Pan de Azucar

On the pier in Chañaral, when we went to buy fish

One of the pelicans we saw from the pier.

At the end of January we went on a camping trip to Pan de Azucar National Park for a week. It was really fun! The campsite was right on the beach. I loved listening to waves when falling asleep.

Cerro la Cruz

Resting on the way up

A view of the curch that commisioned the cross

Erika, Fabiana, and I climbed Cerro la Cruz one Saturday morning. It was fun, easier and harder then the other cerro, because it had stairs. It story is is that if there is some end of the world event, such as a giant flood, we all have to go the cerro la cruz and we will be saved.

Marmelade!

Cutting Apricots

And more (thanks to the artistic talent of Fa!)

Lalo stirring

Fabi collecting the apricots

Yoly adding the sugar. We bought about 100 pounds of sugar over the two weeks!

At the beginning of January, we spent about two weeks making jam. But, we have it down to a science. Fa would collect all of the apricots, then Erika and I would wash, cut, and separate them. Then my grandma would get the jam started and my grandpa would stir it for 45 minutes. Then it was had to cool and we would transfer it to a huge bin. And it was ready to eat!!!

Cerro

Ian (from Rice Lake on exchange to Vallenar) was in Copiapó at New Year's visiting family for a few days. So we went to the center and ate and ice cream, and then went and climbed a cerro!

New Year's

The funny wigs that Marcia bought for us!

For New Year's, I ate a nice dinner with my family and then we went to watch the fireworks. After words, I went to spend the night at Erika's house. Normally, all of the teenagers go up to Punta Negra and there is a huge party that goes all night long, but we decided not to go. Actually, all of Copiapó partied all night long! Just a little different from the American way!