OK, so I finally have no one breathing over my shoulder; now it's only the time clock at the internet cafe! I am waiting back in Valpariso for my bus to Mendoza, Argentina! Unfortunately, it could be anywhere from an 8hour bus ride to a 15 hour one depending on the road! Really looking forward to being there though! I have heard some amazing things about it in the past couple days! Also, really looking forward to the wine festival taking place while I am there! I'm very excited to try a bunch of new wines! (Nat and Brenda: I remember our promise and I will do everything in my power to make that picture happen!) So to fill in on what has been happening on the last couple days: The rest of Wednesday, I wandered through the Mercado Central, the largest shopping market in Santiago, admiring the produce, meat, and fish, salivating over what tasty meals I could make with everything! Then, it was off to the Cemetario General where I wish I would have planned to be at longer! Unfortunately, it was almost closing! It was the most gorgeous (i know, wierd word to use) cemetaries I have ever seen! The amount of money, time, and love spent on the graves, mausoleums, obleisks, and other memorials is mind-boggling! I could have walked for hours in there taking photos and never got bored! I never even found the 2 reasons i went there: salvador allendes grave and a memorial to the victims of the pinochet regime! Then, I caught a taxi to the Placa Caupolican where I took a "funicular" to the top of Cerro San Cristobal, the highest point in Santiago! A "funicular!" is like those old iron ore carts that you wonder how they ever made it up the hill! At the summit, there is a 50 ft. (or so) tall pristine white statue of the Virgin Mary and an outdoor church/ampitheatre! Up on the mountain there is also a pool, wine tasting pavillion, playgrounds, hiking trails, and a menagarie! A "teleferico", like a gondola, runs across the entire park! Absolutely breathtaking views!!! Stopped at a restaurant overlooking the entire city and had my first pisco sour! Who would have thought pisco (like a white brandy), sugar, lime juice, soda, and a raw egg would taste so good! Just like lemonade! After a quick nap at the hostel, it was off too find some dinner! Apparently, I had chosen the right spot, as across the river from my hostal was the hotspot to go to! As I sat waiting for dinner, I was harrassed by the woman next to me (obviously drunk) because I dont speak FLUENT Spanish who proceeded to turn around and start singing Madonna's "Holiday" (one of America's finest exports!)! Day One: made it out of the airport, to my hostal, checked in, navigated the city, changed money, and didnt eat anything I dont think I didnt want to! Not too bad for my "mas pain, por favor!" vocabulary! (Miss ya'll at Tommy's)