Pucon

In the weekend we took a trip down to Pucon (10 hours south from Santiago), where we saw lakes and waterfalls, hiked up a volcano, did rafting, and relaxed in hotsprings. It was a weekend filled with lots of activities and we all had a great time! Being down south I felt I was in Norway again. The nature, lakes, trees, mountains and snow.. it was beautiful.

Lake Caburgua 

When we started hiking up the volcano, the weather was perfect! But as we walked more and more up, the weather changed and it became cloudy, windy and cold. At some points it was so cloudy that we could not see anything. And just before we would reach the top, it was clear sky again, giving us all hopes that we could actually manage to get up and have a great view. But then the weather again changed, leaving us no choice but to go down. It was not possible to see anything, and the guides said it would be too dangerous to go to the top. We were at 2600m when we had to go back down, only 200 meters from the top.. It was quite a dissapointment for me, as we were so close to reach the top of the volcano. And after having walked for 5 hours and 30 minutes, with no energy left and my legs and knees hurting so much, I know I would still somehow have found energy for the 200 meters steep way up to the top. 

But we talked to people that went up just before the weather turned bad, and they could not see anything on the top. So basically, we saw the same things (or nothing). 

All in all, it was an amazing experience, and it's incredible that we actully hiked up an active volcano! The way down was much easier, as we were given plastic bum sledge sliders, so we could slide down fast and safe. That was awesome and so much fun!!

Volcano Villarrica. 2847m

Almost at the top, with still good weather

Then the weather suddenly changed and we had to turn and go back down

Some of the view from the volcano. Lake Villarrica

On our way back to Santiago, we stopped by at Salto del Laja to see this amazing waterfall!

Pool Day!

"Spring" (30 degrees) is here, so we can finally have lazy days by the pool!

Cruising

Finally bought a mini longboard! 

No more fast-walking to school because I'm late. 

Now I will be cruising to school because I'm late.

10000CLP=100DKK

Last two weeks

We decided to try out one of the many Korean restaurants in Barrio Patronato (Koreans that came in the 70s settled there, a traditionally immigrant-dominated neighborhood). We were 18 in total, and ordered both Korean table barbecue and other Korean dishes for sharing, and it was amazing!! And of course we did not miss the obligatory Soju+beer combo. (Rice wine)

I have been missing Asian flavors, so this was a perfect dinner for me :) 

Korean BBQ

The university had arranged a day for us to do voluntary work and play with kids from an orphanage 2 hours from Santiago. It was a day with a lot of waiting (Chilean "efficiency"), and a lot of running around and playing with the kids. I had signed up to be in the group playing games and sports, and we were 20 in total..but only 8 boys came to us! The rest all went to get face painting, dancing, and painting pictures. We were a little disappointed in the beginning, as we had planned so many games, but at the end we were just walking around and would just play with everyone.

I'm supposed to be a clown

This cute girl painting my face as a butterfly

Once we started playing horseriding... she would never want to go down

Some of the orphanage childs waving us goodbye

Then the day came where we were going to have an International Fair! And as the only one from Aarhus university (and Scandinavia), I was representing Denmark. I made posters, a video about student life, bought beers (Found Carlsberg, Harboe and Slots!!), put on Danish music, and prepared bread with leverpostej (Liver pate), mayo and cucumber. Everyone loved it!!

Representing Denmark in the internaitonal fair!

Representants from many different countries

In the weekend we went to surf in Con Con (20 minutes from Viña del Mar).
The first day we had an instructor, and rented boards and wet suits for only 10000CLP (100DKK/112NOK), and the next day we went without an instructor for 7000CLP (70DKK/78NOK). Super cheap, and super fun!! The second day the current was so strong, and the waves so big, but we still managed to surf a little bit. Now I am hooked on surfing, and already going back this Thursday.. 

Our view from the balcony in Con Con

Roomies!

Ready for surfing!

How the sky looked like on our way back home

Cerro Manquehue

Hiking up Cerro Manquehue was much harder than expected, but once we got on the top, we had the best view over Santiago.

It's the tallest mountain in Santiago, with its 1800m above ground, and it took us 2 hours to get to the top. (But I think we started at 800m or 1000m). The first part was the easier part, walking up very steep hills. Then came to the second part where we got lost, and had to climb up using our hands, and stones and whatever we could find to get upwards.  It was a rough terrain with loose stones and sand, but eventually we made it back to the main pathway and we were so happy! We took a small eating break, and started on the last part to get up. It was still a little bit of mountain climbing, but much less dangerous than what we encountered in the second part. At the top we got welcomed by a Chilean flag and the most amazing view. 

It took us 1.5 hours to go down the mountain, where we were going super slowly and taking it step by step, sliding down in some parts, and jumping from stone to stone.

When we got down, we were so tired, but had already forgotten about the hard parts, and only thought about the fun and adventurous parts!

Cerro Manquehue in the background

Climbing up.. and we didn't dare to look down because of the steepness!

At the top!

Cerro San Cristobal to the far right, and Costanera (the tallest building in South America)

Festival Mil Tambores

Mil Tambores is a yearly festival/carnival in Valparaiso which aims at demonstrating the effectiveness of using public space for public entertainment and cultural activities. (Mil tambores means Thousand Drums)

We were there only for the last day, where the festival is at the beach. 

Where people play on their drums, paint each other with bodypaint, and just relax and have lots of fun! At around 16.00 a carnival parade will start from the beach and end up in the city center

Interview

Our interview... you can watch it at
http://vimeo.com/107916139