Logistics part 2

A week in Valparaiso already. Spanish class is going well. Learning fast...learning being the key word...now need to practice. Reading the paper every day to learn vocab and expressions. But still, need to find some Chileans to speak with. Although their Spanish is said to be one of the hardest to understand...they drop all the ends of the words... like the ´s´for example: gracias becomes gracia, nos vemos becomes no vemo. No wonder it was hard to figure out what people were saying the first few weeks I was here. All the travelers I´m meeting are saying it´s much easier to understand the language in Argentina, Peru, or Bolivia.

Anyways, since I can´t post pics for a while, I figured I´d share interesting facts and figures. Today: cost of life.

2kg of tomatoes = $ 1
1 kg of avocado = $ 1.40
1/2 kg of apricots = $1
2 little pieces of bread = $0.40
1 yoghurt = $0.60
Orbit gum = $0.70
1 L of water = $1.10
1 L of beer = $1.60
glass of wine at a bar = $2 to $4 (or much more of course!)
pisco sour (the national drink) at a bar = $4+ (for tourists only!!)
Bottle of wine from the store = $3 - $15 ( the $4-5 are just fine!)
Simple lunch menu (empanada, fried fish + rice, ice cream) = $5-8
A nice plate of fish (ie: not fried) for dinner = $8+
Typical backpacker´s lunch, ie: make-yourself sandwish (ham+cheese) and fruit = $3
´Yummy´completo (hot dogs) italian way (with avocado, mayo, ketchup) = $2.50
Empanadas de pollo = $1.60 - $2.00
Hostal night = $ 10-11 in the burbs, $ 12-14 in the cities
1 way ticket on the brand new Valparaiso train to Vina = $0.90
1 return ticket on the old micro bus = $0.90
1 way from Valpo to Santiago (1hr1/2) = $7
Banos = $0.30 (gotta pay everywhere)
1 Hr on Internet = $0.80
Jeans = $20 (yes, got a pair already!)
Sunglasses on the street = $2