Chile: Rain!

I woke up to rain this morning! It isn't raining hard, but I am actually hoping that it doesn't go on too much longer because the houses are not constructed to handle rain, so we will be getting some puddles in the house if it continues. If I had classes, they would be cancelled for the day, but I still don't have to worry about that :)

On Saturday we had a get together with all of the exchange students at the director's apartment. We ate the food that was going to be prepared for the anniversary lunch back in June. The students from Mexico and the student from Peru were the only ones who actually bought their ingredients, so everyone had to miss out on peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and no-bake cookies. What a shame!

The Mexicans cooking their dish.

The U.S. students

Ready to eat!

The Germans, of course, brought beer.

Almost the whole group (a few students had already left). Representing Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico, Germany and the U.S. in this photo!

I went to Iquique with Ale for a few days and got back last night. Iquique is a city about 6 1/2 hours north of Antofagasta. It has one of the largest duty-free centers in South America, so it is a very popular place to go shopping. It also has nice beaches and collects a large number of surfers during the summer. We traveled in true Chilean fashion in which we waited to buy our bus pass until we got to the bus terminal, and the ticket salesperson told us that there were still seats on the 11:10 p.m. bus (at this time it was 11:17 p.m.), so we bought them ran upstairs and the bus arrived a few minutes later. I'm turning into a true Chilean :) We slept on the bus throughout the night, and we arrived in Iquique welcomed by clouds. Ale and I didn't get too lucky with the weather. Later on in the afternoon, we experienced a sandstorm. Our plan to travel to another little town the next day was cancelled due to the closure of the pass (sandstorm, rain, and snow!!) Crazy weather for the desert. Even the sandstorm was the first that they have had in many, many years. We walked around the city quite a bit, and the plaza was gorgeous! We also stayed with a family that Ale knows, so we were able to watch the Copa America game (the U.S. is not playing in the Copa America despite me telling someone that, "Yes, of course the U.S. is playing in it." I need to start paying closer attention to soccer!). The Monday night game was Chile vs. Mexico and Chile won! On Tuesday we went to my personal heaven... a gigantic fruits and vegetable market... LOVED IT! We didn't get any swimming in because it was a bit cold and windy for that, but we packed around our towels and suits just in case. It was a nice little get away for a few days.

The boats on a gray Monday morning.

Walking in the center.

A restored tram downtown.

Torre Reloj sits in the city center.

The Teatro Municipal. It has been hosting opera and theater since 1890.

Inside view of the theater.

Right before the sandstorm.

At the duty-free mall.

The picture doesn't show it very well, but everything is covered in sand.

A remake of the Esmeralda Ship that sank during the battle against Peru on May 21st (The pictures I put up from the May 21st parade celebration was a celebration of this battle).