One amazing birthday...

I am now 26!!! Whoooo hoo!!! As with most holidays or big events in Chile, this one made me a little sad at first, but then it only got better and better with each moment.

Jess, Allison and I went to Chiloe for our last trip together since I'm leaving in NINE DAYS! We had been talking about it forever and of course waited until the last minute to plan anything. Literally, we had one trip planned and realized it wasn't going to work and as a back up bought bus tickets to Chiloe, and island in the south, on Tuesday and left on Thursday.

It was a little colder and wetter than we would have hoped for, but all in all it was great. We just relaxed and enjoyed hanging out.

By the water in Castro

Pretty boats

We ate some local seafood.....

It was questionable, since I don't really like that much seafood.

Went to the national park and hiked out to a beach. It was a huge beach that went for miles (not normal for Chile) and we were the only ones there. Other than our two friendly dogs that we met. So we eat lunch and hung out all day at the beach.

Playing who's taller on the beach with Allison...

Stray dogs and old fishing nets on the beach

Shells in the water

Lots of laughter :)

We came back and waited for the bus while drinking hot chocolate in a cafe and playing Tabo.... in Spanish! We were actually pretty good.

The next day we were off for a bus tour on 2 nearby islands. Chiloe, is the name of the big island and there are something like 32 surrounding little islands and a lot of the people only have solar energy and only until 7pm. So it was quite interesting. We saw lots of churches and once again had the local flavor.... it was prepared in a very cool way. Literally, baked in the ground below leaves, but it was just not my cup of tea.

The last day we wandered the city before hopping on a bus to one city and then an overnight bus. We brought wine and cookies to make it more fun. The best part..... they showed Harry Potter as the movie. It was in Spanish, but still awesome.

Classy birthday on the bus.

Today at the hogar my 2 amazing co-volunteers made a carrot cake (part of our healthy eating lessons) with the girls and even got candles for my birthday. So they sang and all gave me big hugs and kisses and almost brought me to tears. One of the girls can't write so she had me write out what she wanted to say in the card and then gave me a heart made out of play dough.

Making the amazing cake

Best laugh in the whole world

Cake with the girls

Sweetest little birthday hug

I could not have asked for a better birthday. I spent the weekend with amazing friends who I've been through so much with in Chile and I could not be more grateful to have them. We laughed so much this weekend and even though the trip didn't work out at all how we planned it was still perfect.

Then today with the girls, I just felt so loved and so blessed. We were having a dance party in the kitchen just jumping around and one of the girls was just laughing her head off. I wish I could bottle up that little laugh and take it with me. They are my family here and I had a wonderful birthday with my amazing friends and Chilean family!