better.. thank goodness) and then took a bus to the coast of Chile - to Valapraiso and Vina del Mar - for two nights.

 
I must admit that Valpo was not the cute little beach town we expected but rather a large, bustling city filled with lots of garbage, graffiti, and stray dogs (those guys are all over Chile!).  Thankfully, Vina del Mar was exactly what we had in mind although it was a bit colder on the coast so, unfortunately, not exactly beach weather.  We spent both days sampling the fine cuisine and drinks both towns had to offer (think bar & appetizer crawl) - great way to see a town...