Recently, we got up very early (muy temprano) in the morning in order to head out on another Spanish immersion experience this time courtesy of our friends (nuestros amigos) Jaime and Gladys, who had offered to take us on a tour of some regions north of Santiago along the coast (la costa). We had explored some of the area from Viña del Mar to south to Isla Negra, but had not turned north (norte) to check it out and this would prove to be a great adventure and an awesome learning experience.
There were lots of things in bloom, including California poppy (dedales de oro), which made the hillsides a bright yellow and even conjured up memories of El Paso, with its beautiful yellow wild poppies that grow in great abundance (en mucha abundancia) on the east side of the Franklin mountains. As we moved out of Santiago, through Til Til and Villa Alemana, we made our way to Viña de Mar on the north end and turned to head up the coast. The rugged coast reminded me of the area south (al sur) of San Francisco, especially the area around Big Sur in northern California, with the coastal highway right next to the ocean, the chilly Pacific waves (las olas) rolling in and sending cool breezes shore bound.
As we moved further north and deeper into Region V, we made our way through many beautiful coastal towns (pueblitos), including Reñaca, Concón, Quintero, and Las Ventanas. At our noontime destination, we made it to the coastal town of Horcón. Here there was a calm inlet, with a tranquil calm part (un parte tranquilo y calmo) of the Ocean resting in the bay, and we had a great time filled with lots of conversation, fresh seafood, and peaceful walks on the beach. We even made it to an artisanal market (feria artesanal) and also jumped along the rocks and felt the ocean spray. There were lots of fisherman (los marineros) and hippies, both young and old, all over the town, mixing together as they have for many, many years in this part of Chile. The day was perfect and the setting awesome, this is definitely a place that is worth an off the beaten path visit.
Spring (la primavera) is a time that means warmer weather, short sleeves, trees budding with leaves, flowers in the air, petals falling on the lunch table, lover heating bills, fresh fruits and vegetables (frutas y verduras frescas), 4 hour lunches, and sunburn. Spring is a time that brings the promise of new life (una vida nueva), and in this manner, I see it in this October sun, to be a metaphor for my own journey as well. In the same way, I am experiencing a transformation myself, learning anew to spread my wings toward the future with an increased understanding of where I have come from in the past (en el pasado).
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