Talcahuano and Lota

Talcahuano

Pepino fruta (cucumber fruit)

Sopa de mariscos

Fish market

Rebecca (NY), Me, Rhodri (UK), Claire (HI)

Seaport

Lota

This past weekend I met up with three other volunteers from my program in Concepción located in the Bio Bio Region, the second largest city in Chile. The city was no great shakes during the day so we ran for the sea to the little port towns of Talcahuano and Lota. We were all grateful for a weekend filled with English, hot showers, and sunshine. I tried a mystery fried white fish as well as crab and cheese empanadas which were very good. In Talcahuano we took a 30 min boat tour for 1,000 pesos ($2). It was nice to be on the sea and we tried our best to translate the history that was being told while sea lions barked from the shores. The day culminated in a spontaneous hike up a hill through a labyrinth of brightly painted houses to a beautiful park with an even more gorgeous vista point at the top. We spent the nights in Concepcion meeting friendly locals and getting the hook up for no cover charges at various discotecas. Our nights generally ended at 4 am and our hangovers until 2 pm the next day. A very successful weekend to say the least.