Back from Buenos Aires & Iguazu Falls!!

my travelling buddies!

writing in the guestbook on the historical city tour

Marina and I after our flight on the friday

yay about to enter iguazu!

the scary freaky animals in the jungle

me almost underneath the waterfall!

some of the falls!

the falls approaching nighttime

The casa rosada... where ALL the decisions regarding the country are made and where the presidenta works

Protests outside the casa rosada en la plaza de mayo

Me in buenos aires at night!

Outside the congress building

the GIGANTIC city-wide protest... the entire city shut down and was trashed for the day

The famous cemetery in Buenos Aires! All were above ground with lots of artifacts in each little house.

Again

In the church that is close to the cemetery with skulls of dead saints

the church again

me in buenos!

Hello!! I am back from Argentina. I went there last Friday and got back on Saturday. It was amazing!! Absolutely. On Friday we got to Argentina and then were trying to find a hostel to stay at which took time, then when we finally did we went to go get something to eat then went for drinks. The entire week consisted of walking around Buenos Aires and drinking tonnes and tonnes of wine! I went on a history tour of the various buildings and historical features of the city, then I went for a tango lesson, dinner and a tango show, saw a gigantic protest outside of the congress building, and then we went to a few clubs and we took a 20 hour bus ride each direction to Iguazu Falls which is in the north of Argentina at the border of brazil and argentina, and the falls also go into paraguay. However, I'm not allowed in any of those countries without a visa so we stayed in Argentina. We went there for one day to go visit the national park and see the falls.. they were INCREDIBLE. Iguazu falls has the widest waterfalls in the world, and I can believe it! Its in the jungle, so we saw pelicans and various different animals, a lot that looked like half pigs/half raccoons. But unfortunately we didn't see monkeys but I heard them!!!! It was so cool! Then only 4 days or so during the month they offer a moonlight walk expedition that is only offered during the days that the moon is full, so LUCKILY we arrived just in time for that which was a complete fluke but so, so cool!! They took us to the "throat of the devil" its called, which is where all of the falls converge into one and I have never seen anything like it! It was so cool. I couldn't take a picture because it was so dark but the reflection of the moon on the falls was incredible... it looked like a dream! And then our plane got delayed for 4 hours on the way back which sucked but finally I made it back home at 11 on Saturday night!! I'll post some pictures of my trip! Enjoy!

Love Ashley.

Just pics

Hello! Sorry for the long time of not writing... I have been really busy with school, and other stuff that I just can't seem to remember. It was Delphine's 23rd birthday last weekend! She is the exchange student from France, and as per usual we had a party in the room below and then we went to Scratch for a bit, but she didn't want to go she just kept dancing in the room with her friends, and then by the time the rest of us got back from Scratch she was still in the room... so we continued to fiesta! These are some pictures from the party.

Also, I finished 3 courses last week... it was sad to say bye but at the same time very, very relieving. I now have 2 more left... the most important ones. I am right now studying for my test tomorrow morning which is oral.. about history! AY! I need luck! There are also just some random pictures of sushi eating and what not... ENJOY! I'll write soon.

Love Ashley.

No tengo un titulo para esta carta!

Me, Delphine (from France) and mi mama chilena

The beginning of the party... que bonita!

Diego y yo

Feliz cumpleanos a ti! Cake time. Before...

And after... oh boy.

Me, Paul (From France) and My Mama Chilena!

Me and Paul de nuevo

Delphine (from France) and I... clearly having trouble eating my chicken

Me, Paul, and Diego

Hola Todos!

So this week just flew by! I had classes all week which sucked... they are getting harder and harder to go to! But last Sunday me and Delphine had a movie and wine night... it was fun. Then on Wednesday I went with her, Paul, Fabian (all from France) and 3 other Chileans to Cafe Journal for sushi! Of course, that turned into a night in itself and we all ended up drinking. I didn't get home until 4 in the morning and had class at 11:30. Needless to say, that did not happen. Then I met Hannah's mom on Thursday... she is in Chile visiting Hannah for a week. We went to go get something to eat at a coffee shop but I didn't get to hang out with them long because I had class at 5:20. blahhh.
Thursday night I went out with Allison, Jen, Riina, and her boyfriend for Chorillana... which is french fries, hot dog, chicken, egg, and maybe something else? All mixed together. It sounds SICK but its soooooooooooooooooo good. Its very similar to poutine. Anyways we were suppose to go out after that to El Huevo but we never ended up making it out because we didn't leave the restaurant until 1 and then we were all tired after that. Me and Allison took a micro back to Vina and then found a cab to drive us home... much more safe.
Then Friday came and me and Allison went to Valpo to try and find out information about our student visa's... which ended up turning into a huge adventure because we had to walk then take a collectivo to somewhere where we didn't even know where we were going. Anyways after all of that the office was closed so we have to go back there tomorrow. Then I went on my first ascensor ride! Valparaiso is famous for its ascensors which are like elevators on the hillsides because the hills of Valpo are so steep you just take one of those to the top. And then we explored the cerro for a bit and later went to a market. Then yesterday it was Diego's 21st birthday and that was fun! We had a party and then went to Hollywood and then Scratch.. then McDonalds. We didn't leave the club till 5:30 then I got home at 7. Ahhh such a long night. Today I didn't do much but have a lunch with everyone for his birthday and then I did some homework and just finished watching another movie with Delphine! Tomorrow I'm going to Pablo Neruda's second house in Valparaiso with Hannah, Allison, and Hannah's Mom... I'm so excited!!! Ill post some pictures of last night. bye bye.

Hola!

Me on the way to Pablo's house! Just walking down some random road.

Me at the beach in Pablo's backyard.

Hannah and I at his house again.

The boat in his backyard.

A PIECE OF HOME IN CHILE!!!!

Hola!
I am so sorry that I have not written in here in so long. Nothing too exciting has been happening for awhile... I have not done any traveling or no more tear gas stories! But today Hannah and I went to Isla Negra... which initially I thought was an Island but it turns out that no, its just a city about 2 hours down the coast from Vina! The main reason for going to Isla Negra was to go see the house of Pablo Neruda who was termed the greatest poet of the 20th century and apparently was very influential in Chilean Politics. His house was utterly amazing. We first took the bus from Valparaiso to Isla Negra where the bus then just dropped us off on the side of the road and sped away. So we were like hm... this shall be interesting. We started to walk and saw the parking lot for Pablo Neruda's house and then just went down random roads because of course, there are no signs! So we finally end up at his house and we took a tour of it and it was incredible. After the tour was over (fully in spanish, and I could understand almost everything!!!) we were allowed to take pictures outside and Hannah and I just took in the scenery. Later we walked back to the main road and took a micro to another town down the coast called San Antonio because apparently they have excellent restaurants. Hannah and I walked along the beach where all the restaurants are and had lunch at a restaurant on the beach. Then we took the bus back to Valparaiso and I came home at about 6. It was a really relaxing but super fun day. I will post some pics for you guys to see. I don't know whats next in my chilean adventures but I will write soon! Chao chao.

Nights out this weekend!

Random pics!

Famous house by my house... some of you may recognize it from the postcards I sent

History building! I have one class in here every Wednesday.. its so pretty!

Front of my school right now

Main entrance to get into the school.. yep those are tables boxes and chairs

Beautiful picture that I took yesterday while walking home from school

Happy National Pisco Day!

Today is national pisco day where the pisco in Chile is super, super cheap. So I'm probably more than likely going out tonight. Oh ya... pisco if u dont know is alcohol, really similar to rum, but its made in Chile and its really good. Not much else is new... no school as usual.. I went to Santiago this morning to go pick up a friend of Allison's at the airport... strangely enough I also saw my spanish prof there too. The weather here kinda sucks today... its foggy.. don't really know what else to say haha.. so I'll just post pictures cuz lets be honest, thats all ppl really care about haha.
Chao!