I. South American Fun

Hello Friends!°
First off if you are getting this email, your name has somehow made it onto my group list for travel updates. If you don´t want to receive these updates, delete them, you´re not going to be taken off the list. I must give the obligatory apology for sending group emails. But I know how much you are all missing me, and dying to hear about my adventures, and I just wouldn´t want anyone to miss any details. So I hope you enjoy vicariously through me.

I am in Santiago in Chile right now. Tina (my travel companion) and I arrived early this morning and were shuttled to my aunt´s apartment. I have to say, we are living the life of luxury here. For those who know my family, this is my dad´s side, so the eating will obviously be good. The room I am in has maybe one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. The Andes Mountains look like they are about 100 yards in front of me.

Before Santiago, we were in Costa Rica. We did not see much of the country, but what we did see was gorgeous. San Jose was just so-so, but admittedly we did not explore much of it. We did however take a bus to the beach town of Jaco. The bus was nice except for the vomiting children, but perhaps that is part of the experience. In Jaco, we did a canopy tour. I dare say that this may have been the hightlight of the trip. There are these platforms built high up in the trees in the forest, and there are zip cords connecting them. Then you attach yourself to the zip cord and weeeeeeeeeeeee there you are. It was awesome. Really. Awe-some. I was filled with awe. You can see trees below you, waterfalls, ocean and mountains. It was incredible. Unfortunately, my compatriate lost her camera midway through one of the zip lines...we are still have hope it will be recovered. We then went to the beach. Now, I understand Costa Rica is a warm country. And I understand that I have very very white skin. But is it so wrong of me to want to get a little color, be less of an albino? Apparently yes because I am pretty damn sunburnt right now. I re-applied several times, but god forbid I look like a normal human being for once. The highlights of the sunburn are the purple color on my back and red strip down my forehead ( apparently I can´t apply evenly either). But I will survive. And with Santiago´s golorious 50 degree climate, I should have some time to recover.

So those are the goings on so far. I am having a super time and can´t wait to do more. Future trips include, but are not limited to, the desert and salt flats of Chile in the north, whale watching in Ecuador, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca in Peru. Im pumped.

Take Care friends, I hope to hear from you sooner than later!
Jenny, traveler extrodinaire