Okay so I have to catch up really quick because we are having a "leaving party" for Jess tonight!
Some of these pictures are from the beach in Mollendo (southern Peru), where Jess, Ramon and I finalized our trip together in Peru, although Ramon did go north and do some surfing!

Last weekend we spent 4 days in the Elqui Valley (7 hours north of Santiago), which looks much like wine country because it is where grapes for Pisco are grown and distilled into liquor. It was so beautiful! I met some of Jess's friends from England that she had previously met in Santiago, and we had a wonderful bike ride around Pisco Elqui. We also visited a Pisco distillery called Los Nichos. Apparently the man who began the distillery made a deal with the devil in order to initiate Pisco production. The place had a very cool, creepy vibe. We camped every night in the Elqui Valley- for the first time since Machu Picchu, and the first time in my new tent! It was such a blast to explore towns in this way- biking and camping!

Our last night in the Elqui Valley, Jess and I stayed in a tiny town called Cochiguaz. There are no buses to get there so we did as the locals do and hitchhiked. There we found a huge campsite right on the Rio Magico, although it was nearly empty. It felt like we were in the beginning of a horror movie- 2 young girls exploring an empty campsite. However, it was gorgeous and peaceful, and we even had a resident dog friend that tried to get into our tent in the middle of the night. And the nice thing about an empty campsite is that we never had to pay because the staff was scarce. That night was certainly strange, though, since it was pitch black and eerily silent. Jess and I decided to walk to the "plaza" and drink our wine, then enjoy a local beer in the only restaurant in town where all 20 of the locals were enjoying poker night.

Jess and I arrived in Santiago 2 days ago and I actually really like the city. And it's awesome because I have already a group of friends, a card for riding the metro, and a cell phone! Last night we went out on the town, and I am already making travel plans with my new friends. On top of all this, I have a wealth of free places to stay, so saving money will be much easier. Good thing because prices here are almost as high as in the states- makes budgeting a little more difficult than in the states!

Next week I am hoping to go to Pichilemu to do some surfing, and then the weekend after I am off on another camping trip with new friends from Canada and the UK. Also I am in the process of contacting WWOOF farms to get that ball rolling.... so many exciting things to plan!

I have to say that I miss home so much, maybe more than on any other trip. It makes me so happy to receive messages on Facebook, and emails with updates on all you folks in the States. Maybe I can manage to get some postcards out soon!!! Love and hugs to all!!!