Surfing in Spanish

Since we last wrote we have been spending our time on long distance buses and the beaches of Chile. Our first stop was Iquique a beachtown located in the desert. We walked through the city and along the beach. Watching people learn to surf reignited my own desire to learn. Although we needed to move on we talked about trying to find another town to learn.
The next place La Serena was a beautiful green college town but the beach was too rugged to swim or surf in. The first night there instead we went out to an observatory. We saw clearlythe line of the milky way several constellations such as the southern cross, which i could not see in the states red and blue giants. infinite universe feelings. The next day we wandered around the city and then ended up painting and drawing on the beach. That night we watched a free movie at one of the only interesting galleries we had seen in a while. DANTON was a french revolution piece starring gerard depardieu it was a reminder of the struggle for a free state and the dangers of a state powered by few or semidictatorship. there was no intro or discussion at the place, i was hoping for that in chile, in all not many people talk about the past to us travelers.
from la serena we went to valaparaiso. we hung out with other travelers at our hostel. it seemed to be the right combination of people because when we were together we talked about nearly any and everything from politics to soda to bands. the next morning we walked all over valpo. our search for the closed musuem of art led us on a stencil trail to the neruda house. this was also super scenic looking over the city. on our way back from his house we passed the open air musuem of murals but by our judgment the tons of graffiti on the streets and public murals was just as interesting if not more. that night we spent with our hostel friends again. a highlight for me was when cam made a small impromptu tape drawing on the wall.
the next day we went to neruda favorite house at la isla negra. this house he built in honor of ships and the ocean. inside he had collections of shiphead ladies, glass bottles, shells, insects, books, and art. i think cam wants to build a house like this someday.
still i wanted to surf, we had heard about a town perfect for surfing called pichilemu. we werent sure how far it was or how to get there from where we were. but after to talking to a lot of people we decided to try. from isla negra we took a half hour bus to a larger town. then a collective driver told us to go to one station with a taxi, the bus did not leave from there. finally at another station we got on a bus to melipilla. two hours later we arrived in meli with just enogh time to get onthe bus to pichelemu. one catch the bus was standing room only and the entire aisle of the bus was filled. an hour ;into the bus ride i was able to sit down. As soon as we arrived in pichelemu a residencia worker offered to show us a room. which we took at seven dollars. the next morning we ate empanadas and walked on the beach until we found the surf shop. our instructor elvis agreed to teach us as 2 30 until then we watched people surf and sunbathed. by 3 we had our wetsuits on and we were instructed to run on the beach and stretch in order to warm up. then he had us pratice push up \sun salutation like motions that were how we were supposed to get up on the board. once in the freezing water we paddled out into the middle and from there elvis pushed us into the good waves as we struggled to stand up. for the best of me i was able to surf on my knees and with one leg up. as soon as i stod up i would fall over. and by the end of the day i could barely lift my head or push up.. cam stod up 2 times, once he rode the wave for a while. elvis was an awesome enthusiatic teacher and i was envious of his life in the water teaching surfing. three hours later we were exhausted and frozen but it was fantastic to use so much of my body and the moments when i did feel the wave pushing me forward in the water where magnetic. it made me want to live by the water so i could try on a regular basis.
yesterday we came to santiago. we were warned about the dangers of this city robbing etc. beacuse of a national holiday though everything has been closed down and quiet. today we walked around for hours climbing hilll in the middle of the city from where you can see everything and are taller than most buildings. and we walked through a peacefule protest gathering on behalf of the mapuche tribe. music, food, costumes. here instead of columbus day they celebrate che and the mapuche tribe. it was refreshing things look very punk rock and ska influenced lots of two tone, mohawks, we even bought a few cool patches. we ran into some friends from valpo they are leaving for new zealand for 6 months. one said to me he didnt know how to feel . i said it was all exciting ending one adventure and starting another.
sarah