First time in 2 weeks we've been in the same place for more than 2 days. The day was gorgeous, but 2 below 0 (celcius). They gave me free access to the gym and it's so much easier to do my running there than on the street. I hate to report that's how I finished up my trip--running on the treadmill-but it's the truth. The one thing I can say after spending a few hours in the gyms here is, their soap opera's beat ours and also, Americans have more attractive butts. For some reason, even slender people here have very low, flat derriere's. So there is that. Only 2 more days to walk down the street Anibal Pinto, Caipolican, Manuel Montt, Pablo Neruda or Vicuna McKenna (every town in Chile have these street names). Anyway, I've eaten so much white bread, beef, manjar (dulce de leche) and avocado, I'm going to need a seatbelt extender on the airplane ride home. We're going now to visit a volcano (Villa Rica/Pucon) as a last huurah. The landscape here, the Arucaria trees, snow capped volcanos, crystilline lakes, and 100 shades of green, are beyound comparison. Maybe something like Oregon or Washington state. It's been a spectacular visit. But I will not miss eating dinner (steak, fish & potatoes) at 10:30 at night. Also, looking forward to fresh water. No one drinks 'agua natural" here, and it's considered bad manners to serve it. It's ironic, because the water here is as sweet and clean as my favorite fountain that runs out of the mountain in Provo Canyon. Tomorrow is my last day to run, and if it's a pretty tomorrow as it is today, I'll brave the street dogs and whistleing men. |