MUCHAS COSAS: Walt mans our sale spot in LaStarria. Who wouldn't buy something from that friendly gringo face?
September will mark our very last month as residents of Chile. It’s bittersweet, but the excitement of traveling north to Peru and Ecuador seems to consistently outweigh the things we will miss. And before we say goodbye, we’ll have to pack up. And in order to pack up, we’ve got to get rid of all this stuff!
Through boredom and homesickness, we’ve accumulated many things since January. (Shout out to our mamas for sending so many care packages!) So rather than throw or give away the stuff we can’t fit in our luggage, we’d thought it wouldn’t hurt to try and make a little extra travel money.
Walt and I walked up to LaStarria, a beautiful little area full of foot traffic, carrying everything we could, a blanket, and a couple of good books to read. “What if we don’t sell anything at all?” I remember us thinking. We were oh-so-very wrong.
Saturday’s yard sale, er, sidewalk sale, was a true testament to just how appreciated the U.S. is in Chile. From our used and ripped up English magazines to old clothes bearing American labels, people were thrilled and eager. They asked if we had more clothes, and if we’d be back next weekend.
Soon, our friends joined us and brought a few things of their own.
Our friends Nicole and Ryan brought their puppy that they temporarily adopted.
It was a lucrative idea, to say the least, but the best part about it was the people. It was an incredible way to spend a sunny afternoon- sitting in one of Santiago’s most treasured neighborhoods and having an excuse to talk with people. Most of our “customers” were very interested in why we were here and why we were selling our stuff. Joined by other street vendors, mostly selling crafts, vintage clothing, and homemade baked goods, we were instantly welcomed into a culture that we never knew before.
To date, it was one of our favorite weekends yet. ¡Hasta la proxima!
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