We headed to Chile after the quick layover in Santa Barbara, but the rest of the Casanuevas headed for Boulder, Colorado, for the college graduation of Emilio and his girl Andrea. The attendance there was the entire Thanksgiving group, minus Randy, Maria, Tanya, and Ava, plus the addition of Forest and his family, Janet and Paul, and Andrea’s family, mostly from the East Coast. The Thanksgiving partying continued halfway across the country. Congratulations to the graduates!
Meanwhile, we alit in Santiago and have been settled in Chile now for a little over a month; I should say in Zapallar, for we only spent a couple initial days in Santiago; getting our car insurance, the car smogged, etc. We had a week in Zapallar to get ready before Andy, Laura, and Camila showed up for the holidays. I should say Andy, Laura, Camila, and Laura’s family, for Laura’s 2 brothers and 1 sister, their spouses, plus mass quantities of kids also showed (I think 22 were at Christmas dinner). That first week before they showed up, the weather was horrible, almost raining in the mornings (water dripping off the patio furniture) and the clouds/fog intense all day. Only a couple 2 hour periods of sun in that week. We were a little concerned, for the beach is much better in the sun and there was one year back when Andy and family got no sun until the last day they were here.
No need for concern. The day they began drifting into town, the clouds disappeared and we didn’t see another until they all left. Totally sunny days; Zapallar at its finest. Andy, Laura and Camila stayed in the house with us (all the others rented their own places), but we didn’t see too much of them that week Laura’s family was around. Understandably, this is Laura’s time to catch up with her family, since she’s the only one not living in Chile or Argentina. When they all left Zapallar, content with many good days at the beach, we had a few days with Andy et al before they headed down south to Laura’s sister’s new house in Pucon before they had to head back to Santa Barbara. We got an added bonus day with Andy in Zapallar between Laura and Camila’s plane leaving and his leaving. It was a good one, and Andy’s choice to go to Zapallar for that one day rather than spend it in Santiago turned out to be an excellent choice.
We have had more cloudy days in January, but on the whole, the weather has been very good. When you are here for an extended period, those cloudy days are even a relief. You get to do something else rather than go to the beach with your lotion and book. If it is sunny, one always feels one has to go to the beach, for on the coast, you never know if the weather pattern will change and you will be praying for that sun.
One exceptional thing this year, so far, has been the water temperature. The Humbolt Current is usually so cold here, but this year, the water temp has been much more tolerable. We had 4 days last week where the temp has been as warm (less cold) as I have ever experienced it. Usually it takes me until probably February to get out of my Maui frame of mind and brave the water regularly. The last 10 days or so, though, I have been able to get in some swimming that is usually reserved for the hardiest of swimmers here. This water, with is waves and clarity, is so much fun, and with it being warmer, I can partake more than my mind and body usually allows me. The second amazing thing besides the water temp has been the complete absence of jellyfish. Usually when we get warmer water, it is accompanied by jellyfish, which makes it necessary to keep alert and on the watch when swimming so as not to get stung. So it’s been very unusual: warm H2O and no jellyfish
Chile has, as usual, its share of environmental events. We get the odd earthquake now and then; we had a close 5.1 the other day that shook the beach pretty good. The Puyehue volcano that erupted in June (that you all probably read about) is still erupting. It continues to cause havoc in the resort areas of the Argentine south as well as in the south of Chile. We have friends in Lago Ranco where we have stayed many times. Their reports of what is going on there is so sad; ash everywhere preventing the growth of vegetation, mass fields of pumice floating on the lake surface, etc. No one has any idea when the volcano will stop erupting. In addition, this year, more than any I remember, Chile is experiencing a rash of fires within their national parks and forests. There’s always something happening in Chile.
I guess I could give you an update on our phone saga. We came to Chile with our iPhone still locked (to AT&T) and got varying opinions on whether the new iPhone 4s could be unlocked. We decided not to pursue that, for Chile really hasn’t made the switch to wide-spread iPhone use yet. They predominantly use BlackBerrys, and we had the one Janet gave us with us, and unlocked, so we upgraded our phone plan to include data. We were in bliss with the BB compared to our dumb phone we have used every year before. And we felt so mainstream, just like having the iPhone in the US. Alas, that bliss lasted only a few weeks, as Maria lost the phone. It was gone in a very small window of time, essentially leaving the golf course and driving directly home. Our best guess is that it was left on the roof of the car as we departed the golf course. Much looking resulted in no success, and hence we are back to our dumb phone. We could have got a new, free BB, but it required a 2 year plan that could not be suspended for the 8 months each year we are not in Chile; not very cost-effective. Anyone have an old BB in a drawer somewhere? I know Janet doesn’t anymore 
Also in the technology world, we got DirecTV when we got here. Maria wanted it, I didn’t, but I relented because I realized I could see football this year. I always miss the end of the season and the playoffs while in Chile this time of the year. I have been able to catch some 49ers games here with ESPN and a limited FOX network. Fox though was not carrying the 49ers-Saints playoff game on that channel, so the day of the game I got on the phone with DirecTV and signed up for an added Fox Sports package (for $14/month) that did carry the game. So I was able to see it (Thank God, or somebody), but it was in Spanish (ESPN shows their AFC games in English). Therefore, I watched the game on my new Fox Sports channel, and listened to the broadcast on SF radio station KNBR on my computer. I am so thankful, for it was truly one of the memorable games in 49er history. An amazing, amazing game from a team that has let me down plenty over the last 15 years. The last 4 minutes were the best football can be. The side benefit to having DirecTV is that for the first time in 15 years I can watch the news, in English, although I am stuck with only CNN and Fox News, not my two favorites by far.
Well, the holidays are over and the visitors are gone. Besides waiting for the 49er-Giant game this weekend, it’s time to start thinking about what house projects we can get done while we are here the next 3 months…
(NOTE: to go to the next picture, click on the larger pic)
