Concepcion, Chile!

Here we go! With our club's only Filippi boat we hit the road with the rowing kids and the Hostetter family for Concepcion, a city about 8 hours north of Puerto Montt. It's the second largest city in Chile and is an industrial hub in the region. All the way up we passed thousands of acres of eucalyptus trees, quaint farms, and trucks loaded with timber. Even two hours north from home we could feel the difference in the air; much drier. We gradually saw more and more palm trees, cacti, and my favorite site: patios outside of the homes with roofs of grapevines.

Jordan and Philipe where we stopped to have a picnic. We had good times with the youth; laughing it up even when we ended up stranded roadside having run out of gas (gas gauge wasn't functioning). Below is just a taste of the preparation that goes into celebrating the Chilean Independence Day, September 18. These dresses are used during the dancing of the Cueca, the national dance which imitates the posturing of a rooster courting a hen. The woman waves a white handkerchief (usually embroidered) and alternately encourages and rejects the "gallo" (rooster). The men wear the square-shaped ponchos that you can see to the middle left or black, trim suit jackets, sashes, and black pants and flat, wide-brim straw hats; very classy! Our church family is planning a picnic to celebrate dieziocho (the 18th), Dustin and I being in charge of the games (egg toss, sack race, etc). Also traditional is flying kites, dancing, and eating lots of meat! Chileans spend more money on Dieziocho than they do on any other holiday. This year I'm determined to learn the Cueca!!! Blessings!