Balance isn't something you find, it's something you create.
It’s been one year since Matt and I stood in front of our closest friends and family, and made a vow to stand by each other for the rest of our lives. So much has happened between now and then, part of me can’t believe it’s only been one year. But, on the other hand, that day, so full of joy and love seems like it was just yesterday. Continue reading “Cheers to a year!”
This past Monday was a holiday here in Chile, so we decided to take advantage of the long weekend by taking a road trip to Chile’s Norte Chico region. We set our sights on the sunny Valle de Elqui, a beautiful valley in the Andes that is blanketed with a patchwork of vineyards. The dry climate means days are bright and sunny, and nights offer some of the clearest skies on the planet. Continue reading “Valle de Elqui – Drinking Pisco Under the Stars”
It’s June and ski season in the Southern Hemisphere has officially begun. From our balcony, we can gaze out and see the nearest ski resorts in the distance. This weekend, we decided it was time to see them up close. Early on Saturday, we packed up the Jeep, picked up some friends and took the winding mountain road to the El Colorado ski center. Continue reading “Day Trip – Skiing El Colorado”
This week marks 4 months since we stepped off the plane at the Santiago airport. With a cart full of (too many) bags, we hopped into a rental car and drove into a foreign city that we would call home for the next two years. Continue reading “Life in between”
Some of my favorite trips have been inspired by photos. Pinterest led us to explore the coast of Croatia, photos on a friends blog led us to an incredible hike through the Calanques in southern France, and most recently a friends Instagram post led us to the small surfing town of Pichilemu, Chile. Continue reading “Beach Weekend – Pichilemu & Punta de Lobos”
Happy first day of Daylight Savings to our friends back in the States. We are now officially one hour closer to you every day. I have to say, despite the huge distance between Cincinnati and Santiago, being on nearly the same time zone makes communication so much easier. Continue reading “House Hunters Update – Our New Home!”
I still can’t quite get used to the fact that, from our apartment, I can drive an hour in either direction and be either in the Andes mountains or on the Pacific coast. Our last venture into the mountains was a success, and we definitely want to spend more time exploring the many trekking paths in and around Santiago, but with Summer winding down here in the Southern hemisphere, we decided to head for the beach this Saturday. Continue reading “Day Trip – Zapallar and Cachagua”
We’re just shy of 3 weeks living here in Santiago, and this Saturday we decided it was time to venture out of the valley and into the Andes. There are many reasons we were drawn to the opportunity to live and work here in Santiago, but high on the list was accessibility to some incredible hiking. Matt and I share a love of the outdoors, and while a trail up a mountain can be physically exhausting, there are few things I find more mentally relaxing. Continue reading “Day Hike – Monumento Natural El Morado”
Hola a todos! Wow! So much has happened in such a short amount of time. It’s hard to believe we’ve been here less than a week a this point. We spent last weekend at my parents house, and got a great send off from my grandma and aunts before my parents dropped us at the airport Monday evening. Leaving behind friends and family is definitely the hardest part of this move. I had to blink back a few tears as we turned the corner in the security line and gave my parents one last wave. Continue reading “Santiago: Week One Recap – Moving, Exploring and House Hunting!”
Santiago here we come! After spending most of the last year exploring the possibility of moving abroad, things are really starting to get real. Today marks 30 days until we board a plane and head 5000 miles south to Santiago, Chile, the city we’ll call home for the next 2 years. Continue reading “One Way Ticket”