A medio camino

In honor of today being the halfway point of this sabbatical, I'd like to share (and remember) a few of the things I really like about Chile. 

In no particular order, I really like...

...that fresh, quality vegetables are the most affordable foods, followed by meat. This is how it should be everywhere.
...that clothes are hung to dry. I usually like my "problem box" to be filled with awesome problems. Other days I really want my biggest problem to be figuring out how to hang the clothes in the most efficient way possible. It's relaxing.

...that Chileans eat mayo the way Canadians eat ketchup. This suits me. Ají crema sauce has a wonderful smoky flavor to it, with a hint of spicy heat. 

Chilean condiments
suit my taste buds

...that the price listed includes the tax. I appreciate that the US wants to be transparent about the sales tax by adding it separately, but it's really nice to know that what you see is what you pay at the register.

..the landscape is incredible (particularly in the south), and the Pacific Ocean coastline is perfectly rocky.

...that there exists such a delightful treat as Papas duquesas, which are little balls of mashed potatoes. They are better than Tator Tots. 

...that Chileans (the woman we stayed with for the first few weeks, for one) believe that when you travel it takes awhile for your spirit to catch up to you. I like this image much more than "jet lag" to explain why it took more than one day for me to feel like myself when we first arrived. 

...that people invite you to your house in order to get to know you. Contrast that with Minnesota, where people invite you to their house only after they have gotten to know you. (For the record, I am very Minnesotan in this way). 

...the street art of Valparaíso. 

...the colors and street art of Chiloé. 

Colors in Castro, Chile

Street art in Castro, Chile

...that Chileans know how to engineer buildings and houses to withstand major earthquakes. Earthquakes can deal some high damage, but for the most part the buildings and infrastructure can absorb it. 

...that wine is good and inexpensive. 

...Pablo Neruda's houses are here.

...that the people are kind and generous with their energy, and that they are easy to be kind and generous with.