Settling into 13 Lunas and Exploring Around Chiloé

The terrace at the hostel overlooking the hills and water

This week has been incredible! I'm getting the hang of things at work, and finding my way around the town and learning more about the island. I love getting to know this place and all the people here. I see and learn something new every day and am loving every minute of it.

I’ve been able to go out on a few tours taking people out to see the penguins and driving around the island. Every time we drive through the landscape here, I’m amazed at the rolling green hills, cliff faces, and roaming farm animals. I’m constantly taken aback by the rapidly changing weather, which will be cloudy and finely misting one minute, and the next minute will be sunny and blue skies. I’ve never been in a place where the weather changes so drastically so quickly, and that’s saying a lot since I’ve lived in both Florida, where rain clouds move in and disappear within minutes, and Boone, where we sometimes experience all 4 seasons in one week. But I like that it’s always a surprise what the weather will be like, and it definitely teaches you to live in the moment, and enjoy the moments of sun, since you have no idea when it will come back again!

I’ve gotten to see a few places close-by, but I’m excited to have the next few weeks to get to know more towns and sites of the island. I’m hoping to make it to the national park for some hiking soon, and maybe to see some more of the many famous and historical wooden churches of Chiloé. 

Bay of Ancud in the distance

At the Mar Brava beach viewpoint

Pumillahue Beach

Mar Brava

Fuerte San Antonio: the Spanish fort just north of the city center in Ancud

The pier in Dalcalhue

Palafitos (the houses on stilts) in Castro

Our view from lunch in Dalcalhue

Boardwalk in Dalcalhue

Iglesia San Juan, a church in the small (as in 3 buildings in the main city square, and this grass patch is the main plaza kind of small) town of San Juan

We found our way into a ship yard, where they were constructing this boat. Not sure if we were supposed to climb the ladder up to the deck to explore, but that's just what we did. So interesting to see this process up close!

Nalca, a plant that grows all over the place here, and the stalks are edible, so we stopped and cut off a few pieces to enjoy on the car ride

You just cut the stalk off, peel it like a banana... (but watch out for the spikes)

And then break off a piece, and take a bit! It kind of has the consistency of celery, but harder and less stringy, and with more of an acidic or vinegar-y flavor. It's really good when it's sprinkled with salt too

Another wooden church in an equally small commune

My new dog friend!

Bridge out to Isla Aucana, which consists of just a church and a cemetery, but has beautiful views of the harbour

I'll never get used to seeing cows so close to the beach. I actually some roaming on the beach the other day. Apparently they like to eat the seaweed!

Farm animals in the street is a pretty common thing once you get right outside of the city. I love them!

The best and worst part of this job is the people that you meet along the way and how social the environment of this hostel is. It makes me incredibly happy to meet so many travelers with whom I can connect, enjoy spending time, cook meals, go to bars, watch movies, and share stories of travels and adventures. I’ve met some incredible people along the way, and several that we’ve exchanged contact info and I truly feel that I might see again one day. While it’s great to be working in such a casual and social place, where you can genuinely get to know guests, it’s hard to get to know people only to have them leave a few days later.

For me, even though I’m traveling whenever I get the chance, it’s less sad because I’m the one doing the leaving, not the one being left. I’m happy for my new friends to get to continue their adventures, but it always feels a bit lonely after I’ve gotten used to having them around the hostel and suddenly they’ve left. It’s definitely made me appreciate all my friends and family back home. Oh how the tables have turned!

But the hostel and the owners are a great constant to have. 13 Lunas has become a comfortable, reliable, lovely place to call home. Spending days working with and enjoying meals with friends here has been an amazing part of working here. I love the casual atmosphere of working in a hostel, and we are all travelers ourselves, so we love being able to turn a passion into a lifestyle.

Love the way the sun lights up this place!

Dalca, the sweet house dog who waits for me at the top of the stairs

Guard dog

I love a good sunset

I decided to take on Thanksgiving dinner here, since most people that stay here have never experienced or have any idea what a typical Thanksgiving in the US is like, I thought it would be nice to let people have as close to a Thanksgiving dinner as I can offer. There will be a few twists, like the fact that pumpkins aren't a thing here, but there is a squash type thing with roughly the same consistency as a pumpkin, and yielded an actually amazingly pumpkin-pie-like and delicious result. I also have yet to find any cranberries, but I've got 10 days to find something! If anyone has any cranberry-alternative recipes, or any Thanksgiving tips at all for a rookie, send them my way! This is going to be a first for me..

 

My version of a pumpkin pie, that actually turned out great!! It was gone from the community kitchen in about an hour...

Oscar update: He is now living with my parents! He’s getting bigger by the day (according to the periodic pictures and skype conversations) and I’m more and more excited to meet him every day!

He's exhausted after his first full day home! Makes my heart melt 

Things are great here, and I'm so happy to have found a home on this beautiful Pacific island. I can already tell that I'm going to be very sad to leave this place!!

Besos
xox