Valpo

The teacher strikes continues, and so does my traveling.  Last week Ryan, Katie, Hal and I went up to Valparaíso, or “Valpo,” a beautiful port town near Santiago.  Before I left for Chile a few different people told me that, as a Bay Area girl, I must visit Valpo.  Now I understand why!  This town is a wonderful mix of the Bay Area indeed – the colorfill hills packed full of homes overlooking a beautiful bay reminded me instantly of San Francisco, and the small, cute shops surrounded by amazing street art made me feel like I was in Berkeley.  The hillside streets wind in every direction, surrounded by the most wonderfully colored homes you could imagine.  Valpo definitely has a hippie, free-spirited vibe floating around the air which was fun to breathe in for a few days.  In nearby Viña del Mar, the feel is much more “resort beach town.”  We lucked out with some great weather the last couple days and were able to spend some much desired time relaxing on the beach.  It, too, had a Bay Area feel to it.  We walked around one of Viña’s big parks, and for just a minute, as we hiked along a dirt trail scattered with acorns and eucalyptus leaves, I felt like I was in Oakland.  It was definitely nice to visit these towns and get little reminders here and there of home!

There is still no end in sight for the strike, unfortunately.  There is a huge national teachers’ protest in Santiago today, and hopefully a compromise will come out of it, but that result is unlikely.  As fun as the travel is, I’m ready to get back in the classroom!