tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72828352781431256072024-02-18T18:10:42.911-08:00Nick and Lora's Infinite Adventure: South America bottom to topFormerly my Peace Corps Paraguay and travel blog. December 9th, 2011 I swore out as a volunteer and proceeded to travel through South America with my boyfriend for four months before returning home. Paraguay to New Jersey! I took the long way home.
This blog still contains my PC experience so, disclaimer: my thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way reflect the thoughts and opinions of the Peace Corps or the GovernmentLorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-5008290614399648752012-05-05T07:59:00.002-07:002012-05-05T07:59:33.270-07:00The last step: Bogota to New Jersey!!Home again home again jiggity jig.<br />
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This will most likely be my last post for the bloggy blog, after two and
a half years of doing it (or trying to keep up with it). I'm not sure
where this post is going to go but it'll have a bunch of everything.
(stats, reflections, etc.) Firstly, though, I will start off with our
very small amount of time in Bogota. <br />
It was the last overnight bus of the trip!!! and I was actually tired
enough to be able to sleep and had 2 seats to myself. I also had a very
unhappy stomach. I fell asleep for maybe 45 mins when we suddenly
stopped and were told we needed to switch buses (around 12am). The bus
we switched to was NOT as comfy as the one we just were in and there
weren't extra seats so I had to stay in mine. I think I actually did end
up getting some sleep though and on the same bus was an Australian
couple we had met in Huacachina! We arrived in Bogota at 2:30 pm and decided to follow the
Aussies to Hostel Platypus. The Bogota terminal had something we hadn't
seen in any other city regarding taxis. People were lining up and
getting a slip from this guy in a booth, then going out to the parking
lot and finding the taxi with the license plate number that was on the
slip and getting in, price already determined on the paper. We thought
this was a great way to do it, until we tried it. We went up to the booth wanting all four of us to go all together but we had a LOT of stuff with us so we asked for a big taxi. He was like 'ok this one is kinda big' and when we went out and gave the guy the ticket (it was not a big car) he refused to take us, as did everyone else who saw all our stuff. Although they would take all of us in the car for 20COP (Colombian pesos). Then we asked to split up and if they could take two of us. "No, that person isn't here anymore, we won't take two but we'll take all four for 20". Since our original quote was 9COP we were like no way! So we went to the road to get one the normal way, got in and asked the price and he was sketch about it. I asked again and he said 15COP. Jeeze. We were quoted 9 from the same place!! So we got him down to 11. <br />
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For our last hostel we splurged on a double room, it wasn't anything special but it was nice enough. We headed out to the Museo de Oro (gold museum) which we heard was nice, and it was! For only $1.50 we went to the best museum out of all we've been to! Very well put together, modern and informative in both Spanish and English. That night we had some farewell drinks with the Aussies and went to bed early since we had to be up for a 8:50 flight back home!! <br />
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It was a very quick flight, but with no free movies :( and we got in earlier than expected! Of course Nick had trouble at the border because he always does. We prepared for it but thankfully he got through after a full interrogation. I, on the other hand, waltzed right through and waited. and waited. Then when Nick came through we waited some more together since my welcome commitee was not there! Apparently on line it said our flight would be late! It felt sooo good to be back! Soooo good to see everyone and my house! My dog went absolutely nuts when she saw us, licking and wiggling! It was great. We were ready to be here. My bed is the most comfortable, amazing place ever.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pottery monkey boy from gold museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">heavy duty door at museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gold stuff!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gold representation of a shaman and his helpers going to give offerings to the gods at Lake Titicaca I think. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadie extremely happy to have us home!</td></tr>
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Some thoughts and stats...<br />We visited 8 countries (Uruguay being counted but on a different trip)<br />We traveled 10,929 miles (17,588km) starting in Carapegua, PY and ending in Bogota, Colombia<br />We took 35 buses to get us across the continent<br />
We spent $1,255 on bus travel..$580 alone was just for traveling in Patagonia<br />I slept a total of 7 hours combined on all the night buses<br />Peed on 5 times by monkeys<br />I lost or broke 1 camera, 1 pair of glasses, 3 pairs of sunglasses, 1 raincoat, 1 headband I just bought, 2 hairclips, 1 fleece, I know there's more just can't think of it. <br />Nick lost ...nothing<br />
Only one thing stolen (the tarp)<br />
Used the tent a grand total of 8 times<br />
Slept in 45 beds<br />
4352 hours doing the blog :p <br />
<br />About the countries: <br /><u>Paraguay</u>: After 2 years 3 months there I can say that Asuncion is one of my least fav cities in South America (although , of course, I can get around it the best. and it has Quattro D's), it's great to experience a place with no tourism but if you wanted to go just look up a Peace Corps Volunteer on Couch Surfing and they'll show you what PY is all about. At first I hated the food and at the end I craved it! Very curious and friendly people. Worst dogs I've ever met. Most deaths of animals I liked (my pets and others) that I had to deal with. Loved learning how to garden, even if it was in boxes. HOT HOT HOT. Terere. <br /><br /><u>Argentina</u>: Big country! Highlights: BA, Hiking in El Chalten, nice buses, wine tour in Mendoza. Lowlights: long, monotonous bus rides, expensive buses esp. in Patagonia, expensive tours that you couldn't do on your own, had to be with a company unless you had your own car (penguins). Generally, we would have gotten more out of this country if we had a car to see it with.<br />
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<u>Chile</u>: We don't really know Chile since we just went to Puerto Natales. Highlights: Our week spent at Erratic Rock as evacuees (including New Years Eve). Lowlights: Torres del Paine being on fire and getting evacuated and not getting to do it, the whole reason we came down to Patagonia <br />
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<u>Bolivia</u>: It was way better than we expected! I heard it was a poorer country than Paraguay so I didn't know what to think, but it was so different from PY and so diverse! The landscape was amazing and always different. What a great country. Highlights: Volunteering at La Senda Verde, Isla del Sol, the scenery, cheapness!!, the women wearing traditional clothing, salt flats, so much to do and see there, best place to buy souvenirs. Lowlights: crappy buses with no bathrooms, crazy, windy roads, coca leaves, had to remember to always have toilet paper with you.<br />
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<u>Peru</u>: We didn't want to leave Bolivia but we had to move on. Highlights: The dune buggies at Huacachina and hangin by the pool, Cuzco, tuktuks, we had fun finding cheap ways to get by in Cuzco, the scenery around Machu Picchu. Lowlights: hiking the stairs at 5am to MP!! very touristy, the sellers always coming up to you in Cuzco and us constantly repeating 'no, gracias.' <br /><u><br />Ecuador</u>: We weren't here for toooo long, maybe a week in total so we don't know it as well. We just hit the beaches and got out. It was also so weird to use the dollar as currency! Highlights: Tropical scenery while driving along coast, Montanita had the biggest waves I've seen, finding a cheap place to stay in Montanita during Easter, amazing strawberry batidos (strawberry smoothie with milk), fruit salads! Good seafood and renting a scooter to see the equator. They seem to be more environmentally aware. Lowlights: Food was expensive in Quito, Galapagos too expensive for us :( <br />
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<u>Colombia</u>: We were only here a week and a half. Highlights: Cartagena, Mud volcano, scenery in Parque Tayrona. Lowlights: Expensive (on par or higher than Argentina!) I had a tough time understanding their Spanish and they couldn't understand mine. <br /><br /><u>Things we'll miss about South America</u>:<br />
<ul>
<li>The laid backness</li>
<li>community oriented</li>
<li>not so driven by consumerism</li>
<li>easy border crossings</li>
<li>cheaper than home</li>
<li>people generally friendly</li>
<li>scenery</li>
</ul>
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<u>Things we will not miss at all!!</u>:<br />
<ul>
<li>Littering</li>
<li>no toilet paper</li>
<li>having to pay for use of bathroom</li>
<li>getting lied to and knowing you can't trust what people say when asking about things (like what time will the bus leave, does the WIFI work, who will be on this tour with us.. etc)</li>
<li>lack of businesses sense </li>
<li>lack of consideration. The things we consider rude are just not considered it down there and we were done with dealing with it! Cutting in line, blasting music from the cell phone on a bus when people are trying to sleep, blasting music on a bus when people are trying to sleep, being in the middle of a sales transaction and suddenly the clerk goes to help someone else while you're standing there waiting to finish paying, hitting the back of bus seats or movie theater chairs, etc..</li>
<li>When crossing streets people speed up!</li>
<li>Seeing the street dogs and cats </li>
<li>Seeing used, dirty diapers eaten by dogs in the streets</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home Sweet Home</td></tr>
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<br />Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-74995931244531828532012-04-25T11:28:00.001-07:002012-04-25T11:28:26.990-07:00Santa Marta and Tayrona National ParkThe journey is coming to an end and this is our last stop before going to Bogota to fly home! We took a bus from the terminal at Cartagena to Santa Marta thinking it would take about 4 hours. But look at us setting expectations, we should know better by now! Of course the bus helper lied to us (nothing new there) 1. about what time the bus would leave and 2. every time we stopped he said it would be for five minutes. We got on the bus that was supposed to leave RIGHT NOW but ended up leaving 20 mins later. Ok I'm fine with that it happens all the time, but then we stopped at one spot just sitting there for an hour and another spot for another half hour. It ended up taking more than 6 hours to get to Santa Marta and even the locals were getting upset (so we knew it wasn't just us!). We thought we would have some of the evening to get stuff done at SM to prepare for our trip the next day to Tayrona but we pretty much just got to our hostel (hostel dreamer), ate dinner and went to sleep.<br />
Hostel Dreamer is cool because it has a pool, bar, kitchen, many dorms and an Italian restaurant (owner is Italian) what I didn't like about it was the creaky doors lol. Seriously, oil your doors! The next day we went to the huge supermarket across the street to stock up for our camping trip. We knew that the park would be expensive so we brought all our food with us, plus we could use up our gas cans we had been carrying since Chile in December! We also went to the bus station to get our tickets to Bogota, we ended up saving 40 mil Colombianos by getting from the terminal and not from the hostel. We repacked our bags and headed out to the road to catch the bus to the park. At the park we geared up to pay the entrance fee 35mil or $18 which is more than 2x the price locals get to pay. I don't like that it's like that but that's just the way it is down here and that's all I'm going to say about it : x I heard from a girl who heard from a Colombian that 95% of this park is owned by a French company, don't know if that's true or not. Then we had to pay more money to get on a bus to take us into the park (what! that's not included in the money we paid to get in? of course not..) Now we start our hike to find a campsite. We weren't sure exactly where we would camp, we figured we would figure it out along the way. The first 50 mins of hiking were to get to the beach, the jungle was really beautiful and it was a nice hike...very hot though, water is a necessity. The first beach we go to was Arrecifes. You can't swim on this beach because of the tide but it's pretty to look at. The first campsite we got to was at this beach and we decided to keep going to camp closer to more swimmable beaches. Next we got to La Piscina which is a nice beach you can swim on. The jungle comes right up to the sand and there are barely any waves, very calm with clear water perfect for snorkeling. We though we would hike to Cabo San Juan, the next beach, because you can swim and camp at that beach (the closest camping to la piscina was about a 7 min walk away. Unfortunatly, we couldn't find the path/it wasn't well marked on where we had to go to get to Cabo and by that time we were so tired and hot and just wanted to be there. So we went back to the campsite that was a 7 min walk away from La Piscina.<br />
The campsite was nice with a view of the ocean (Arricifes, no swimmin!) and not many people. The workers were friendly so we pitched our tent for 10 mil a person (around $5) and realized we needed to start making dinner before the sun went down because we both amazingly forgot to bring a flashlight. And you'd think with all our experience...I also found a coconut that nick was able to get into and it was quite yummy. After we had dinner is when things started to go downhill. we had a 7pm bedtime (the time it was dark) I think we fell asleep for ten mins and both woke up dying. It was so hot in the tent we might as well be sleeping in an oven. Seriously..it was hell. We couldn't open the door because of the mosquitoes so i just had the door unzipped a crack so i could have some breeze on my face. It was actually hell. finally around 11pm I couldn't take it and had to get out of the tent. Our tent neighbors were around at that time and we started talking (they were from NYC) and then the campsite people invited us over to drink rum with the which was awesome. We sat around taking shots of rum and watching really bad Colombian music videos and talking until the power went out. At 1pm we headed back to the tent, and I was able to fall asleep with the help of rum. Until 2:30 am when someone came to the tent with a flashlight. I woke up nick and he said 'hello?' and they walked away and went to the neighbors tent for a couple seconds. We though it was either someone going after nick's phone (you could see the glow from outside, it was by the door) or someone trying to sneak into a tent for a free nights sleep.<br />
The next day we decided to shorten our trip from three nights to two (we had pre-paid for 2 nights so we kinda had to stay) because of how awful it was in the tent. We started our day at La Piscina swimming, sleeping and watching sea turtles come up for air. At 2pm we went for a walk up to find Cabo, hiking through more jungle full of crabs. Yes. crabs. They dig little crab holes in the ground in the jungle and hide out in them. When you're walking down the path you see them all run into the holes as you walk by, like little aliens running away. Very strange. We got to the Cabo campsite which was livelier, had a big restaurant and store, plus a beach you can swim in right at the door step. It was more expensive there though, but we were finally able to get a big bottle of water instead of the small ones our campsite offered. We kept walking though to check out the other beaches close by, the next beach was 3 mins away and I think it was a nude beach, playa nudista, but barely anyone was on it and the people who were were not naked. I thought this was the most beautiful beach out of all of them. It had the jungle but also it was like a cove and you could see the hills on one side and big rocks on another. I parked up leaning against a big rock and watched a crab I dubbed Leo go about his business right in front of me. We stayed there chilling for an hour, then we had to make a mad dash back to the campsite as a thunderstorm rolled in. We made it back right before it started raining heavily but had to wait for it to stop to make dinner. We though maybe it would be better since the temp dropped a little after the rain and we could sleep. Oh no. The mosquitoes came out with vengeance. After another horrible, sleepless night in the tent (actually I think I fell asleep for a couple hours) we woke up to find 15 very full mosquitoes in the tent. They were promptly killed for being so indulgent and I quickly got out of the hell tent, only to be attacked by damn sand flies! All over my legs I now have the painfully itchy red bumps I was so used to from La Senda Verde. 15 on one leg and 21 on the other. joy. We packed up and ran out of there as fast as we could to enjoy the pool at the hostel. <br />
all in all my view of Tayrona:<br />Junlge hike, cool<br />
beaches...not the best i've seen (mexico!) but not bad. I think they were hyped up a bit much.<br />
camping..horrible. unless you like sleeping in ovens. almost makes it not worth it. You can do a hammock with a mosquito net but I know I can't sleep a whole night in a hammock. <br />
Maybe it's better if you bring a mosquito net and use it like a tent over some sleeping pads. <br /><br />Next day we actually went back to the park but to a different beach on the other side and as a day trip. We went to Bahia Concha with some others as an organized trip from the hostel. We crammed 8 people into a six person van and drove 40mins to the beach. It was very tranquil there, not many people at all. It was a bay with calm waters and hills on both sides. We sat by the fishing boats under a tree and relaxed knowing we would be in a bed that night. Now we have 2 days to just chill at the hostel by the pool before going to Bogota. We will try to see Titanic 3D tonight at the theater across the street tonight, if it's in English and enjoy the rest of the trip!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first view of the shore</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrecifes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrecifes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach kitty at Bahia Concha</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bahia concha</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dreamer Hostel</td></tr>
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<br />Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-70248324147171537692012-04-25T10:03:00.001-07:002012-04-25T10:03:09.696-07:00Cartagena: old stuff and mud volcanoesWe only had planned one night in Cartagena, not knowing much about it, but as soon as we got there we wished we had more time. We were dumped off at a crappy bus terminal way out of town and had no idea where to go. We decided to try our luck with a city bus instead of taking a pricey taxi. City bus turned out to be a bad idea since it took way longer than we thought and once we got off we still had no idea where to go and ended up taking a taxi from that point. We did get to see the city though. The outskirts look like any run down town but as we neared the center we were driving with the Caribbean Sea on our left and an old wall that used to be part of the fort on our right. Took the taxi to the hostel (driver didn't even know where to go and had to ask two other people) and got our double room at the Casa Viena. The room was the only one in the hostel that had a balcony looking onto the street which was pretty awesome. We immediately signed up for the tour to go to the mud volcano 45 mins out of town. We had an hour to relax before the trip left at 1:30 PM.<br /><br />
At 1:30 a woman picked us up and took us to a van where we spent the next hour driving around picking up people from different hotels. Finally we were on our way and I passed out since I hadn't slept on the bus the night before (no surprise there). We arrived at the volcano which was smallish and had a lake behind it and some little stores around it. The locals, knowing tourists come here, have set up stands with food and drinks around the volcano as well as other ways to get money. On the bus our guide told us that for a fee we could hire someone to take pictures while in the volcano using our camera. Also you can get a massage inside the volcano and in the lake afterwords you can let a woman help you wash the mud off, all for a fee. Of course you are free to say no..or are you....<br />We knew it would be worth it to have someone take our pictures but the rest of the stuff we didn't need. So we gave our cam to some guy and went up the stairs to the volcano. I got in first, going down the wooden ladder into the mud. It wasn't cold or hot, just room temp, but the weird part was how buoyant you are in it! The guy helping me down the ladder put me on my back and floated me toward this other guy and i couldn't right myself up at all! Then Nick came in and a couple other guys started to massage us. Now we only brought a little money with us, just to pay the camera guy and get a drink and we knew at the end these guys would want money so we said no to the massage. The guys were just like 'tranquilo tranquilo' and continued to massage us. Nick kept saying no and finally was like 'ok fine but I'm not paying you!' The massage was quite nice though, maybe lasted 30 seconds and then they floated us away so they could massage the next person. Finally we were free to play in the mud and help each other get upright! We realized that by tucking your knees to your chest it helps you get in a vertical position. It was like being suspended in pudding or something, really cool feeling. After 20 mins we were told to get out and go to the lake. At the lake there were these kids wanting to wash your flipflops and the woman ready to go with their bowls to help get the mud off you. Nick and I dodged the woman and got behind the group. They kept yelling at us that we were to far out, but I think they just meant that we were to far away from them so they could get us to wash them. The lake was a really nice temp and it felt good to get the mud off my face. <br />All in all it was a nice experience up till the end when everyone came at you demanding money for the services they performed. Of course we paid the camera guy but we did not pay the massage guy. I know that they are trying to make a living buy they need to respect that if someone says no it means NO! We've been around too long to let them take advantage of us. <br />After getting back we walked around by our hostel, which is just outside of the old town, and got some dinner. We then walked around some more looking for fruit juice, I was soo thirsty! We ended up getting pineapple juice, then passion fruit juice, then water! The next day we walked around the old part of Cartagena before catching our bus to Santa Marta. The old town was awesome! It was kinda how I pictured Havana to be. It's surrounded by the old wall/fort used to prevent attacks back in the day and to enter it you walk through an archway. The buildings were so colorful and it just had a great vibe. I would have liked to have had a tour of it to know it's history, but we only had an hour before we needed to check out of our hostel and be on our way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from our balcony</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mud volcano</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first getting in</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">optional? massages</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chillin in the mud, feet floating up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XyqQjnvWlcLN1HHV2V7WuqmcFmQC1HmJh_ZD5UbNYhCNvBq6AFuDbv1nSjsCTaUKIf_UecXgr3ZIeQNB-qj_Y7ECo2kmV_LrvUL5jhCi09rGi5qfDpTYQaFXJ9Bfqrp9zko6OvwYPEE/s1600/190420122686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7XyqQjnvWlcLN1HHV2V7WuqmcFmQC1HmJh_ZD5UbNYhCNvBq6AFuDbv1nSjsCTaUKIf_UecXgr3ZIeQNB-qj_Y7ECo2kmV_LrvUL5jhCi09rGi5qfDpTYQaFXJ9Bfqrp9zko6OvwYPEE/s320/190420122686.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big kitty at the hostel, he was deff 2x the size of my cats!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cartagena old city</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our balcony </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old city</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of new city from old city</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the fort wall</td></tr>
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<br />Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-64739592500606343972012-04-18T15:09:00.000-07:002012-04-18T15:09:36.657-07:00Medellinok. I've heard Medellin is a great place. It's got a metro, it's got many museums and many statues about the city, but we didn't see much of it. We were exhausted by a 21 hour bus ride from Ipiales to Medellin so the first day we stayed in the hostel (the wandering Paisa, great place). We decided to stay 2 nights (haven't done that in awhile, and the second day) we went out to unsuccessfully explore the city. I think we missed the good parts of it, in fact I know we did. There are eco parks and whatnot, cable cars and a planetarium but all we did was get lost in the center trying to get money exchanged and find food. <br />
The night was more fun, we hung out at the hostel bar and had a free salsa lesson. Then when everyone else was hitting up the salsa clubs we went to bed because we're old. <br />
The last day we sat around the hostel (catching up on the blog) while waiting for the night bus to Cartagena. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1yhwPTSNEoQd6cBI2b5X_6KrutoZ9UuZ8Y05Qo9qQpcqa0F3K-tgK2_p6gI3gf4O4BzoZkk6HH4PhG6GpRuLinMwkiDfbqiUjwgK0x_OZFnEQbBxiFXumBJWBiZzL7x3bHCWV50iY3o/s1600/170420122640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU1yhwPTSNEoQd6cBI2b5X_6KrutoZ9UuZ8Y05Qo9qQpcqa0F3K-tgK2_p6gI3gf4O4BzoZkk6HH4PhG6GpRuLinMwkiDfbqiUjwgK0x_OZFnEQbBxiFXumBJWBiZzL7x3bHCWV50iY3o/s320/170420122640.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWjMpblgQ9JIOK1DgrBhrdIKleS7zwGm9nE-JM0zkR0QFu9qO18jJ59Sfdt1pu_-QjnKtw3hkQe-fSCnqT56W5A68o7RlqZt7cnCspf53UGnw5r4nMEjY-SUDpa9b76Hcud4GSVfnrmk/s1600/170420122641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWjMpblgQ9JIOK1DgrBhrdIKleS7zwGm9nE-JM0zkR0QFu9qO18jJ59Sfdt1pu_-QjnKtw3hkQe-fSCnqT56W5A68o7RlqZt7cnCspf53UGnw5r4nMEjY-SUDpa9b76Hcud4GSVfnrmk/s320/170420122641.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-31192081267639853712012-04-18T15:00:00.000-07:002012-04-18T15:00:30.200-07:00Crossing the Border: Eccuador to Colombia. and also IpialesAfter hearing that the border crossing is pretty sketch along the coast of Ecuador to Colombia we decided to do it from Quito. We took a five hour bus ride to Tulcano, stamped out of Ecuador with no line to wait in. Walked across a bridge and stamped into Colomia with no line to wait in, no paper to fill out, nothing. It was for sure the easiest border crossing we've done. If only it could be that easy for Nick to get into the States! <br />
We then took a Taxi to the center of Ipiales because we heard there was a pretty cool cathedral outside of there called El Santuario de Nuestra SeƱora de las Lajas. It was being built from the 1940s till 70s so it's quite new as cathedrals go. We took a shared taxi from the center. It dropped us off at the top of the hill and we walked down a road, passing stands with all sorts of food, toys and religious paraphernalia. As we got closer the wall became crowded with plaques from families for dead members of the family or with prayers on them. The church itself was pretty impressive. There were two weddings just coming out as we got there, that was neat to see. We spent about half an hour there then went back and watched a movie in our cheap hotel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colomia welcomes us</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crossing the bridge between countries</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wall of prayers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside catacombs</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-3584138812921583062012-04-18T14:40:00.000-07:002012-04-18T14:40:58.896-07:00Quito..time is running out!We only spent one week in Ecuador and one night in Quito because we're on a mad dash to get to the North coast of Colombia to (more) beaches. Plus our flight out is at the end of the month. We didn't see much of Quito so I don't have much to write. The night bus was uneventful and we arrived at 4:30 am which was not the best time. Fortunately, we met a guy on our bus going to the same hostel as us (the blue house) so we shared a cab. Unfortunately, we didn't have a room till 12pm that day. The guy at the desk was really nice though and set us up with mattresses to sleep on till we could get into a room. At 7 am, though, was breakfast and it was getting noisy (the mattresses were right by the breakfast table) so they moved us to another room to sleep and finally at 10:30 we were moved into a dorm room with 8 beds. So three beds for the price of one! We were taking a bus out early the next morning to the boarder of Colombia, not much time to explore the city. What we did do though was rent a scooter and drive out to the equatorial line! Well Nick drove, I uncomfortably hung on the back. <br />
This is the highest point that the equator passes through and in 1700 or 1800 something some french dudes came and built a statue where they thought it was. Now they've made a park around it called 'Mitad del Mundo' and next to that is a museum of the sun. We were headed for Mitad del Mundo but ended up at the sun museum and it turns out that the sun museum is really where the line passes through and the french guys were a little off. The museum was pretty interesting, it talked about the tribes that worship the sun and the natives who live in the Amazon near the equator in Ecuador. We also did experiments on the line like which way the water flows on what side of the line, balance and strength completely go away when your standing on it, and balancing an egg on a nail is apparently really easy to do while standing on the line. I couldn't but nick did it and became an egg champion. He got a certificate. We also got a stamp in the passport saying we went to the equator. Very enjoyable I'd recommend this place. <br />
We then scooted back and got some dinner and went to bed. nice. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">demonstration of guinie pigs being kept in a kitchen...for eatin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a shrunken head with instructions on how to do it</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our rented wheels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-70786214030062976262012-04-18T13:46:00.001-07:002012-04-18T14:12:13.836-07:00Yay beaches!! Montanita, Puerto Lopez and Isla de la Plata and CanoaI had been waiting for this for a long time...beaches! Our first stop in Ecuador was montanita, a surf town that was pretty touristy but had a good vibe. Since we arrived the sat before Easter Sunday the prices of everything were doubled and we were lucky to find a double room with bathroom for $10 each per night. We went to this hostel run by a Spanish woman and when she told us the price for her hostel we were like hmm...is there anyway you can do us a deal? and she told us about this room that her family members had, the best part was we had the whole place to ourselves. We ended up staying two nights. Something about Ecuador I didn't know until 2 months ago was that they us USD as their currency which was weird but made it easy to figure out prices! <br />
The montanita beach was a strange one because during high tide it would go all the way up the beach to where the streets started so sitting on it during high tide was not possible unless you rented a chair for $5. The waves were some of the highest ones I have ever seen (remember I'm coming from the Jersey shore here) and watching the surfers on them was amazing. <br />
Next we went up to Puerto Lopez to see Isla de la Plata or 'Poor Man's Galapagos'. The island is named that because 1. When the natives looked at the island during a full moon all the bird guano would 'glow' like silver and 2. it's rumored that Sir Frances Drake had lots of pillaged goodies from the new world in his boat but was getting pursued and need to go faster so dumped all the treasure around the island so he could get away. Not sure which one is the true one but prob the bird poo one. The beach in the town of PL wasn't too nice but the waves much calmer than in montanita so it made for happier swimming, not just getting tossed about the whole time. We booked at island tour for $30 and the next day got on a boat with a family of Spaniards to head out. A boat had just come in with the days catch which included two big swordfish so all these people and sea birds were milling around looking to buy/steal some fish. The hole tour was just ok. Most of the trails on the Island were closed and all the birds were flying around the island so you couldn't really see them. We did see two blue footed booby's up close, one little fledgling that was standing on a stump flapping his wings practicing for flying saw us and immediately came up to us very curious. It was cute. They have no fear of humans because it's a protected place. After the tour (which was all in Spanish even though we were told it would be both, nick was not happy) we got to go snorkeling around the island . All the birds were flying above us and diving into the water for fish, it was pretty cool. We only stayed one night here in Puerto Lopez (we found a hotel for $3 a night! very basic), there is a national park next to it with nice beaches but we didn't end up going. <br />
Our last beach stop before heading inland was Canoa. It took us 7 hours and 3 buses to get to it and it's not even that far away from PL on the map! This place was prob my fav because the sea was so warm and calm to swim in and the town was way better than Puerto Lopez. We found a nice hostel across from the beach where we stayed one night, two days and just enjoyed the beach.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset on montanita</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">night time on montanita</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yummy fruit salad breakfast!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boat to take out to isla de la plata</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sea birds flying around the island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the curious fledgeling booby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> snorkeling </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fish we would snorkel with</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from hostel in Canoa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-67117544928278885612012-04-18T13:09:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:09:27.734-07:00Trying to get into Ecuador during semana santa. If only we knew!We messed up. We messed up by not realizing that semana santa, Easter week, was upon us while we were traveling to the coast where everyone and their mom's dog wants to go for their vacation. We came back from Huanchaco thinking that we could get on a bus out of Trujillo to the top of Peru that same day. Oh how wrong we were. We got to the bus station (once again many small ones instead of one main one) to find it packed with people and all the buses up north sold out. We walked around to every bus company we could find and heard the same story.<br />
We ended up buying a ticket up to Piura for the next day and from there we would get into Ecuador. We spent the night in Trujillo (would not suggest it, not the best looking place) and another night in Piura because once again the buses into Ecuador were all full. Piura wasn't to nice either but we did stay in a hostel for cheap and it had a aviary in it. Finally the next day we had a night bus into Ecuador. We were told it would be a semi cama nice bus but when we got on it it was a normal not nice bus. We were pissed because we payed for a nice bus so right before we pulled out a ran inside and was able to get some money back! The bus ride sucked. The driver was blasting music the whole night and the seats were not comfy and the guy behind me kept putting his knee into my back. The border crossing, though, was very easy and at 1am we were officially in Ecuador and on our way to the beach!Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-10106339646612091242012-04-10T21:44:00.000-07:002012-04-10T21:44:42.106-07:00Lima and surfing in Huanchaco Ok. I've learned something while traveling. We haven't had any trouble (other than the tarp) with people stealing from us, but I am still missing things, and it's myself that is the culprit. So far, I have lost/left somewhere my raincoat, my sunglasses I bought 2 days before, a headband I bought an 2 hours before losing, a hairclip I bought before breaking it the next day, a little notebook with important things inside like passwords, and , the worst one, my frickin glasses!!! and the case!! I left them on the bus from Cuzco to Ica (Huacachina) and tried really hard to get them back but I can safely say they are for sure gone. I asked the bus company in Ica but they said, since that bus ended in Lima, to go there. Went to the company in Lima and asked someone who directed me to someone else who directed me to 3 teens who just laughed when I asked because they probably didn't know what I was talking about and this being South America of course there is no lost and found!! I even went back the next day and talked to the manager!! So now I am stuck with my old glasses that make me look like I have lizard eyes >:( why couldn't I have lost them and not my new ones that change to sunglasses in the sun and are a better prescription!!<br />
Anyway...<br />
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First off let me start by saying that we had heard that Lima was a dirty, boring place with nothing to see but we decided to go anyway, just for a night. It is a big place and we stayed in Miraflores which is a nice, chuchi part but a 45 min bus ride to the center. Although, other than some historical stuff, everything one would need is in Miraflores..even some Incan ruins! We were going to stay for two nights but the hostel we found only had a room for one night and all the others in the area were expensive so we stayed for one night. The first night was a Sunday so big hang out night in the plaza of Miraflores. It had a great vibe to it, there were people out walking and people selling their wares and even a Brazilian drum band performing. The next day we headed into the center to see the plaza and San Fransisco cathedral where you can get a tour of the where the monks lived and the catacombs under the church. On the way into the centro we had to get off the bus and buy a bus ticket to Trujillo, unfortunately there is no central bus station so not easy to shop around when all the different bus companies are spread apart. We hopped back on a bus and checked out downtown. It wasn't bad at all. The church tour was good and the catacombs were creepy, the streets were clean and it was a nice day. We found Lima quite pleasant. These people must have never been to Asuncion!! We left that night on a bus to Trujillo and from there we would head to Huanchaco, a surf beach town. <br />
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Huanchaco is cool because the fisherman still use reed boats that their ansestors used to fish back in the day. I like that. It's a nice little town where people go to surf or learn to surf. I didn't find the beach that appealing to swim on though and the ground under water is pretty rocky according to nick who had a surf lesson. I sat on the beach and watched. Not a bad deal though, $14 for a 2 hour lesson and rental of the board and wet suit for the day. If we stayed longer maybe I would have tried it! We only stayed for a night though in a hostel that was 10 soles, a little more than $3 (yay budget!) but we needed to move on and get into Ecuador!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking feeding birds in the park to a whole new level in Miraflores</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Brazilian drumming</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miraflores</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a statue dedicated to shoe shiners </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the main plaza</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V_ekSHgUO1zr0nxh6GcaYkFk0zx38vYpOVF3Mg03Sp_ptlEmtIyBUUU-m2V7zySGG3O_BNGqhA2nAoMmsicKZfyG1kJGtw409l8eV-kzSiglAeLVWy4Nb7KMmw_vbJ41PRoVLFWXuT8/s1600/020420122482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1V_ekSHgUO1zr0nxh6GcaYkFk0zx38vYpOVF3Mg03Sp_ptlEmtIyBUUU-m2V7zySGG3O_BNGqhA2nAoMmsicKZfyG1kJGtw409l8eV-kzSiglAeLVWy4Nb7KMmw_vbJ41PRoVLFWXuT8/s320/020420122482.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Fransisco </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu8Itbn8sBCmGBGQRP5e1yzgZuj_pLxlOQok7G2rq_PPKzi6KQeMP9Jtv1c_Xs5itJakpic5tprnEtre8Q2liu3P8-4avWmOJYXX3UbloAPqYrR3nW_KHtDlQb6EcrooooDxMro9oDW4/s1600/020420122483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeu8Itbn8sBCmGBGQRP5e1yzgZuj_pLxlOQok7G2rq_PPKzi6KQeMP9Jtv1c_Xs5itJakpic5tprnEtre8Q2liu3P8-4avWmOJYXX3UbloAPqYrR3nW_KHtDlQb6EcrooooDxMro9oDW4/s320/020420122483.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the catacombs where practically all of Lima was buried back in the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpZ8iunQvhJ-p7WCn5H_wxusWhkw_Rf1FnYPIkdUsCzgi57CX40VDH5Nxzo2qYdDjYmnKLOt8Fi3osIg5MSpCWrPsdW0-qPfZVlqvIUCfzE9a7VpJfCzHfSztD4CI3XADqU0n23OXQS8/s1600/030420122504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtpZ8iunQvhJ-p7WCn5H_wxusWhkw_Rf1FnYPIkdUsCzgi57CX40VDH5Nxzo2qYdDjYmnKLOt8Fi3osIg5MSpCWrPsdW0-qPfZVlqvIUCfzE9a7VpJfCzHfSztD4CI3XADqU0n23OXQS8/s320/030420122504.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the reed boats in Huanchaco</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXRoDJaedfMv9TYPSLCEOeyQs4y7qaBUMOK9SFdIgPLxnJOI95HkzntXsIYJVu9yDNqq3QP1EFLXmRBHKaiw5L0f24TDxfEljyGWCmFMaasaPpaaVbR15V0cXrHlitxkCCOC9zr2ZxY0/s1600/040420122513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXRoDJaedfMv9TYPSLCEOeyQs4y7qaBUMOK9SFdIgPLxnJOI95HkzntXsIYJVu9yDNqq3QP1EFLXmRBHKaiw5L0f24TDxfEljyGWCmFMaasaPpaaVbR15V0cXrHlitxkCCOC9zr2ZxY0/s320/040420122513.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drying the fishing nets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aFyUF1Rnpxq7shoT19bO7x3z78M_vIOYPyO2yz2qO7CQ0RY4QbvwHdt08Mf-B_q62MQCyEQAPAk3whrJMNVDnGgGTylwvSA0rWRR6foi3PRmKFp3mGHP50UA_ofdm1nwIXfZDFXLUYw/s1600/040420122516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aFyUF1Rnpxq7shoT19bO7x3z78M_vIOYPyO2yz2qO7CQ0RY4QbvwHdt08Mf-B_q62MQCyEQAPAk3whrJMNVDnGgGTylwvSA0rWRR6foi3PRmKFp3mGHP50UA_ofdm1nwIXfZDFXLUYw/s320/040420122516.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">going out to sea, kneeling on the top and using a bamboo stick cut in half </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGgYFJUZI5b0KXq1ushRoojGaDd22_7ygkdxPP2rF02HLZA7NJsszjvmqVe6BXxfgylGTArY1ucu0ime-GCt2Goew_l9etR7AAColsWiOhwg2yUwyOdwfTjubKS3l3PC9h-IJlv55JTY/s1600/040420122520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGgYFJUZI5b0KXq1ushRoojGaDd22_7ygkdxPP2rF02HLZA7NJsszjvmqVe6BXxfgylGTArY1ucu0ime-GCt2Goew_l9etR7AAColsWiOhwg2yUwyOdwfTjubKS3l3PC9h-IJlv55JTY/s320/040420122520.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick surfing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-54403246201001885652012-04-10T20:06:00.000-07:002012-04-10T20:06:24.090-07:00Huacachina sand dune good timesWe arrived in Ica from cuzco after one of the worst 15 hour bus rides we've had on this trip. It wasn't the bus that was bad, it was quite nice...it was the people on it! People on buses should have their cell phones taken away because they were so inconsiderate!!!! The guy in front of us was yelling on his phone, the guy next to us had about 4 really long convos on his phone and the horrible woman behind us not only yelled into her phone for awhile but she also decided she needed to blast cumbia from it at 10:30 pm to fall asleep! Nick actually turned around and told her to turn it off because we were so fed up at that point. Not to mention that a movie was playing and these people didn't care if anyone was trying to sleep or watch the movie they were going to yell on their phone and play their music si o si!! AAAnd of course my ipod had died because the battery sucks so I sat there cursing Apple as beeps, yelling, ringtones and music went off all around me. The best was at 6am the bus helper had music blasting from his phone as he walked up and down the hallway and then played really bad, really loud music through the speakers! We were so happy to get off that bus! <br />
Ica was so hot compared to Cuzco and we quickly jumped into a cap to Huacachina to get to Casa de Arena and jump into the pool! Nick had stayed here 2 years ago when he was last in Peru so that's how we knew about that place. It's a really interesting place because it is an oasis in a desert. Literally. There are huge sand dunes all around it and then a lake with palm trees that Huacachina was built around. That afternoon we ended up going on a sand buggy/sand boarding tour. It was so much fun! It was like a roller coaster flying all over the sand dunes. We would periodically get out and go down a dune on a board, usually on my stomach. It was like sledding! Really a lot of fun. It was also a great hostel as well with a pool and a club attached to it (course we were asleep early each night....lame). <br />
The next day we took a tuk-tuk (small, three wheeled vehicle thing) back to Ica to go to the museum of Ica which had mummies and skulls with evidence of brain surgery and trophy heads. Pretty good stuff.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the sand dunes</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sandboarding laying on my tum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the oasis that is huacachina.. I wouldn't swim in that lake tho...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rm2q-TGOlXPtE5CDX9-aOT5FGb_wF-ijfUWAXBJu-Zw1LKpu-4bxn9g1vpFraNxh_EpDdTN0FXv5TqnNzDd6XBloBGnqQVEW6Gc2oMl79fZEz71PiVRj8gseupdn7NtUL49IxlphQLI/s1600/300320122450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rm2q-TGOlXPtE5CDX9-aOT5FGb_wF-ijfUWAXBJu-Zw1LKpu-4bxn9g1vpFraNxh_EpDdTN0FXv5TqnNzDd6XBloBGnqQVEW6Gc2oMl79fZEz71PiVRj8gseupdn7NtUL49IxlphQLI/s320/300320122450.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the buggies</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-43332048651577314492012-04-02T18:17:00.000-07:002012-04-02T18:17:16.106-07:00Jungle Trek to Machu PicchuWe knew we were going to do the Jungle Trek option to get to Machu Picchu since Paraguay and we also knew that we didn't have to worry about booking it before hand like the Inca Trail trek to MP. Since the Inca Trail only has a limited amount of people, porters and guides that can be on it at one time it's a little more time sensitive. It's also a hell of a lot more expensive! There are actually many options to get to MP...Inca Trail, Jungle trek, Salkantay trek, taking a train there, taking a train to ollataytambo and walking the trail tracks there. All sorts. The Jungle trek was four days, three nights and we searched a couple places in Cuzco to find a good deal. I wish we could go back and book it again knowing what we know now, but all I can do is pass on the information we gathered to anyone reading this who wants to do the Jungle trek!<br />
<br />
***First off, some information for people wanting to do it****<br />
.... most of the agencies in Cuzco will lie. If you want a reputable agency you'll have to pay more. We looked into Lorenzo tours, the guy didn't lie and they never take more than ten people. Unfortunately, they we're out of our budget range so we went to a random company. This is what we were told: that the tour was only people from that agency, that he couldn't lower the price from what it was because he pays his guides a salary instead of commission, that there were 9 other people other than us (6 Brazilians, 2 Aussies and a Brit) and that it would be $200 per person. Not toooo bad. What it actually was is that we were put with a bunch of other people who booked with other different agencies, there were 15 people plus us (11 Argentinians, 3 Swedish and 1 Danish) and that it varied what people payed so the whole thing about paying the guides a salary was bs. The Swedish had paid $250 for their tour which didn't include some stuff we got and the Argentinians paid $140 and included stuff we got. Basically we all paid very different prices for the same exact tour! The tour itself was really good though and I would deff recommend it, but just know that you're gonna get the same tour no matter what so make sure you shop around and get a good deal!!!! Our tour included 3 breakfast, 3 lunch, 3 dinner (pretty good food too), 3 nights in hostels in our own room, 2 guides, transportation, bike rental, entrance to MP and entrance to Huaynapicchu (there's only 400 tickets sold a day to go up this mountain next to MP!), the train ride back to Ollataytambo and a bus back to cuzco. Pretty good! Loprenzo tours did all the same stuff and ate at all the same places they just had smaller groups and got tshirts, oh and they didn't include transport back from MP!!********<br />
<br />
Ok onto the tour!!<br />
The first day was cycling down a twisty, mountain road. The bus picked us up at 7:30 am. We met our guide, Hever (pronounced ever) and we went to load up the bikes. This is when we realized that we had the most obnoxious group of Argentinians on our tour. 7 of them that were all friends acting like 15 years olds and yelling and being annoying and vomiting out the window. The sad thing was they were probably all in their 30s. We had a 3 hour (very noisy) bus ride to the top of the mountain. Then we got our helmets, bikes and nasty wet gloves and bundled up with fleeces and ponchos because it was cold and rainy at the top. Then we started going down. It was pretty fun but I was nervous at first, the last time I rode a bike was in the beginning of my service in Carapegua and I got made fun of because I was wearing a helmet and the high school kids were yelling our the window 'tortuga tortuga' (turtle) and I never rode my bike again! So I had to get comfortable and relax before I could really enjoy riding down a road that was very windy and next to a cliff edge. Then it started to rain very hard, I could barely see (thank goodness I hadn't worn my glasses!) and I was way behind the group because my tire was flat (I didn't know it at the time). I ended up switching bikes with Hever and finally met up with the group when they stopped, as did the rain. Then I was able to keep up with Nick! It took us 3 hours to get to the bottom where we loaded up the bikes on the bus and drove to the town we would be staying in. There was an option to go rafting but no one had signed up so we just hung out and went to bed early.<br />
<br />
The next day we were up early and at breakfast by 6am. This day was all about hiking in the jungle for 7 hours to get to the next town we would sleep in. We started hiking in the rain but I had a feeling it would go, and it did about an hour in. The hike was pretty hard, and it was humid and the sand flies were all bitey, but it was very pretty. Along the way we stopped at a couple peoples houses who were taking advantage of all these gringos hiking through and selling soda and water. At one house they had a pet capuchin who was on a short lead jumpin all over the place, really hyper. We felt bad for him after seeing the capuchins in la senda verde. He really wanted to play with Nick and he was really cute but the people totally just had him out for the tourists. At another house we rested at they had skins of 2 coati's and a jaguar. It was really hard for me to see that especially after volunteering to help the animals. The jaguar was really tough because it's not like there are many left. The guy had shot it 5 months before because it had left the reserve and had killed some livestock. He was trying to sell the skin. <br />
After hiking up the hill for hours we arrived on one of the Incan trais. Not theee Inca trail that people hike on to MP but another one. It was on the side of the mountain, it's amazing to think they used to run around these trails like nothing...they must have been so buff! It was beautiful. We had some lunch after that and hiked along a river which we then had to cross on a cable car which was pretty awesome. We ended the hike at some hot springs that were so much nicer than the ones in Uyuni! <br />
Third day was zip lining in the morning. Only 5 of us did it out of our group and it was awesome. $35 to do 6 zip lines. It was like flying! I really enjoyed it. Then we met up with our group for lunch and started our walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, the town on the bottom of Machu Picchu. That was a beautiful walk in the valley with the mountains around us. Once in awhile a train would go by and we managed to squish some coins on the track. After about three hours of walking we got to Aguas Calliented, I wasn't sure what to expect from this town but it was nicer than I thought...pretty much made for tourists. We made sure to go to bed early that night because we had a 4am wake up the next day for MP!<br />
Day four..Machu Picchu!!<br />
Tooo early wakeup!!! We had a packed breakfast to take with us and we headed out into the darkness (we forgot the flashlight) and got to the main gait at 4:50am. Time to start the climb up to the top! There are two options, take a bus up the hill or walk up about 1000 or something trains. We chose the stairs...and it was one of the hardest things EVER! think about being on a very uneven stairmaster for an hour! and I had to keep up with people who had a flashlight for the first 20 minutes before the light of dawn showed up so I was rushing and it was high altitude! When there was light it was much better because I could go at my own pace. Nick was like a freakin Olympic athlete running up the stairs and finishing waaay before me, not even out of breath. Once at the top we met up with the other half of the group who took the bus and we had an hour tour with Hever who told us the history of the Incas and showed us some of MP but not a lot. At 7am ..i got to hike up more stairs!!! Up we went on hauynapicchu to the top to see the classic view of MP. Another breathless stairmaster climb for me but this time a little steeper but it was worth it for the view you get at the top. There are also some other ruins up there, not sure what they were. We went back and explored the rest of MP which was really amazing of course. We didn't take a full tour so not sure what everything was but we still enjoyed it...except that there were so many ppl everywhere! I couldn't imagine what it's like at high tourist season! At 1pm we were pretty tired and hungry and the prices of food up there were just unreasonable so we hiked back down the stairs. It was quicker, of course, but my knees were hurting in a bad way by the end. The worst part was we had no where to go, just had to wait for our train that we thought was at 6:30...until we found out it was at 9:30!!! What were we going to do for half a day all tired and stinky! Well, we walked around looking for cheap ice cream, we had lunch, we sat at a coffee shop twice, we waited at the train station to see if we could get on the 6:30 train, we browsed the tourist stuff a bit, and we went back and waited at the train station. So Tired! After the train we still had to take a van from Ollataytambo so we'd be rollin into Cuzco at 1am! We were really nervous there would be no van for us since the rest of our group was on the 6:30 train but amazingly there was and just as amazing the was that the hostel let us in that late! The next day we didn't get out of bed. <br />
Other than all that waiting for the train it was a great trip.<br />
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*pics out of order!!* <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LtxYr1ApgkwF1z5T7wSBlIFxR5iojk7Umu3_j_ZO8CePrM_mJhz1E8v7LBmMCTWP9EE5JgSvLfb57RHevZ3PAdJgXuIvuI6lVdPqnru2WSbwxnFvC-NhVpWAMVfd0ZudX7NEIelCZgk/s1600/240320122164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LtxYr1ApgkwF1z5T7wSBlIFxR5iojk7Umu3_j_ZO8CePrM_mJhz1E8v7LBmMCTWP9EE5JgSvLfb57RHevZ3PAdJgXuIvuI6lVdPqnru2WSbwxnFvC-NhVpWAMVfd0ZudX7NEIelCZgk/s320/240320122164.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of road the bus goes up to MP. Taken from Hauynapicchu.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifae2iK5iwaz2rxa5oGP3suNDo9Qk18jkmWARE3o_MxSMjwupWM7jspMY4LfH315NlmAvNU_tmzzSQu6ArW1tbccqKiVqjsfJb0yNw5X_un3xaCzlmy8nvWZd1nMvwhXcu8zQrHYl8aPY/s1600/250320122167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifae2iK5iwaz2rxa5oGP3suNDo9Qk18jkmWARE3o_MxSMjwupWM7jspMY4LfH315NlmAvNU_tmzzSQu6ArW1tbccqKiVqjsfJb0yNw5X_un3xaCzlmy8nvWZd1nMvwhXcu8zQrHYl8aPY/s320/250320122167.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jaguar skin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9yMOCt3qCZ8bksn1rOPveXbkzWbs3mHEQcITkvSNzdcm-Q2wGQ0rW5WLK5PyT_UXR-oGpO2EA7VRMsUTNLKSRN605-xN9WqxV8Z4zHXtlhrMpditJhHyXap63ME4_Ra2e0ZQIKe7bq8/s1600/250320122187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9yMOCt3qCZ8bksn1rOPveXbkzWbs3mHEQcITkvSNzdcm-Q2wGQ0rW5WLK5PyT_UXR-oGpO2EA7VRMsUTNLKSRN605-xN9WqxV8Z4zHXtlhrMpditJhHyXap63ME4_Ra2e0ZQIKe7bq8/s320/250320122187.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hot springs. very welcome at the end of a long day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yZE9g7St4HaL9uq2Clp9Ydu4zQzFJtSIwUQsA2FpEl0Io74oT5uIZ4Pge3Vl8dCO5YnpNo2LFtkUVloniect9au323jd7WtzGDUEXbEFLLJggj09GGKv3j11-nyNyG5FspOxFJpL3xA/s1600/260320122196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yZE9g7St4HaL9uq2Clp9Ydu4zQzFJtSIwUQsA2FpEl0Io74oT5uIZ4Pge3Vl8dCO5YnpNo2LFtkUVloniect9au323jd7WtzGDUEXbEFLLJggj09GGKv3j11-nyNyG5FspOxFJpL3xA/s320/260320122196.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">zip lining!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAbt-8ghpe1wc_wdZZHCqAoIQaJDv1wX1OvFtJ4tBCeXrSE9WQdU7t7W5j4BJEA-iRBMRnQ5Hhy6YIOnDz42kwbqOfIiOKruZIpoaGked9uMLsjd0b47xhLRRnSZkQYrMJ_3fiYf6wa8/s1600/260320122208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAbt-8ghpe1wc_wdZZHCqAoIQaJDv1wX1OvFtJ4tBCeXrSE9WQdU7t7W5j4BJEA-iRBMRnQ5Hhy6YIOnDz42kwbqOfIiOKruZIpoaGked9uMLsjd0b47xhLRRnSZkQYrMJ_3fiYf6wa8/s320/260320122208.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walkin along the train tracks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcidEO5X4QrmmC3uWYEH8etq94vV8GEzVhJaj_gCaDzWxkHsgvSdhtm7RFF_vqg7HZdE8SdOz8nMSELzng-37W0g9g91YhjE4icoK8smO_N1WVac7Vuta2FOK2NEFV1FAjQqNYmWnPa1M/s1600/260320122212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcidEO5X4QrmmC3uWYEH8etq94vV8GEzVhJaj_gCaDzWxkHsgvSdhtm7RFF_vqg7HZdE8SdOz8nMSELzng-37W0g9g91YhjE4icoK8smO_N1WVac7Vuta2FOK2NEFV1FAjQqNYmWnPa1M/s320/260320122212.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got stuck in a tight spot at the train passed by!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6G7n1Gl3I-GUSvZ49qSVl_8cJ5Gq2JoAbnYeoIWXhTMas_8oGxVktCKZGkFXSrQAhFxYE0FSaH4CZVhRNYjSqJX4p1yFmmQcmMJS6gr4KriB3Zk-vXfJb40xVwbU-z2Jw5zCECIivuAg/s1600/260320122215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6G7n1Gl3I-GUSvZ49qSVl_8cJ5Gq2JoAbnYeoIWXhTMas_8oGxVktCKZGkFXSrQAhFxYE0FSaH4CZVhRNYjSqJX4p1yFmmQcmMJS6gr4KriB3Zk-vXfJb40xVwbU-z2Jw5zCECIivuAg/s320/260320122215.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of where MP is from traintracks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShg9Us-v2JdkhIRemG9qwtHP1Cz-4nmwUwESwUo6TEKyf7fb3GT1-w35XDfYAgjW_J3Obi1T8FVHBTqBYTWuNLXTrMWqyYJnnWUvaFhA46c292IqWmBwPxxOE0-6SAceYmfsv3ACpzCo/s1600/260320122237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShg9Us-v2JdkhIRemG9qwtHP1Cz-4nmwUwESwUo6TEKyf7fb3GT1-w35XDfYAgjW_J3Obi1T8FVHBTqBYTWuNLXTrMWqyYJnnWUvaFhA46c292IqWmBwPxxOE0-6SAceYmfsv3ACpzCo/s320/260320122237.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aguas Callientes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQdrb5Ew_bKG9M9ew5TREYPezW07N6gpbcJ681Pw7iUCxQjtn30u19VJESNZDMFt35N1i0c9IpNqqOFkV5bU_ktmNK0wDZt-luUOp_KU0C4dOvQam56iAeQZFrYN4rkYW14f9-iIliXE/s1600/270320122241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdQdrb5Ew_bKG9M9ew5TREYPezW07N6gpbcJ681Pw7iUCxQjtn30u19VJESNZDMFt35N1i0c9IpNqqOFkV5bU_ktmNK0wDZt-luUOp_KU0C4dOvQam56iAeQZFrYN4rkYW14f9-iIliXE/s320/270320122241.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting at 4:50am for the gates to the stairs to open</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54h07eorWztVC6A00Kc2nHxaDFpV4Tss4EKmnFzyY9aG8CeJH1Qx9noT0bmy07BFaxfBECv4kHPGUC_bIlvGQg2d4WKIDuMMPdbSMl3w_ph42anGGoRA8Mf0-4MSislbOoO_rM6mWlGM/s1600/270320122243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54h07eorWztVC6A00Kc2nHxaDFpV4Tss4EKmnFzyY9aG8CeJH1Qx9noT0bmy07BFaxfBECv4kHPGUC_bIlvGQg2d4WKIDuMMPdbSMl3w_ph42anGGoRA8Mf0-4MSislbOoO_rM6mWlGM/s320/270320122243.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the stairs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04zBShOlkKmnn5Vrz6jcCv08-8gMiYyQOVLNz6_06UiZDJWfcJf2ILM98pEy6J25aOyKgws65aDtWNno2rWm66K4h0KozzO6AumHPZzrJEif_nmc-BuGOaxgUcFgZjYybVMjgPBHbrws/s1600/270320122246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04zBShOlkKmnn5Vrz6jcCv08-8gMiYyQOVLNz6_06UiZDJWfcJf2ILM98pEy6J25aOyKgws65aDtWNno2rWm66K4h0KozzO6AumHPZzrJEif_nmc-BuGOaxgUcFgZjYybVMjgPBHbrws/s320/270320122246.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me arriving!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJPn7TU2qKYUpnUhfgd9NdUs7FZeT9Yfm86wZLLNOU0w3ptqNCWGMiwnfKPGjwuv_r01M9xC10LgTRzUHViyNJSRSPVWhWQEDAojnvmUsajV1-e7-oKtKq0BRL_f2Vw9KNgzxGyQ5sbA/s1600/270320122248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJPn7TU2qKYUpnUhfgd9NdUs7FZeT9Yfm86wZLLNOU0w3ptqNCWGMiwnfKPGjwuv_r01M9xC10LgTRzUHViyNJSRSPVWhWQEDAojnvmUsajV1-e7-oKtKq0BRL_f2Vw9KNgzxGyQ5sbA/s320/270320122248.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mountains around MP</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6AWOtr3HWR3QIlVzLDOQqAtxEmoqiHnU1xKxwG_ZhF3IYvS8VrzqzD1N6xsVcnAah-ucMAALZW9MxZQzwHnZJJDyS_tsmVRDGjo3iqik7MtnKWBLVJiTuNdJ1A3ujLp2oEkpGGzI3NI/s1600/270320122255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6AWOtr3HWR3QIlVzLDOQqAtxEmoqiHnU1xKxwG_ZhF3IYvS8VrzqzD1N6xsVcnAah-ucMAALZW9MxZQzwHnZJJDyS_tsmVRDGjo3iqik7MtnKWBLVJiTuNdJ1A3ujLp2oEkpGGzI3NI/s320/270320122255.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there it is</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3VW1hvC-Ds6j7jfFg4MTkpf7N7sdt2lx-gretNioBDd_FZQofJMnGW2_QhXepJIAn97n2sJ9hhth517KPSvgOOfnvLfStscRIitIshVNLq0ybcEdVXS5-3s0JOvr5SGH3J8a0rUXDIw/s1600/270320122258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3VW1hvC-Ds6j7jfFg4MTkpf7N7sdt2lx-gretNioBDd_FZQofJMnGW2_QhXepJIAn97n2sJ9hhth517KPSvgOOfnvLfStscRIitIshVNLq0ybcEdVXS5-3s0JOvr5SGH3J8a0rUXDIw/s320/270320122258.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hever givin us a history lesson</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwWOMJLaym6WaAVvEFtC9TfpHPbs6oVqSLwO3yHbnPxz4QLUUGJf_0oe_fwUoJlYcIPrmHogsJv1RDtOwQciL0XPtB7SacVMzhvKfrhMuOQhQFXex_rUePiZZxH04K-65LlB5gCLGwcA/s1600/270320122275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwWOMJLaym6WaAVvEFtC9TfpHPbs6oVqSLwO3yHbnPxz4QLUUGJf_0oe_fwUoJlYcIPrmHogsJv1RDtOwQciL0XPtB7SacVMzhvKfrhMuOQhQFXex_rUePiZZxH04K-65LlB5gCLGwcA/s320/270320122275.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxMo7IIFn1BeVgiVQYq0K6nTbQNyrE-68V6lx0hntRvW6It3OtwEnLgHgNNIH1Ip_uTFjHCAIno3c390vyijPcJ1gkquznrUXmtQz5hZVrIRjDLumP1aLpPAytJtswpZg2kayCZB6x48/s1600/270320122287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxMo7IIFn1BeVgiVQYq0K6nTbQNyrE-68V6lx0hntRvW6It3OtwEnLgHgNNIH1Ip_uTFjHCAIno3c390vyijPcJ1gkquznrUXmtQz5hZVrIRjDLumP1aLpPAytJtswpZg2kayCZB6x48/s320/270320122287.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huaynapicchu we're goin up there!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRyp0zQFYy4CUzsU1UH6JiFmnrcq7IXAofCB7DhUnaLXRoe95aYDgQFpE9wWCF2kp16qP7RX3xguApZSC_zCBOi-4YQ2tQhp-f7rO3FtlzCR48LLUG-InE5_lEmkOUDQHU-ka_8Bcfuo/s1600/270320122294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRyp0zQFYy4CUzsU1UH6JiFmnrcq7IXAofCB7DhUnaLXRoe95aYDgQFpE9wWCF2kp16qP7RX3xguApZSC_zCBOi-4YQ2tQhp-f7rO3FtlzCR48LLUG-InE5_lEmkOUDQHU-ka_8Bcfuo/s320/270320122294.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from HP down onto MP</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA0QhMZzekP9WyOgXdsN23AzMiFr2kTGnHZtJOoDruS3TSu6fU5r0M4t6DDyg7iZj4gzII5G1P_jScRmpGPYMqf7s6q0oxlxQmsgfFPdxvLUQT0C_WY9ReQj1wOVHsGeFmWHkBdwiF4A/s1600/270320122311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA0QhMZzekP9WyOgXdsN23AzMiFr2kTGnHZtJOoDruS3TSu6fU5r0M4t6DDyg7iZj4gzII5G1P_jScRmpGPYMqf7s6q0oxlxQmsgfFPdxvLUQT0C_WY9ReQj1wOVHsGeFmWHkBdwiF4A/s320/270320122311.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nMYjnT9w_8OUfghzkjfdvC8uYV2RD1CnKJuvm1Fwb2lLuX3FLxNXEVZ5pbfE388LTSc_0Ch20eHtYGQ_yoUrC7-E_CTN9hLLeMTLfakbZPbkrVXuNVUxruB7qzVPnpiXwnPH09s5f8I/s1600/270320122377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nMYjnT9w_8OUfghzkjfdvC8uYV2RD1CnKJuvm1Fwb2lLuX3FLxNXEVZ5pbfE388LTSc_0Ch20eHtYGQ_yoUrC7-E_CTN9hLLeMTLfakbZPbkrVXuNVUxruB7qzVPnpiXwnPH09s5f8I/s320/270320122377.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4XfS_2XrUaSrBOlrFPdMDgdfCcq9_JZbYLSS6MBenj5dY2gpnl7JH2yqqvBzFtErcrpNKfnkskJ3Co3ORc8jajbDGGIoTX9a-RMm9nA9HYFLlQvLO8PVzwRbygBmXiQsS-MvMuV2w3I/s1600/270320122382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4XfS_2XrUaSrBOlrFPdMDgdfCcq9_JZbYLSS6MBenj5dY2gpnl7JH2yqqvBzFtErcrpNKfnkskJ3Co3ORc8jajbDGGIoTX9a-RMm9nA9HYFLlQvLO8PVzwRbygBmXiQsS-MvMuV2w3I/s320/270320122382.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temple of the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lx410cDWTnXSxOayQcchQkw8uRwP_lE5wBnII-B2j4fMTWGDeRmvfodd3N2_A3J2BfOZkORrPAAJe5-Qhfe5XYr25gCQW9X8U4CeVW9rVI5EI3cu4S7ooN9QP3jqUhA2N9SiKKjdyTE/s1600/270320122397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lx410cDWTnXSxOayQcchQkw8uRwP_lE5wBnII-B2j4fMTWGDeRmvfodd3N2_A3J2BfOZkORrPAAJe5-Qhfe5XYr25gCQW9X8U4CeVW9rVI5EI3cu4S7ooN9QP3jqUhA2N9SiKKjdyTE/s320/270320122397.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">steps going back down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7VeNQbhxrkD6W1fu3P8htkGCF-Qi-cCugTkRzA-cJVzArDXtv8gVuajy0T-w4JfkoBJYnf1vcoUoGhWOqX55HKtzfwUvRsV2nvuDyRr58E_iDgl3mMdLZB2vlp_HWPoPyLJmpdmxT7s/s1600/270320122398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7VeNQbhxrkD6W1fu3P8htkGCF-Qi-cCugTkRzA-cJVzArDXtv8gVuajy0T-w4JfkoBJYnf1vcoUoGhWOqX55HKtzfwUvRsV2nvuDyRr58E_iDgl3mMdLZB2vlp_HWPoPyLJmpdmxT7s/s320/270320122398.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">woohoo we did it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTIlJr4Cb2ooAOd5ujDbzdeVWK_YEMm8vQDpxXzqMI49lROfgw8e0uqsBS8Au0pelEbxT5e_gSM6c-KsywEsKbAGZPuA4tBJQapT2oiHbqDKo49MfqOAamXIdKIoJXFxLxhTpa9kIAck/s1600/290620081166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTIlJr4Cb2ooAOd5ujDbzdeVWK_YEMm8vQDpxXzqMI49lROfgw8e0uqsBS8Au0pelEbxT5e_gSM6c-KsywEsKbAGZPuA4tBJQapT2oiHbqDKo49MfqOAamXIdKIoJXFxLxhTpa9kIAck/s1600/290620081166.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the capuchin on the hike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDhtJIh7JqRLoZem_b_Vy_ZeOfIbGLNbB81mFDpYcMdfHJBHB9JQ6ldn9F09W8UKrvqYsSzcKdOLib1VwD6fjU8L5CE8vEu9d3gij8Geo0iEE7qZnAnQUCxmcQQQPtCLL6RB46pXyO9s/s1600/290620081167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDhtJIh7JqRLoZem_b_Vy_ZeOfIbGLNbB81mFDpYcMdfHJBHB9JQ6ldn9F09W8UKrvqYsSzcKdOLib1VwD6fjU8L5CE8vEu9d3gij8Geo0iEE7qZnAnQUCxmcQQQPtCLL6RB46pXyO9s/s1600/290620081167.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hever teachin us about coco plants</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7TW0GZspwwg0qsLvXXIsra_laT7dBFHYYxUrBFPEuWiMsw5-Dg7crt9Qgo0IfFYyl3pb2gWr6p8moRw_REyHGvALuplPyfKU0QLo3tDqciwQDW_4MGIEZccg_cn1CZJC4MwTvL8tws/s1600/290620081169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7TW0GZspwwg0qsLvXXIsra_laT7dBFHYYxUrBFPEuWiMsw5-Dg7crt9Qgo0IfFYyl3pb2gWr6p8moRw_REyHGvALuplPyfKU0QLo3tDqciwQDW_4MGIEZccg_cn1CZJC4MwTvL8tws/s1600/290620081169.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle path</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13CRBQGu_0f3252riyXfMp0wEnOXfGDuCpgbT9d-tnp_sWADg8gLPfsO2ieGgDh5CKO8SWyrVFmT4Ox84mbGT-XgLS6JdVFLOFh3Jvr_bx2RW0FDvVW__I1gQUDzKzK0thObwUt8ZL-s/s1600/290620081177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13CRBQGu_0f3252riyXfMp0wEnOXfGDuCpgbT9d-tnp_sWADg8gLPfsO2ieGgDh5CKO8SWyrVFmT4Ox84mbGT-XgLS6JdVFLOFh3Jvr_bx2RW0FDvVW__I1gQUDzKzK0thObwUt8ZL-s/s1600/290620081177.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R9BQnrWPtiLCDLmT38EMGF35dlX8NqFXiUablJCOiFsdgsqQ7rnwczK_1Icz5cy6q1LntGcdOhne6JGfE7NfhAxJDVhwUWTVfkwNFyo0s5nJbRvDZWqNKMOE_BU7jK5yh2VNTOiTpxQ/s1600/290620081179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9R9BQnrWPtiLCDLmT38EMGF35dlX8NqFXiUablJCOiFsdgsqQ7rnwczK_1Icz5cy6q1LntGcdOhne6JGfE7NfhAxJDVhwUWTVfkwNFyo0s5nJbRvDZWqNKMOE_BU7jK5yh2VNTOiTpxQ/s1600/290620081179.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inca trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sRrxVB-2KstL6vvtDV2g4vlglzWeV95JlpXP1a4TCOpSlMzn6k3Cwm8se64ROCn9AHSGDECNuFIvs-7f15IGrFA1K_6uCe4hr7XccMqy-LjzcAvROoKsHdh9l652zTUPCfKD-raLgIQ/s1600/290620081186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sRrxVB-2KstL6vvtDV2g4vlglzWeV95JlpXP1a4TCOpSlMzn6k3Cwm8se64ROCn9AHSGDECNuFIvs-7f15IGrFA1K_6uCe4hr7XccMqy-LjzcAvROoKsHdh9l652zTUPCfKD-raLgIQ/s1600/290620081186.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhz3UwO-4RX-IRMfQrkJjwPsAChcB7Iqz0r4FfH0l8WSySR_-6beujjeP5ViO-KEUMzWh1aNEswQfjAm1zc5aqfn7ymv_EB9pXHXgTXIW6f68lnusCC3qU-RD5O5Mv6QnZZppwcO_2t0/s1600/290620081192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhz3UwO-4RX-IRMfQrkJjwPsAChcB7Iqz0r4FfH0l8WSySR_-6beujjeP5ViO-KEUMzWh1aNEswQfjAm1zc5aqfn7ymv_EB9pXHXgTXIW6f68lnusCC3qU-RD5O5Mv6QnZZppwcO_2t0/s1600/290620081192.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cable car across river</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOj7hvbZgYVRN9ITW20VKW07NyXEcS0_BMnFzrX109h3g9VF8LAKfxc4kmr24PfDeww3DbS15ReMd7lAd0T6pN0no6a1kVbys7ELWTK6cs9d9dAfepPx9-d3XnWvbA_jRURICJ0Jd_Q0s/s1600/290620081198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOj7hvbZgYVRN9ITW20VKW07NyXEcS0_BMnFzrX109h3g9VF8LAKfxc4kmr24PfDeww3DbS15ReMd7lAd0T6pN0no6a1kVbys7ELWTK6cs9d9dAfepPx9-d3XnWvbA_jRURICJ0Jd_Q0s/s1600/290620081198.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hot springs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-1051596984295709332012-03-28T19:14:00.000-07:002012-03-28T19:14:39.425-07:00CuzcoThe nicest bus we have taken on this trip so far was the bus we took (kinda) direct from Copacabana to Cuzco. It was new and had nice seats and we got the top front in front of the staircase which meant no one behind us! There are many buses going from Copacabana to Cuzco but most you have to change in Puno, Peru's city next to lake Titicaca. In Puno one can visit the famous floating islands made out of reeds. We decided to skip it since we saw the lake on the Bolivian side and we heard that Puno was not a nice place to stay and that the floating islands were waaay touristy. Although some people really liked it I just don't think we would have enjoyed it. Anyway, buses. So we were lucky to get one of the not many buses that didn't change in Puno but we still had to get out in the Puno station, sign into the bus company and get a new set of tickets, and pay the stupid terminal leaving tax (btw, props to Argentina and Paraguay for not making you pay to leave. It sucks when you're running late and you cant' get out the door to your bus until you go find the booth and pay and get the ticket so that you can leave.)<br />
So far we hadn't had a good introduction to Peru. It was easy enough to enter, we just got off the bus at the Bolivian border, got the exit stamp and walked across a bridge and waited in line to get the entry stamp to Peru. Unfortunately the bus driver never gave us the sheet we needed to fill out so we waited in line, got to the window, got yelled at by the stamper guy who gave us the sheet, filled it out and then had to get back in line! Then we get to the bus terminal in Puno and the people there were really rude! I had dropped coins out of my pocket on the bus and didn't realize till I got into the station and when I tried to go back to the bus the lady wouldn't let me without a ticket. I said I didn't have it they took it at the counter when we were re-checking in. She said no. I went back to the counter where the woman was looking for me to give me the new ticket, went back to the lady who told me now I couldn't leave without paying the tax. I said I just need to look on the bus to find my money! So she took my tickets as ransom as I went to look for the money which wasn't even there (turns out it somehow fell into my backpack pocket and I didn't find it till 2 days later!). Then I was walking to Nick and accidentally bumped into this guy and when I said sorry he just glared and walked away. Then that same guy tried cutting Nick when he was in line to pay the exit tax but Nick wouldn't have it. He gave him the finger wag and said 'back of the queue!' which he prob didn't understand but he went. You need to stick up for yourself in these countries or they WILL cut. Then, when Nick was at the window paying, a woman came up and put money down right next to Nick!!! Unbelievable! Fortunately the woman at the window didn't attend to her like they normally do with cutters, she told her to respect the line!! Victory! Onward with the journey!<br />
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So we get into the Cuzco bus terminal at 4 am. We had booked the hostel the day before but didn't know if it was too early to go there so we sat in the terminal till 6am. Soo boring! Then finally I couldn't handle it anymore so we took a cab to the hostel. Turns out we could have gone there earlier, they had a couch and a tv for waiting on till check in at 10:30. Unfortunately for us we never saw the check in because at 9:30 I was told that the room we would have is still occupied and the people who said they were going to leave now weren't and that we would have to go to another hostel. Nick got really mad at this since we were told we would have space and the other ppl should leave, the guy just said that the person was sick. He got us a cab and we went to a sister hostel. At first it looked really crappy but our room was big with three beds and a bathroom and we managed to get it for $10 a person per night where the other one was $11.50 pp pn.<br />
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Once we were settled and rested after our journey things started to get better. We walked around the city and ate a really good meal then got cake in the market. Cuzco used to be the Incan capitol until the Spanish saw to the end of that, but there are still some Incan structures left like walls and ruins. It also has some really pretty churches and plazas, a nice place to walk around...except that you get pestered on every street to buy something. We find ourselves saying 'no, gracias' every time we turn the corner!<br />
<br />
The next day we looked around for a tour company to book our trip to Machu Picchu and took a free walking tour of the city conveniently called Free Walking Tour. It was a really good tour and we saw some of the Incan walls and ruins that were unearthed when the Marriot hotel started to build on this one spot. They had to stop building and find somewhere else and the ruins you can visit which we did. Inside there were 2 vicunas and an alpaca roaming around that you can pet although they're not the happiest! One of them kept going after this girl in our group we think because she had on a brown tourist llama sweater hehe. But she would not leave her alone, kept biting her!<br />
We also tried a Peruvian dish called La Causa which was made for the soldiers when they were going off to fight for the country. It was really good and tasted like potato salad.<br />
We had lunch at a Spanish tapas restaurant and learned that the statue in the main square is actually plastic but painted to look like copper. We ended at a really awesome hotel/art gallery that Mick Jagger stayed at recently, with some really cool modern art and the coolest bathrooms ever! One bathroom's theme was hell and it was black and red with roses and vines and the other was heaven and it had mirrors on the wall that were all smashed. The tables in the restaurant part were old bathtubs turned into fishtanks with glass over the top.<br />
We spent the rest of the afternoon looking at tattoo designs and re-arranging our bags to start our trip to Machu Picchu the next day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">around cuzco</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plaza de Armas</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free walking tour group in front of plastic statue</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpaca face</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbgOImSs6ZchfqrxA4kC6nfCcrkiQ8IiIN9aX514zZ9nakPmd88Y41eFKk_AmfqIsSrJBdSRniT8Kuj8eA4VLXqnsc0ofsRLD1q51SyiH6ffoLSvn53Y9a0-6Qr2cM-GLgqNS31vUikA/s1600/270620081141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbgOImSs6ZchfqrxA4kC6nfCcrkiQ8IiIN9aX514zZ9nakPmd88Y41eFKk_AmfqIsSrJBdSRniT8Kuj8eA4VLXqnsc0ofsRLD1q51SyiH6ffoLSvn53Y9a0-6Qr2cM-GLgqNS31vUikA/s1600/270620081141.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Causa. Layers of mashed potato, some hard boiled egg and other goodness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjBBaXQ9PX4fW3MkJGYYXLV3zHK8Fhj5peynzBRqFVcdQYC0dMIJwVkb8Ycg421W6g3DdBkMlnkLrVbrVXaahhk9xWPzajB9oNQQnGnjVheUkon3jzZtES-n1YNho18T_UTfX27CHqJE/s1600/270620081142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjBBaXQ9PX4fW3MkJGYYXLV3zHK8Fhj5peynzBRqFVcdQYC0dMIJwVkb8Ycg421W6g3DdBkMlnkLrVbrVXaahhk9xWPzajB9oNQQnGnjVheUkon3jzZtES-n1YNho18T_UTfX27CHqJE/s1600/270620081142.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incan wall. they used no mortar they just cut angles in the stones so they fit together. Smaller stones on the bottom and they're built on an angle to make them earthquake proof. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3gs-1ZKfnMkkpCqBtE66pmsoYPY9oUY4zartAmAOwPNgr3vXyGAjkut0_q_GRvP1IAq7r5CvmLkQr1QmBqXKwTKRLB8esPywPeKgXtIkjr6PEyy14Y7SResga3W0yPNWS2_qSJQc72A/s1600/270620081149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3gs-1ZKfnMkkpCqBtE66pmsoYPY9oUY4zartAmAOwPNgr3vXyGAjkut0_q_GRvP1IAq7r5CvmLkQr1QmBqXKwTKRLB8esPywPeKgXtIkjr6PEyy14Y7SResga3W0yPNWS2_qSJQc72A/s1600/270620081149.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicuna getting ready to spit at Nick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-NL3z2fSK7AwQ-yq3DsFOp2laLVRnTo67YnVda4jpG0CtEWHJhHZbae2aqyGOyn7whPcjeutTifzRaEXlqr3t4oxp63jyAXTeM51aaGJVCo0ZX1RSV3xyRZonJm-xy0Kh0wWA6xsoEc/s1600/230320122150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-NL3z2fSK7AwQ-yq3DsFOp2laLVRnTo67YnVda4jpG0CtEWHJhHZbae2aqyGOyn7whPcjeutTifzRaEXlqr3t4oxp63jyAXTeM51aaGJVCo0ZX1RSV3xyRZonJm-xy0Kh0wWA6xsoEc/s320/230320122150.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel/art gallery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRUaiqIY34aFdaAQdNFUDzJeu6hbZmW1DgJYqo96Jr0Gev9ExdSnRhZyd9VgHzVo6pZ0akpqPh7XbciOchhuE4lwJ6FlADHCMU7x4Ck81M5DvukFZmaFgGF4xcpTsYBpoJgoLxoTLMPA/s1600/230320122159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRUaiqIY34aFdaAQdNFUDzJeu6hbZmW1DgJYqo96Jr0Gev9ExdSnRhZyd9VgHzVo6pZ0akpqPh7XbciOchhuE4lwJ6FlADHCMU7x4Ck81M5DvukFZmaFgGF4xcpTsYBpoJgoLxoTLMPA/s320/230320122159.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'heaven' bathroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUj1ewRG3DA1SBQrnb5xa5aNQOcEvo_eX4837E6VIMW0r9ml8Sb_l3vLaMQMauhuVHAnkDQ7qreFNlZ4-2weYgXsjuv-utKZU8ZLaTKxoZiwjqWHv6CIAg9nWVNDErCOw7cyETfzcFs5A/s1600/230320122160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUj1ewRG3DA1SBQrnb5xa5aNQOcEvo_eX4837E6VIMW0r9ml8Sb_l3vLaMQMauhuVHAnkDQ7qreFNlZ4-2weYgXsjuv-utKZU8ZLaTKxoZiwjqWHv6CIAg9nWVNDErCOw7cyETfzcFs5A/s320/230320122160.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'hell' bathroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwf5y48JjDsINbCKh_gqmFqJyB37MYlo1wlnaXk7CQm6e1wJSH4tNR6VH564F01y1qi94LIQ-shO0l0Bv4sBrO7aSsWyWFEXllvR8akVTVDbPP38M4-uCvEAJJ2aBmB3HLRZTOOyp2wE/s1600/270620081160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwf5y48JjDsINbCKh_gqmFqJyB37MYlo1wlnaXk7CQm6e1wJSH4tNR6VH564F01y1qi94LIQ-shO0l0Bv4sBrO7aSsWyWFEXllvR8akVTVDbPP38M4-uCvEAJJ2aBmB3HLRZTOOyp2wE/s1600/270620081160.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fishtub table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-20772643657793029332012-03-28T15:53:00.000-07:002012-03-28T15:53:22.627-07:00Copacabana and camping on Isla del SolAfter leaving La Senda Verde on the Gravity bus we ended up staying with our friend Mark, a Gravity tour guide, in the Gravity apartment. We were only going to stay 2 nights but we ended up staying 5! It was nice to relax after working everyday for over 2 weeks and get to know La Paz better, not just the touristy part. The scenery around La Paz is so interesting with crazy shaped mountains it's a very different feel from other countries capitols! I had to go to visit a doctor one of those days which was in this chuchi (posh) part of town that had some amazing hillsides around it, they were eroded and just really funky lookin! <br />
Anyway, we finally tore ourselves away from La Paz and headed to Copacabana to see Lake Titicaca (this reminds me of 8th grade Ms. Marsh's class when we learned about geography...teachers all over must hate when they have to teach kids the name of this lake...*snicker*). On the way we had to get off the bus so that it could board a barge and ford the river while we took a ferry and waited on the other side. It's funny to see a bus floating on a wooden platform! Once in Copa we did our usual find a cheap hostel while carrying heavy bags tour. We ended up staying in one up a hill called Utama that looked nice and we were able to negotiate the price down from 150 Bolivianos for the room with breakfast to 80 b's for the room with no breakfast. Unfortunately we could only stay one night but it turned out to be a good thing since their pillows (actually one long pillow) was so uncomfortable I had to use my camping pillow and the shower suuucked! The water stream went everywhere but on me! The next day we hiked up a nearby hill which had the seven stations of the cross on the way up and shrines and stuff. What we didn't know was that we hiked up the back way which was a little harder and walked back down the main way. On the way up there was sooo much trash thrown over the hill, really ugly and unfortunate. You'd think on a hill where people go up as a pilgrimage to ask for blessings and good luck they'd keep it a bit nicer! <br />
We also did a 30 min swan boat ride on the lake. Lake Titicaca is huuuge and a really pretty color blue. We keep reading that it's the highest navigable lake and it's true because we navigated around it in a swan boat. There are many islands on it and the next day we planned to do a 2 night camping trip on Isla del Sol, where there are no vehicles or paved roads, about 3,500 people live there, they use donkeys to transport things, there are some Incan ruins and also is the site where the Incan's believe the sun god was born from a rock.<br />
We switched hostels to Hostel Leyenda right on the lake front with a room with a balcony and good shower. That night we re-arranged our bags so that we were taking a big one with the camping stuff and a small one with the food stuff. Next day we bought our boat tickets to the island from our hostel because it was actaully cheaper than buying it at the lake front. We would leave at 1:30pm so we had time to kill which was baisically us looking for a place to eat lunch. Finally we boarded the bus and headed for the south side of the island.<br />
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<b>Isla del Sol</b><br />
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I searched and searched for information about camping on Isla del Sol, I knew it was possible because I saw pictures but I could not find a blog of someone who did it. When I got there I found out why, because I only saw Argentinians camping and I wasn't looking at Argentinian blogs! So I will put down some info about camping. <br />
Ok, you can take a boat to the north side or the south side of the island and either hike across the island (about three, three and a half hours) to the other side. It can be done in a day trip but it's a bit rushed which is why we decided to stay over. On this island they charge you for anything they can since they mostly make their money from tourism. Once you arrive you are charged 5 bolivianos to get off the dock onto the island, you are charged for the bathroom (of course), you're hassled by kids to buy necklaces or kids asking you if you have a hostel yet or you'll get told to go on a 'free' tour that at the end you're required to tip 10 b's...you're even charged to walk across from one end to the other (there's a toll in the middle of the island for 15 b's). So I'm absolutely floored that you are able to set up a tent and camp on the beach by the river FOR FREE!! Amazing. The only campsite we actually found was on the north side even though the map says there are more. Water and snacks are sold in many places so it's not necessary to take many bottles. <br />
So we started our journey in the south, got off the boat and paid the fee, avoided the 'free' tours and kids hustling necklaces. We didn't really know what to do actually when we got off the boat..we knew there were some ruins on the south side but we had to get to the north to set up camp since when we arrived it was 3pm and the sun set around 7:30 and we still had to hike across the island, plus there were just way to many people bothering us. We headed toward the first thing we saw that looked like it was going north, they happened to be a steep set of old Incan stairs which were horrible to climb up at high altitude. On the way up a boy asked if we had a hostel. I barely could breath but I managed to say 'si, tenemos', but that wasn't enough for him he needed to know which one so I told him 'hostel carpa', tent hostel. He was like that's not a hostel! Mentirosa! (liar) but then he noticed the tent strapped to nick's bag and I was deemed not a liar and he finally left me alone. This exchange happened for most of the hike up the stairs and I was way out of breath so a break was needed. Then we just followed a path and asked people along the way if we were heading 'Norte'. We ended up behind this old man and his donkeys, he asked us where we were going and we said North. He was really nice and told us that the path splits in 2 and one way is longer and more up and down and the other way is faster. He pointed the way to go and gave us some directions and sent us on our way, he was really nice. We wound our way through a path that led between adobe houses with lush grass and pigs in the yard, no one was out and it was nice and quiet. I had a feeling that this wasn't the normal walking route. Soon we realized I was right when, after walking through what seemed like someone's field, we got on a more main looking path and passed some girls walking back to the south end. Turned out we totally missed the toll since we weren't on the main tourist path! but we still had 2 hours to go. <br />
At first we thought we would walk to the north, camp for a night and hike back to the south and camp another night. After the walk though we quickly vetoed that idea and decided to do two nights on the north and take the boat back from there. Hiking with heavy packs at high altitude is not fun! The views, though, were amazing so def worth it. We finally arrived at the north side and, after asking about 5 people, were told to walk across town (of two streets) to the beach to camp. Huzzah! That night we dined on pasta that we'd carried around since Argentina. A stray beach puppy was happy to eat the leftovers and we listened to the waves of the lake as we laid in the tent not sleeping because it was uncomfy.<br />
Next day we got up, had some oatmeal and headed to the ruins and sacred rock. We paid 10 b's each to go see them but we didn't get a guide so we were only vaguely sure of what we were looking at. One was the sacred rock that the sun god was born from, one was the rock with the form of a puma of which the lake gets it's name, titi being Puma in Aymara and caca being kala which is rock. There was a sacrificial stone as well but our fav part was the ruins called the labyrinth. It was so nice there and barely any people. We had a nice picnic of crackers and cheese and sat in the sun looking out on the lake. We probably stayed there for two hours then hiked up to a higher point next to the ruins and got an amazing view of the lake and the smaller islands around it. We went back to our campsite and had a late lunch of Ramen Noodles which made us not hungry for dinner. We had snickers for dinner instead and a sneaky bottle of wine we bought from one of the shops. That night I couldn't sleep (again) and at 5:30 in the morning I heard our tarp rustling ( we had laid it on the ground outside the tent to use as a sitting and cooking surface and placed rocks around it). I thought it was the stray dog sniffing around for food again so I didn't go check on it. In the morning though I learned that it had been stolen and what I had heard was the %"^$* running off with it! It wasn't my idea to keep it out unsupervised..<br />
We decided to leave on the 8:30 am boat (we were going to take the 1:30pm) which got us into Copa at 11:45, went to the hostel where we stored our bags and repacked them on the tables outside. We were leaving for Peru at 6:30 that night so we had lots of time to kill. We had lunch, charged the computer and phone, bought snacks and shopped till it was time to board and, sadly, leave Bolivia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBdBNWLrz4uFUElqfIRqexu6p4kMqoA6hclXZCjag_MTH1l8paSKJIfvZFhy155e5v94RUQNlWGBoBa9Xm6nKs0TrUAWgOwpYFvuiGJaH03B9iEgGHmm33jSiBCksdfgkjWBE021oXrw/s1600/170320122007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBdBNWLrz4uFUElqfIRqexu6p4kMqoA6hclXZCjag_MTH1l8paSKJIfvZFhy155e5v94RUQNlWGBoBa9Xm6nKs0TrUAWgOwpYFvuiGJaH03B9iEgGHmm33jSiBCksdfgkjWBE021oXrw/s320/170320122007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bus getting onto the barge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Titicaca</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupf-oeo1PUfhUto7_07iAMs282HeyYklRQzYTM21YAl5cIBIkc7xsoH3KqA4fq3Yl5n1oM5ygJDagmoYQiKvCcssRMkD3gvnJQ4tWJOB-U9Xez8si3JdtsOxNYAZpRiLwYKL_oKgSJh0/s1600/180320122026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupf-oeo1PUfhUto7_07iAMs282HeyYklRQzYTM21YAl5cIBIkc7xsoH3KqA4fq3Yl5n1oM5ygJDagmoYQiKvCcssRMkD3gvnJQ4tWJOB-U9Xez8si3JdtsOxNYAZpRiLwYKL_oKgSJh0/s320/180320122026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from our second hostel, La Leyenda</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you spot the garbage cascading down the cliff side?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ErjwR1cDH6-AMXmAwbkscycjlV8o1Fd-NEdIeHcbFhyb1LazoJaR0CJGWVQ8OmhFUfaTqXMwMKgOTFB0LJGhWAW5GIKVXN37hQ3fx_vqcZkmDoz8JHC15wcCR7nTATivqveVhaWY5a8/s1600/180320122038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ErjwR1cDH6-AMXmAwbkscycjlV8o1Fd-NEdIeHcbFhyb1LazoJaR0CJGWVQ8OmhFUfaTqXMwMKgOTFB0LJGhWAW5GIKVXN37hQ3fx_vqcZkmDoz8JHC15wcCR7nTATivqveVhaWY5a8/s320/180320122038.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copacabana from above</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtAbF7HJm6eYQlvww1IbpVxcixCRdxNJp4KdO87DtV_Lh2FcLHCBf7N6oxNfLrMHkI7KGySxaqq95Y0Dcg0iTlLxFqkuOLnB9HldjTmsaApS5p0KW98T5m3l-yzidSPr3YhIzKp574BE/s1600/180320122039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtAbF7HJm6eYQlvww1IbpVxcixCRdxNJp4KdO87DtV_Lh2FcLHCBf7N6oxNfLrMHkI7KGySxaqq95Y0Dcg0iTlLxFqkuOLnB9HldjTmsaApS5p0KW98T5m3l-yzidSPr3YhIzKp574BE/s320/180320122039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">top of the hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vPSxIMct3LTQNDTwWtdWujcqWN-TwxsB6WdFqC_FfDE4mTF87b3aGgaLmmamnl_MOcOkSegPNfybc-TNryrUI2lhfoXYO0oGN4oeOot29VpgfEAdvKnowGvUuYVSoBtbEhalAWPW9CU/s1600/180320122043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vPSxIMct3LTQNDTwWtdWujcqWN-TwxsB6WdFqC_FfDE4mTF87b3aGgaLmmamnl_MOcOkSegPNfybc-TNryrUI2lhfoXYO0oGN4oeOot29VpgfEAdvKnowGvUuYVSoBtbEhalAWPW9CU/s320/180320122043.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swan boat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h-AU_1EtCvq5qayqNJpNzkLCUz032qO_qltGUoFMk3uCwbOFGN6wAydkXzu8MidvN1vpqBQ6a3dOVY7eI4NzBJdkO-MDD9RIGRxA0Y2DGgFYfO7MIdN8m2DY2wnjTjcY_LIaBeea1i0/s1600/190320122056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7h-AU_1EtCvq5qayqNJpNzkLCUz032qO_qltGUoFMk3uCwbOFGN6wAydkXzu8MidvN1vpqBQ6a3dOVY7eI4NzBJdkO-MDD9RIGRxA0Y2DGgFYfO7MIdN8m2DY2wnjTjcY_LIaBeea1i0/s320/190320122056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Isla del Sol. House made of Adobe brick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX0lvvcNLeXGYS5DNK8lz-YvLYeGnlqSdr92pWpgur_Vw0ir6D2gdBGZ1jULj1XFix0S44LXwioOAKvMon6X4odJUKikCT8CzSr5IqnP2_SJAbi0PJIx9SgMTqGaYWpSd2lSyJfzsLkk/s1600/190320122057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX0lvvcNLeXGYS5DNK8lz-YvLYeGnlqSdr92pWpgur_Vw0ir6D2gdBGZ1jULj1XFix0S44LXwioOAKvMon6X4odJUKikCT8CzSr5IqnP2_SJAbi0PJIx9SgMTqGaYWpSd2lSyJfzsLkk/s320/190320122057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking to the north side</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAikgPJRdPC1lsP5iQjTLO7WeL56fmKSmUgBF3BFk-4zedgdo97x4JeZ25Oeb139mZ2Ot57FdSg7nVUG1_ptgd8MyLc0FddPD1qnw_vmRB43hPXoQ-WAfWw8ZqvU1-B3vqvIR-ItsUeMM/s1600/190320122058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAikgPJRdPC1lsP5iQjTLO7WeL56fmKSmUgBF3BFk-4zedgdo97x4JeZ25Oeb139mZ2Ot57FdSg7nVUG1_ptgd8MyLc0FddPD1qnw_vmRB43hPXoQ-WAfWw8ZqvU1-B3vqvIR-ItsUeMM/s320/190320122058.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the paths</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNszGGfS0aqwLRBo0PPExXLKm5HiPumLYILkw7wDv9T-SO2S5symhyphenhyphenMpPl9tDHfdO-NRfB_kIFVuokqoE-tylhmcB4ozjj54PkhBYdSeYloH-AlMJsVFDzUCl4bAhjgOcIkaVPH9JU2Q/s1600/200320122059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNszGGfS0aqwLRBo0PPExXLKm5HiPumLYILkw7wDv9T-SO2S5symhyphenhyphenMpPl9tDHfdO-NRfB_kIFVuokqoE-tylhmcB4ozjj54PkhBYdSeYloH-AlMJsVFDzUCl4bAhjgOcIkaVPH9JU2Q/s320/200320122059.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from the tent. Tarp still intact</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBwv8bTPeN_FmN4j34NdXE_DpzDwMZ4L6wIRBWJnB7wsZUUv7Qrta-Di9wZJef-EV3ikTjSQX9c3f2l9lE5iEW5WtO59oXCxdlL1M1vz4WLS_f1eBI0yu7Hj86p48iaBKkfAar1aq7tM/s1600/200320122095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBwv8bTPeN_FmN4j34NdXE_DpzDwMZ4L6wIRBWJnB7wsZUUv7Qrta-Di9wZJef-EV3ikTjSQX9c3f2l9lE5iEW5WtO59oXCxdlL1M1vz4WLS_f1eBI0yu7Hj86p48iaBKkfAar1aq7tM/s320/200320122095.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">peaceful ruins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YeUNsLi2_bu4LrkGAxTn8TVq77l7kISRchwX_j0Y4H3c07rsadyqbclPGhddC1XRZ16lIT7jP0ZMzZO7SQB3pjk5l_9pOqBAfLfrudGspdEBunKkeZ8Zo7nE3gqNXxnnWONYjBwCXFY/s1600/210320122124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YeUNsLi2_bu4LrkGAxTn8TVq77l7kISRchwX_j0Y4H3c07rsadyqbclPGhddC1XRZ16lIT7jP0ZMzZO7SQB3pjk5l_9pOqBAfLfrudGspdEBunKkeZ8Zo7nE3gqNXxnnWONYjBwCXFY/s320/210320122124.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back in Copa, llamas hangin on the shore</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-65178602680527334042012-03-13T10:34:00.001-07:002012-03-13T10:52:41.594-07:00La Senda Verde Animal RefugeLa Senda Verde is one of Bolivia's biggest privately owned animal refuges that takes in animals that were abused as pets, on the black market to be sold as pets or unwanted pets. There's a law in Bolivia that says you cannot re-release animals into the wild so when LSV gets these animals they are there to stay and they try to give them the best life they can. It's an amazing place and I'm so glad there are people out there like Vicky and Marcello the owners who dedicate their lives to taking care of all the animals. There are around 70 monkeys (capuchins, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, nocturnal owl monkeys and a lion titi monkey) many birds mostly parrots, 2 toucans, 2 spectacle bears, 2 boas, a nocturnal kinkajou, a coati, a tayra which is like a big weasel that can climb trees so fast, a margay (nocturnal wildcat), many turtles and tortoises, some gunea fowl that just showed up on their own one day and never left and 8 million sand flies that bite you anywhere they can.<br />
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They get their money from tours that come in daily or guests that stay overnight but mostly they get it from volunteers, which Nick and I decided to be! We were debating between going here or the with Inta Wara Yassi the other animal refuge but decided that this one was a better price, closer, had food, hot water and electricity and was less known. We're very glad we chose this place as well since we got to work with a variety of animals and hang out with monkeys during our free time. When we arrived we were put on birds which is feeding and cleaning. Most of the birds are either free or let out of their cages during the day and put back in at night since some can't fly and would be easy prey. Once we got the hang of birds we were very efficient and were able to make suggestions about moving birds, make toys and change their diet (they were wasting so much food so we made adjustments). Some of the birds were so sweet but most were just grumpy and bitey in normal bird fashion. There are two who we dubbed the old ladies because they would 'talk' back and forth to each other like a pair of old ladies gossiping. They would also whistle together and yell HUEVO (egg). I'm pretty sure they were a mating pair though because if they were on the ground they would attack you if you went into their territory. The toucans had to be fed three times a day instead of lunch and dinner and they ate fruit and chicken. They were pretty scary to feed because they liked to bite and once they got a hold of something they would shake their head like a dog! The birds would get a variety of fruit and veg for breakfast and a bird 'cake' at night with seeds and pasta in it that nick became an expert at making. <br />
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Next we switched and nick was working on miscellaneous and I went to quarantine. Quarantine has a variety of animals that have just been rescued and need to be watched to make sure they're ok and not sick before taking them to the main part (it's down the road from lsv). There were some turtles and tortoises, many birds, four monkeys, a snake and the kinkajou who used to be a pet (he's so cute). That took a little more work because you're feeding a variety of animals and cleaning out horribly designed bird cages. Many of the birds are ready to be moved down to the main part but there is no space at the moment. Amazon parrots are the main birds because people want them as pets because they talk but people don't realize how noisy or messy or destructive they can be so they give them up. Many of them come in saying hola. There was one bird over there, a blue headed parrot, that was so sweet and I really liked and when one volunteer was cleaning her cage something fell and startled her and she flew away. That was sad :(<br />
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Miscellaneous is feeding and cleaning the turtles, feeding the dogs that live there and feeding the two bears.One bear is a 6 year old male named Aruma who was rescued from the black market as a cub. He's really chilled out and has a great enclosure surrounded by an electric fence. It's really amazing feeding a bear a few feet away with just an electric fence between you. These guys are the only bears in south America and are very endangered due to habitat loss. The other bear is a year old female cub named Tipnis who is very cute but way more hyper and unpredictable than Aruma. To feed Aruma one volunteer goes up a path next to his cage and throws peanuts to him in order to bring him away from his eating area. He loves peanuts and will sit down and pick them up with his mouth, place them on his arm and open the shell with his mouth. Meanwhile another volunteer or Vicky goes into the cage and cleans out his eating area, puts food in his bowl, and throws half a watermelon and papaya into the woods for him to search out later. With Tipnis it's a bit different because her cage is smaller for the time being and usually only Vicky or her son cleans out her cage and feeds her but the volunteer can feed her peanuts to distract her. She knows to climb up her tree and we give her the peanuts up there while the other person cleans. Sometimes she goes down the tree with the person still in there and they have to quickly get out. I don't think she would want to be aggressive or anything, probably she just wants to play but those claws are big!!<br />
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Last we got put on monkeys which is taking care of the capuchins. They are smart little guys and very sexist. Men can work with them with little to no problem but for women we have to be very careful with some and no one can go near the alpha male without the free roaming monkeys attacking. If I a monkey was on a guys shoulder that he really liked and I went near to him the monkey might scratch or try to bite me because he's protecting him. The main reason I couldn't go near some is because they were abused by women. One even had her eye poked out by her previous owner because she bit her so only guys can feed and clean her area. Many of the capuchins are tied up with tethers because they will either go after women, are danger to other monkeys or will run away. They can be very aggressive toward each other and while we were there one attacked another and bit parts of two of his fingers off! But they can also be very sweet. Some were just babies that wanted to cuddle and others just wanted attention and play. One that was in quarantine named Martin III was so shy he wouldlnt' look anyone in the eyes and would cover his head when you went near him, he may have been beaten previously, but he loved nick and was so playful and happy to see him. One time I was standing by him and he was looking at the ground and picking at spots on my pant legs when nick came to visit and he went nuts yelling and was so happy, it was really cute. <br />
Monkey care was feeding them three times a day, changing water and cleaning their houses but we could also hang by the pool and gazebo and just chill with the spider and howler monkeys. It was such a great experience and we didnt' want to leave but we had to consider our budget unfortunately :(<br />
hoping to go back one day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFwxOeJ0iI-7HvpNXxWyH21e8z7Ord3brUKpiep-tRW81a6pO8NufoqYhJ05EGUnxYFeWEmMpo8lH4RLNUg3dOBCzczh8eDmSD26uye4ICQM-NXwPkp7ggYh8lMqZVWvB4MDltjWm6o0/s1600/280220121860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwFwxOeJ0iI-7HvpNXxWyH21e8z7Ord3brUKpiep-tRW81a6pO8NufoqYhJ05EGUnxYFeWEmMpo8lH4RLNUg3dOBCzczh8eDmSD26uye4ICQM-NXwPkp7ggYh8lMqZVWvB4MDltjWm6o0/s320/280220121860.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tipnis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjWIH6z1t2Mn07WMHrGLvh2blrO1JT_sPFt8EX_NWvhPKJ8VDm3AdoCLV8BMgMOwPeay52vnDGHwPxZSu5DjFmXXb42tV4zgTix6iJi8fdh4ed1jjH0BCR6OS61UnKmSHsY5CmUT9-Fs/s1600/100320121963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjWIH6z1t2Mn07WMHrGLvh2blrO1JT_sPFt8EX_NWvhPKJ8VDm3AdoCLV8BMgMOwPeay52vnDGHwPxZSu5DjFmXXb42tV4zgTix6iJi8fdh4ed1jjH0BCR6OS61UnKmSHsY5CmUT9-Fs/s320/100320121963.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and a newly arrived capuchin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAnXsNcjZLFkNslLM4OsS2PNlnGz_5y1CjQgu8ziwy6hqNWt5j4g8mW1DCLqpA5TclkY_7rvTHD8u8QCvI_AFgeOaG-KJnWmcVY6BaW15xPtsTIJFGaHVZoUoO-cCaGDrendarz1kxo4/s1600/020320121877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAnXsNcjZLFkNslLM4OsS2PNlnGz_5y1CjQgu8ziwy6hqNWt5j4g8mW1DCLqpA5TclkY_7rvTHD8u8QCvI_AFgeOaG-KJnWmcVY6BaW15xPtsTIJFGaHVZoUoO-cCaGDrendarz1kxo4/s320/020320121877.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walk from quarantine to lsv</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oz_V5jS4hirZ2Y_rmttdmz0JQYr_9D2rhOFBgcswzwERGAXJtMTIx6b6fTQ7opoXiSPiWKiTLSRqJHme5ocfIgSypc_iZhrG8iOkOQBfxxperXX5jPdb99Cz05gTD0UxqChHao1bQns/s1600/030320121904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oz_V5jS4hirZ2Y_rmttdmz0JQYr_9D2rhOFBgcswzwERGAXJtMTIx6b6fTQ7opoXiSPiWKiTLSRqJHme5ocfIgSypc_iZhrG8iOkOQBfxxperXX5jPdb99Cz05gTD0UxqChHao1bQns/s320/030320121904.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aruma eating a tangerine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdglQO3qTeGSO-RdNY6d4QhKBG7oFTb1_Turu9PXNeN0KFkXcFXF3lNK0FvsrAYEukUNj-7me_0tMszD1zHEfsbDtuMujeGwJUQ9-vSOtlfewYdGTsja99YUsM1-jSzjsYbaAPDynBWhQ/s1600/030320121910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdglQO3qTeGSO-RdNY6d4QhKBG7oFTb1_Turu9PXNeN0KFkXcFXF3lNK0FvsrAYEukUNj-7me_0tMszD1zHEfsbDtuMujeGwJUQ9-vSOtlfewYdGTsja99YUsM1-jSzjsYbaAPDynBWhQ/s320/030320121910.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">owl monkey baby that we babysat for one night. He's nocturnal so sleep was not easy especially when he peed on your head</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDfdjl9jkCUClKE22jKY26JaoHWcz5UhlT2ezyZjofSdDR79lTuaVFmP-CX2T_lxZmQwSNnDjXe3u40rBxok8pJk-GIVKRFOvgb5rIs4vKmDNhJORGqsWj4oGKmxy9oZ6ZsSJvZDcecQ/s1600/100320121972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDfdjl9jkCUClKE22jKY26JaoHWcz5UhlT2ezyZjofSdDR79lTuaVFmP-CX2T_lxZmQwSNnDjXe3u40rBxok8pJk-GIVKRFOvgb5rIs4vKmDNhJORGqsWj4oGKmxy9oZ6ZsSJvZDcecQ/s320/100320121972.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch time! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ss6cxjIhtz9s_qIRHZPkx-p2MKJthTgE4cuWfTLdTJjKfzUZHV3kd8ya5ytlgBR19jWpshDVKF9-6drA6heMDSkFgRsP3wL231PQ7teuDyaolwTHNJctmltmoRV5UlNXS_wd7W9sZA8/s1600/120320121974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Ss6cxjIhtz9s_qIRHZPkx-p2MKJthTgE4cuWfTLdTJjKfzUZHV3kd8ya5ytlgBR19jWpshDVKF9-6drA6heMDSkFgRsP3wL231PQ7teuDyaolwTHNJctmltmoRV5UlNXS_wd7W9sZA8/s320/120320121974.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4hSCmS_5TgJTakEQp-Wu9GcVLZXNw9uRB-gEegE44ybNM_H5C1d2xpTBl7PjTQuF0HxTU_L_A76lYASfm9SyGQltBkOxrifuI3HEb8pKpjUJKB2YLspIqlBbTqeP-_ROVRzRbuDhxQg/s1600/250220121763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4hSCmS_5TgJTakEQp-Wu9GcVLZXNw9uRB-gEegE44ybNM_H5C1d2xpTBl7PjTQuF0HxTU_L_A76lYASfm9SyGQltBkOxrifuI3HEb8pKpjUJKB2YLspIqlBbTqeP-_ROVRzRbuDhxQg/s320/250220121763.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spider monkey juggling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREqB7LSvL0oL6cguYj5lKaUMicr5CWizb0eVEJbY9bQikaUpa8G6Ho0_UfawMR5o6jBGcj6MYJMveVkwl8SMs9YrYOxcy06abv35oYZVVrxqUIoMDBgQFSA7OF44KdXHSWR47DdmetfU/s1600/250220121769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREqB7LSvL0oL6cguYj5lKaUMicr5CWizb0eVEJbY9bQikaUpa8G6Ho0_UfawMR5o6jBGcj6MYJMveVkwl8SMs9YrYOxcy06abv35oYZVVrxqUIoMDBgQFSA7OF44KdXHSWR47DdmetfU/s320/250220121769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cuddles</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XSwXOQNHka2MIabcD-ANbKVJtVDFZ4retRxYCMmLO839qJTOGz7yBYHBVaGSJ7FkLv-52XA8p15gEvgEgYnYtcvGMP7ucc3KcX4_U48xM-XbohVd3oT58te8FJ4uGQrlgEQUKrOFzzo/s1600/260220121795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XSwXOQNHka2MIabcD-ANbKVJtVDFZ4retRxYCMmLO839qJTOGz7yBYHBVaGSJ7FkLv-52XA8p15gEvgEgYnYtcvGMP7ucc3KcX4_U48xM-XbohVd3oT58te8FJ4uGQrlgEQUKrOFzzo/s320/260220121795.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the old ladies</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCU7Vxlikypm5xcl0v9yJeVFH2WB5-ict6ep3ZZ7fvpqLO595mHkxs8ofguAYvPafofdIpO4oGAO8isw03VJqa6ck4g93M_6EW8jkMj3hnHd5ys764HuMJlQp8uO0Wkt4JSRWjXDitg8/s1600/260220121796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCU7Vxlikypm5xcl0v9yJeVFH2WB5-ict6ep3ZZ7fvpqLO595mHkxs8ofguAYvPafofdIpO4oGAO8isw03VJqa6ck4g93M_6EW8jkMj3hnHd5ys764HuMJlQp8uO0Wkt4JSRWjXDitg8/s320/260220121796.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">toucan feeding time. out of the 20 species of toucans this is the rarest</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn3Adybmnrc8tyWvpUQe_Wygm_1IOFN_x5_YbAEU3vgKUFZYZOsSWP3z1XnX5XXMgKcWu8dmPj8uPk8W6EiA7D3hXB1Xie-dcfl5vcFVEwfBDzXV2uD2uVcvrzfObloJFPrXFJQ6j3tQ/s1600/260220121804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgn3Adybmnrc8tyWvpUQe_Wygm_1IOFN_x5_YbAEU3vgKUFZYZOsSWP3z1XnX5XXMgKcWu8dmPj8uPk8W6EiA7D3hXB1Xie-dcfl5vcFVEwfBDzXV2uD2uVcvrzfObloJFPrXFJQ6j3tQ/s320/260220121804.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">other toucan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BFzhWTHG3F4AWzltMIaTkCdj96JI4TCdY62G40N9IlfIxW_1kboy5PKcbDPgxOPt2GIQpaUpU8kBaxxN3SYSMgqiQlGjX6ZyyitTMdV_EN4hpVKlWjvMgeJHtsiOf3odRXjhl9PjxEg/s1600/270220121807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BFzhWTHG3F4AWzltMIaTkCdj96JI4TCdY62G40N9IlfIxW_1kboy5PKcbDPgxOPt2GIQpaUpU8kBaxxN3SYSMgqiQlGjX6ZyyitTMdV_EN4hpVKlWjvMgeJHtsiOf3odRXjhl9PjxEg/s320/270220121807.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">scruffy the macaw that lived outside the restaurant. he loved to be scratched on the neck and under the wings</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzFDFcJ3I1Fho-ku6NdQiJDkvfa8rsYD_9_KOsAHdVeBodzCVzCay_EiHJVle_Qt_v_RSpnfOZqK1QkWNLLl5gjnow0DX1AtCOTb-asr_mfpktnoxBfub5LJPebFlZKyHQ-e3c-CX8VY/s1600/270220121810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzFDFcJ3I1Fho-ku6NdQiJDkvfa8rsYD_9_KOsAHdVeBodzCVzCay_EiHJVle_Qt_v_RSpnfOZqK1QkWNLLl5gjnow0DX1AtCOTb-asr_mfpktnoxBfub5LJPebFlZKyHQ-e3c-CX8VY/s320/270220121810.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby howler monkey named Canola. Loved nick. so cute</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksVxOhxgrfLUs1nDCnDFfHj1UtN4RcK2eS_gSk4ualkT6iOII_LaOkpc-44pMZkFXtyYQSrriKTIGgJFXP1BNyejhOv-td2-fKL9EJCCljXx8iaXBlSfSZr2pCJ5xCup7KXEahXKUNLg/s1600/280220121820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksVxOhxgrfLUs1nDCnDFfHj1UtN4RcK2eS_gSk4ualkT6iOII_LaOkpc-44pMZkFXtyYQSrriKTIGgJFXP1BNyejhOv-td2-fKL9EJCCljXx8iaXBlSfSZr2pCJ5xCup7KXEahXKUNLg/s320/280220121820.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nap times</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibxVgeENlnhkYIz4G7jQqt8sN1Y2XQhV5xYcU3VU5E_9wfOGiD1GejPSTyNd5cNQTZKnFdFCBLqf5ta1P7GHNwNJgPlFVb6ETsW7OYEWD_3p3e3W3Wv9z7zQAQspucl5X30b0ZmPlhGM/s1600/030320121894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhibxVgeENlnhkYIz4G7jQqt8sN1Y2XQhV5xYcU3VU5E_9wfOGiD1GejPSTyNd5cNQTZKnFdFCBLqf5ta1P7GHNwNJgPlFVb6ETsW7OYEWD_3p3e3W3Wv9z7zQAQspucl5X30b0ZmPlhGM/s320/030320121894.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">willi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-18253039134879605812012-03-13T08:45:00.000-07:002012-03-13T08:45:06.472-07:00Carnival in Oruro and La PazIn Paraguay I saw dancers from Bolivia during the bicentenario parade and I thought they were awesome. I saw that the carnival in Oruro was going to have many folkloric dances like the one I saw in PY so I thought it would be fun to go see. We originally were going to take a tour which provided transport, seats, meals and tshirt but we thought we could do it cheaper ourselves and in the end we saved 20 Bolivianos which is like $3 but after hearing about Lauren and Marianna's time with a tour we're glad we did it ourselves. <br />
We got up at 3am to get a 4am bus from La Paz to Oruro. It was freezing and we did not have the right clothes on, Nick had flip flops and I had flip flops with socks and our feet were freezing. Nick ended up buying socks once we arrived. It took us almost an hour to pick a seat. There were many stands and each section had a person selling seats for 200B (we didn't think it would be that much!) and after awhile we just picked one and sat down. The next 8 hours we barely moved from our seat because it wasn't easy to get off the stand and we bought food from the vendors who came by the stand. We had ponchos in case of waterguns and foam spray but it wasn't tooo bad where we were sitting. <br />
The parade itself was good for the first 2 hours, and then everything kept repeating. They had amazing costumes (except for the ones using dead animals) but it was the same stuff over and over. Different dance troupes all doing the same folk dances but since we had paid so much for the seats we didn't want to leave too early. Finally at 6 we decided to make our way to the terminal, buy some street food and get on a bus back to La Paz. It was a long day and when we got back to our hotel room it was playing on the tv so we could watch it from the comfort of our room instead of a cold bleacher. I probably wouldn't do that again, once is enough. Maybe next time Rio!! Unfortunately we were advised not to take a camera so we have no pictures of the carnival..and we would have been fine if we took one anyway.<br />
<br />
After Oruro we spent a week in La Paz not doing much except eating and walking around and buying stuff. We met up with Laruen and Marianna and went to Loki Hostel and Wild Rover for a night out. It was also still carnvial and we got into a watergun/foam fight with little kids on the street. I got soaked. We ate at The Star of India which apparently has the 'worlds most dangerous vindaloo' which if you eat all of it you get a tshirt. Nick attempted and was very successful and got the shirt. I tasted a bit and thought it was horrible and toooo hot for my untrained American mouth. We also bought stuff for ourselves for the first time because we could actually afford it in this country so now we have nice new jackets. We stayed at hostel Tipnis which unfortunately didn't have WIFI but was only 70 B's (about $10) for both of us for a private double with a tv! We also went to the movies to see Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but ended up going on a holiday day so we had to pay more. I think it would have been better if I hadn't read the book first!<br />
La Paz is a very cold place and hilly and I was always out of breath because of the altitude. We had a hard time finding an eating place with wifi but internet cafes are cheap.It is a funky city to see from up high because the houses go right up the surrounding hills. We also sent stuff back home and I can't believe how quickly it made it!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwPMzq9f9FnUX9loJQKx2GhEXrZvq3r6wfbXOy7Dl2zqbpoEakIgJEoFao9IQUYXl59sMH3xorrZcJXcIDA3IFQThExKYF7qOSuaoOc__uv4fZ7b5RB7lCMSf_36bsTITlum39zz_Fog/s1600/170220121728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwPMzq9f9FnUX9loJQKx2GhEXrZvq3r6wfbXOy7Dl2zqbpoEakIgJEoFao9IQUYXl59sMH3xorrZcJXcIDA3IFQThExKYF7qOSuaoOc__uv4fZ7b5RB7lCMSf_36bsTITlum39zz_Fog/s320/170220121728.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good luck blessing for Adventure Brew Hostel that we accidentally took part in</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g5pL3cjUbCZu0h5Oe7EXHtTT-hufK-_yOGpQ8h8TjYXcA-WvypMrtnxZl-X2wjVOODF-OYr6X60YJrqxuUeGFz5-WSWRvaQofjgJ-IoIGOnej1JsOO9sAx4QqaAKhhmW8Dhn7pcx4-0/s1600/200220121739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1g5pL3cjUbCZu0h5Oe7EXHtTT-hufK-_yOGpQ8h8TjYXcA-WvypMrtnxZl-X2wjVOODF-OYr6X60YJrqxuUeGFz5-WSWRvaQofjgJ-IoIGOnej1JsOO9sAx4QqaAKhhmW8Dhn7pcx4-0/s320/200220121739.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'worlds most dangerous vindaloo'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPXtvtlyT1yxwzNBRYEerWv-qDjQJGeFHeK-gbGAKUkj8a7DV-J3TuQm19xY9XMIO8YUn9vMaSAOFqjQLhQfr8UofqeAdNffKWA54pHT45CJfFCaZ-qcgnX_STK7UfHIkqxrSdtC66Dg/s1600/210220121746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPXtvtlyT1yxwzNBRYEerWv-qDjQJGeFHeK-gbGAKUkj8a7DV-J3TuQm19xY9XMIO8YUn9vMaSAOFqjQLhQfr8UofqeAdNffKWA54pHT45CJfFCaZ-qcgnX_STK7UfHIkqxrSdtC66Dg/s320/210220121746.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">random street party we saw when walking back to hostel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3MmEmCE0oenlJ8yRI8khYQAmJm0mP_6-1krdjHHUSUqS8rOvvkT2ahyMxo61buOf44pq_jc8WQ1WpYY7g5_ihdixW4RTKuYsRad0DPhd4Onzk_tO6QDXD-OLOoon6ZCbEeACqQxwplw/s1600/220220121748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3MmEmCE0oenlJ8yRI8khYQAmJm0mP_6-1krdjHHUSUqS8rOvvkT2ahyMxo61buOf44pq_jc8WQ1WpYY7g5_ihdixW4RTKuYsRad0DPhd4Onzk_tO6QDXD-OLOoon6ZCbEeACqQxwplw/s320/220220121748.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeon foot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHylGm1X4ZNfurwXeeK7KoBTiuSc9Ls8LDoHpOR3m_0zd5qiiD81hoShMaNPaEmPuc6pNovzJxAfxOfoC_6IQVhtgDX7z2KKyZ6MEVoeYEpFLEGotdfsYl1KZTLao2YhOyA1YGDYNygxM/s1600/220220121750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHylGm1X4ZNfurwXeeK7KoBTiuSc9Ls8LDoHpOR3m_0zd5qiiD81hoShMaNPaEmPuc6pNovzJxAfxOfoC_6IQVhtgDX7z2KKyZ6MEVoeYEpFLEGotdfsYl1KZTLao2YhOyA1YGDYNygxM/s320/220220121750.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">colorful store fronts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VqU_2En8cN1HsiytMo7et4HHGre3dj7aMFftek4agN2vRSWOIFZu-FG50zxUC17o_foKy03YDnCxL68Szn0mxuXSx9Pms-nQsO1-OaWRThFNyt7maSGDXpwJ3edDdw7qIMKotAWfYwU/s1600/230220121753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VqU_2En8cN1HsiytMo7et4HHGre3dj7aMFftek4agN2vRSWOIFZu-FG50zxUC17o_foKy03YDnCxL68Szn0mxuXSx9Pms-nQsO1-OaWRThFNyt7maSGDXpwJ3edDdw7qIMKotAWfYwU/s320/230220121753.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-26282563991329697652012-03-13T08:11:00.000-07:002012-03-13T08:11:25.536-07:00Cochabamba and Toro Toro National Park Not much to say about Cochabamba. It's been awhile since I've had good, reliable internet access so I have many updates to do and when I think back to Cochabamba this is what I remember... had trouble finding a place to stay but finally stayed at Hostel Buenos Aires. It rained a lot. We ate at a 'Chinese' restaurant with a main dish called Jackie Chen Chicken (not chan..chen). Had really good pizza. Oh and had someone try to tell us he was the National Police. This guy in a taxi van pulled up next to us and said 'hello, national police' and flashed us a most definitely fake id, he obviously must have thought we were idiots like we would get into a taxi cab with some fat guy and his accomplice. We had also read that people try to do that, abduct you and get you to withdraw all your money from your ATM card and that the real national police would have a uniform on, the undercover ones do not interact with tourists. So I shook my head at the guy..might have even given him a finger wag... and walked away. <br />
So all in all I would not go back to that place or really recommend it. Although we did have a nice old lady come up to us in the park and welcome us to Bolivia, and she didn't even beg for money! It was quite sweet.<br />
<br />
From Cochabamba we got a tour to Toro Toro, the smallest national park in Bolivia but with a wide variety of things to see. It is also not very known or visited and as of now off the Gringo Trail. Toro Toro means mud in Quechua and it was very muddy, probably because it rained all the time..which makes sense because it is the rainy season. Joining us on our tour were two Bolivians from La Paz getting to know different parts of the country.<br />
Things to see at Toro Toro:<br />
<br />
Dinosaur tracks. So many dino tracks preserved in the mud! Many were eroding away though due to rain since they're just on the ground out in the open, but the guide assured me as the mud washed away more would turn up. hopefully.<br />
<br />
Big cave. We went into a crazy cave that is the biggest in Toro Toro. The entrance was everything you would expect from a cave entrance with a rocky slope and river going into a dark hole. Unfortunately back in the 70s people went in and smashed pretty much all the stalactites and mites to bring home as requerdos which was pretty shitty of them because they take sooo long to form. I think we saw maybe 3 that weren't broken. We had to do a lot of rope climbing or sliding down, crawling on our bellies and rock scrambling. I was pretty sore the next day but it was so worth it.<br />
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Canyon. It was beautiful with a cool lookout<br />
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Rock Paintings. Don't know from who or what they mean but there are some paintings done by people many many years ago about something. <br />
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Rock Formations. There's a lot of water flowing around and it has eroded the rocks to form cool bridges and stuff.<br />
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Sea turtle graveyard. was apparently there but we couldn't see it because someone stole 4 of the turtle fossils and for each fossil stolen it was closed for a year. So it was closed for four years. <br />
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Marine Fossils. We hiked a long way up to see these guys in the high altitude air which made it extra hard. The fossils were tiny shells in the rocks and all over the ground. I wouldn't have done that hike again because it was hard and not worth the fossils it when you got there (although a great view). I took a small one and put it in my pocket but it was later stolen and eaten by a monkey at La Senda Verde.<br />
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Vehicles stuck in a river. There was a pickup truck and a big cattle truck stuck in the river that usually is crossable but there was a rainstorm causing it to rise. Many Bolivians were trying to get them out digging at the rocks under the tires or using planks of wood to lift the pickup. It was entertaining <br />
<br />
The tour was three days two nights and we did it through Hotel El Molino. They provided transport, guides and food as well. We didn't have the best experience with them because the hotel was moated in by a river and far away from the centro so we were stuck there at night and they didn't have any beer or snacks to buy at the hotel. The TV only played DVDs but the sound on it was so crappy you couldn't understand anything. We were never even given an itinerary of what we were doing so we were always just waiting around not knowing what was happening. They tried to charge us more than they quoted and the driver who drove us back to Cochabamba was flyyyyyying down the scariest roads so close to the edge. It was the worst ride ever. At one point he drove so close to the edge trying to look at the road ahead or turn around or something we were about six inches from the front tires going over the edge and i was in the front! Horrible.<br />
<br />
All in all toro toro was a beautiful place..hotel el molino is a not recommended way to see it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaTcnFpx6EEWsgatFY6RDby8hqQkecN01aub8TDnlaSa0ssWfawGLh1Vv8a_-1cs6HvbSfsj0Cr5aeusY677fdw703R2us3yh-Ag43Ts_4auTNTAtKec0CuYxDWASabC078En6t1me84/s1600/140220121567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaTcnFpx6EEWsgatFY6RDby8hqQkecN01aub8TDnlaSa0ssWfawGLh1Vv8a_-1cs6HvbSfsj0Cr5aeusY677fdw703R2us3yh-Ag43Ts_4auTNTAtKec0CuYxDWASabC078En6t1me84/s320/140220121567.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel El Molino living room</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iz4FHP5GzBh92eZQSJub_f4QR_25zwuEKDLAmAB2lklYODZ7opX2yxaX0ojfSaIIFK6S4-4JoY8lJJb2BZNOHH8-GnKnFQetZ3xP0YFCU6ml_EmplBn2GCOaYUzCzQCA_f_JSyYm0Rc/s1600/140220121570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iz4FHP5GzBh92eZQSJub_f4QR_25zwuEKDLAmAB2lklYODZ7opX2yxaX0ojfSaIIFK6S4-4JoY8lJJb2BZNOHH8-GnKnFQetZ3xP0YFCU6ml_EmplBn2GCOaYUzCzQCA_f_JSyYm0Rc/s320/140220121570.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coolest plaza statue ever in Toro Toro. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGztsUZpJhb5ImL8vRXEJzsrVlinTFGtFc50xJjSfDgAE64EE9SpdeD-aLDud9Yot1l2bnBdOKbhYPR9R_pwl1nlNUCXtzHHGi1gbU82P8x9ZzIuOcxiH5ra49Xo3zHqAST9S1pIpPZ8/s1600/140220121575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGztsUZpJhb5ImL8vRXEJzsrVlinTFGtFc50xJjSfDgAE64EE9SpdeD-aLDud9Yot1l2bnBdOKbhYPR9R_pwl1nlNUCXtzHHGi1gbU82P8x9ZzIuOcxiH5ra49Xo3zHqAST9S1pIpPZ8/s320/140220121575.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dino track</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLtzh5AxUesOG8o4K15-ipIuvrhINjxELzYjcA_N64vS1d6EUpa3TeSjRntObeVf-PW89Qtv215fhAqtm4Si_gRXlfp1m4RJRoQ_Q-cins-gXotfIBS0L5HGWGWHaVT3hHXfqTPWvfpQ/s1600/140220121585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLtzh5AxUesOG8o4K15-ipIuvrhINjxELzYjcA_N64vS1d6EUpa3TeSjRntObeVf-PW89Qtv215fhAqtm4Si_gRXlfp1m4RJRoQ_Q-cins-gXotfIBS0L5HGWGWHaVT3hHXfqTPWvfpQ/s320/140220121585.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">going to the cave entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z0OPwaYHJdtJcZ8wJHgtbDwTAfN9pI-V7dDqb27CdnywlgW06QeaYvbDtfl7xKF5WuvCombQWdeHmUHFEObZIk6sA3YJ4bFZ_N4_VwgC1nBcAvQB392guz1DEsN58wUF2rFxYirnOC0/s1600/140220121603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z0OPwaYHJdtJcZ8wJHgtbDwTAfN9pI-V7dDqb27CdnywlgW06QeaYvbDtfl7xKF5WuvCombQWdeHmUHFEObZIk6sA3YJ4bFZ_N4_VwgC1nBcAvQB392guz1DEsN58wUF2rFxYirnOC0/s320/140220121603.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spelunking</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbHmOAvmWHskRx6MshjniQCvqOciHZmQeO3I4bS27SiG8yOQa1tHLW82WXY8VVJIbLziE_YSJk_hwEfvgy5_moYhocD8a2rmXPlw9G7J6fJ_V2fkgXe7cGkn_og05YCMICNzSQBlWsrs/s1600/140220121609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbHmOAvmWHskRx6MshjniQCvqOciHZmQeO3I4bS27SiG8yOQa1tHLW82WXY8VVJIbLziE_YSJk_hwEfvgy5_moYhocD8a2rmXPlw9G7J6fJ_V2fkgXe7cGkn_og05YCMICNzSQBlWsrs/s320/140220121609.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chopped off stalactites</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGSLnqe6GmVmmFyN-dXWhtRAaAHZdGpGRgDkARPx2UDWzW3BzpgVl_onkcOPP486jFZsZz1yHSPj4h_pAj3W_TG6ipdwTWVXODFYaV1cCVYvR1UKCpF-MfoM0rABM9LI3FsgpfxD8Bpg/s1600/150220121662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGSLnqe6GmVmmFyN-dXWhtRAaAHZdGpGRgDkARPx2UDWzW3BzpgVl_onkcOPP486jFZsZz1yHSPj4h_pAj3W_TG6ipdwTWVXODFYaV1cCVYvR1UKCpF-MfoM0rABM9LI3FsgpfxD8Bpg/s320/150220121662.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">water eroding the rocks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBq9v52LomgV29FTzZh66ZJW0r6Ur8HO0At2O08Eb3IwWkcaklX6Xa_xAOFBk8b-jw5iktifkor-ggSNqtzpD4O79k1_8DLYozhfgRgSYfcB98ZIz-BOwC7z7qaChDuBD2cFkSBDrGlU/s1600/150220121670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBq9v52LomgV29FTzZh66ZJW0r6Ur8HO0At2O08Eb3IwWkcaklX6Xa_xAOFBk8b-jw5iktifkor-ggSNqtzpD4O79k1_8DLYozhfgRgSYfcB98ZIz-BOwC7z7qaChDuBD2cFkSBDrGlU/s320/150220121670.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dinool long neck. I like how you can see the mud pushed out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-S2ydZnVq0Q14Yd7oqgwk2dioANEyVo45Int48oWuopQXH-qXM5mb1oXklO2z0bSViQF6qmSUxGlEigsRpu2deM6i6GzPxxDzSXa9oaX713vHgS2zmcAnUDXW_vwWFyXJ1gi6PmgIjg/s1600/150220121690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-S2ydZnVq0Q14Yd7oqgwk2dioANEyVo45Int48oWuopQXH-qXM5mb1oXklO2z0bSViQF6qmSUxGlEigsRpu2deM6i6GzPxxDzSXa9oaX713vHgS2zmcAnUDXW_vwWFyXJ1gi6PmgIjg/s320/150220121690.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWd1QB25vZy0YhimrZPi32aJTnSeVMa0Sr2GmacxFyCMqNGNpY1SGUsizUxqBDKOGVAxYOc6SL1Z8yGM7ace1ZkmZkmBWBccpzMA6O3gKom-FdB7kKVkRCiRr4tT2xdNs_HrQ5G051FHU/s1600/160220121723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWd1QB25vZy0YhimrZPi32aJTnSeVMa0Sr2GmacxFyCMqNGNpY1SGUsizUxqBDKOGVAxYOc6SL1Z8yGM7ace1ZkmZkmBWBccpzMA6O3gKom-FdB7kKVkRCiRr4tT2xdNs_HrQ5G051FHU/s320/160220121723.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sea fossils</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNDZ8h1R4jaJ2e_Sg2_u2ypB9gyNMOIr9Vhef0dUHYQQxsw8pr37uOT_DiP4T3RN9pmwVFEQjVgExFLqbqUXl1jQ-m0mp1zO4wOAXh_p-v6f3FkguoSTxC7wkQ_xjcMVTLRau4sFXBdE/s1600/DSC_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNDZ8h1R4jaJ2e_Sg2_u2ypB9gyNMOIr9Vhef0dUHYQQxsw8pr37uOT_DiP4T3RN9pmwVFEQjVgExFLqbqUXl1jQ-m0mp1zO4wOAXh_p-v6f3FkguoSTxC7wkQ_xjcMVTLRau4sFXBdE/s320/DSC_0147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exiting the cave</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPCtNfpAaozLjLZVR_L-ZtEbVGLVLIovv37UDrWaU6xfFkpXxCFWJB830Q7sSP08xTXrGWcwwdOJeVVhyphenhyphenGVA1pCqtT9B_aC_rbaF7Z_4-d-jYg-55vE0qNT9pQyuLYD6biinmpfyQofc/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPCtNfpAaozLjLZVR_L-ZtEbVGLVLIovv37UDrWaU6xfFkpXxCFWJB830Q7sSP08xTXrGWcwwdOJeVVhyphenhyphenGVA1pCqtT9B_aC_rbaF7Z_4-d-jYg-55vE0qNT9pQyuLYD6biinmpfyQofc/s320/DSC_0195.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tight spaces</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwp-GQEIkW0mYVdRTS9Bb2L7fIRZGbAU0kPC6ZgadEtU-_RJ_2BRSpEfF4NASeTcHN5HsENCJFurwbbCND1UiqzpFKnOj9aKk6NHqxlqhnv_7fQAOz2ZivQgoF2f1F1G4QEtJr5qjHVQ/s1600/DSC_0310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwp-GQEIkW0mYVdRTS9Bb2L7fIRZGbAU0kPC6ZgadEtU-_RJ_2BRSpEfF4NASeTcHN5HsENCJFurwbbCND1UiqzpFKnOj9aKk6NHqxlqhnv_7fQAOz2ZivQgoF2f1F1G4QEtJr5qjHVQ/s320/DSC_0310.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">natural bridge formed by water eroding the rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFQKkDsAd09FAkS0mRwpv9ZSLRyIDWH7SOQwQlRaToc1zITHb_ti6OTwbTcP3ItlVbyW8rzryzAyQbB3pVc74KoveaYwBLgoFPlIedWrzKj-7dm6nJTD1ZYpc3fB8IAXeGav5JFPvXU0/s1600/DSC_0623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFQKkDsAd09FAkS0mRwpv9ZSLRyIDWH7SOQwQlRaToc1zITHb_ti6OTwbTcP3ItlVbyW8rzryzAyQbB3pVc74KoveaYwBLgoFPlIedWrzKj-7dm6nJTD1ZYpc3fB8IAXeGav5JFPvXU0/s320/DSC_0623.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from drive home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-50851370949019154462012-02-12T18:42:00.000-08:002012-02-12T18:42:00.501-08:00Sucre: City of marching bands and lawyersSucre is the constitutional capitol of Bolivia and some say it's prettiest city. It has some great colonial buildings and street after street of lawyer offices! I don't know if it's just really easy to become a lawyer here or if all the lawyers go to Sucre but they're there if need be. <br />
We also witnessed no less than 7 different marching bands playing throughout the streets in the 3 days we were there. I think this might have something to do with carnival coming up. They mostly all played the same tune but one had a whole bunch of young guys with huge bells on their boots jigging in time up the street to their band. Very fun to watch. <br />
We didn't do to much here other than walk around, although the sidewalks were pretty narrow and when school and work was let out it wasn't to pleasant. We also found this restaurant we went to two times (that usually doesn't happen!) that was old saloon themed. There are tours you can do from Sucre like walks to see dinosaur footprints, which unfortunately will be gone soon due to a concrete company that will come in and destroy them. Like you can get that back again! ugh. Or you can go rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking or horseback riding. We chose to do nothing as to save some money for other trips but we did find a free!! museum that had a great display of masks used in Bolivia. We also checked out the cemetery which had some huge mausoleums and many wall drawer graves. A whole wall of them was all kids with toy decorations in their little cubby hole. Pretty sad.<br />
We stayed here a day longer than planned just to have a relaxing day and do online researching and blogging and whatnot. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLjWYnLn8IARDxSXFen7p4L7QaI0MOdXg529DnQROjwkJfMsHPnKZfQ-MTpkQslmHXHCGzgiTvxj4EsbCwXKGCOp6oTjQ3_Kqm0AD-D4Wja3yYYVI_MUCdjgMhaG15uPG71dZu9vi00k/s1600/090220121530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLjWYnLn8IARDxSXFen7p4L7QaI0MOdXg529DnQROjwkJfMsHPnKZfQ-MTpkQslmHXHCGzgiTvxj4EsbCwXKGCOp6oTjQ3_Kqm0AD-D4Wja3yYYVI_MUCdjgMhaG15uPG71dZu9vi00k/s320/090220121530.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnwG_Z1Z3I8SXoSimkj2_KrvEOffDxnUOltPgRmxCfd-yPwiGju6H5_QcmnUa9nWrdEkf8QSUvCm6AsQ1qK81ExWXtxHlrswswYtFLjQrMz7McR9o95fmxrRUCu0KF5Mc8957kWmeKhc/s1600/090220121535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnwG_Z1Z3I8SXoSimkj2_KrvEOffDxnUOltPgRmxCfd-yPwiGju6H5_QcmnUa9nWrdEkf8QSUvCm6AsQ1qK81ExWXtxHlrswswYtFLjQrMz7McR9o95fmxrRUCu0KF5Mc8957kWmeKhc/s320/090220121535.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2brgEASP8DiFn4KuKrd9cO3xRyrjHXlbozVT0PB_bR7vPKKDvPs5J6pd3FHMYIEzVSMurf3frvgtLzQ-2-dlMW_haSHShCu76aj22sMpr8tfTs4sJzgFOm84ypeAzB-m0uY03-7qcios/s1600/110220121541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2brgEASP8DiFn4KuKrd9cO3xRyrjHXlbozVT0PB_bR7vPKKDvPs5J6pd3FHMYIEzVSMurf3frvgtLzQ-2-dlMW_haSHShCu76aj22sMpr8tfTs4sJzgFOm84ypeAzB-m0uY03-7qcios/s320/110220121541.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT0okrWY35O_YGpgo-HBL89zei2iY5rSPB3yIFW8TYi6S6pNQIB9nyvkzNPjK6x8flreucZ2bgxb-hL1J89hN1ZdzurUGZMHiaNKD1cT6xZQdXLdAlXXcXu5SnmOF3v6ddiuzTn-k4A0/s1600/110220121538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT0okrWY35O_YGpgo-HBL89zei2iY5rSPB3yIFW8TYi6S6pNQIB9nyvkzNPjK6x8flreucZ2bgxb-hL1J89hN1ZdzurUGZMHiaNKD1cT6xZQdXLdAlXXcXu5SnmOF3v6ddiuzTn-k4A0/s320/110220121538.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cemetary with wall of graves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-75274151305666154112012-02-12T18:10:00.000-08:002012-02-12T18:10:32.659-08:00Potosi: A Morning in the Mine<div style="text-align: left;">Nick and I decided to go to Potosi instead of straight to Sucre with Lauren and Marianna just to see it. <br />
Many people go there to do the mine tours, which is what Potosi is famous for. It was founded in 1546 as a mining town and for 4 hundred years the people of Potosi have been blasting their way throught Cerro Rico, the mountian next to the city, which has been providing them at first with a looot of silver, and after the 1800s (when the silver ran out), they now export zinc and tin. As the silver diminished so did the wealth of the town and the size of the mountain as it gets blasted every day by over 10,000 miners. Back in the day when the Spanish learned of the silver they used indiginous people of the region to get in there and get it out. It's hard and dangerous work and they died by the thousands.<br />
Then they brought in slaves from Africa to compensate for the loss of indigenous labor. It's estimated that over 8 million 'workers' died in the mines. <br />
Nowadays the mines are owned by the government and a cooperative has been set up so that men can work in the mines and pay some tax to the government on their extractions. <br />
The city itself is one of the highest in the world at 13,420 feet with windy, narrow streets which I found very charming. We were only going to stay one night and leave for sucre the next day since there were buses out pretty much all the time. I wanted to go to the national mint museum and just walk around, I had no desire to do the mine tour (but Nick did) because it sounded dangerous, claustrophobic inducing and maybe a bit exploitative. We were walking around the centro looking for a good map when we wandered into The Real Deal tours. I asked the guy for a map and he gave us a small one and asked what we were up to. Then he started to talk about the only way to know Potosi is to visit the mines. What we hadn't realized was that we had walked into the only mine tour operation that was totally run by ex-miners. They had all worked in the mines from a young age (13!!) and then worked for big tour companies before breaking free and starting their own.<br />
The way he explained it diminished my fears a bit and let me get talked into doing a tour the next morning!<br />
<br />
We met at the office at 8:30am and waited for the 4 other people that would be on the tour with us. Our guide would be the guy we talked to last night, named Efraim, who was full of energy. He had learned English by talking with tourists but had never formally studied it. One day as he was working in the mine a tour was coming through and the owner of it heard him talking with one of the tourists and asked him if he wanted to leave the mine and be a tour guide. Which he did, for 11 years with this big company, but he left to start this one after the promises that the big company would build a pharmacy or hospital for the miners never came to fruition. He didnt' like that they didn't give back to the miners. So now they have this company and we were happy to support it. They have a 13 year old boy working at the office that they saw at the mine. They told him they would employ him to help make money for his family so he wouldn't have to work in the mine, so he works for them in the am and goes to school in the pm now.<br />
First we went to the miners market where we bought gifts for the miners, such as juice, coca leaves and dynamite. Armed with a stick of dynamite in Nick's backpack and some leaves in mine we went to get our galoshes, pants, shirt and helmet with flashlight on it that we needed to enter the mine. Then we made a quick stop at the processing plant where they extracted the minerals from the 'garbage'. It was very primative looking and prob full of toxic stuff. We gave some of our coca leaves as gifts to some of the guys there. Arriving at the entrance of the mine I started to get a little nervous, going into the depths of a mountain. There were many guys milling about getting ready to start their day in the mine. We went to one of entrances and waited while guys pushed carts on tracks full of bags of rocks out of the darkness. Then we entered. The ground was very wet and we had to step to the side for carts to come through or miners to pass by as they ran to their part of the mine. <br />
This is a fully operational mine and really no place for ogling tourists, and really this would NEVER happen in the US or England, but here we are..in a mine. We learned that the miners have a short life, usually getting silicosis because of what they're inhaling in the mine. Average lifespan is around 45 for someone working all their life down there. It's also against the law to have young boys working there but it happens and no one regulates it. They usually have to start working to help support the big families that they tend to be part of,<br />
could be like 7 kids plus parents. Efrain was the first to admit that if they had smaller families the money would be more and the kids wouldn't have to work in the mines so young. Lets hope it catches on...<br />
We went deeper into the mine and had to duck at some points. I hit my head pretty hard on a beam, thanking the fact I had a helmet on but still..ow!! <br />
Different groups of miners have their own section in the mine. A group could be anywhere from 5 to 20 miners and they decided when and how long they will work that day. We visited a couple different groups but the most memorable was when they invited us to go see the mineral vein they were working on and we had to<br />
climb throught a hole using a rope to lower ourselves down. gulp. It turned out to be not as bad as I thought but I went first so as to get it over with and not let myself think about it waiting for others. The space wasn't tight when we got down there so it was ok. The guy showed us some rocks from the mineral vein and then climbed up the wall and started pounding a hole with a long medal rod and a mallet to make a hole for dynamite. It would take him 4 hours to pound this hole and blast time is 6pm every day so it had to be done by then. Nick and I gave this group the coca leaves, juice and dynamite as gifts. We also visited El Tio, the god of the mine. He owns the rocks in it so the miners have made statues of him and give him cigarettes and alcohol and coca leaves as thanks for what they are taking. They also give thanks to the earth mother, Pacha Mama, dropping coca leaves on the ground and drops of alchohol. At this point we had to drink two shots of 96% alcohol, one for El Tio, and one for Patcha Mama. It buuuuurned!! We visited one more mining group before heading out into the liiight! The entrance to the mine was totally abandoned at this point since all the guys were inside. We dropped off our stuff back at another guides house and went out to lunch with Efrain and talked more about mine life. It's a tough job, dangerous for the workers and pollutes the river (processing plant) and it all gets exported out of the country. <br />
Such is the way of the world.<br />
I'm really glad we did the tour and glad we did it with the this company. I dont think I'll forget that experience any time soon! </div><div style="text-align: left;">If interested, a documentary was made on it called The Devil's Miner. http://youtu.be/Z3onRzo0m6I</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the entrance with one of the guides, Wilson</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">squeeeze</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJGL9o4qJY1rl9IEHjJqgV2urDd_lVcznAYDIn03-DsEBMc7mjm0hd_3JaZwF7HsmL1BEwsbtJnmecGxf3xnVhZgBwzmheEsYOBVJtqNqVI5xwA7-7JQVIONX0ta0bkjVApYMT-67Duc/s1600/080220121520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJGL9o4qJY1rl9IEHjJqgV2urDd_lVcznAYDIn03-DsEBMc7mjm0hd_3JaZwF7HsmL1BEwsbtJnmecGxf3xnVhZgBwzmheEsYOBVJtqNqVI5xwA7-7JQVIONX0ta0bkjVApYMT-67Duc/s320/080220121520.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Efraim with El Tio and the 96% alcohol</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the processing plant</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside the mine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a miner spider man style on the wall chiseling a hole for dynamite</td></tr>
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</div>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-16273302991683352372012-02-12T16:58:00.000-08:002012-02-12T16:58:42.316-08:00Southwest Circuit tour with Solar de Uyuni. Tupiza to Uyuni.<span id="goog_1876523279"></span><span id="goog_1876523280"></span>We decided to do our tour of the salt flats and beyond from Tupiza to Uyuni. It seems more people just go to Uyuni and do a three day 4x4 tour and end back in Uyuni but we did a four day 4x4 tour starting in Tupiza and ending in Uyuni. We chose this because we heard Tupiza was a nicer town (I needed to acclimatize to the altitude before doing anything, took me about two days to not feel headachy but I was always out of breath. Figured it would be nicer to hang around Tupiza) and we heard the tour companies were more reputable out of here. After reading online about drivers drinking during the tour and jeeps flipping we thought we'd spend the extra money with a better company. We chose Tupiza Tours and were very happy with our decision. Our driver, Abner picked us up at our hotel and we loaded up the Toyota Land Cruiser with all our stuff plus food, water and fuel for our four day trip. A cook named Nasaria also came along to make us delicious meals, as well as Lauren and Tim. So four of us plus the driver and cook hangin out for four days in the Bolivian wilds. <br />
Day one we drove on a very high up dirt road very close to a drop down into a valley with some wonderful sites. Saw alloooottt of llamas and most had these colorful tassels on their ears which made them look like they were wearing pretty earrings. During all that driving around we were (thankfully) able to plug in Lauren's Ipod and listen to that, or else it was Abners cumbia music which can really only be listened to for an hour max before wanting to jump out the car door. That night we stayed at a refugio in a small village. It was a building with a bigger room for tables and eating and bedrooms, the bathroom was accessible from the outside. We had a snack of tea and hot chocolate, cookies, crackers and jam and went into our room which had four beds with five blankets on each bed. An hour later dinner was ready and it was really good and very filling. We had to wake up at four the next morning which was not nice but we had 9 hours of driving to do to get to the next refugio.<br />
The second day was hard for me, I hadn't slept well that night and had been up since two am so all I wanted to do was sleep in the car. This day we visited lagoons that were all supposed to be spectacular colors like blue and pink and yellow..but since it was overcast they all just kinda looked grey :( The first place we stopped at was a 'ghost town', the ruins of a town that was once very prosperous and now is just crumbling rock buildings. It was eerie since we got there at 5am and it was still dark but with a hint of light. Apparently the people there became so rich they went crazy, or so says Abner. Around the lagoons of many colors that were all grey we saw many flamingos which is funny because you think of them in tropical places not in cold lagoons in Bolivia. It's sad though, they come here to nest and with all the tourists always about they're having more trouble nesting but they prob need the tourists to keep the area protected. At these lagoons is also where they extract borax which is used in cleaning stuff and other things. We had to pay to get into the national park and they also were charging 3 Bolivianos to go to the bathroom, which nick ignored and he got scolded. course we had been having to pee outside for most of the trip in the bano natural so we weren't used to having to pay! We also went to some hot springs today which we got to go into for 20 mins before lunch. They were very. very. nice. At the end of this day we went to see the famous red lagoon but since the sun wasn't out it wasn't so nice so we didnt' get out. <br />
Next day was a 7am start and we were off to see some cool rock formations made from volcanic rock. There are a bunch of volcanoes in the area which had erupted at some point and formed rocks of all shapes and sizes. One is called the Arbol de Piedra (the stone tree) which everyone photographs. We drove through the Dali Desert (named after the painter because of the colors) and another desert which was covered in snow, where we took many pics. Early afternoon we arrived in Uyuni where we would be staying the night. We visited a train cemetery which had been turned into a park almost, there were swings and a see-saw... something that would never happen in the states! This was also a great place to take pictures. That night before dinner we watched No Reservations Peru to get ourselves ready for even though we won't be there for a bit yet. <br />
Next day was up at 4am to get onto the salt flats for sunrise. The solar de Uyuni is the biggest salt flat in the world. It used to be a big ancient lake that then evaporated leaving the salt, filled up again with another ancient lake and evaporated again leaving us with what it is now, a huge area of white that looks like you could be on a frozen lake but it's really salt. It's, of course, used for salt harvesting and there are hotels made of salt for tourists. One of which is on the salt flat itself which apparently is bad because of the sewage. We made it there for sunrise along with many other vehicles full of tourists coming to see it. Everything was fine and tranquil until 2 jeeps pulled up, one with Israeli girls and one with Israeli boys, who proceeded to scream and shout and yell and jump around like little kids in a bounce house. So our tranquil sunrise turned into everyone else trying to enjoy it and the Israeli group jumping around like they were the only ones there. Really nice of them. Anyway, we had breakfast inside the salt hotel. Our table was made of salt, chairs, the floor. Breakfast was really good with pancakes and hot chocolate, then we made our way out more into the flat to take cool pictures using the flats unique no horizon look to make the funny pics. After two hours of that we went back to the hostel, had lunch and said goodbye to Abner and Nasaria. Met up with Marianna (another returned pcv) and stayed the night in a very economical with a great shower hotel and took a bus to Potosi the next morning. The trip in total was great, I only wish I hadn't been so tired the 2nd day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ghost town</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the path</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">llama faces</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snowy desert</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bear rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">train graveyard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch out! Tim Giant!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">driving out of salt flats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-49351245465174680032012-02-10T14:52:00.000-08:002012-02-10T14:52:20.021-08:00Tupiza ina pod. Horseback ridin in the 'wild west'We ended up switching from a hostel outside of town to Hotel Mitru in the center. It's 50 Bolivianos (about $7) per person, we got a 3 person room to include Tim our traveling buddy who was meeting up with us. They have a tour company affiliated with them that we had heard was very reputable and the next day (after resting my very unhappy stomach) we booked our tour for the SouthWest cuircuit including the solar de Uyuni (salt flats). We also booked a horseback ride at the same time and got a bit of a discount! The tour was 1,200 ($174) Bolivianos for four days three nights everything included except price of national park enterance and bathroom fees and horsies were 150 ($22) Bolivianos for a five hour excusion.<br />
Next day Nick and I got up and ready to ride. A representitive picked us up from the hotel and we walked 20 mins outside of the centro to where the horses were. I was assigned a horse named Tabacco who liked to be in the front and Nick's was named Pinta who liked to follow and her colt that tagged along named Pinto (all the other horses kept trying to bite him if he got in front of them, poor little guy!)<br />
We headed out of town and rode through what was deffinatly the wild west with canyons and red rock formations. It was really pretty and the nice thing about horseback riding is you dont have to watch the ground all the time and can enjoy the view. Our tour guide was a teenage boy who didn't tell us anything about where we were and just kept making coyote noises and howling jingle bells. Thankfully we had teamed up with another group whose guide sometimes would say the names of where we were.<br />
This area is also known for the final days of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. They were found hiding out near here and supposedly died or killed themselves in a shootout after they did their last bank robbery. Interesting to think about since the scene is so westerny. Was beautiful.<br />
We rode off into the sunset and straight to the hotel pool...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">out west</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookin for the old saloon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horses waiting around not even tied up</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQmG3sHbgU-JL1Itk7LemEOFVyhEW6MWFLOkVae8rnWNyaIbSz_p6u6FqCgSzCEKT2cy6ELlWIDceDvCJ07DT3kmCcq8E80DY76Wpqw_VOBvbwn2YOwmwRLcJyFfOc_yIm5GiU3FosWw/s1600/020220121135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQmG3sHbgU-JL1Itk7LemEOFVyhEW6MWFLOkVae8rnWNyaIbSz_p6u6FqCgSzCEKT2cy6ELlWIDceDvCJ07DT3kmCcq8E80DY76Wpqw_VOBvbwn2YOwmwRLcJyFfOc_yIm5GiU3FosWw/s320/020220121135.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-71671325685444332292012-02-01T16:29:00.000-08:002012-02-01T16:29:03.287-08:00Crossing the Border: La Quiaca, Argentina to Villazon, Bolivia I was particularly nervous of this border crossing because I had heard many horror stories about crossing into Bolivia. I heard from other Peace Corps volunteers that crossing from Paraguay to Bolivia was particularly tricky, and that I needed to show them 9 different documents from my yellow fever vaccine to a paper saying I have no criminal record in Paraguay. That was actually a big reason why we didn't go right into Bolivia from Paraguay! This border crossing at Quiaca, I heard, could take 6 hours to get through. Was not looking forward to that. <br />
We had a short (for us) 7 hour ride from Salta to Quiaca that left at 12:30am and arrived at 7:30am. Since it was an overnight ride we thought everything would be ok but it was not. The cellphone of the guy across from us kept ringing and no one was waking up but us! Then the people behind me (after kicking my seat many times) woke up at 6 and decided that since they were up, it was ok to talk at high conversation volume. Also, cell phone guy kept his curtain open and the streetlights kept blinding me so I had to wrap my hoodie around my face. I keep thinking about those little eye covers you get on a plane that I left in my dresser in Paraguay. <br />
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We get off the bus, hit the bathroom then take a taxi for 7 pesos to the border. It was chilly compared to when we left salta and I felt the difference in altitude right away. <br />
We got in line to stamp out of Argentina thinking we may be at this for awhile but the crossing went really well! We actually had the most wait time getting out of Argentina. There was only one person at the window and she had decided to close the window and disappear for 40 mins out of the hour we were waiting. Got stamped out without a prob, walked across a little bridge and we were in Bolivia! Only took half an hour to get in as well and that was with me buying a visa! I told this guard on the bridge that I was from the States and he took me right into the office and gave me this big white paper to fill out. I'm sure they were happy for me to show up since I was about to give them $135 USD but they were quite nice. I just had to hand over the money and a copy of my passport and that's that. They explained that I had the visa for 5 years and I can only be in Bolivia for 90 days out of each year and only enter 3x per year. When Nick and I were walking out another guard came over to me and explained again that I could only enter 3x per year and had 90 days in country. They reaally wanted to get that point across to me. <br />
We exchanged some money, there are lots of places to, and headed for the terminal and right away jumped on a mini bus to Tupiza for 15 Bolivianos which is like, $2.20 for an hour and 15 min ride. <br />
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So far I like Bolivia! I was a little nervous going in because of the border crossing and just thinking about what the border crossing was like going from Argentina to Paraguay but Villazon wasn't bad and Tupiza has it's charm. I love that you can see Bolivian women wearing traditional garb still, something Paraguay doesn't have. They have swishy skirts and high socks, colorful blankets, a bowler cap and usually two braids, it's very quaint. And of course it's great to be back to these prices, still have a budget you know! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge between Argentina and Bolivia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0qkF_S6nkYL5BG7-TzwDaeprCRXsqyPP1kBnS_9RtWoRJYxLaRGWS4cAK3iDg76FbTySjNiEC4BPVr48LbJhR44vCWeEnqM4oFJvk9IVdIJ6mNYcmP8DL8QEWyUnV5DsW2dRCq80MC4/s1600/310120121034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0qkF_S6nkYL5BG7-TzwDaeprCRXsqyPP1kBnS_9RtWoRJYxLaRGWS4cAK3iDg76FbTySjNiEC4BPVr48LbJhR44vCWeEnqM4oFJvk9IVdIJ6mNYcmP8DL8QEWyUnV5DsW2dRCq80MC4/s320/310120121034.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of mountains surrounding Tupiza</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBfzOX_x33cBnGHaE2zhu4Yds22Xy4GZEy0ZErVn5uA2e5ywhUvlJcrBHElwjsR0zqEnIuixonXGlJVUkeOI4dr7oXWaA2ztAjwG4aWWWihIcUA1HVl7VOg2_E9pYRiItU8hsOalDixM/s1600/010220121039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBfzOX_x33cBnGHaE2zhu4Yds22Xy4GZEy0ZErVn5uA2e5ywhUvlJcrBHElwjsR0zqEnIuixonXGlJVUkeOI4dr7oXWaA2ztAjwG4aWWWihIcUA1HVl7VOg2_E9pYRiItU8hsOalDixM/s320/010220121039.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me walking across the bridge from our hostel into the center of Tupiza with all my stupid, big, heavy bags</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-31991669812217328962012-01-29T17:51:00.000-08:002012-01-29T17:51:40.040-08:00Salta: stopoverTim decided to tag along with us up to Bolivia, we decided to break up our trip north with a stop in Salta. We had to take two buses up with a midnight to 2:30 am stopover in Tucuman. The first bus we were on was ok but every movie they put on played 2x!!! That was not so good. The scenery on the way up though was pretty nice with the mountains and desserty-ish land. <br />
Salta is considered a base for touring around this area. Apparently there are amazing things to see like canyons and great horseback riding trips but we just hung in the city. We got into the terminal with no where to go and tried to find a place online before noticing a guy peddling his hostel, 7 Duendes (dwarfs), he told us it was 50 ($12) pesos a night and offered us a free ride so we took it. Since it was still only 8am when we arrived we had to wait to get into a room, when we got in I passed out till 2pm. Once I awoke I took a much needed shower and Nick and I went into the center to look for a place to change money. We failed then went to the terminal to figure out our next move (to the boarder of Bolivia) then went to the anthropology museum where I thought displayed Incan mummy kids but after looking through it and just seeing alot of pots I realized we were wrong and they are in the museum of high altitude. Then we walked back and viewed the big cathedral, very ornately elaborate is what I can say describes it. I was done with walking after that and we came home and made a nice stir fry dinner which was much needed after eating so much white bread for the past 24 hours. We even drank our organic wine we bought in Mendoza so good. <br />
The next day we tried to buy our bus ticket online because we would get a discount. Of course it wasn't working so back down to the terminal we go to buy it full price, off to Quaica to cross the boarder. After, Tim, Nick, me and this Aussi Spencer went on a cable car up to this hilltop to get a view of Salta. We got kinda lost walking back, found a supermarket and bought the makings for a nice Sunday roast dinner prepared by Tim. Twas lovely! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57_hxsiOpTmniN1mCF9wYdPHWLaKh1TPd221trmsJKkNW5PZe_XReZdtMySirXCsDwghynv8T6CSTqJ3M-DqhpKZeXaIWFSpMkH3Y-7aV_PjH2jgVMZRNW_wHPUEUJz_O0SfqLLx13ik/s1600/28012012993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57_hxsiOpTmniN1mCF9wYdPHWLaKh1TPd221trmsJKkNW5PZe_XReZdtMySirXCsDwghynv8T6CSTqJ3M-DqhpKZeXaIWFSpMkH3Y-7aV_PjH2jgVMZRNW_wHPUEUJz_O0SfqLLx13ik/s320/28012012993.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">funky tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EkxJtenvEr4EoL91fhP5cFxK2E4a24oD2XsIA7z2YwIVwrTKBufBuBsBk8hrHZc_fjlMCTnFEFC-uwWYGkw5k3mnoQ2nsigsBa-QEf1BK25rODdK8Uw0ekZhuXh9w8bdJqmC8MU-8qs/s1600/28012012994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EkxJtenvEr4EoL91fhP5cFxK2E4a24oD2XsIA7z2YwIVwrTKBufBuBsBk8hrHZc_fjlMCTnFEFC-uwWYGkw5k3mnoQ2nsigsBa-QEf1BK25rODdK8Uw0ekZhuXh9w8bdJqmC8MU-8qs/s320/28012012994.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">main plaza statue </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82yATHOuNfjkAsXXaMlXyLkTJroqXzLx6Dl08Bo-udW5hgYp3IZi12R6dcTC-Y8nwak1I-Mz21dNk30DRKwUo3w4siTsNHzIbyKCeHazBmTcz3bi7wXS77VKtHmUqc5TsX_j-yDM6qjA/s1600/28012012995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82yATHOuNfjkAsXXaMlXyLkTJroqXzLx6Dl08Bo-udW5hgYp3IZi12R6dcTC-Y8nwak1I-Mz21dNk30DRKwUo3w4siTsNHzIbyKCeHazBmTcz3bi7wXS77VKtHmUqc5TsX_j-yDM6qjA/s320/28012012995.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another church</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC_dy6_IC6huCzDBrWsAoM2GSO-_Tw6HM9rPanCfOlF4jm81Qko22WF2DC7HX_s13RtkKCR1_7aHzfV1zbp8hwF6SxjpV77YAd-wN_i17vNfHgCpUcZSd5u3HCSaAHBBy47Au12ILw9U/s1600/280120121004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC_dy6_IC6huCzDBrWsAoM2GSO-_Tw6HM9rPanCfOlF4jm81Qko22WF2DC7HX_s13RtkKCR1_7aHzfV1zbp8hwF6SxjpV77YAd-wN_i17vNfHgCpUcZSd5u3HCSaAHBBy47Au12ILw9U/s320/280120121004.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside the elaborate church</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw34PKZip3LYItvVSdzaDwlJhJGUzDM8vYldNvS8bD4r7br738CL1N2FuqCIWaX7JQ9Ea4yQ5nH50FI2Ob0OD9F-lXM19Hdlf5uBysNtdtmT-qbaM3unf0644DMI5lOIQ9XO1zfjW4jo0/s1600/280120121006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw34PKZip3LYItvVSdzaDwlJhJGUzDM8vYldNvS8bD4r7br738CL1N2FuqCIWaX7JQ9Ea4yQ5nH50FI2Ob0OD9F-lXM19Hdlf5uBysNtdtmT-qbaM3unf0644DMI5lOIQ9XO1zfjW4jo0/s320/280120121006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQhrLCGDBovXNIaZy83zVlw_AjLk6QVmdc8P7txBEw-X3mT1-iUNpmcpO9mE60csYvPz5xXISeA_GmbSbxsX-i_-aML-AVarGcCsJEIjhbToE8-4rcvtpmvbfZmV90pZYZmxka7Zdf9U/s1600/280120121008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQhrLCGDBovXNIaZy83zVlw_AjLk6QVmdc8P7txBEw-X3mT1-iUNpmcpO9mE60csYvPz5xXISeA_GmbSbxsX-i_-aML-AVarGcCsJEIjhbToE8-4rcvtpmvbfZmV90pZYZmxka7Zdf9U/s320/280120121008.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the organic wine and olives so good</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB_kpG0Kwvj0R-UhVRXdfHfB4kEi4Tz-7LbBAUOuoaK5iXLvKKNJ9KZtm6jNPPSbWiGO46vz4LVxCxVTHWRwsJ4rj8TsbHGCCtC_WZojqv28PaSf_eSC09fzhNJo-QZn792B9cxbdhBA/s1600/290120121015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilB_kpG0Kwvj0R-UhVRXdfHfB4kEi4Tz-7LbBAUOuoaK5iXLvKKNJ9KZtm6jNPPSbWiGO46vz4LVxCxVTHWRwsJ4rj8TsbHGCCtC_WZojqv28PaSf_eSC09fzhNJo-QZn792B9cxbdhBA/s320/290120121015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from the cable car</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTHimmi0NU5xXmONJUf4oKxomQiNCc_pJO9vSsOEoc5lYQGL0eHr9xqH6keKq7nWoAdUR9lvHfkOxrAZZ7WvOAfwRDnBGibiWDNaAb7o0uAJoNsMIBI1yiFFdxabsuXAvlqsC_LkFbs8/s1600/290120121023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNTHimmi0NU5xXmONJUf4oKxomQiNCc_pJO9vSsOEoc5lYQGL0eHr9xqH6keKq7nWoAdUR9lvHfkOxrAZZ7WvOAfwRDnBGibiWDNaAb7o0uAJoNsMIBI1yiFFdxabsuXAvlqsC_LkFbs8/s320/290120121023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOD6spp4rTtvyXH_aRqB0MveNgS-qYdULSbmJ2s8inkghshkvM_-1O1P9ZsS3R2edjYFqThjhCOe6NxEs5-d0_punnnqppTKn3jFTdl5L5orToIcl3i31U2rKR9ZsBHUvJDNES8_xC50/s1600/290120121028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOD6spp4rTtvyXH_aRqB0MveNgS-qYdULSbmJ2s8inkghshkvM_-1O1P9ZsS3R2edjYFqThjhCOe6NxEs5-d0_punnnqppTKn3jFTdl5L5orToIcl3i31U2rKR9ZsBHUvJDNES8_xC50/s320/290120121028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday roast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-59891780697907503422012-01-29T16:56:00.000-08:002012-01-29T16:56:10.840-08:00Mendoza: Let the Wine FlowethWe decided to skip Bariloche and head straight to Mendoza for some winery fun. We convinced Tim, a guy we met in Puerto Natales, to meet us in Mendoza and tour some wineries on bikes with us. He agreed and we booked a hostel. The bus to Mendoza was uneventful, I didn't sleep but we had the front top seats so at least we could stretch our legs. It was another long bus journey, about 17 hours, but this time we got into town at 9am not 12 am! We walked to our hostel, Hostel Lagares, and found Tim who had gotten there the previous night. It was a nice hostel, clean and new looking but unfortunately we had roommate trouble. We were a room of six, Nick and I, a couple from London a Russian and some other guy who we never talked to. The Russian smelled and he lost favor with us when he unplugged the aircon at night and it got SO HOT! I was tossing and turning and sweaty all night! Then the next morning the other guy in our room set his alarm to go off at 6 am and then proceeded to keep pressing snooze FOR OVER AN HOUR!!!! No point trying to sleep so we got up early that day. <br />
We didn't have much time in Mendoza, only three nights since our main goal at the moment is to get out of Argentina because of budget reasons, but we had a good time. The first day we got here we went to the plaza which had a really nice fountain going on and we got some lunch. We also booked our winery tour on bikes for the next day. The wine tour was terrific! We went to three wineries and an olive oil factory, lunch was included plus snacks afterwords at this place with a pool where we hung out for an hour and a half. <br />
The first winery used to be the biggest one in the region and they say the world at one point (not sure about that one) but is now a museum. We got to see all the huge barrels where they kept the wine, and we got to climb up on top of them and walk across them! They all have little doors on them which the people would somehow climb through to clean the barrels, a tight squeeze for sure. Then we saw the huge aging barrels in the basement and a huuuge tank where the white wine was kept, we climbed through this claustrophobia inducing doorway and saw the inside of this 'tank' which held 250,000 liters of white wine. It smelled very musty but it had great acoustics. The climb out of the doorway was like a second birth, but being pulled out by a bald Argentinian named ..baldy. After we tasted some wine and snobbily tried our best to figure out what we were tasting. It mostly consisted of cherries, leather, a roast dinner and bike chains. The next winery was a really chuchi (posh) one with all stainless steel barrels and conveyor belts and whatnot. First we saw where the grapes were mashed and all the tanks and tubes, then the aging barrels made from french oak (the best oak for aging wine apparently) and then the room where they bottle, cork, label and box all the bottles. We were taken into a tasting room for our tastes and then given extra in the buying room. At this point I was feeling a little tipsy. Oh and did I mention this was all on bikes? I had a fun beach cruiser bike that braked by going backwards with the pedal, something I haven't done since I was a kid! Nick wanted that bike but the other one was broken and he had to have a mountain bike and was grumpy about it. After the second winery my sitbones were hurtin since it's been probably 2 years since I was last on a bike!<br />
We went back to our base for a wonderful lunch of empanandas and ate our fill and of course drank more wine. I was ready for a siesta but no time for that, it was on to the olive oil factory. It was a small factory that only goes during may-aug and the rest of the year they do tours and dry fruit. I learned that the color of the olive coincides with the ripeness of the olive with black being the latest and sweetest. It was a quick tour but at the end we got to taste a bunch of olive oils (with garlic, with basil, with oregano) on bread and eat raisins which gave us a little pick up to get to the next tour which was an organic winery. We entered and rode through the grapevines before getting to a barn to start the tour. This vineyard doesnt' use pesticides but instead uses permaculture to keep the pests at bay. They also borrow a mule named Rosita every year to plow the fields. Unlike the other winery they bottle, label and pack all the bottles by hand. Nick and I bought a bottle from here and it was SO GOOD! Tim bought some olives which were also terrific!<br />
The next day in the evening we heard about a free folkloric band that was playing in town so we tagged along with a group going. We didn't realize how chuchi it was going to be though so I was waaay underdressed with a tshirt. We ended up on top of a building with a free glass of merlot listening to the band with a great view of the sunset and the city, it was a great, unexpected event. We got back to the hostel in time for the asado they were cookin on the grill, very good. Next morning we were off to the terminal for our next bus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV8Zv3pXxnwU8MywjusMqzPE0mwgAMDMYN2vpZhMcjNZzoU32JE6wZUr5czpQJwFHP04LwJIw26sdlOk-F1He6xiG_WdPJm98BPIGFW2ZXlymlNBcNioFRfPbrPMNLcyFMsxATv1A8FA/s1600/25012012908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV8Zv3pXxnwU8MywjusMqzPE0mwgAMDMYN2vpZhMcjNZzoU32JE6wZUr5czpQJwFHP04LwJIw26sdlOk-F1He6xiG_WdPJm98BPIGFW2ZXlymlNBcNioFRfPbrPMNLcyFMsxATv1A8FA/s320/25012012908.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mascot of the first winery/museum. People rub his huevos for good luck.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGEU4lkIVsFKDnbDOtunwEgKOYnlET1Lp4DYPhowIYcV9gj763Cv-dcTkh7wm0OCNDa3XHZJMU0W5rXwUiJPcyUj88mulvIVA1EuzsWQZJWwAz0dA9KQZpyf1mLOE07HyhZJAdZogBgU/s1600/25012012912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGEU4lkIVsFKDnbDOtunwEgKOYnlET1Lp4DYPhowIYcV9gj763Cv-dcTkh7wm0OCNDa3XHZJMU0W5rXwUiJPcyUj88mulvIVA1EuzsWQZJWwAz0dA9KQZpyf1mLOE07HyhZJAdZogBgU/s320/25012012912.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">barrels</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJnNp-tJuasdaNkEQ3PcHDtR2HCjWRt4_3IyDZ7O5AMW9LfMgK40uJkpalLIwuxompeJHsN0xEIX6JBj4-kWlO4dMfxv7Ev1zL2YD2-FE8AfhTuhxbbEEhR4RjSo7sXz9tkj3xJKNnlI/s1600/25012012918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJnNp-tJuasdaNkEQ3PcHDtR2HCjWRt4_3IyDZ7O5AMW9LfMgK40uJkpalLIwuxompeJHsN0xEIX6JBj4-kWlO4dMfxv7Ev1zL2YD2-FE8AfhTuhxbbEEhR4RjSo7sXz9tkj3xJKNnlI/s320/25012012918.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking ontop</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX5zhhKPbQ8g_dJBPfAvgVLlezC-je2Ft5oFYlLHqX4OMpM6GKbI1omVel_6lQ6dmwHu9nmYQihVazl0Tc7kajXftAL0uprgJXMgNthFk66pbx_RQWpXPE4Ub4VyhMnITMRXNzAG0iWg/s1600/25012012919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX5zhhKPbQ8g_dJBPfAvgVLlezC-je2Ft5oFYlLHqX4OMpM6GKbI1omVel_6lQ6dmwHu9nmYQihVazl0Tc7kajXftAL0uprgJXMgNthFk66pbx_RQWpXPE4Ub4VyhMnITMRXNzAG0iWg/s320/25012012919.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old corking machine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X0L4G2ntWJoUuR6wBKXsEsHbE5fw3SvMBY7zI5Y6veHnMiqlnczlUDXAv0wZizGfwkJR2kfTvwNWZxn76YeT_YrsurlXnHPOH7Yjp5paeKSDaLBx9KzeMuFq5za-2eD7vB-tREieQqY/s1600/25012012923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X0L4G2ntWJoUuR6wBKXsEsHbE5fw3SvMBY7zI5Y6veHnMiqlnczlUDXAv0wZizGfwkJR2kfTvwNWZxn76YeT_YrsurlXnHPOH7Yjp5paeKSDaLBx9KzeMuFq5za-2eD7vB-tREieQqY/s320/25012012923.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special cask</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SFztVK6rLC23vaXYXt0pwGuJemlDZkxXDy-rVp9JGkAzJ598zRz5fergYHNr4mLtFUyd_AVP7Mi4k2Mjk5u8SxAJbnVDVlzaCgBV9lePycCQlT9_IWbyAbjQHG1uR3PlUR8SD7YhBaE/s1600/25012012929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SFztVK6rLC23vaXYXt0pwGuJemlDZkxXDy-rVp9JGkAzJ598zRz5fergYHNr4mLtFUyd_AVP7Mi4k2Mjk5u8SxAJbnVDVlzaCgBV9lePycCQlT9_IWbyAbjQHG1uR3PlUR8SD7YhBaE/s320/25012012929.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the white wine cask</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq0Y_P3u9PoPnoTLBDjrDZEK0Pd-M3B07rNNj-5WQWENSFoHoh3wD1wZMNKyy80THIKRnBp_BkdfGWyWH_-dpBQR1zJ9zUXbfBDRSYkJF__UAChWxhbMYc4LIrL8ast2rfnV-mAHxLKY/s1600/25012012940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq0Y_P3u9PoPnoTLBDjrDZEK0Pd-M3B07rNNj-5WQWENSFoHoh3wD1wZMNKyy80THIKRnBp_BkdfGWyWH_-dpBQR1zJ9zUXbfBDRSYkJF__UAChWxhbMYc4LIrL8ast2rfnV-mAHxLKY/s320/25012012940.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Industrial winery, stainless steel casks</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDLnq9cAyQxEKE-DJAyZG7PFKKzY0CJ9XbT8alQ7YaC5odtXVenBcLytFVfshw7jFNLdcay_Bxzh_wgptvmzsLEFfpeEmT-ZxVk3VU6uRppb3QvIQL1ivlvoSq5pLgCKv1loxzBwf2CM/s1600/25012012945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDLnq9cAyQxEKE-DJAyZG7PFKKzY0CJ9XbT8alQ7YaC5odtXVenBcLytFVfshw7jFNLdcay_Bxzh_wgptvmzsLEFfpeEmT-ZxVk3VU6uRppb3QvIQL1ivlvoSq5pLgCKv1loxzBwf2CM/s320/25012012945.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">conveyor belt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfafuF1JVT2PiEICzJztFJU5qZxioF3szhMGPcF1r-9zPq_HcLu1anPVCJ1WrzgWFfR2j0h57yl_MzIhBBCBqeagSiiW60nRTFMc4MKnMILXAF985rjUzdsLeOlZqycW8Ut2h2Q5nseoM/s1600/25012012949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfafuF1JVT2PiEICzJztFJU5qZxioF3szhMGPcF1r-9zPq_HcLu1anPVCJ1WrzgWFfR2j0h57yl_MzIhBBCBqeagSiiW60nRTFMc4MKnMILXAF985rjUzdsLeOlZqycW8Ut2h2Q5nseoM/s320/25012012949.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old wines</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF7m2MWZ9IY8ZhBc3LnS8zuITU9aPAHc6EkKszyjP9dIZ9R7HYVc14YwxMd_lRmArMiHFYPBP5-p5g2APjjtBaCVIJO4jcm1zGiFUnEfxI2F1ZRW3ILeF9ofUTauj8S1iYWE3IliR0VM/s1600/25012012951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF7m2MWZ9IY8ZhBc3LnS8zuITU9aPAHc6EkKszyjP9dIZ9R7HYVc14YwxMd_lRmArMiHFYPBP5-p5g2APjjtBaCVIJO4jcm1zGiFUnEfxI2F1ZRW3ILeF9ofUTauj8S1iYWE3IliR0VM/s320/25012012951.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuchi </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilex16ZvQcclO5j_MqmBfAh049vep_3apQXJKSmCqFBNMkmmvTp2pFHWPj4M3Aom1zWrAVF6wZFJrxU77x6GAMJeh4_uY3ziivk4GBThcylDT0MBql8q_BVFiM398xbI4Hfz3c5ZCyO8k/s1600/25012012955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilex16ZvQcclO5j_MqmBfAh049vep_3apQXJKSmCqFBNMkmmvTp2pFHWPj4M3Aom1zWrAVF6wZFJrxU77x6GAMJeh4_uY3ziivk4GBThcylDT0MBql8q_BVFiM398xbI4Hfz3c5ZCyO8k/s320/25012012955.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">olive press</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufPqwn6NeXwM6Ri_i5RLSKaqY0DtxaRCQLxvc5u4kPHmPi8t2CMDOgsSuy838hl6gO7RA3UapyyLLYDuyO5gZD4MKxq6Q411cwyxBeCZgE4bl1L3xHBWX-tgXyHevhR_CAv0rKeK4lzY/s1600/25012012959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhufPqwn6NeXwM6Ri_i5RLSKaqY0DtxaRCQLxvc5u4kPHmPi8t2CMDOgsSuy838hl6gO7RA3UapyyLLYDuyO5gZD4MKxq6Q411cwyxBeCZgE4bl1L3xHBWX-tgXyHevhR_CAv0rKeK4lzY/s320/25012012959.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive oil filtering</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpQMaITKDKHjExlBYF8W4KiBdKQ_1rtXgCYidJo3pMcp0YQekjOiZQ1fVYspyXZaMO99gc6MuGawOSXMLBy7rQAIiXbX-o0x5NjiaQ8e5R0SBMuVFzFrho7zXlVqhZoeRxM5IznfXGB8/s1600/25012012960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpQMaITKDKHjExlBYF8W4KiBdKQ_1rtXgCYidJo3pMcp0YQekjOiZQ1fVYspyXZaMO99gc6MuGawOSXMLBy7rQAIiXbX-o0x5NjiaQ8e5R0SBMuVFzFrho7zXlVqhZoeRxM5IznfXGB8/s320/25012012960.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive oil eating</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUonGCVxg71N3uVjKkF53fZLPZwn3keGn2yLWBmzfbibaf5Wp0NFn7AvmWRNXYck8mIOItRqTFl54AskRQonucLA7e9wNtbDvfYjLhmC-Q3p_oqyArv0wk1cduY_jfB_PGIirhtUvYSU/s1600/25012012964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdUonGCVxg71N3uVjKkF53fZLPZwn3keGn2yLWBmzfbibaf5Wp0NFn7AvmWRNXYck8mIOItRqTFl54AskRQonucLA7e9wNtbDvfYjLhmC-Q3p_oqyArv0wk1cduY_jfB_PGIirhtUvYSU/s320/25012012964.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">riding through the grape vines to the organic winery</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-Yucoa642ro4ZBWn2n3SJ57SIzwOkzU_idg3-LxewmX9H_eov6C-Bi0_BhPw8967mOnliSv5T0Two8YDPMd-n17iroN3_JxMXXcsDgKCmmhXe4tUZqDCDiL2BCFvfEoNSqqKbe5L7Y0/s1600/25012012972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-Yucoa642ro4ZBWn2n3SJ57SIzwOkzU_idg3-LxewmX9H_eov6C-Bi0_BhPw8967mOnliSv5T0Two8YDPMd-n17iroN3_JxMXXcsDgKCmmhXe4tUZqDCDiL2BCFvfEoNSqqKbe5L7Y0/s320/25012012972.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snacks at the end</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxHFVpTv0BM3obR3m8Ud-4Hmwr6HYXGn0hSCsV9HKzXhqXeZvQ1oLVr7YjefV_zCr5dH7t1W8fh8csmQOoIap1ysxxB3TWz286dOabFa30UEy1Qt49nGChC_-1CbKPbHLaSrJDdRgpkI/s1600/26012012980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDxHFVpTv0BM3obR3m8Ud-4Hmwr6HYXGn0hSCsV9HKzXhqXeZvQ1oLVr7YjefV_zCr5dH7t1W8fh8csmQOoIap1ysxxB3TWz286dOabFa30UEy1Qt49nGChC_-1CbKPbHLaSrJDdRgpkI/s320/26012012980.jpg" width="320" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td><td style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset from the rooftop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJObcHtI8dp9uCmHY53QMl5eESSSZ6ZoWhNNhGmKLfmGjwc9rDauig1lrqetv4b6z5sF4C3UX8E2cA_U_VDW_EX9ZXadwvJtckTGbelnMjrJIfS9RJgxbGxdPEhZJwzLXrkBse9Ht2alY/s1600/26012012984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJObcHtI8dp9uCmHY53QMl5eESSSZ6ZoWhNNhGmKLfmGjwc9rDauig1lrqetv4b6z5sF4C3UX8E2cA_U_VDW_EX9ZXadwvJtckTGbelnMjrJIfS9RJgxbGxdPEhZJwzLXrkBse9Ht2alY/s320/26012012984.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with my free wine, tshirt and band</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-73539586591186711702012-01-29T14:38:00.000-08:002012-01-29T14:38:37.707-08:00El Bolson: Workaway at Rosie'sWe finally boarded the bus for El Bolson at 12:30am. After a long day of climbing up a hill and hiking and eating all you can eat pizza I figured we'd be able to pass out right away, except that I was very wrong...<br />
The bus was very cramped so we squeezed ourselves into our seats and the bus pulled out heading north for ruta 40. I just started dozing when suddenly we pulled onto a dirt road which made the bus very, very bumpy and sleep only for the drugged. Ruta 40 was having roadwork done for a many miles so that was fun, and the bus driver kept smoking which was really annoying for those who wanted to breath. He probably had one once every hour, which I'm sure was not within accordance with company policy. Yet 22 hours later we made it to El Bolson, on the way in it was dark and we saw fires on the hillside of El Hoyo (ignition source unknown, probably a camper). <br />
We were in El Bolson because we had a workaway planned for two weeks. Workaway is working in exchange for food and lodging, we would be working six hours a day at Rosie's house. So we got in after midnight and decided to call Rosie, our host, and hope she was up. We got a taxi out to Mallin Ahogado, the house was about 20 mins away from the town and not even minutes into the ride our taxi broke down! We waited another 20 mins for another taxi to show up but we werent' exactly sure where the house was. The taxi driver went to a house that Nick and I were sure wasn't the house and clapped at the door. We were so embarrassed, hiding behind the seat, that he was waking these people up! Like we thought it wasn't Rosie's house so we kept going. Finally we found it and Rosie was waiting outside for us, we arrived about 40 mins after we had called her so we felt pretty bad since it was now after 1am, but she was very nice about it. We paid the taxi driver 40 pesos and brought our stuff inside. Rosie is an English woman who had moved to Argentina when she was in her 20s and has been here ever since. Her and her husband at the time built the house she had, a really cute log cabin on 10 acres of land. Half the land was a pine forest with a river running next to it and the other half had her house, garden, fruit trees, wood shed, more trees and the little camper (caravan) that we would be living in for the next two weeks. Even though the bed was small it was very welcome that night, and I finally got to sleep!<br />
<br />
Workaway life:<br />
Eating and working. Rosie fed us very well, we had home made bread and jam every day for breakfast and lunch and dinner was veggies and pasta, or trout or empanadas. Very good food.<br />
Work we did:<br />
Nick- chopping wood, building the woodshed walls, cutting the chopped wood<br />
Lora- whitewashing the walls, staining the woodshed walls, picking raspberries, pitting cherries<br />
Together- picking cherries, picking up horse poo, building a compost, pulling up baby pine trees, cleaning this one spot in the woods where a little house used to be<br />
<br />
on our free time we swam in the river, rosie took us for a picnic at a waterfall (catarata escondida) for lunch, one time, we walked to another waterfall after work one day and during the weekend we would go into town and hang out in the plaza (all sorts going on there) and go food shopping. There's a great open air market in the plaza which was great to walk through but we couldn't afford anything (except the food). One day we went to Lago Puelo which is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. We had to take a bus there from El Bolson for 6 pesos but what we didn't know was that it was in a national park which we had to pay (the foreigners price..50% more) to get in. Also we didn't know that you could go camping there which would have been nice to do because there were hiking trails and whatnot. We hung out all day and went swimming and watched the people in the water, it was a beautiful day. We hitchhiked back into town with a lovely couple from Buenos Aires who liked to listen to Iron Maiden. When we got back we hung out in the plaza and watched some acrobatic vagabond travellers do a show and then a kumbia band play for a bit. We had to get a taxi back, when we got in the driver wasn't too friendly and we had a feeling we would have a problem with the price, which we should have negotiated before we got in. We were travelling on the exact same day and time as we had the week earlier going to Rosie's house for the first time so we knew it should be 40 pesos but when we got to the house he said 55 pesos. I said, no we came here exactly a week ago on the same day same time and it was $40 pesos and he was like well you were charged wrong and I was like no that is what the dispatcher said when he looked in his book! He ended up giving us 5 pesos back so we paid 50, the next morning Rosie confirmed that that was way to much. Next time I was in town I actually went back to the dispatcher and told him. He didn't know what to say.<br />
<br />
Workaway was deff a great experience, two weeks was a good amount of time although. I got used the routine and when it was time to start traveling again I had to get back into it!<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZIB6bqV7pJ6BKvrnvjNPmvhFtHwsTTxc6bYLJv_-liUEO7vaPaiwi1Yw7Og4zF_k6vCg8j9ZoIaRrx6luOey1qzH-Zng9R1wBB_6BaniqtaM74zp91-Aiy5G5yh5s07_SrebwO_ljHI/s1600/10012012802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZIB6bqV7pJ6BKvrnvjNPmvhFtHwsTTxc6bYLJv_-liUEO7vaPaiwi1Yw7Og4zF_k6vCg8j9ZoIaRrx6luOey1qzH-Zng9R1wBB_6BaniqtaM74zp91-Aiy5G5yh5s07_SrebwO_ljHI/s320/10012012802.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cherry pickin'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWX4v1knHptc97oPGXI2kdh0mPNkQabeK9yFCmsKmEw4C1gTD_pAjKt3UZrA-FRH_rP83FL9RzqVjlzLSaPn_3fqoujknLct3Snu7X3oAH8NlmDNVhUimVvuOh4LrANIf3UQFjrvEcjs/s1600/10012012804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWX4v1knHptc97oPGXI2kdh0mPNkQabeK9yFCmsKmEw4C1gTD_pAjKt3UZrA-FRH_rP83FL9RzqVjlzLSaPn_3fqoujknLct3Snu7X3oAH8NlmDNVhUimVvuOh4LrANIf3UQFjrvEcjs/s320/10012012804.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wood cutting</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp1FAnSc6mYbzcaQGeluKNjRyiunrWjGFD5kABZb6MopokqCIeYTrjzKu12k27IbiS6EJENrerhZ49npMH2_0z5bpuQ46T302h4LHSlwe-ZaWh3HZX4l3zoQcAVf_0zGTvmYP66l6A5w/s1600/12012012810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp1FAnSc6mYbzcaQGeluKNjRyiunrWjGFD5kABZb6MopokqCIeYTrjzKu12k27IbiS6EJENrerhZ49npMH2_0z5bpuQ46T302h4LHSlwe-ZaWh3HZX4l3zoQcAVf_0zGTvmYP66l6A5w/s320/12012012810.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">forest clearing clean up, this used to have a cabin on it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQb75bUowOT8R87n5DVI_1hFqR-s3CKu8PX0jK9_DYxQcesVEz8hyJdOgVDNeNDz5E55IMMn68e6X5a5U1u24tCRjJNRboxm9A8_McphYj-pR1zGsZj9sD1_yyB59c_i2sBXsf9SrwK4/s1600/12012012811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQb75bUowOT8R87n5DVI_1hFqR-s3CKu8PX0jK9_DYxQcesVEz8hyJdOgVDNeNDz5E55IMMn68e6X5a5U1u24tCRjJNRboxm9A8_McphYj-pR1zGsZj9sD1_yyB59c_i2sBXsf9SrwK4/s320/12012012811.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">taa daa. finished</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu58H-ETVSy5X2TgLFb9Tk8QifZ6f4UJEUQ7H27Cl7xU0o05eEJxuzjTAWwYqGuS4SzTRyuWgE4xk1gPFoMJtxWe3fE_YnHsCrFresZVJ2PUftnFoE2tXNonReaGKtB0h_8cHj2_v1moY/s1600/12012012812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu58H-ETVSy5X2TgLFb9Tk8QifZ6f4UJEUQ7H27Cl7xU0o05eEJxuzjTAWwYqGuS4SzTRyuWgE4xk1gPFoMJtxWe3fE_YnHsCrFresZVJ2PUftnFoE2tXNonReaGKtB0h_8cHj2_v1moY/s320/12012012812.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our horse poo collection</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh_qxTCGmHzWzQLz_lGDQ0Cj3mNPfVyL_kA7_jHReepqhVW97zICQpjLrORGl0YgQHcw6Sa6sxusIeCY__ofKTmgoGQRamBB_yAlAiIBlYgEVqIUg-5Z062cUpSh4464TTf2AcSwh_eI/s1600/12012012815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh_qxTCGmHzWzQLz_lGDQ0Cj3mNPfVyL_kA7_jHReepqhVW97zICQpjLrORGl0YgQHcw6Sa6sxusIeCY__ofKTmgoGQRamBB_yAlAiIBlYgEVqIUg-5Z062cUpSh4464TTf2AcSwh_eI/s320/12012012815.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our house</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKSpRBcRcmhyphenhyphen7bMDjdcIT2Bpp3JLyMd3weP3Q-AptKn09EfyGqYdq1rqaK3D75gwQPaKs9vtYhTSUo0vi1zJu6rovQPon6FTNyvlNVzAtN-RwoD-vvKTHhavz_GSTVaHgy_nDlg6Vw_E/s1600/12012012816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKSpRBcRcmhyphenhyphen7bMDjdcIT2Bpp3JLyMd3weP3Q-AptKn09EfyGqYdq1rqaK3D75gwQPaKs9vtYhTSUo0vi1zJu6rovQPon6FTNyvlNVzAtN-RwoD-vvKTHhavz_GSTVaHgy_nDlg6Vw_E/s320/12012012816.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cherry pitting</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALCxvoTM5YkSdmb9wMi4KgtS073e5SW9lUtH0R_rfSw_3WmOJt3yYI3hF0BaoDHWUsS7Ww3CyPqFzPV2DZKwRJGTmrI40wzmh7IPQZ8bwqXdDAYRktRvl4mgImRf56-4zWwb8v5wLhC0/s1600/13012012821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALCxvoTM5YkSdmb9wMi4KgtS073e5SW9lUtH0R_rfSw_3WmOJt3yYI3hF0BaoDHWUsS7Ww3CyPqFzPV2DZKwRJGTmrI40wzmh7IPQZ8bwqXdDAYRktRvl4mgImRf56-4zWwb8v5wLhC0/s320/13012012821.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie's house, breakfast outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0MBl_q_0J1k0Xvwsru6UzrcR6f-uw6bXWRHROT69NVeOJEoreSk-mXWJANLam6cG6qj2QvRSGpVQuNISIQzie_7345Cr9inSMSPIk2dBU3RJ5qx5JRVLC0wWWA0gntUDpM8pomsPE_Y/s1600/15012012839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0MBl_q_0J1k0Xvwsru6UzrcR6f-uw6bXWRHROT69NVeOJEoreSk-mXWJANLam6cG6qj2QvRSGpVQuNISIQzie_7345Cr9inSMSPIk2dBU3RJ5qx5JRVLC0wWWA0gntUDpM8pomsPE_Y/s320/15012012839.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nessie made out of bottles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww6ckgodnB07KnWVrlH_BfKsn92hVACA1VQ4A1Fld1f999YJ1kWLNkJllH29SD1im_GH10ye3N9L2MFTumNCm9VNP0Ix-0PNuXEu3zjGK15zc3gCfG2I_imPolXS_nvoo17Ix9OTTMj4/s1600/15012012844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww6ckgodnB07KnWVrlH_BfKsn92hVACA1VQ4A1Fld1f999YJ1kWLNkJllH29SD1im_GH10ye3N9L2MFTumNCm9VNP0Ix-0PNuXEu3zjGK15zc3gCfG2I_imPolXS_nvoo17Ix9OTTMj4/s320/15012012844.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lago Puelo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBlsNk9qLXv5EVGGs6alnnuK2bZg5hkexO9xzXNQJS41PTfKlAh0eFamNlkKRmrVkiZ60CiisRt7tX16M8shzen_-_2v-AsXTFcy7WH29KVKDzbb7RvooCpvep9pZpHjXliBkK6s6AVc/s1600/15012012848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBlsNk9qLXv5EVGGs6alnnuK2bZg5hkexO9xzXNQJS41PTfKlAh0eFamNlkKRmrVkiZ60CiisRt7tX16M8shzen_-_2v-AsXTFcy7WH29KVKDzbb7RvooCpvep9pZpHjXliBkK6s6AVc/s320/15012012848.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">acrobatics in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRa8yCeco6c9P26Qs79fERgvYYRbV3eZpP3S1mR9hQyNKLzKFzVP7cfm49AlqB1VnuDyYc7Pa2J7Qj38bF-lrpie7Syf0OnXOGLu8fBMp0FJBo1B1w6fnF-kM3YpAm_J1Mc4JzaZbQEU/s1600/15012012851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRa8yCeco6c9P26Qs79fERgvYYRbV3eZpP3S1mR9hQyNKLzKFzVP7cfm49AlqB1VnuDyYc7Pa2J7Qj38bF-lrpie7Syf0OnXOGLu8fBMp0FJBo1B1w6fnF-kM3YpAm_J1Mc4JzaZbQEU/s320/15012012851.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTIuQ-alf56qwnSrUxlB3LnYrPzqissrGF1Z_OhSiGFEpdoTvROrrK8vAZtfmT894vf7RqTUabv24tsGn1tohU5AJtgzHLd2ejRBPf2IA91MD9qTWd6WYWl9JmdMEEvxhO5qgorwQdPM/s1600/16012012857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTIuQ-alf56qwnSrUxlB3LnYrPzqissrGF1Z_OhSiGFEpdoTvROrrK8vAZtfmT894vf7RqTUabv24tsGn1tohU5AJtgzHLd2ejRBPf2IA91MD9qTWd6WYWl9JmdMEEvxhO5qgorwQdPM/s320/16012012857.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick's conquered wood pile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1DgMm9mKUdLQ05V0pPwSOeH2MU7mdA63Fbj6v8URMKMvpKhD8lAjdFlj0WCQlYsZwQaoYuROuEBf61K3W1BBO8fXYFxghtSgc6TJFFCFei4b3CL4otWGUt8CV-0hPcrLiCrZSUlRHCs/s1600/19012012870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1DgMm9mKUdLQ05V0pPwSOeH2MU7mdA63Fbj6v8URMKMvpKhD8lAjdFlj0WCQlYsZwQaoYuROuEBf61K3W1BBO8fXYFxghtSgc6TJFFCFei4b3CL4otWGUt8CV-0hPcrLiCrZSUlRHCs/s320/19012012870.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Cascada Escondida</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92Fe5l3ByX2rkO_1-t9wO0N2PMS0uTx0AVLYtOUqOJMqr9cvw9RkcXj3Wu9xyTWGmORuzkOpcbibR-7B9heEh8zaxLaAq_cxsXN8VOQWta0vRaiC-03A2m2EShQbx3-y_d_b3QEqLFa4/s1600/19012012883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92Fe5l3ByX2rkO_1-t9wO0N2PMS0uTx0AVLYtOUqOJMqr9cvw9RkcXj3Wu9xyTWGmORuzkOpcbibR-7B9heEh8zaxLaAq_cxsXN8VOQWta0vRaiC-03A2m2EShQbx3-y_d_b3QEqLFa4/s320/19012012883.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building woodshed walls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DyY9eJ_u-d0QuXsfcGp6aEKGBeGqonFIPFo0PUA7pZ-dYEkuaJU6iCWc_PtpDViUVONjdnZGjNxziCZj8vexl13NE15htnwEgdOgq0edSt4Gobd3oUatA6UCyaz8zUpZ28Qaar4tYx8/s1600/19012012889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DyY9eJ_u-d0QuXsfcGp6aEKGBeGqonFIPFo0PUA7pZ-dYEkuaJU6iCWc_PtpDViUVONjdnZGjNxziCZj8vexl13NE15htnwEgdOgq0edSt4Gobd3oUatA6UCyaz8zUpZ28Qaar4tYx8/s320/19012012889.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my cherry pie!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHwk7DLY7OzDNqhq1qYzFubIDoywAqKNmj7_0xaCkLwAEEiTSnkJksorFN1niB7VmHx-3RdySzROo-J2voSyS1qxUZ7I-ctql279UDM1Zo-2uvJ4UfiNtat9P1zzqK8nd6_1SjZCt-MY/s1600/20012012898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHwk7DLY7OzDNqhq1qYzFubIDoywAqKNmj7_0xaCkLwAEEiTSnkJksorFN1niB7VmHx-3RdySzROo-J2voSyS1qxUZ7I-ctql279UDM1Zo-2uvJ4UfiNtat9P1zzqK8nd6_1SjZCt-MY/s320/20012012898.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside our house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gBfH8uNoRcA6-M3mrrx4UmrI9Jef6LynerTXweEckP9NkyUqkGyKSugfmvFCZhIP5ehfi3K7jDP31jrZNOmC2iB18DiOhyphenhyphenCLvveMkie2BqqUaFnglh6nVPJt7rJy4ievRgU3iBpYpxE/s1600/19012012885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gBfH8uNoRcA6-M3mrrx4UmrI9Jef6LynerTXweEckP9NkyUqkGyKSugfmvFCZhIP5ehfi3K7jDP31jrZNOmC2iB18DiOhyphenhyphenCLvveMkie2BqqUaFnglh6nVPJt7rJy4ievRgU3iBpYpxE/s320/19012012885.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">staining walls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE8T_cVpDCyoeYK7LndDxiDmQ7lqzkJ-X8w7pVhnbCaJJMLgDMP90ToEICOy3wWewZmriYRrH-1wca7CxnPBjeoaCJtqCIELJlfn2cf6hXs_Ovw9Q0B5ixogctmPvLqBXRhkjOSIPx0g/s1600/20012012893.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE8T_cVpDCyoeYK7LndDxiDmQ7lqzkJ-X8w7pVhnbCaJJMLgDMP90ToEICOy3wWewZmriYRrH-1wca7CxnPBjeoaCJtqCIELJlfn2cf6hXs_Ovw9Q0B5ixogctmPvLqBXRhkjOSIPx0g/s320/20012012893.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chainsaw fun</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiou7VZ7qq-Fs4t87Y6HMSGH-3vYXhwW3RMBIYKcZsV2ROaeE-6o29VS5n0e8LB4IlUCKN08p3f8GP3JAD-953e7Eu9t4JnDHaqiSKoqxAf_M66WY2VbQFiYjRFUQYEaa3s7B3PSW-qrKI/s1600/22012012901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiou7VZ7qq-Fs4t87Y6HMSGH-3vYXhwW3RMBIYKcZsV2ROaeE-6o29VS5n0e8LB4IlUCKN08p3f8GP3JAD-953e7Eu9t4JnDHaqiSKoqxAf_M66WY2VbQFiYjRFUQYEaa3s7B3PSW-qrKI/s320/22012012901.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosie and her new woodshed walls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282835278143125607.post-24790251044602262672012-01-12T14:13:00.000-08:002012-01-12T14:13:03.320-08:00El Chalten: The Trekking Capitol of ArgentinaEl Chalten, a town within a national park.<br />
We decided to head over here before going to El bolson since we diiid come down to Patagonia to do some trekking and so far had only done about 5 hours worth. So after spending a terrific New Years at Erratic Rock Hostel we went back to El Calafate, Argentina and that night took a bus up to Chalten. By the time we got there it was pretty late and we decided to camp instead of staying at a hostel. We found a camp site, El Relincho, which cost 35 pesos per person ($9) and we paid for 2 nights. Finally we got to use the tent and stove!! The next day we just got to know the town, buy food (like always, that's all we do) and learned about the trails in the area. El Chalten is known for it's mountain Fitz Roy, which means fire mountain or something in the native language of the peoples that used to live here. We planned out our week, all depending on weather since a cloudy day can ruin a view and probably ate some more. <br />
On our second full day we walked to Laguna Torre where there was a glacier to see and the mountain Cerro Torre. We did it as a day hike but there was a campsite close by for those who wanted to camp. It was about 2 1/2 - 3 hour hike there and we hung around for an hour then hiked back so a 7 hour day. Very nice out but near the laguna it was sooo windy! There were actually walls made of rocks that you could duck behind when it got really bad. On the way back to town we ran into one of the workers at Erratic Rock Hostel who had come over to hike for 8 days, did not expect to see him on the trail but it was awesome that we did!<br />
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Our third day we were going to do a four hour hike to a look out point where you can see the whole valley and surrounding mountains but it was pretty cloudy and not worth it to go out. Instead we moved to a hostel for the night and got our bags ready for an overnight hike we doing the next night. Later we walked an hour to see a waterfall, Chorrillo del Salto, and put our feet in the mountain stream. It was cold.<br />
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Our fourth and fifth day were my favourites. We headed out at 10 to hike to Poincenot, a campsite close to Fitz Roy. It was pretty cloudy though so we couldn't see the mountains as we hiked and a little chilly. It was a three hour hike mostly uphill (I'm so out of shape, I was dying) through the forest and then through a valley. It was so pretty. We set up tent at 1pm, ate our sandwiches and I passed out! Since the days are so long here we knew we had much light left still to go exploring so at four we set out to see Glacier Piedras Blancas. It was a really fun hike through the valley and over streams, as we got closer to the glacier we stared to see many more big rocks until all we saw were very big rocks. So big we had to start climbing on, around and over them, even jumping from rock to rock. It was so much fun plus a great workout and a bit of an adrenaline rush at times (like when I thought I would fall and get swept away by the river flowing under the rocks). There was barely anyone out this way and when we got to the lake and glacier we could relax and enjoy it with only 5 others there. The rock jungle gym was in a valley so going back we climbed a bit higher up the valley and had a quicker time getting back. Tortellini for dinner. <br />
Next day we were going to hike up to Laguna de los Tres where we could get a terrific view of Fitz Roy. We woke up and it was a beautiful, not a cloud in the sky, clear day. We then began to berate ourselves for not setting the alarm and wake up for sunrise (which apparently makes old Fitzy look reddish) and set out toward the trail. OMG what a trail. It was up, it was rocky, it was dry, and I was huffuing and puffing like the damn wolf. Plus, there were all these annoying horse fly looking flies that kept landing all over us and buzzing around our face and sometimes biting my spandexed legs! I think between us we killed about 70! But it's all so worth it!! At the top it's just a terrific view that you can never capture on camera. There is a lake, there is a glacier, there are the mountains and since you're up high you get a great view of the area and Laguna Sucia and the waterfall that goes from Laguna de los Tres down to it. We did a good thing by getting up and out because there werent' many people there at all when we got up to the top. In fact, we didn't pass anyone hiking our way up but going down there were many people going up (this was about midday) who kept asking if they were close. We just kept saying yes hehe. We also saw the Erratic Rock guy hiking up too.<br />
Got back to the tent, had lunch, had a siesta, packed up and hiked back to town because that night at 11:50pm we had a bus to take us to El Bolson up Rt. 40. The rest of the evening we had a shower at the hostel that we stored our bags at and went out for all you can eat pizza (which later made my stomach hurt cuz I ate too much). Then we sat at the terminal and waited... and waited...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking around El Chalten</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To the waterfall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurkJn2bX2dSSUwtehwH_awigWoEfkxTK0mZpP_xYprH91_aZRy461T-Z6LXUnIRps5pZJDgQhR2Oo51mrNbuD0dHvlJjrCDQM5VMWqBELYbV70TOUlV9X8PyCy66Z2L0v6kfrbYHoJY8/s1600/04012012647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurkJn2bX2dSSUwtehwH_awigWoEfkxTK0mZpP_xYprH91_aZRy461T-Z6LXUnIRps5pZJDgQhR2Oo51mrNbuD0dHvlJjrCDQM5VMWqBELYbV70TOUlV9X8PyCy66Z2L0v6kfrbYHoJY8/s320/04012012647.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking to Laguna Torre</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz327FuGpx6zKBiwGclP4O_jjwENA0ZZKhWMsHwFB9kYPBkXG6N2TFq1lC-_uxKyjcAhmBts9zI58KCNT2XT6fhR1TMUWv8oZDZd0eU-TQ_5ad4F8NzxixyMYe671AkbVJ7iRYRhTdV4I/s1600/04012012649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz327FuGpx6zKBiwGclP4O_jjwENA0ZZKhWMsHwFB9kYPBkXG6N2TFq1lC-_uxKyjcAhmBts9zI58KCNT2XT6fhR1TMUWv8oZDZd0eU-TQ_5ad4F8NzxixyMYe671AkbVJ7iRYRhTdV4I/s320/04012012649.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very windy Laguna Torre with glacier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27zCMUoO8NiMQJINUyKVgnvZUqraT_ihy_p_SwUDJJSiCLDWYIRvG01UvJGImgdqu-TFQxH-VsE0_Da9QBi7FG7A-IGT8jXF5phceSEKLYB1GukHkqsg_fRnyJPUmfynMkpV8i7BLcYc/s1600/05012012672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27zCMUoO8NiMQJINUyKVgnvZUqraT_ihy_p_SwUDJJSiCLDWYIRvG01UvJGImgdqu-TFQxH-VsE0_Da9QBi7FG7A-IGT8jXF5phceSEKLYB1GukHkqsg_fRnyJPUmfynMkpV8i7BLcYc/s320/05012012672.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Waterfall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQM8uxNIziKeKCbtobzL09b8tpCcLAjoWjK1G95yNAq2YwGMzUGckyaTZq5uug3eOe0oaEq4MtLAR4sCupXp1iaCTB42VZK4yooX06Xulwejrgz4SzE0bmoGTCukpoOxU4d3ekr_vchg/s1600/06012012710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQM8uxNIziKeKCbtobzL09b8tpCcLAjoWjK1G95yNAq2YwGMzUGckyaTZq5uug3eOe0oaEq4MtLAR4sCupXp1iaCTB42VZK4yooX06Xulwejrgz4SzE0bmoGTCukpoOxU4d3ekr_vchg/s320/06012012710.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking to Glacier Piedras Blancas, rocks getting bigger!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB4r0rAYl8caW7fs0dOZ_FGck1mUFZZyfefZkolBLC32nWedgvxoV9-lAmB9-n80L-MuR519pSyFeOseISeR0tdxMjXOTQh5CCSe904I9UKGZJMReh-QhhiCZ1Z0Wqxt24pv0fk95Jys/s1600/06012012720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB4r0rAYl8caW7fs0dOZ_FGck1mUFZZyfefZkolBLC32nWedgvxoV9-lAmB9-n80L-MuR519pSyFeOseISeR0tdxMjXOTQh5CCSe904I9UKGZJMReh-QhhiCZ1Z0Wqxt24pv0fk95Jys/s320/06012012720.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piedras Blancas </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qSYKNoaXuOi7fVM7GoGwR63zwpX6BI66LVsppi_rEWxXU3F6oe_jibvW8DmGawZGo6iSKFOstLnKPr525vgSWXmypYYmukYknrhTtsfpc6n1lsd61lfsbeVkoQFE-g652H-QOIYXOFA/s1600/06012012731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qSYKNoaXuOi7fVM7GoGwR63zwpX6BI66LVsppi_rEWxXU3F6oe_jibvW8DmGawZGo6iSKFOstLnKPr525vgSWXmypYYmukYknrhTtsfpc6n1lsd61lfsbeVkoQFE-g652H-QOIYXOFA/s320/06012012731.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rock jungle gym we took to get to it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K0WVfwIIzTRpBxuQHIzLuwiJgoQvPptxlMGiMeHCKo-TijphfaJd83ODnMKEZitzxXnrbZVCCWlLVXj94Ap_5D1hXM3CBH8jum3qh6i9KqbvN13o-ZeFF-5djNWacoWbFNgNEzDBDQc/s1600/07012012738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8K0WVfwIIzTRpBxuQHIzLuwiJgoQvPptxlMGiMeHCKo-TijphfaJd83ODnMKEZitzxXnrbZVCCWlLVXj94Ap_5D1hXM3CBH8jum3qh6i9KqbvN13o-ZeFF-5djNWacoWbFNgNEzDBDQc/s320/07012012738.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view from our campsite at Poincenot in the morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBjMkMTw5jlvCz2UqSt_nPVtEgkO_rV-P3-XFSMJbU0Zxp6bHzt20c3tewZT3VC2Q80ODEIH8q3TKpM1xLmRJp8TtXES4B5byPWr62KpbRuDEchsTVhCClQghESOGVkKShr2ybfxuO2I/s1600/07012012743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBjMkMTw5jlvCz2UqSt_nPVtEgkO_rV-P3-XFSMJbU0Zxp6bHzt20c3tewZT3VC2Q80ODEIH8q3TKpM1xLmRJp8TtXES4B5byPWr62KpbRuDEchsTVhCClQghESOGVkKShr2ybfxuO2I/s320/07012012743.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking up to Laguna de los Tres to see Fitz Roy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSXtsHlZiH7VWZ1t1Y_oIpTk9pwBApDeOiKnEPTe2meULG3z6ZyGT8b0p_mA_eP6KoabPytCfITvtelB6DztVW0hqzioy6Nm1SD_-atURBQqJjuDUmKpDfSTh2v1VVTkJSwiELCZQQCg/s1600/07012012788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzSXtsHlZiH7VWZ1t1Y_oIpTk9pwBApDeOiKnEPTe2meULG3z6ZyGT8b0p_mA_eP6KoabPytCfITvtelB6DztVW0hqzioy6Nm1SD_-atURBQqJjuDUmKpDfSTh2v1VVTkJSwiELCZQQCg/s320/07012012788.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JFUBW9RmuKvY2iX4CCwegGygKHyrPIbMfCmtO_Y0TeyheSek639X8YQii8z0XyJiXX5jX4o7g07JeZHsVMenyTo6D0TurmwV1bM_rrUl73D-shbGpx81mzovmWxuqgt8PTfK4FYYVWc/s1600/07012012749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5JFUBW9RmuKvY2iX4CCwegGygKHyrPIbMfCmtO_Y0TeyheSek639X8YQii8z0XyJiXX5jX4o7g07JeZHsVMenyTo6D0TurmwV1bM_rrUl73D-shbGpx81mzovmWxuqgt8PTfK4FYYVWc/s320/07012012749.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laguna de los Tres, Fitz Roy and glacier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12818667347515330633noreply@blogger.com3