Natural Selection

Fuimos a acampar otra vez el fin de semana pasada con Marlen amiga nuestra de Alemania en "Parque Nacional La Campana." [We went camping again last weekend with our friend Marlen from Germany at "Parque Nacional La Campana."] We met Marlen a few months ago in northern Argentina and she has been staying with us for a few weeks in Santiago. Charles Darwin visited this same park (causing its fame) back in 1834 and also hiked to the summit of the tallest mountain there (La Campana, 6,000 feet). The views from the “cumbre” (summit) of "La Campana" extend to Valparaiso and the ocean in the west and to the high peaks of the Andes in the east. We decided to attempt it thinking it would be fun to go on a nice hike.




It turned out to be 14k round trip (8 miles). We actually had an idea of the distance and time it would take, but didn’t actually realize the intensity of the hike and in reaching the summit.

The first 7k was at a thigh burning, steep incline almost the entire way - one of the harder hikes I've done thus far. I would even say it was tougher than Long’s Peak in Colorado - just not as long (Long’s Peak takes an average of 12 hours). It took us 7 hrs for this one.




My legs had already turned to jell-o with half a kilometer left to the summit. As the sun beat down and observing how little water we had left - I was a little concerned about my endurance and legs handling the weight of my body for the 7k down. No way was I stopping though – I hadn’t come that far to quit now. I wanted to stand on top of the mountain! Plus, pretty Jenny was a trooper and hardly even tired. She was some good motivation. I guess all that running she does pays off. Her endurance was amazing! Good job hunny!! :) The last ½ k was the steepest and most difficult by far. Several areas we had to step up a couple feet at a time by grabbing on to a hold above for assistance.






I misread the way down as I thought it was going to be much easier. I guess it was other than the first half kilometer. The decline forces your legs to be flexed constantly. My thighs were so shot it was all I could do to catch my weight with each step down. It was also so dusty and dry that many areas were slippery causing you to easily lose footing if not careful. Shortly after beginning the 7k descent to camp we ran out of water. We luckily arrived at a little drinking hole about another kilometer down as it was the first time I had ever been in a situation where all I wanted was water. It was the mountain stream water that when passed on the way up I thought no way would I ever drink it! Obviously outlooks can quickly change when it becomes apparent something is absolutely necessary! HA! That water was the best I’ve ever had!! It amazes me how the body can reach a point where nothing matters to it other than obtaining water.

It was safe to drink for the most part - just contains a lot of minerals. You wouldn’t want to drink too much or you risk upsetting your stomach as your body is not use to it - didn't stop me though as I filled up and chugged 3 bottles in a row before dousing my head in the water to cool off... it was so hot! Wow – did that help! If those water holes would not have been there I’m not sure how I would have made it down without falling over from heat exhaustion. Thank goodness for the “Corporacion Nacional Forestal” and its strategic placement of these water areas.

All said and done it was awesome, I enjoyed it, and I'm glad we made it to the summit. It was really cool to be at the top and look around parts of South America and the peaks in the distance above some light clouds – especially with my hunny bunny! Yet another thing we’ve done together that we can check off our list. They even have a log for those who make it to the top to sign and write some words - our mark is now there - the triangle.


Looking at our pictures I'm impressed with how far up we hiked. Nearly two hours after starting the trail we took a picture from a clearing we came to of this peak way off in the distance not even realizing that it was the summit of our hike.


Maybe I should begin running more like this girl I know that wakes up in the morning, rolls over, opens her eyes, and says to me first thing, “I think I’m going to go for a run.”

I also got some really cool videos - took one of this huge stick bug in the forest that I just so happened to see move... it's an awesome video! A bee is trying to land on it the whole time - so we got to watch it defend itself and even throw the bee off a few times by completely stopping and blending in with the dead twigs and branches lying on the forest floor.


The bee fell for it a few times and actually landed on the small twigs thinking it was the bug. Talk about a Darwin’s theory at its best, "natural selection," on Darwin Mountain. :) Stick bugs blow my mind with their camouflage or "natural selection."

Couple more interesting discoveries along the trail and best of all - a quick easy dinner before retreating to the tents:







AA

8626 Rio Loa

It’s a bit strange to be sitting in a living room relaxing on the futon while looking around all the rooms of the house and décor constantly realizing none of this is ours. It sure feels that way having spent over a month in this house already. We’ve grown to love Santiago and all the blessings that have come our way here.


Almost daily, my mind drifts away as I gaze out the window reflecting upon all that’s taken place the last days, weeks, months, and years – let alone what all’s transpired within just the last year and the emotions I’ve felt.

In 2009 I welcomed my 3rd nephew into this world in January, traveled to Puerto Rico in February with Jenny for a wonderful trip earned by reaching top sales for 2008, again celebrated my birthday and Jenny’s together in April (only 5 days apart), proposed to the beautiful, sandy-blonde girl from Florida in May, earned 2 promotions in 6 months (January & June), truly had the best day of my life on our wedding day with our families and best friends in July, cruised with my new wife to the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize, and Honduras in late July, arrived home and decided with Jenny to “push pause on life” and take a year off to travel, grow together and appreciate more, turned in my two weeks and left Denver for South America in August, welcomed my 4th nephew into this world via Skype in September, lost my precious Grandma in October while in Puerto Iguacu, Argentina, and celebrated my 1st Christmas as a married man with my wonderful wife here in Santiago at this house in Las Condes. Time truly does fly by…

Here it is January 2010 and I have 8 months yet of overall new discoveries, travel, cultural observation, language learning, people to meet outside the U.S., and activities to attend before I’m back home in Denver. I plan to make the best of it. I’m beginning to look at my return to Denver as a fresh start to a new career (as well as many other things). I’m brainstorming several ideas for what to pursue. Many people would call these ideas of mine – dreams – and smile about the “dream” and maybe pat me on the back for a good thought and wanting to possibly go for it, inadvertently telling me not to go for it. I’ve actually come to realize though that I truly am a dreamer and one of the things that puts a smile on my face and motivates me is the absolute challenge of making most of these dreams become reality.


Slowly the visions, voices, and images of today’s daydream so real and alive dissipate as small gusts of wind softly sway the branches of the tree in our front yard luring me out of the trance and back into this moment. Then again, sitting on the futon I look around and smile taking in the fact that I’m here and able to live what was before a dream.

It is all completely foreign – the books, dishes, towels, photos of smiling strangers everywhere and our temporary dog Tully, (SOMEBODY PINCH ME), the Weimar-wiener we have here. She’s probably feeling a bit strange herself with all her familiar surroundings, but yet the people are different. I can tell she is happy and going with the flow – she’s comfortable, has food, water, gets to run with Jenny, has quite a bit of playtime with us, and even gets to break some of the rules she’s known (I know I’d be a happy dog if that were the case for me)! She’s already grown quite attached to us as she follows us everywhere, whines when one of us leaves, and sleeps at our bedside. I must admit we have grown quite fond of her too!


We have been blessed to have such an opportunity land on our laps. We have an entire house, cell phones, dog, and even car (if we need it) in a beautiful city and country in South America. The Denver of South America in my opinion. It has the best of both worlds; the Andes Mountains lining the city and the Pacific Ocean less than 2 hours away. If you like the waves or the mountain snow, Santiago has it, along with your normal city life activities, disco-techs, and restaurants. One of the other not so common amenities of other cities that Santiago has is the numerous vineyards on the outskirts of the city which produce the famous Chilean wine.

We will have been house sitting here for over 70 days by the time we leave. The bus route and metro (subway) are already embedded in our heads, we have both completed over 100 hours of Spanish which is beginning to make things much easier, and we both have part time volunteer opportunities we are contributing to 20 hours per week. Jenny is volunteering at 2 different orphanages a few days a week along with helping out at an “English café” in which she helps Chileans practice their English. I have been volunteering in sales and marketing for a language school here at Escuela Fronteras and helping to further develop its study abroad program with the U.S. and Europe.

The family we are house sitting for happen to be missionaries here with two children. They are on “furlough” for 2 ½ months back in the states. This was an excellent solution for both the family and us as it saved them money by not having to pay someone to stay here, take care of their dog Tully, and maintain their house and yard. In turn, it has definitely helped us out as well with saving money and having a wonderful place to call home, volunteer for awhile, practice our Spanish, and enjoy Santiago and the central part of Chile for a good amount of time.




We will leave here the 18th of February and head south through Chile to nearly the southern tip of South America to experience Glacier National Park. We then plan to fly up to Buenos Aires to catch a ferry over to Montevideo and travel the entire coast of Uruguay and Brazil up to Rio de Janeiro visiting as many beautiful beaches as possible. When finished with Rio, we will fly back to Santiago and travel north along the coast of Chile into Peru and quite possibly some parts of Bolivia. We plan to volunteer in Peru in the town of Pisco where we will help to rebuild a city devastated by an earthquake a few years ago. Our finale if all goes to plan will be Machu Pichu in Peru and then fly out the Middle of May from Lima.

Again - Onward and upward my family and friends…

AA

Feliz Año Nuevo!

Happy New Year!

We just got back from camping the last 2 nights for our New Year's celebration. We went with a friend of mine that I worked with at Cbeyond a few years ago. We actually couch surfed with someone in Buenos Aires back in October and when we arrived the host told us he had hosted a couple from Denver 3 months prior. He wanted to see if we knew them (I told him no way will we know who they are), he pulled them up on facebook and I couldn't believe my eyes - it was my buddy Greg from Cbeyond! hahaha...

I emailed Greg about how small the world is in that we both couch surfed at the same house - he emailed me back and said they're actually living in Argentina. Wow! Are you kidding me?? How ironic!!

He, his girlfriend, and a friend of theirs came to visit us for the New Year. It was funny to see him - as back at Cbeyond who would have ever thought what was ahead of us...

The place we camped was AWESOME!!! It's called "Islote Las Gaviotas." We seriously got the best spot in the campground.









It's near the famous coastal town, Valparaiso, on the Pacific ocean that puts on the most famous show of fireworks in Chile for New Year's. Our campsite was at the top of some cliffs on a point overlooking the ocean and from this beautiful view we could see Valparaiso for the fireworks that were to launch at midnight.



At this gem of a site we were able to have a breath taking view of the ocean, witness the "Blue moon" for New Years that won't happen again for another 19 years (blue moon happens every 2 1/2 years where there are 2 full moons in one month), and saw wonderful fireworks all the way up the coast line as far as we could see!



To top it off there was an oasis of a beach that was right near our campground that was at the bottom of the cliffs in a little cove. It had gorgeous water, nice waves, soft, clean sand, and little caves all over in the cliffs and huge rock formations coming off the cliffs with caves as well - I felt like I was in Goonies for a bit. The beach was called "Playa Las Docas."







I thought about all of you and wondered what you were all up to... as our celebrations were all several hours apart.

Love you all and Happy New Year from Chile,

Aaron & Jenny





Here's a link to the video I took at the beach "Playa Las Docas"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iYM1FscbHk

Merry Christmas!!!

We had an awesome Christmas in Santiago!! I will let the pictures do the talking.


Christmas party at orphanage:
Aaron's "Company Christmas party"
Christmas Eve Service
Cookies, puzzle, opening gifts on Christmas morning

BBQ cookout and swimming - Christmas day

Orphanage I volunteer at ("Baby house") in the afternoon

Dinner with our friends visiting

Great day!

Muchas Gracias

Yay, I'm done with classes! Here's my little speech (in Spanish of course) accepting my "diploma"

:-)

So proud!

Vamos CATOLICA!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

10:00 am

I receive an email from Diego (Director of Curriculum at our school and new friend) that has several recommendations for the game we’re going to that night. It’s the Division 1 finals for the professional soccer league in Chile and game 1 of the 2 game Championship. The teams are “Catolica” (who we are cheering for) vs “Colo Colo” – both bitter enemies.

He recommends the following:

1) Don’t eat much during the day as the bathrooms will be filthy with human waste and you’ll have to tippy toe through waste covered floors by game time (gets worse as the clock tics). Holes in the ground will be the only form of toilets so #2 is out of the question (no t.p. too).

2) For Jen’s sake, it’s best not to wear shorts due to whistles, comments, gestures etc. from fans on both sides.

3) No valuables: wallets, purses, much money, cameras or anything else someone may want as it will be a full house and lots of muggings and pick-pockets happen at these intense matches. Do bring an ID though. He also says to be on the look out for safety as Colo Colo fans are pretty ruthless (although both teams have the fanatics).

4) Wearing a hat could be good idea for extra protection as many items (including rocks) can be thrown into the crowds from opposing teams.

5) We need to meet 4 hours early to make our way towards the stadium for extra safety before too many “Colo Colo” fans are there waiting and ready to ambush.

The list went on with several other precautions, but he did ensure the police will be 3 x of what it is normally.

2:40

Jenny and I arrive at “Los Leones” metro stop (subway) to meet Diego, his girlfriend Fannie, Cristian, and another guy from Germany. Diego again reinforces what he said about the bathrooms and asks us use the restroom.

3:20

We arrive at our desired bus stop a few blocks away from the subway. A large group of about 40 Catolica “fanatics” are approaching from the opposite direction. They are cheering and chanting different “Catolica” cheers and walking down the middle of the street causing traffic to stop before them. Most are drinking alcohol while others are throwing the empties wherever they please. They arrive to the stop we are waiting at along with about 8-10 other people and completely take over the area shouting and singing at the top of their lungs. They turn the back of the actual bus stop into a large drum and pound on it as hard as they can and scare off many of the bystanders. The others waiting at the stop along with us quickly leave the area and begin walking towards the next stop to get away from any potential danger.

3:30

We arrive at the next stop just in time as we see a bus approaching. We line up single file in preparation to board. The bus nears to 100 yards away and we begin hearing the loud chanting again. It pulls up to stop with the doors stuck open as so many fanatics are smashed into the bus rocking it back and forth, drinking, cheering and singing loudly. It moves on as no one at this stop wants or attempts to ride the bus. As it drives off graffiti paper is thrown out the side windows along with a beer can or two. A few minutes later another bus arrives without the fans and we board.

4:00

We exit the bus at a small park with about 300 or so Catolica fans already gathering. The plan is to wait until the Carabineros de Chile (armored police that look like commandos) clear a path. They will then herd us to the stadium. They do this to try and maintain peace as well as protect both the mass of fans that are gathering for each team. They’re anticipating Colo Colo fans to be hiding outside the stadium waiting to attack Catolica (us) on the parade there. Immediate retaliation is also definite and the Carabineros hope to control it as best they can. The Carabineros look like they are ready for battle. They have armor covering their entire body along with bullet proof vests, helmets, face guards, shields, guns, and night sticks in hand.

Everyone in the park is getting riled up with each passing minute. The strength and energy of the crowd increases as the number continues to grow. Club flags are everywhere representing not only Catolica, but signaling the several different neighborhoods of the Catolica fans. We begin to see allied battles of songs and chants from each neighborhood (fun to see the pride of each neighborhood). After a few songs and chants are finished all the fans of Catolica join in together and the energy explodes! It is quite impressive to observe.

As we near the departure time to parade towards the stadium small groups of people encircle individuals to keep them from the view of the Carabineros. We watch them wrap around their mid sections (like diapers) illegal club banners, flags and club paraphernalia – then pulling their pants up and over to hide. I now see how the fanatics get so many different types of flares, smoke grenades and all sorts of objects and weapons into the games.

5:30

It’s time to march for the stadium. The route has been set up by the Carabineros and they’re ready to proceed with the escort. The crowd (at least 6,000 strong now) begins to move in a massive horde down a side street toward the stadium. Huge drums are pounded in unison as we march creating more excitement and energy. Several more songs are echoed along with the beat of the drums. The adrenaline is definitely flowing. My body is now one giant goose bump and feels stronger than ever before. I am walking with Jenny’s right hand clasped in my left. I have my right arm free for any impulsive needs that arise. I begin to wonder if it’s a game we are heading to or the battle field as every step I take meets the ground simultaneously with each beat of the drum. I presume the majority believe we are actually heading to war.

The Carabineros are spread out sporadically on both sides of us. They have their night sticks in hand ready to club whoever dares to act disorderly or instigate anything. Every 30 seconds another person is belted across the back with a night stick. If they open their mouths to lip off or say anything they receive another blow to the upper arm (police brutality in my opinion for sure). Just keep moving – that’s all they want! Some may need the correction and repercussions given to them, but for the most part the police are abusing their power. They use their nightsticks on anyone they choose – it seems for no apparent reason in some cases. I was quite disturbed with some of the abuse I saw from the Carabineros.

Again, I do realize many of these “fanatics” with no brains for safety or consequences deserve what is handed to them. For example, we are crossing a small intersection in a neighborhood where several Colo Colo fans are hiding about 40 yards down a side street. They jump out and begin cursing at us, making gestures, and to my disbelief begin launching rocks into this mass of Catolica fans – rocks the size of plums and racquet balls. Instantaneously several Catolica fanatics start heaving rocks in return and a few burst from the mass of people and begin running towards them to inflict some sort of torture. They don’t even make it 10 yards outside the parade of people when they’re violently struck by nightsticks. WOW – some of those blows had to hurt – so much for going to the game ‘smarties’ – now you get to go to jail and miss it all together. So in essence – they deserve what is handed them.

The Carabineros are relentless in these types of situations. Anything you do out of the ordinary – you’re going to jail. Adding to the list of ‘smarties’ – as a few of these brainless fanatics are roughly dragged to the armored vehicles (to be hauled off) a whole barrage of stones come flying towards the Carabineros from the Catolica fans just ahead of us! Jenny and I had to literally duck out of the way of one stone with it drilling the guy behind us in the noggin! Man – that had to hurt! Glad it wasn’t Jenny or I though! HA!!

6:15

We enter the gates to a completely packed stadium with all the fans jumping up and down roaring! Only one section is reserved for the Catolica fans as game 1 is in Colo Colo’s stadium. There are about 10,000 fans for Catolica total (now that we arrive) and 30,000 Colo Colo fans. Huge flags are waving all throughout the crowd along with thousands of pom poms. Chants are thundering through the stadium from the home crowd. Streamers are thrown from the stands every few minutes to compensate for their short life creating a beautiful effect as they float slowly through the sky to the field. It’s absolutely the most intense environment I have ever witnessed for a sporting event – let alone almost anything!

The stadium is set up so there is no possible way for the fans of each team to come in contact. Barb wire, tall fences and locked gates block any possible opening or route. What’s hilarious is watching the actions of both teams’ fans towards one another in areas where they can’t physically touch each other. Colo Colo has one section near the walkway of the entrance for Catolica and also the bathrooms for the opposing team. The only thing separating the two fans is a thick fence. For about fifteen minutes Jen and I watched them both dual in chants towards each other, curse, spit and make every type of obscene gesture imaginable until the Carabineros finally broke it up by clubbing some Catolica fans on the back to get them moving. It was actually quite entertaining, but probably more repulsive to see the display of actions occurring before us.

The game ended in a 2-2 tie with some awesome goals! We were definitely alert the entire time as rocks were bombing in from the sections surrounding us. Jenny and I were actually unlucky and VERY lucky at the same time as one of the rocks skimmed the side of her head and then hit me on the right side of my back. If the rock would have actually hit her directly without grazing her it would have been a serious injury. I’m not sure that I would have ever felt so helpless before had it hit her square. I may have gone to KILL one of the Colo Colo fans even though I would have never known who it actually was! I actually wanted to attack them anyway as it came within the VICINITY of my hunny bunny!!

9:45

We begin to exit the stadium after an hour wait. The entire stadium has been completely emptied except for the Catolica fans. We are literally locked in our section unable to exit until the Carabineros deem its safe enough to let us leave and confirm most the Colo Colo fans have left the area. When the gates finally open the impatience of the crowd is at its highest level and the mass of fans begin to push hoping to expedite the exit. The force is so strong it nearly crushes the several hundred in front (including us) against the iron fences. One of the scarier moments I’ve had – again feeling completely helpless.

Exiting the gates we find not only the Carabineros ready to escort us again, but about 50 Carabineros on horses as well. The horses are dressed in matching armor of the Carabineros riding them – Probably the toughest, coolest, most intimidating looking horses I’ve ever seen! I sure wish I had my camera to show you this site. They formed a line for about 50 yards that we walked along – it was amazing! I have never seen such a security force first hand.

10:20

The last thing we encountered was at the metro about a mile away from the stadium. Near the station 50-80 Catolica fans started whistling loudly and running from the station towards us. Diego immediately said “run” and turned to run towards the next station. Apparently a mob from Colo Colo was waiting to attack the Catolica fans arriving at the metro. The whistles were warnings to everyone! It was another blood pumping experience for the night. Within 30-45 seconds the area was covered with Carabineros and the regular Policia.

10:40

Homeward bound… needless to say by the time we got on the metro heading to our apartment we were completely exhausted. It was an 8 hour experience with no food or water to help re-energize.

Despite all we saw along with the enormous smoke grenades, flares and fireworks after the goals and waves of people nearly crushing us a few times – it wasn’t enough to keep me away as I’m going to game 2 of the Championship tomorrow. I’m definitely anticipating it to be much crazier as this is the Final game of the season and the game that determines the Champion. Whatever team loses – the fans will be sure to go after the others!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!