the 'rents came to visit! (and the phrase "it's chilly in chile!" never got old...)

so, i couldn't keep you all in suspense for too long. since it'll take my dad a good 3 months to put these on a cd, i thought i'd pick out a few good ones to show. plus, it means i get to put off catching up on my studying for another couple hours.
overall it was a GREAT visit. it was really wonderful to have them here and get to let them in on this world of mine.
the highlight was definitely having my parents meet my host family. it was such a beautiful moment. when my parents first met my host dad on the day they arrived, just to stop by the house, i think my 'dads' hugged about 15 times, no exaggeration. it was really beautiful to see. because they couldn't communicate verbally, they communicated...physically? (that sounds dirty, but you know what i mean.)
the day after we had dinner together, (while i was recovering from 3 hours of translating and my mom was recovering from the 3 pisco sours my host dad served her) with my parents, they were raving about the family. how loving they are, and how well they take care of me. and then the next day, after my parents left, my host family was doing the same thing about them. how affectionate and kind they are, not what they expected. i had to clarify that my family didn't really hold to the 'personal space' rule that i had talked about most united stateseans having.
anyway--the question remains, how do you pick 'a few good pictures' from the 430 my dad took during 6 days? i'll try to guide you all a bit.

the garden at my house


jake and leslie sent me real coffee!!!! yay!!!!


a few shots of valparaiso




dad next to the virgen at cerro san cristobal


a unique chilean treat. called 'mote con huesillos"



this is the parents on the WAY to the day of wine-tasting


a couple at the vineyard



me with my host family! por fin!!!


all my parents and me


one of my favorite shots from the hotel balcony


my mom, teresa (my nana and now good friend) and me


la moneda--the chilean capital building


this is alejandra, my colombian friend, and quite possibly my favorite person that i've met here


my cafe!


sarah and pipe went to dinner with us one night. they, too, are amazing people.


and my other favorite shot of the city


ok, enjoy!