I have been having a very interesting stay. Because of my husband's business they've been putting us up in thje fanciest hotels in town. I never visited Chile this way. The hotels are standard Marriot or Hiatt fare, and so for the most part I've been warm. The thing I remember most while I'm out during the day is how they don't heat public spaces. So the gymnasiums where my husband is holding training camps are COLD. I don't know how they stand to wear shorts--even to train. The temps outside are perfect--but it's often colder inside of places than outside. I remember that going to church on Sundays was like sitting in hell (oh the irony) for 3 hours. You really knew if someone wanted to become a member of the Mormon Church if they were baptized in winter--not only was the water just above freezimg, the room temperature was so low their bodies and breath would steam up after they were done. I think we are in the 56 or 66th parallel which is the same as British Colombia. Anyway, after getting dragged around for days, braving street dogs, gawking/whistling groups of men, and pounding rain--I relented and used the elliptical yesterday to recover from the pavement beating I took a few days ago, and used the on the treadmill today. It counts in Km per hour--all I know is I ran 12 KM and it took me a little over an hour. I sweat more than anyone else in the room. There I was again--the giant, loud, sweaty American--leaking all over the machines. Regardless of my effort, I will gain 10 pounds on this trip. Every friend of mine from my mission, every family member of my husband greets us with "once" which is like English Tea--meat sandwiches, cookies and small cakes with hot herb tea or postum-like coffee. And then we have business dinners Spanish style late into each night (10:00 pm to midnight) for business with the press, the team owners, the trainers and other investors. Funny- I never thought of myself as a trophey wife because I'm so indelicate and unschooled in the ways of manners and femininity in general--but here, if I keep my mouth shut, and they all see me as that crazy Ameican marathon runner wife---I'm actually a marital asset for once. It's refreshing change. Tomorrow, I get a day off and wil get to run far out into the countryside where we have a large family dairy. Love the germans and their cattle, fresh honey and homemaded cheeses. Did I mention 10 pounds??? Make it 15. I would have to run 10 miles a day to escape the damage. It's spectacular fun though. Wouldn't miss any of it for the world. | 