My Christmas (2011)

I spent the christmas with my family, cousins and my uncles here in Santiago. I really enjoy their company, but definetly I don't enjoy the fact of have a test the monday just after. In spit of that, I recieve a pair of headphones and shoes, so I was very happy. I ate a very good meal. I ate meat and chicken accompanied with quinoa and some nice pastes. I drank red wine with the food, and after just soda. We talk a lot and my uncle tell us some memories when all our parents where studying in the university of Antofagasta. I laughted a lot, but the thing that I will remember is the fact of see all our family more close than ever. We also talk about the real meaning of the christmas. Some of my family members believe in god, hence they believe about the birth of Jesus. I personally dont believe in god, but that doesnt mean I hate things related to religion. I think Christmas brings some good moments to be with your family, and we all should enjoy them as much as we can, instead of discuss about things that in the end just separates people.

My favorite beach

My favorite beach is "Los Toyos" in the third region of Chile. The beach is near Huasco, and it is a small beach, that is near of the well known "Trea Playitas" and "Playa Blanca". This group of beaches are incredibly beautiful. The sand is white and the water is very clear and also they are not too visited, so you can enjoy the place surrounded by tranquility. I travel there all the summers with my family and cousins, and I always have a great time there. Also my grandparents have a little cabain near, so I stay there for some days when we travel from Vallenar. I wish someday I could buy a cabain next to my grandparents's one, to have more space and invite some friends. When you travel from Vallenar that it is in the valley to the coastline you can see some villages and small towns like Freirina. They are very small, but beautiful. I like the little towns. I think I enjoy the silence that is always present. With the time, the coastline of the third region of Chile is starting to be more visited and the regional government is starting to apply some political plans to solve this problem, so the region will be able to recieve more tourists over the next few years.

An Outdoor Activity you Enjoy Doing

The bycicle is my favorite way to move around the city. I go to the university everyday in my bike, and If I must do something outside, almost anything, I try to go there in my bike too. I use my bike to go to class everyday because I hate the public transport in every possible way, and I dont like to spend my money in that crap.
I go to different places around Santiago the weekends with a group of friends who share the same interest in bikes, specifically the type of mountain bike called "Cross Country". This type of mountain bike requires the development of some technical skills with the bike, that will be naturally required in the mountain roads. That makes it interesting. Its not just ride your bike like the way you do in the city, you must know how to jump and avoid several obstacles up there in the mountains and hills with some funny techniques.
About crashes, a lot. You are always having some accidents and falls, the most dangerous fall I have ever had was about 3 years ago when I was going down a hill called "Cerro Grande" in La Serena. After jump a ramp, the front wheel collapsed and then I hit a tree. I lost the awareness and take a lot of scratches in my arms and legs. Anyways, I still love this sport and its great to go every weekend with friends to some hills with our bikes, and have some awesome moments.
Check www.bikemontt.com to know more about this sport! and If you can, join us!

A song from the past

Its hard for me to pick just one song that bring me memories, but I’ll try to do it. The song I choose is “Know-How” by Kings of Convenience. They are two guitarist from Norway. This tune brings me a lot of memories because I relate it to a very hard year in my life, when I was living in the south of Chile. A very special person dedicate me this song when I was fighting against some health issues, so I keep it as a gift since then. Despite I usually don’t listen to this kind of music, this song opened my mind into some new musical genres, so It is one of my favorite songs of all time. I have learned this song on guitar so, usually when I just want to sit down somewhere to remember some things I have done in the past, pick up the guitar and play this tune becomes something natural. When a song represent some feeling you have in a certain moment, it is nearly impossible to forget it someday, so this song is always present in my life. I know we can’t live from the past, but sometimes its very hard to go on.

One on one: Steven Wilson

The character I choose to have a "one on one" conversation is Steven Wilson, composer, guitarist and frontman of the progressive-rock band from Britain "Porcupine Tree". Steven is one of the most inspiring musician in the musical scene those days and particularly for me, my favorite one.

His musician background was very simple. Far from those conservatory musicians, he start to experiment with music when he was a child on his bedroom, making lovely pieces that now are considered brushstrokes of psychedelic music. Afterwards they were developed into progressive rock.

The first question I would ask him is:

1.- What thing, experience or certain event in your life motivate you to write songs?

I wonder what things motivate him to pick up the guitar and start writing songs. I have always admired people who besides of playing an instrument, can write music too. Steven is one of this persons, so I really feel the need to ask him that If I ever saw him.

2.- Some composers tend to write in some melancholic mood, and when they are asked what thing produces that feelings, they answer that it is just the way their creativity rolls. Is this your case too? or you have some different point of view.

3.- You have worked in the past as a producer with great artist like Björk and Opeth. Your work in those records In my opinion is impressive. You have considered to develop that aspect of your habilities?

I respect him a lot, and I think these questions would clear a lot of doubts I have always had in my mind.

Cheers!

Travelling from Punta Arenas to Vallenar

When I was twelve years old I moved to the city of Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile. My family moved to that city due to the job of my dad at the time, every three years we had take our bags and move into another city. Both of my parents are from Vallenar, so all my family has always been there, and each summer we used to travel from Punta Arenas to Vallenar by car to see them. 3664 kms separate both cities, so the journey by car was quite a long for a impatient child like me at the time. The only way to arrive Santiago from Punta Arenas is through Argentina, so that was the first time I visited another country. The journey was great, the argentine portion of patagonia have a lot of cities and small towns aswell, and they have developed the commercial tourism into some brand new levels that we as chileans have not explored in our lands yet. When we arrived to Caleta Olivia, I remember I saw the Atlantic ocean for the first time and I run just to touch the water, I don't know why but that is something I still remember very clearly. The argentinian people treat us kindly, and we enjoy the three days of our stop there. A lot of things called to my attention, like the money they use, the several petroleum extractors, the police cars and the funny armadillos (little animals known for having a sort of leather armor covering their entire body) walking near the road. In the fourth day we arrived to Vallenar and we met our family. I still remember this journey as the best because of all the new things I saw and because it was the funniest thing I have ever done with my family. We repeat this journey three times, and when my parents announce we will go to Vallenar again, were always excellent news.