 los caminantes by Sara Barth & Erich Pfuehler Hola amigos! It is a dark stormy night ... here at the end of the world ... but we are safe and sound with internet access! Technology has enabled us to communicate with our loved ones, even from Punta Arenas, Chile the southern-most city in the world. So much has happened to us in the past couple of weeks that it's nearly impossible to communicate it all . We will make a better effort to keep you updated, but it is hard to balance reporting with seeing and experiencing! At a minimum, we thought tonight we'd share with you some thoughts we had (over a week ago) when we were sitting at a small pub in the town of Castro, on the Island of Chiloe off the coast of southern Chile. To give you a sense for how our lives on the road are different from our lives in D.C. we composed a top ten list for you. However, you'll have to just forgive us ... we may have gone over a bit, but as we all know, sometimes amps can go up to 11. Top Ten Ways We Know We Are No Longer in the U.S. 1) We walk around with bills in our wallets that are in the thousands. 2) A room with an ocean-front view costs approximately $11 USD. 3) Bars are packed when there is a key soccer (futbol) match to be watched. 4) Small children and infants enter bars at 2 am even in the middle of the week. 5) The alcohol menu is larger than the food menu and half the food items on the menu are unavailable. 6) Nobody wears seatbelts. This may be countered by the fact that there are almost no SUVs on the road. 7) Most people (including us) walk in roads, they don't drive in them. 8) Hundreds of dogs roam the streets without leashes, pooper scoopers, or for that matter, owners. 9) Contrary to our experience in the U.S., waiters are quick to take your order, slow to serve your food, but disappear when it comes time to pay. 10) Beer is typically served in 40 oz. servings rather than a meager 12 oz. 11) When we hike in the country's most popular parks, we are the only people on the trail. No other tourists. No RVs. No off-road vehicles. And no signs telling you what to do and what not to do. (The result of a shortage of lawyers?) 12) Heating, hot water, soap, shampoo, and towels in a hotel are not things to be taken for granted. 13) There are very few English-speaking Americans here and there is an absence of U.S. chains, including Starbucks. Instant coffee (Nescafe) is the norm. 14) We are surrounded by people who unanimously believe that President Bush is loco and war with Iraq is crazy. 15) September 11th refers to the date that the U.S. helped assasinate President Salvador Allende of Chile. 16) And the number one reason we know we are no longer in the U.S. (our daily reminder) is that toilet paper is a commodity that should be carried with you at all times. Upon use, it is put in a small waste basket (yes, used) and is not to be flushed down the toilet. |
Bariloche,
Argentina and Parque Nacional Nahue l Huapi Torres del Paine Top Ten Ways We Know We Are No Longer in the U.S. Hola from the Chilean Lake District Erich and Sara's report from Puerto Montt and Chiloe
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