Most of us dream about it, right? Hot summer days stretched out in uninterrupted succession. Balmy temperatures and consistent sun. Dresses and flip flops and iced tea. Warm nights gathered around a barbecue in a friend’s backyard. Well, I’m definitely down — to a point. I think Santiago’s climate is teaching me something I never knew about myself with such clarity before: I’m not an endless summertime kind of girl.

All pics snapped from the truck: Ocean Beach, SF, December 2011.

It’s the middle of March, and the temperatures have been in the low 30s C / 90s F for months. It started getting hot back in early November, Chile’s springtime, which I’ve also heard aptly described as “summer with a breeze.” Of course, Santiago is simply stunning when the warm weather first arrives. The breezes clear out winter’s smog layer, the Andes pop their shoulders back in astounding clarity, and pungent flowers bloom in purple and magenta glory throughout the city. The communal effects are nothing short of stunning. But we’re nearing five months on. Those “breezes” have been scant for some time, and you can forget about rain! It’s not happening.

 

Having spent so much time in San Francisco (and being the daughter and granddaughter of SF natives), an overcast day is what I know best. It’s comfortable and regulating one’s body temp is far more manageable in my opinion (as is, I have a fan whirling next to me and a cold compress draped across my neck.) When the sun does strike back home, the city stirs with glee as its collective inhabitants scale hillsides, scatter to the coastline, or stake out an outdoor table somewhere. Now, I want to do all of that the second the clouds roll in! We’re getting close enough to autumn (don’t let today’s projected 92-degree temp fool you) that once in a random while an overcast morning or rustling evening rolls by. In these moments, my energy spikes. I bound out the door, ready to take it on, whatever “it” may be.

 

Since about January, I’ve had a long-standing vision of what I’m going to do the first time it rains in Santiago (which isn’t too often, even in the wintertime). Provided I’m not in class or otherwise predisposed, I’m going to bound right out into the middle of it, throw my arms out wide, and turn my face up to the sky to welcome water back to land.

 

If we head to the coast or far south, we’ll find the clouds and marine layer, which always spark a sense of the cozy for me. I think that’s what I’m craving more than anything — the opportunity to bundle up, crack open a book, and truly “be” in sync with the weather. Without a pool, ocean, or AC on hand, it’s hard to exactly tap into this endless summer. I’ve talked to enough people who love the weather here, so I know I’m likely a member of a small group, if not alone in my autumn fantasies. I also know there are far hotter places in the world to reside, so I’m grateful that Santiago may in fact be temperate in comparison. After all, the nights and early mornings are cool. 7AM get-together anyone?

 

All I’m saying is that now you’ll know who that girl twirling in the middle of a rainy sidewalk is when you see her. (I happen to know it’s raining back home in San Francisco right now, so do a little twirl for me if the spirit moves you.) As for today, I’m about to go jump into one of Santiago’s abundant water fountains that shimmer and cascade like the mirages that they are. I figure I’ve got at least five or so minutes to enjoy myself before I get caught 🙂