.Closing time.

Sunday Sunday Sunday. My first plan was to go to Valparaiso or stay at home watching basketball games on-line. That was before I was offered to go to a national park some place close to Santiago. I mean, how can I say no to such an adventure, right? I decided to take it. After all, there will still be basketball on the other days and I can go to Valparaiso any other weekend, but actually going to national park – well that is not going to be that easy to do it on my own and here I even get company.

Before I get into the whole national park thing, I feel a need to mention. Time is very much relative in this part of the world. It is kind of fascinating really. If you have a German kind of sense for time – buy some extra patience, because this is going to get on your nerves. At least at the beginning.

So this is more or less how it works. Although, I have to say, I am talking punctual Latin America’s people. We are meeting at 12:00. To me 12:00 means 12:00. My metro is going slowly, but I still manage to come almost on time. I am being late, being at the spot 12:03. To yours, not mine anymore though, surprise, I am the first one to come. The second person comes 12:20. All the rest are coming until 12:30. And this is a more or less punctual Chilean time counting.

So we meet up, the 4 of us. There was supposed to be some more, but others do not show up. No mentioning of that either, just not showing up. After a call we get a `no` for an answer, but then again, this is another thing you learn about Chileans the hard way. They tend to change their plans and forgetting inform you about it, but that’s more of a cultural way, not just a mean way to treat people.

So, after a short trip to the shop and sandwich making fun we hit the road. It was not a long way to get there and after we parked a car we went for a little hike. It was hot, sun was burning our shoulders, sometimes pretty steep and slippery, but my oh my was that great! You climb up, you look for a path, you take a rest break to catch a break and make some pictures and you go on again.

We came up until one big rock and took our last break up there. Just chilling. Chilling in Chile. I always had an idea that way down is supposed to be much easier and faster. Well, not for us. 

I know it is not very easy to find the same path when they are all surrounded by the same cactuses and bushes. But we managed to go all the way to the other side. If that was not enough, we managed to get to the dead end several times and turned back. 

All in all, at the very end we managed to go down. We took our stuff and went for a little camping thing. Special kind of camping, actually, including river, wine and nargile [better known for the English speaking world as water-pipe]. Oh, I almost forgot – guitar and songs.

It was a fantastic day, ended at the house of one of my friends, some dinner and then heading to the metro, coming back home and falling asleep, because I could keep my eyes open anymore because of tiredness, but happy as a peach.

My week was just as usual. Spanish in the morning, work in the afternoon, trying to catch up with all of the stuff in the evening. And then Friday came.

The big special Friday. You might ask why and I can say – because I was going to Red Hot Chili Peppers concert. I was waiting for it since the moment I learn about it, so we talk about 3 months. I was very excited, and also very lost, since I was supposed to experience it on my own. Alone. Well, there was a girl I tried calling to and join to the concert, but I had her number wrong or she had her phone off. Either way, I went alone. I wanted to see them more than company, to be honest.

I came in advance, so I would get a better spot. Turns out, I came a little too early. The gates were closed. It took me some time to wait and then some more time to get it. That is some challenge, but I got in. I actually even managed to get in without being checked. I could have brought anything. Anyways, I got in, there were people but not insanely a lot yet, but when the first band started I moved forward. I was guessing it would be hard to get there later.

It was going all fine, but then I noticed some guy, standing next to me and watching me. Well, not even a guy, some kid, 16 tops. Watching was fine, I don’t care. I mean, I know I am this blond white giant over here, a lot of people stare. But he wanted something more. Funny as it is, but he tried to take my hand. I mean, come on! My hand was even in my pocket and he tried that at least three times. I did not want to tell him to …… [add some mean bad words], because I had nowhere to escape. It was already full of people. I managed to escape him by moving several steps to the other side.

People got totally crazy once RHCP showed up. I mean serious crazy. They started jumping and moving back and forth, pulling me from one side to another with no affection to anything whatsoever. And I wasn’t even that close to the stage.

But the concert itself was so awesome, that I hardly have any words. Those songs, those lights, those songs again.. It was, by any means, the best concert I have ever been to. I have been singing, shouting, dancing and moving with the rest of the wave and I have to say – I loved every second of it.

Getting out of the concert was a bit of a mess. I got a little dizziness and there were no free space around to breath in. it was a total sea of people and it was not disappearing. After finally I managed to get out, I learned that metro was already closed and buses are going to every direction but mine. I felt a little lost, but I had nothing to do – so I called my brother. He just finished his shift and promised to come and pick me up. It took a little time for him to get there, but I was just happy I do not have to wait for metro to open, which would be only in the morning.

He picked me up and we went to another intern’s farewell party. It was a bit of a mess from the plan No 1, but what can you do right? We ended up at some party at somebody’s place. I still have no idea whose. We danced a little, talked a little and then went out. After all, we had a little trip the next day and we were supposed to wake up very inappropriately early. But before we could get to bed, we had to take some people to their places. It was night after all and my brother had a car and he is this kind of nice guy, who are always ready to help others out. So when we got back home it was 5 a.m. and the wake up time was 6 a.m.

Wow, full hour of sleep, how lucky were we. When my alarm clocked start beeping, I couldn’t believe my ears, but I had no choice, I had to get up, pack my stuff, take a shower, pretend to be alive and go into the metro.

Even though buses are not chileanily unpunctual, ours was late a little, but at the very end we got into the bus. I fell asleep almost immediately, but who can blame me, I was dead tired. The moments I did not sleep I was enjoying the view from the window. Somehow it reminded me of SEA places and Norway a little: hills and mountains, rivers, sun.. It is a nice country. It really is.

When we got to the Temuco, we were picked up and taken to our temporary home for a few days. We were staying with aunts of my brother and they were extremely nice. They were very patient with me too – talking slowly and waiting for my even slower answers. We took some time to have a nap or some rest. We shared a room with another intern. We did not get any sleep. But we did get some very nice talk abut everything.

After that was done, we ate, got picked up again by the same friend and he took us to his place. He has this amazing, seriously extremely nice dog – Winnie. I have to be honest with you – I fell in love there and then. 

Such an adorable dog. She was running back and forth just as like she overdosed caffeine. And then she was taking friends with me. Of course that was only because I was feeding her, but still – adorable doggy.

We spend some time there, talking about everything, where mostly I was only listening, since it’s really hard to respond, when they speak so fast and I speak so slow. After some time we went out. Some place. I did not know and I actually did not care. I was taken care off. I like that sometimes. I prefer that sometimes to be honest.

We stopped the car I got out and started staring at the stars. I still haven’t seen the Southern cross and this is one of the must things while I’m in the land down under. And then I saw something that looked like it. I asked, got a confirmation and vuola. I did one of my must to do things. I just became happier. Although I was happy before.

We got to some weird looking place. Locals ordered some things to eat, I forgot the name already, of course and some cocktail probably. I am still not sure, some sort of alcohol drink, not strong, though. It was tasty – both food and drinks. So we were sitting, talking, enjoying. After some time we went dancing. I had a great time, got some compliments on my dancing. Still not sure if those were sincere or just a polite move, but who cares – I dance good. Hahaha.

The next day was a big fiesta day. We got to the same place of a friend’s with adorable doggy and more people. Started easily with snacks, talks, some dancing. 

Then there was a lot of meat and good, but I am talking really good red wine. We sat, ate, talked. It was really great. After a while the table was gone, dancing started. It was a real Chilean party with lots of meat, wine and dancing. Plus the adorable dog.

The next day we went to a national park, did a little walk around, I found swings so of course I went on them surprising people with how childish I can probably sometimes become. 

We had a good bye sort of lunch and got a ride to the bus station. The weekend was officially over, the time to go officially here and the night in the bus was waiting. It was hard to fall asleep in the beginning, but I managed to get some sleep and before I knew it we were back in Santiago where I got some more quality sleep in my bed before I went to work.

And then the life started again as usual: Spanish before work, work, stuff. Although I miss the weekend.

Off topic

I cannot stop thinking about it. Was it me? No, this cannot be me. I made no action. I did not do anything. How did I manage to get there? And if it was not me, why I feel like a piece of crap then? You thought I knew? Man, really could not ever dream of that.

Funny isn’t it? Last time you made me smile with a tragedy. Now you made me cry with a catastrophe. It’s good somehow. It washed at least a little. On the other hand – it made me realize.

Why do you want to get into my same old casino at the edge of the world? You can play poker in your own edge. Why my casino?

There is someone who loves me. You said it yourself. No matter what, no payments, no prepayments, no benefits. Just love.

Just a shot in the dark – can you ever get over the one you love?

/We've got to make it rain somehow/

Ring any bells?

/We've got the wrong girl
But not for long girl
It's in the song girl
Cause I'll be gone girl/

This?

It might be happening. Not saying yes or no for that. Could be fun. Could even work out. But before that – I need a ticket. They still don’t let me into. Apparently, I’m in the black list. We’ll see.