:: That Was 2017 ::

As I sit here in London, in the final days of 2017, it’s a great time to reflect on all that has happened in the past year.

I love that blogging helps you to do that.  Without my blog I wouldn’t have all of the detailed posts about all of the adventures I did this year, it’s a great way to allow you to reflect.  Especially since I am ending 2017 in the same place that I started it: At home in London with family and friends.

So, here are my favourites of the year:

In February, during my summer holidays, Carlos and I spent 15 days travelling along part of the Carretera Austral in Patagonia.  We spent the most amazing four days trekking and camping through Cerro Castillo and were rewarded with the most amazing views!After the trek we travelled further south to:

Puerto Rio TranquilloCochraneand Tortel

At the end of Febrarury, I started back at work for the new year and met my lovely new class a few days later.  This year I taught First Básico (year 2 in England or First Grade in the US).

In March, 5 friends and I began our own Food Safari which continued to be a highlight throughout the year.  We started with one of my very favourite cuisines (Indian!) and have created so many more fun dishes as the year has gone on, to be continued in 2018…In April, for the Easter long weekend, Carlos I headed to a Conguillo National Park where we had had our eye on for long time.  We camped for three nights and got to soak up all of the unbelievable Autumn colours that were on offer.  It was one of the places in Chile that I definitely won’t forget, seeing trees that are 1500 years old is very special!At the end of April, for our mid semester break, 3 friends from work and I headed south for 5 days.  We flew into Puerto Montt before heading to Chiloe and then to Puerto Varas.  It was an incredibly beautiful and rain and cake filled trip.  While were were there, we also got to meet up with 3 other work friends who were staying nearby.In May, Carlos and I celebrated 7 years together with a lovely Italian meal out in one of our favourite parts of Santiago (Barrio Italia), Carlos also turned 34 at the end of the month and we marked one year of hosting our linkup Wanderful Wednesday.In June, after almost a year-and-a-half in our flat, we moved.  We love our new flat as it’s so quiet and more spacious and it definitely has that feeling of home.  We also took advantage of it being winter and headed high up into the mountains outside of Santiago (In Cajon del Maipo), to play in the snow with two friends!In July, my parents came to Chile for three weeks.  We got to explore Santiago, celebrate my 29th birthday together and travel to Punta Arenas and Torres del Paine National Park to embark on the most magical adventure with landscape that I still can’t believe is real!In September, we took advantage of the 4-day weekend for Chilean independence day and headed to the blooming desert in the middle North of Chile.  We got to see the best blooms in decades and had so so much fun camping and cooking together!In October, Carlos and I spent the long weekend at Yerba Loca National Park admiring some pretty special mountain views, including from inside our tent!  Chilean wedding season also began with my first wedding of the year.In November, I got granted my permanent residency, meaning no more paperwork and a whole lot less worry when passing through immigration at the airport!  We also went to another two weddings.

In December, we spent a day exploring Viña del Mar, Valparaíso and a vineyard thanks to BookMundi.I also finished my second year teaching in Chile, Carlos and I celebrated our second wedding anniversary, we went to another wedding… and I flew to London for Christmas to end 2017. Phew!

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We managed to explore so much of Chile this year, going to so many places that are close to Santiago, and a few more further afield, all on a good budget!  We used our camping equipment lots, climbed lots of mountains and managed to relax too.

The great news is that in 2018, there are eight long weekends in Chile!!  Including one of five days in September and one of four in October, along with those and my teacher holidays, we’ll have lots of time to keep adventuring!

Thanks so much for following along this year, I’ve loved also travelling the world through your fantastic posts and photos.  I’m excited to keep sharing with you in 2018!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Lots of love, Marcella xx