Quédate, quédate luna.

To start off this post, please click this link and listen to the first song. (Double click then press play song on the left side).

Last night the full moon was the closest it's been to the Earth since 1993. Read more about it here.


We took this opportunity to travel outside of Santiago a little bit to a town called Cajon de Maipo. Anna, some Chilean friends and I set out for our adventure with word of live music and a celebration for the full moon. We knew little more than that, so as we arrived to Cajon we asked some locals about the festival. First ones hadn't heard of it but pointed us in the direction of the place where we thought it was. We arrived there and asked more people, at least they had heard of the festival, but apparently it was in the opposite direction. We headed back across town and drove in the outskirts. The road we took was absolutely gorgeous, lined on the side of a mountain, looking down at a valley with a river cutting through. The mountains were stunning, stripped with different layers of rocks wearing their geological age for everyone to see. It was as if these mountains had the wrinkles of an old man and were proud of them. We continued on a 30 minute drive appreciating the sun setting behind the majestic landscape. 


We had just about given up when we found a dirt parking lot full of cars. We got out and realized the party was on the other side of the valley, with the river between us. Hesitantly, we followed the dirt path towards the other side of the valley. To our pleasant surprise, we found a suspended bridge connecting us to the other side. We ran across, jumping and making the bridge go in directions it probably shouldn't have, pausing in the middle to feel the power of the river below and bask in the incredibly bright moonlight. 


We found the live music, plopped down on the large blanket and listened. The band consisted of about 6 or 7 members and included woodwind instruments such as the saxophone and clarinet. The band switched members and out came a woman playing a squeeze box, a young boy on a drum set definitely bigger than him, and various other instruments. After they finished, a man introduced the next arrangement and invited everyone to come forth and dance. Without hesitation most of the small crowd came forward, all howling at the moon. We watched for a bit but couldn't help but join in. This began our 45 minute dancing session in the middle of the mountains soaking in the rejuvenating energy of the full moon. And we danced until the music stopped.


After resting, we got on the road back to Santiago, of course stopping at the first empanada stand we saw. 


Las estrellas brillan y la luna se sienta en su silla,
Lauren Adele