sorry about the long silence. i was gone on a conference that brought together fulbrighters from all over the southern cone for a week of introductions, lectures, and bus rides. between being amazed by each other's research and hustled to various speakers, we also got the chance to see the highlights of "el norte chico", chile's central-northern region. the area boasts the clearest night skies and thus some of the world's largest observatories, alongside teeming island wildlife preserves, valleys with famed pisco-producing vineyards, white sand beaches, and stately colonial architecture. some snapshots...



a view of isla dama's pristine beaches from the island's highest point.


gazing at the night sky through telescopes, from one of chile's many international observatories.


the valle de elqui, birthplace of nobel-prizewinning gabriela mistral and home to the country's best pisco producers.


leaping dolphins accompany us on our boat ride to isla choros, where several species of aquatic birds, sea lions, penguins, and otters play.