Popsicle Sherri - the entire trip. Brrrr

Views From My Mom's Living Room Window.

Yup! That's The Andes!!! Magestic! I love looking at them. They remind me of how insignificant I am, yet how amazing it is that Heavenly Father knows my thoughts and the feelings in my heart. I love Him.

Easter Island Dances - PG13 :-)

A lot of people don't know that Easter Island is part of Chile. Much like Hawaii, Easter Island is located 2,180 miles west of continental Chile. There are 887 moais (the stone heads about 6 to 15 feet tall) placed facing the ocean. Some legends say that the natives (all clearly of polynesian race) built and placed the stones facing outward to give the impression that giants inhabited the island and to discourage possible attackers. This website has a lot of very good information about the island. Just a fun place to visit if you have time. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Island

Out in the Town Celebrating the 18th

After my mom's birthday celebration at her condo, we went to a local park that was totally full of stands, kiosks, stages, and all kinds of activities and games for kids, foods, and a place where they sold goat cheese. My first time eating goat cheese. It was a different taste, and it was a very good different. We also bought churros with manjar (carmel).These are young people dressed in typical apparel to celebrate the Chilean Independence Day. They had "cueca" competitions so these young people had been dancing most of the day and by the time we got there, they had already received their places.

This is just a random couple I asked to pose for the photo.

This is just a random couple of huasos that I asked to pose with Aubri and Sofia. I think huasos are soooo good looking! Aren't they? They really are like the Chilean version of a cowboy: extremely attractive, very charming, and true gentlemen. At least the ones I have met. :-) Aubri agreed . . . .

18th of September: My mom's and Chile's Birthday

My mom's birthday at her condo.

This was the everlasting cake. It was covered with a layer of marzipan. It was sooooo rich that only a small sliver of cake was all we could eat at once. One week later, the day we left Chile, we ate the last piece. In fact, my sister Vivi was eating her piece and left a little bit on her plate. It was sitting there and everyone was done eating so I thought she too was done. So I ate her piece before it got thrown in the garbage. It turns out she was saving it for later . . :-( Poor Vivi! Ooooops! Now we know why I look the way I do, and why she is so slender! Other people eat her food!!!! Sorry, Vivi. I still feel badly about it . . .

This is my niece Sofia enjoying the sunny afternoon at the park inside my mom's condominium grounds.

Sofia has problems with her personal hygiene . . just kidding! Aubri and Sofia were "having fun."

Two sisters pretending they love each other . . . :-)

I hope I can grow up to be as pretty as my mom and look this great when I'm 87 ! ! ! And she lives alone and does everything for herself. She is amazing! A great role model for all her daughters.

Four sisters an their mom. Who's the oldest daughter? Not me! :-)

No mom this time. I'm still NOT the oldest! :-)

Reggie in a sea of estrogen . . .

And here is the sea of estrogen (Reggie behind the camera). On a delicious note, the food was great! My mom is a great cook.

This is the elevator to my mom's condo.

This is a view of the grounds inside the complex.

My mom's condo is in the building to the left. THe building in front is another of the 5 buildings in her complex. It's a gated community with a 24-hour guard at the gates. We had to check in with the guard every time, and he would intercom my mom to make sure we were "worthy" to enter into the complex.

At Julio's house on Thursday night we had dinner and a fun session of Kareoke in Julio's Kareoke room. A full set-up with a computer, projector to see the lyrics, two standing microphones, and a library of hundreds of themes to sing to. We went to bed around 4AM.

From left to right: Fernanda, Julio's daughter, my sister Mabel, my mom, my sister Susy, and half of my sister Vivi's face.

From left to right: my sister Susy (a OB Gyn nurse practicioner), my sister Vivi (a beautician), my Aunt Eliana (a retired school teacher), her husband Julio Senior (a retired textile company Business Manager), their daughter Ana Maria (a high school chemistry teacher) and her husband Jorge (an aeronautical engineer in the Chilean Air Force), then Sherri and Reggie.

This is Rossana, Julio's wife wearing a Chilean "Huasa" hat. Afterall, the next day was Chile's Independence Day.

These two young girls are Ana Maria's and Jorge's daughters. They are South America's champions of Figure Rollerskating. Yup! Figure Rollerskating! Their older brother, Jorge, is an officer in the Chilean Air Force and he gets to fly fighter jets. He wasn't in Santiago that night because he was the officer in charge of the Quintero Base. My sister Mabel and my mom are to the right of the photo. The food was great, the conversation was super lively, and the music was in SPANISH!!! :-)

The sun set on the way back from Valle Nevado

As we were traveling back down from Valle Nevado, the sun was setting on the west. It looked like a giant fireball.

The switchbacks were so pronounced that it was very difficult catching a better view.

One more.