Santiago and Skiing

Well
Over the past two days we have explored all over Santiago, finding pretty cool graffiti on the streets and houses throughout the city,seeing the sites and sounds of six millon. Santiago is a mix of the old world with a touch of the new world. From classic building made of rock, and stone to massive skyscrapers made of glass. I forgot how fast they drive here, its a race all day long. Have to watch yourself. We have been staying at the plaze de armas hostel in the heart of the city. I watch from the windows of the hostel as the people on the street come and go all day and night. Last night we when out on the town, and it´s more active once the sun goes down. After staying out way too late at a smoky jazz club in the bellavista district of the city, we woke early to head up into the mountains to ski at Valle Nevado, a resort high up in the Andes. To get there we traveled around 40 plus switchbacks. The skiing wasn´t great but skiing in Sept. is always good. It felt good to get my skiing legs back. A day on skis is better then one not after a long summer in the states. We skied the resort all day, getting a little corn down low on the mountain, and up high at the top of the mountain about 11,200 feet firm grippy snow. After skiing we sat on a sun deck watching Chile´s high class in the pool. Tomorrow we fly to Patagonia to begin the real adventure, ski mountaineering in the Patagonian Andes.
Ciao
Forrest