We travelled to Vina Del Mar on Friday by a double decker bus. It was quite comfortable and the trip went really quickly. We hadn’t booked anything in advance so on arriving we grabbed a taxi (we have a snow board bag with us so they put the front seat down for the bag and we squish in). We asked the taxi to take us to a hostal we had in our 2013 footprints guide…. I stress 2013 because when we got to the address there was a new building in that spot and NO hostal! So with our tiny Spanish vocabulary we try and ask the taxi driver to take us to another place…. We get it, we go there… no one home, after driving around, he ended up taking us to this really cool looking place and there was a vacancy so we were all happy! After all our trying and not understanding with the Spanish, he asks me a question in English…. HAHA!

Our Hostal - Vina Del Mar
Our Hostal & Room – Vina Del Mar
Look what we spotted!
Look what we spotted!

The people in Chile are funny like that. We try really hard to speak to them in Spanish then they talk back really fast and Matt and I look at each other dumb founded, and with expressions that say “do you know what he said”, then they just keep talking and we keep trying and SOMEHOW we get somewhere! Then at the end, after quite a bit of time goes by, they say something in English to us. HAHA! I think it’s their joke. It’s great to keep trying and learning though.

Vina Del Mar is on the coast and really pretty. It’s just a typical Coastal city which reminded Matt a bit of the Gold Coast as there’s plenty of ugly highrise buildings and expensive restaurants.

We looked up the jw.org site and found where the English cong is and it was a Friday night!! Great for us! So we got ourselves ready and walked about 30-40 mins and snuck in a little late. We met some LOVELY brothers and sisters after the meeting. Miguel and Daniella were a pioneer couple that took us to a place for dinner after the meeting. They all eat AFTER the meeting which is cool! Even after a 7.30pm meeting.

We joined the congregation witnessing on Saturday morning in a really cool part of town. It’s a great way to get to know the place and see the surroundings. We both plucked up the courage to say “Buscamos personas que hablar Inglis, y algun en casa?” (We’re looking for English speaking people, are there any in your house. My first door the guys said yes but I didn’t really understand as he seems to say so much more! So I quickly looked at my partner with HELP! written all over my face! The householder kinda giggled (mind you he was a bit large, had no shirt on and looked a mess! So I was probably asking for help from the guy! haha) and he said in Spanish “I’m hungover so can’t talk to much now” so we moved on!! haha. I turned around and everyone we were witnessing with was right there and having a chuckle at my first attempt! It was great fun though.

Witnessing in Vina Del Mar
Witnessing in Vina Del Mar

Matt spoke to someone over an intercom and turns out it was a little boy so he was lost as to what to do and they had a laugh about that too! All in all it was a cool morning and my witnessing partner Daniella met a lady who spoke English and took the mags. She probably wouldn’t normally have taken them but you could see she was intrigued as to why these Chilean people had learnt English to teach people about the bible! Was really cool!

So from there we got invited to our first PARTY in Chile! The congregation threw a farewell for a brother going to the BSFSB and the theme was SOCCER! As he loves soccer. We all had soccer guersey’s on and man do these people know how to have fun. They couldn’t stop dancing and singing, even when there was no music. Once someone started, everyone joined in and they LOVE being goofy and grabbing the spotlight, then everyone having a love. Real entertainers! We had a ball. Needless to say, the English went out the window alot that night and Matt and I spent alot of time just taking it all in when we weren’t talking to someone. We had a great night!

Soccer Fiesta for Marco!!
Soccer Fiesta for Marco!!

Sunday was a rest day, then meeting again at 5pm! Then back to a Igor and Lucia’s for dinner that night with Daniel another brother in the cong. Igor is Chilean and Lucia is originally from South Africa (love her accent!) and they have baby Raffaela who is 6months and the only baby in the cong. Everyone loves her, she’s gorgeous!! Reminded me of our beloved bubbas in St Kilda cong!! We had a fantastic night with them, Igor made us some beautiful Gourmet sandwiches, probably our best meal yet! And the company was excellent! We are so lucky to have such a fantastic brotherhood!

NOTES ON CHILE SO FAR:

They LOVE 80s and 90s music. It’s playing everywhere! If you are stuck in the 80s or 90s…. not mentioning any names (Matt & Andrea, Max, Sacha, Brett n Donna) you’ll love it here! haha!

Brett and Matt, Windows XP is on ALL the computers!!! I think we actually are back in the 90s here… haha (Is 90s right??)

Vina Del Mar Sites
Vina Del Mar Sites
Food!
These aren’t related, but it’s food along the way! PS. We didn’t eat the animal… it looks like dog!!

 


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