www.thegilmours.co.uk

Yes, the temporary flat we have in Santiago has turned into a bachelor pad! Rachel left for Paranal on Friday morning at 5.30am (ouch!). And, despite the assistance of a maid who visits on weekdays, i’ve failed to wash up or clear up. I don’t know where Rachel put the iron (honest gov) and the TV and computer have required my full attention when i’m here (being election time and all…)!

I think Rachel will write her own blog soon, so i won’t write too much about her experiences at Paranal, other than to say she is working hard (up to 12 hours a day), learning to calibrate, control and operate the telescope. The telescope mirror has been removed this week for re-grinding and re-polishing, so she is learning to use an instrument whose most important component is currently 1km away, in a workshop on the hillside!

The observatory base at Paranal resembles something from a Bond movie. It is built into the mountain. The entrance floor, is almost the only thing that you can see from a distance. Inside, there is accommodation for over 100, full catering facilities and entertainment and offices. There is even a music room and a swimming pool, used to manage the humidity of the site (and for fun of course!).

Anyway, in the meantime, I’ve been keeping myself amused by updating the website, doing my spanish homework, enjoying the comfort of the jacuzzi we have in our flat (!!) and using an exercise bike downstairs. I nearly killed myself going for a jog yesterday (my legs don’t like me today), in over 30 degrees heat.

Last night, i met with the sister of a Chilean friend in Edinburgh and her husband. Indeed, in true Chilean style, i got back from their house at 1.30am this morning after a delicious meal, some Chilean beers and lots of talking. Having studied in England, they shared some observations of Chilean people and language. Very interesting and very funny! And very late.

I promptly slept through my alarm (or rather, it ran out of battery after the first little whimper) and missed the english church service this morning. However, i went to the spanish speaking service instead, which was excellent! Hymns and Christmas carols in Spanish!

I was pleasantly surprised to understand aroung 80% of the sermon, with the help of powerpoint slides. Although i forgot my dictionary, which, given that i knew i was going to a spanish service, was a bit “que un burro” (like a donkey, as they say in spanish)!

So, i’ll go and give some attention to the flat… and my spanish homework.

I’m looking forward to seeing my fellow students from Leeds graduate tomorrow, by webcam (apparently, you can view it online at 2pm UK time!). If any of you are viewing this, then good luck guys and have a pint on me!

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 11th, 2005 at 5:53 pm and is filed under News from a long narrow country- Chile 2006. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.