4 Months and counting!!

We finally made it to our 4th country in 4 months! Currently chilling in Vina del Mar, a wonderful coastal city in Chile. I'll write more about how impressive Chile is but in the mean time - to commemorate our 4th month. Here's a list of some things we've learned, what we're confused by and stuff we love.

Things we've learned:

Travel tip -Don't go with the cheapest bus option and pay for the cama suite - it's either too hot, too cold, has no food or is filled with crying babies.
They deliver everything here - there is ice cream delivery (Cordoba) !!! And you can order as many flavours as you want. That is impressive...
Warning - Do NOT expect North American service anywhere...Eat well before you are starving.
Efficiency is not high on the list of business practices here.
Hot sauce is not hot in South America.
Fashion - Mullets and rat tails are back (why oh why!?)
Safety Tip - Always carry your backpack in front.
Travel Trick - Pack your dirty laundry on top of your mochilla.
Burger King is alive and kicking, jean shorts are not dead, MC hammer pants are making a comeback, Converse makes a killing here.
Life Saver - Don't trust pedestrian lights - just cause it's green shouldn't mean you should walk.
The drive from Mendoza to Chile is one of the most beautiful ones out there!

Things we are confused by:

Business hours. We are still not sure how and when this continent actually works...seriously.
How Yuko can get groped during a wine bike tour on a moving bike! hahahaha
Babies on motorcyles (that is not a car seat!)
Watching a stray dog getting out of a public bus alone in downtown Santiago
Serviettes that don't soak up anything & how there can be a monopoly on crappy cutlery
No concept of food cost - you will find a jar of mayo in your sandwich and a full block of cheese in your empanada
Why clubs start at 2am and people have dinner at 11pm!
How you can have pickles but no relish, peanuts but no peanut butter and soy sauce that doesn''t have salt.
How women can walk in high heels - between looking out for dog poo, ditches, potholes and uneven pavement...my feet have seriously changed shape and I'm in runners!
Siestas during winter. Isn't the concept of closing during the afternoon because it's too hot?

Stuff we love:

4 generation family asados in Argentina are awesome! You don't have to be a meat lover to enjoy the goodness of this.
Speaking Spanish with the Malanos ;) and only being quasi understood but still have great conversations! Muchas gracias!
A bicentenial celebration in the capital city is the best experience ever - gigantic parades, fantastic floats, open air concerts and thousands of people out in full force celebrating. Thanks BA!
Brazilien Cachaca, Argentinian Malbecs and Chilean Merlots and Cab sauvs follow a close second.
We're still great friends. It's true folks - after 4 months, we still like each other!
The sexiness of the Braziliens, the beauty of the Argentinians and we've only gotten to Chile!
The Brazilian Portuguese is wonderful to listen to - it's like they're singing a song when they talk.
Corner stores that sell everything and we mean everything!
Alfajores with dulce de leche - they are basically suped up wagonwheels :)
Pedestrian only streets
Traffic lights turn from Red to Orange then Green - it's like advanced warning that you're about to get hit.
Bakeries/Panadarias everywhere and 24 hour pharmacies (with little windows that open like in a gas station to take your order)
Hooks on tables so your bag won't get stolen
Ice cream and food by weight, fresh fruit from Brazil that melt in your mouth
Listening to our MP3 player in the subte/bus while people watching

Some fave moments in the last 4 weeks: