There was traffic getting back into Santiago and didn't realize I would have to go to another terminal to meet Carito (she had bought bus tickets prior as she was worried they would sell out as it was the Chilean Independence Day week celebration). There were tons of flags everywhere, many people off work and a huge celebration all week with "fondas" festivals. I arrived with 10 minutes to get to the other terminal which was 10 minutes away so I was freaking out as I didn't think I would make it. Carito had suggested I take the metro but I told her I didn't know how to get a ticket and it would take just the same amount taking an Uber. I ordered an Uber and told the Uber that I was in a hurry. She tried her best to get me there on time. I was freaking out and felt sick to my stomach as I didn't want to miss the bus. Carito told the bus driver that I would be there any minute and thankfully the bus was 5 minutes delayed as I had to run and was there 5 minutes late. I made it!!! I was so relieved but stressed at the same time. It was good to be with Carito and we chatted for an hour and then relaxed the last 2 hours as we watched the sunset and she told me about the many villages on the way to Pichilemu. We arrived around 9pm got a collective to the hostel and met with her friend that she knew working there. He showed us to our room that had 4 bunkbeds but it was only us and we had our own bathroom that night. We decided to go to this hot tub that one of her guy friends's mom owns and so we got some snacks and went straight there. We relaxed all night with some wine, cheese, salami, and this meat the mom made that was super super delicious (but later gave me a swollen lip!). Also the cutest little puppy was there named El Chico that I adored as it looked like Ruffers (only my family knows). As. I was going to bed that night, I could feel my upper right lip swelling and it freaked me out so I took a picture of it with my phone and something was definitely not right so I asked Carito to look as she was falling asleep. We both knew it was an allergic reaction and thankfully she had meds for this so I took it and went to bed as it was 2-3am. We woke up in time for breakfast where there were tons of people sitting around and grabbing food, especially these 3 girls from holland that were young and chatty and I wasn't in the mood but Carito made it work. My lip was feeling better and then we got ready and left to go to central area. It was this cute little beach town and we got the best ceviche and thankfully she knew where to go to. Then we went to this coffee shop and she wanted to get a dreadlock so she got a dreadlock as I sat on the sunny beach. We then went to get lunch and I ordered fish that was huge with rice and it was good. Then I was planning to surf but the waves weren't great so I decided not to, we walked around the market area and then grabbed a cab to this point that had to rocks. Punta de lobos, it was sunset and there were tons of surfers here! If I had known this I would have come here but also with my ear I didn't want tot risk it and it wasn't worth it as I wanted to save my money and surf in a warmer place. The water was freezing and it just didn't seem right. So we took some pictures of the beautiful cacti and rocks and watched the surfers. Then we walked along the beach back to the hostel, talking about random things and stumbled upon this restaurant that had outdoor seating as the sun was about to set, we stopped there. Didn't realize they didn't have alcohol and we were still full from lunch we ordered non-alcoholic beers (didn't know this at first but realized after) as we both speak Spanglish (I practice Spanish and she practices English). Theres some difficulty in this as we don't fully understand each other but it really forced me to speak in Spanish and so thankful for that. We then got a collective back to the hostel and got ready for the night out. We drank wine by the bonfire and everyone at the hostel was partying. We all chatting, some people form Pichilemu, Santiago, Germany, and Venezuela. I chatted mostly with these two girls from Venezuela and they told me about their situation and leaving Venezuela and how they got to where they were. Then we all left for the Fonda and ordered the best foods!!! I tried this meet on a stick and empanada and was in heaven. I loooooved it. Tons of people out and about partying and eating, felt amazing. Then we left with Carito's guy friend to the central area and went to the club where there was constant reggae ton playing. Danced all night and had a blast. Called it a night around 5am and then woke up a bit late to check out, quickly wrapped up our things and then made breakfast and sat on the beach and relaxed before leaving for the bus. We got lunch at the restaurant near the bus stop and ordered so much food including empenadas (my last one) churros, coffee and cake. I was so full on the bus and sad to leave Pichilemu but I had my flight the next morning at 1am and had to be at the airport by 11pm. We arrived to the bus station and Carito's mom was there with her little sister who was 6 years old and so sweet. Her mom lives in Valpariso but she came to be with Carito in Santiago for the holiday as that day was the most important. We went to Carito's apt and made pizza after walking around to realize nothing was open-it was a ghost town. Everyone was out in the rural countrysides celebrating the holidays. It was nice to walk around with Carito and get some ingredients for the pizza as we had eaten so much and were on a bus and then I had to get on a 13 hour plane ride. As the pizza was cooking, showered and did some yoga with Carito's sister and then we sat and ate in her small living room. It was very family and cute and I loved that I was able and invited to be apart of it. She let me borrow some comfortable pants and a couple long sleeves shirts as I had ripped my only pair of comfortable pants (I only have yoga pants otherwise). Then I ordered an über and said goodbye. It was a bittersweet ending to my South American trip of 3.5 months and I wouldn't have asked for anything more. I really didn't want to leave as I had so much f***ing fun but I was also excited for my next adventure to New Zealand (a completely different culture). I got to the airport 2 hours in advanced and talked to my family and then I was off on this dreadful 13 hour flight.