On weekends, there’s plenty to see and do in and out of town. I’ve been on several weekend excursions, including trips to Chile’s cultural capital Valparaíso, and Elqui Valley, the epicenter of Pisco production (the national drink). The north of the country is the place to be for stargazing: the Atacama Desert has the clearest skies on the southern hemisphere, which makes it a world-class location for astronomy. That also explains the presence of so many observatories. Thanks to one of my colleagues I’ve had the privilege of visiting ALMA, the world’s most advanced radio telescope. In the photo you can see me with a mere three of the 66 antennas that make up this amazing instrument.

Even though my life in the Netherlands was anything but boring, it is wonderfully refreshing to get away from it all for a few months. Besides that, it’s very valuable to learn a thing or two about a foreign culture and language and make new friends in the process. I don’t mind going back to Eindhoven, but the thought of leaving behind this amazing country saddens me nevertheless. But before I do, there’s still a month of traveling ahead!