Gimnasio

I cannot believe I left out the gym in my post yesterday. I really have nothing interesting to write about today - more homework, more food, more walking walking walking. But, people, this gym was unlike any gym I have ever seen - in person, in a photo, in horror film. Nolan, Seth and I wanted to check out the free gym that is near the school - it only has a few open hours - we thought it was about 4-6 in the afternoon, and for a free gym, totally understandable. So we get to the series of buildings and first of all, can't figure out how to get IN. there is a huge fence surrounding these buildings with deathly sharp, rusty spikes on top, and no doors open. There was no way we were jumpin' this baby. Seth asked a man walking by if we could get in, and he gave us a little smile and smoothly lifted the latch connected to the door. Oopsies. Anyway, once we were in, the guy who was the "gym greeter" said we couldn't come in until 4:30...even though there were other people in there. I think he was yankin' our chain, but whatever. We had nowhere to be. So once we enter, it got even better. Not only was every light turned off, but it was just this large, dark, musky room full of all the equipment that couldn't sell in the U.S. in the 1960's. I WISH I were exaggerating, but this was a body builder's hell. This is where workout freaks will be sent if they every end up in hell. I'm sorry for this description, but there were a select few machines I could figure out how to use. The lat pull down if you will was held together with a bike chain, and I WILL be returning to take a picture of the quote unquote "Stairmaster" Nolan attempted to "use." It probably did more harm than good in all honesty. The free weights were a do-it-yourself item; (1) Find a bar...or for a greater challenge, find 2 bars of equal size. (2) Find 2 small weights that may or may not fit onto the 1 or 2 bars of the same or different size. (3) Try and guess about what weight you can lift in kilos. NOT pounds. (4) Attempt to put the weights on the bar, fastening them securely with a rusty "clasp" if you will to ensure that the free weights don't fall off the bar or bars and severely injure you or others. (5) Try your best to lift the weight you definitely underestimated when guessing which ones to use based on size.

This was one of the most bizarre, hilarious, and terrifying experiences thus far in Arica, Chile. Lesson learned: push-up's in the bedroom will be just fine.