I also haven't done the hike up to Cerro San Cristobal (the hill in the center of Santiago that has those amazing views) and it's starting to get to me. They both have to happen in the next week or so.
Instead, I walked around an area near my depot (apartment). It's called Lastarria, and it's amazing. It's just a little barrio a few blocks behind my street. It has amazing restaurants and cafes, clothes stores and book stores and street vendors selling art, books (I found books by Herman Hesse, Kahlil Gibran, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and so many more, all in Spanish), and traditional Chilean things. It was packed with tourists on the beautiful Saturday morning (it was really beautiful. 75 and sunny).
I saw a group of dancers, some delicious looking restaurants and one amazingly beautiful Catholic church. I wanted to go inside so badly, the entire inside was a golden hue of lighting, but there was a wedding going on.
The streets were narrow and some kind of new cobblestone, but it felt old and a little colonial and I was loving it. I found a few bookstores, one that was full of old, beautiful books, but they were all law books or studies of government history. A few blocks and at the end of a dead end street full of restaurants, I found an even more amazing book store. The shelves went to the ceiling and there were ladders on wheels, a la Beauty and the Beast and I was a freaking kid in a candy store. I have no idea how long I was there, or how many books I wanted to buy (books here are super expensive, because there's a paper tax... their paper resource is running low apparently), but it was a magical experience.
On Friday I found out about the fires in Valparaiso. Valpo is one of the two cities I went to one of my first weekends here.
The fires started in this city and killed almost 13 people and left over 8000 with nothing. It's been amazing to see the Chilean reaction to this tragedy. So many people have come together to donate their time, money, food, water, clothes, and other items for these families that have nothing.
This article explains what happened and the devestation that has been left behind.
BBC Chile fire in Valparaiso kills 12 and forces thousands to evacuate
Two of my friends, Dana and Kylie, live in Valpo. They are both okay, as the fires hit mostly hill areas and they don't live near there. But I know it has been so hard for them and their community, especially their students.
Here is a post Dana put on Facebook about donating. Anything you can give would help! And please, please, please be praying for everyone in Valpo... all were affected in some way or another.
Dana Wilson:
Hey guys, Duoc in Vina is working with one of the local elementary schools that was greatly effected. One of our Co-Workers created this page to make it easier for friends and family in the US to donate. Please share with whoever
Hi friends and family,
By now, I'm sure most of you have heard about the devastating fire that has destroyed over 2100 homes and left 8000+ people homeless in the city of Valparaiso, Chile. The fire is still burning after 48 hours, and authorities are calling it the worst fire in the city's history. Everyone here knows someone who has lost everything.
Together with friends and colleagues here in the area, we are starting a collection to support families in one of the neighborhoods that suffered some of the worst damage. We are collaborating with a school on Cerro La Cruz in Valparaiso where 90% of the students lost their homes and everything in them. If you are interested in collaborating, you can donate through PayPal at the link below.
If you feel more comfortable contributing to a national organization, you can visit the Chilean Red Cross at http://www.cruzroja.cl/donaciones, or Desafio Levantemos Chile athttp://www.desafiolevantemoschile.cl/aportes/ and wire a bank transfer to Chile.
Thank you for your support! Fuerza Valpo!
Relief for Fire Victims in Valparaiso, Chile
www.youcaring.com
www.youcaring.com
So grateful for my health and safety today.
Besos,
Ally
No comments:
Post a Comment