Aventuras en PERÚ!

11/12/09
This morning we got into Santiago at about 4:45am (our overnight bus was super early somehow). Took a taxi to the airport to fly to Lima at 7:30am. All went well thus far and we arrived in Lima at 9:23 Lima time (an hour behind Chile). Rather than going to the hostel we booked in the barrio of Lince, our shuttle driver convinced us to stay in Miraflores instead because there was much more to do/see, and it was also much safer. Carlos, our driver, was so nice and even gave us a contact in Cuzco and said we can go to her for anything; she owns a restaurant in the main plaza there. He also gave us a lot ot tips about prices in Perú so that we'd know when we were getting ripped off. After he made us a spectacular deal with Lion Backpackers Hostel in Miraflores, we walked around to find the few attractions there we didn't want to miss. Took lots of pictures, ate some peruvian food, and finally went to this amazing prk with fountains and lights accompanying music. Check out this picture!

11/13/09
We woke up at 3am to shower, pack up, and ship out for the airport by 4am since it took a while to get there and our flight to Cuzco was at 5:45am. We rush there and check in only to find out that over Cuzco the weather was so bad that they weren't letting any flights in till at least 7am. We ended up waiting until almost 9:30 to take off for Cuzco. Took a taxi to Southern Comfort Hostel, and settled in before wandering over to the Plaza de Armas. Once again we had a very friendly cab driver who has a sister as a travel agent who ended up setting everything up for us including tours in Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

11/14/09
Today in the morning we just hit up the artesanías and did some shopping. In the afternoon we had a breif tour of the city of Cuzco and met some very nice Spaniards and Peruvians who we learned we would tour with tomorrow and also in Machu Picchu.

11/15/09
Today we woke up really early for an all day tour of the surrounding area of Cuzco. Yesterday and today our tours were/are in Spanish; which was fantastic practice for us and we loved to meet more native spanish speakers, however its going to be hard to retain the information we learned since it wasn't in English. There is this very nice older couple from Spain on our tours with us, a group of people in their lower 20s from California, one girl from chicago who is teaching in Buenos Aires, and many Peruvians. We trekked up and down at least 5 ancient ruins of the Incas. Of course, everywhere we went there was a giant artesanía. It kind of bothered me that everywhwere we went there were busloads of tourists. Nothing looked as natural as it could've been. I think the thing I hated most was the children and/or families dressed in colorful traditional dress who would say in English: "Please take a picture with me for money."
I just learned that a peruvian Tradition is to place little clay animals on their roofs to keep away bad things: I"ve seen many of those.
I've been chewing on coca leaves all day to help with the altitude sickness, and I'm drinking mate de coca as well. We've done a bit of hiking around and its definitely really hard to breath and my heart is constandly pounding out of my chest. Today has been amazing. I can't wait to go through the pictures again.
I did some shopping: bought an Incan Calender made of stone, stuff for my family, and a leatherbound journal. I enjoy our roommate, Natalie from England. She's been backpacking around the world for 6 months now and she's due to go back to England in 2 weeks after she sees Brazil and Buenos Aires.
Something didn't agree with me tonight because I feel AWFUL... off to the bed... hopefully not the toilet :(

11/16/09
At this very moment I find myself on one of the few trains from Cuzco to Aguas Calientes. I'm tired as usual, but very excited as well. I love looking out my window to see how close we are to the clouds. They're just perched at the top of the big hill next to me. Oh wait, thats a MOUNTAIN. I can't believe I"m in Perú, going to Machu Picchu. One of the 7 wonders of the world. Whats best? I'm only 19. I feel like I've got all the time in the world ahead of me. I'm loving life at the moment. I'm not sure it can get much better than this.
On another note, I cannot belive the poverty I'm seeing. Yes, I've seen it in other big cities such as Milwaukee, NYC, but here, its so bad, so different, and its EVERYWHERE. Nobody has clean feet or faces, almost anyone will ask a tourist for money. It amkes me want to cry when I see a group of children with a baby llama trying to get tourists to take pictures with them for money. And now, as I stare out the window of the train and watch rural families take care of livestock in barefeet, mile after mile, I just don't know what to think of myself. Its certainly teaching me, changing me, in more ways than one. I'm constantly reminded of the things I take advantage of.
I'm not flipping through a National Geographic anymore,
poverty is staring at me in the face.

11/17/09
Basically just had the best day of my life. We passedout early last night to get up at 4 am to hit up Machu Picchu. By 5am we were waiting in line with maybe 150 other people to take a bus up. We rushed in line to get tickets up to Waynapicchu because they only let 400 poeple up it a day. I learned about 1,100 tourists were up there just today. Its going to be closed in some parts in the near future thanks to dumb tourists not following guidelines; lots of parts need to be restored. I heard they want to shut the whole thing down for 2 years! I'm glad I went when I did. Words nor pictures can describe what I sw and did today. After a badly replicated cheeseburger and cusqueña beer, all of us passed out before 9pm.

11/18/09
TO BE CONTINUED!

Chiloé, Chile: A Penguin Hike & Kayaking at Dawn

11/05/09
Finishing off last night in Osorno, our hostel was really comfortable and only 7,000 pesos (about 14.00 bucks). We hit up a supermarket and bought ingredients to make soup, salad, and tacos. (And of course, vino). Turned out we went to bed early in order to get up early and possibly hit up one of Chile's most visited national parks near Osorno. However, this morning we found out that the fishermen were no longer on strike! Therefore we took off to the bus station to buy tickets to Chiloé.
On our way out, we walked through Osorno's main plaza with a sweet fountain and bull statue. We also saw two churches built in the 1500s. Finally, there were several wooden houses still standing from hundreds of years ago that we checked out. We walked through a cemetery, bought our bus tickets, and took off around 1:30 for a 4,000 pesos, 4 hour bus ride and ferry over to the island of Chiloé.
I really like the people I'm traveling with: Hayley, Alison, Cheryl, Brad, Evin, Al, and Jess. We all get along really well and the boys especially are soo funny.
I can't believe how much I've been traveling!: North, south, Chiloé, next week Perú, and soon it'll be December and I'll be in Iquique and maybe Bolivia. I love it so much though. The closer I get to going home the more I miss everyone, but also the more I don't want to leave.

11/06/09
Yesterday night we arrived in Ancud but the bus driver allowed us to stay on until Chepu for 500 more pesos, the city where our hostel is located. The owner of the hostel actually came and picked us up and drove us to the hostel called Chepu Adventures. We settled in, chatted with the owners, explored the vecinity, and then hit the hay. This morening we got up at 7am and took off for a 6 hour hike through the hills and bluffs. It started out with a boat ride over to the part of the island where we trekked. After kilometers of mud up to our knees, hill after hill, running through the ocean, we arrived at a point to see penguins in the FLESH! At that point it was only 11 in the morning. It was necessary that we hiked quickly in order to reach a point as early as possible because sometimes the tide covers the peninsula and its impossible to cross. The water was covering the penninsula but lucky for us it was only a foot deep or so. WE MADE IT! We watched the penguins for a while, took some pictures, and ate some food to rejuvinate. Then we took our time trekking back.
The scenery throughout the whole trek was so beautiful!
After we munched and napped after returning to the hostel, we took off for an asado (BBQ) and ate curanto, the official Chilote dish. Mashed potatoes, beef, chicken, longanisa (sausage thing), and shellfish were all cooked in the ground over rocks and logs underneath giant leaves and sod. It endedup being really god, to our surprise! The French and American couple from our hike in the morning were there too and we all ate the dish with wine. Heading home in the back of a pick up truck, we hit the hay super early, exhausted from the day's trek, and also to prepare ourselves to wake up at 5am.

11/07/09
Just before dawn, around 5am, we put on our layers once again and headed down to the main cabin/office for coffee before throwing on wet pants and water shoes. We geared up and soon found ourselves in kayaks going out against the current down a river just before sunrise. It was sooo beautiful when the sun finally did rise just behind a few clouds that morning. It was so peaceful and quiet in Chepu, Chiloé that it was nearly deafaning.
Alison and I took off in our double kayak and found ourselves very far ahead of everyone. We saw all sorts of birds only found in Chiloé and other peole in our group got to see sea otters. We were out there only until abut 9am. We came back, ate, packed, and took off, yet again, in the back of a pick up truck, to the main road in order to catch a bus to Castro, Chiloé. For 1,000 pesos we made it to Castro around noon and were able to run around, see thefamous palafitos (houses on stilts over water), churches, and downtown. Some of us went shopping, exploring etc. At 3:30 we hpped on another bus headed for Puerto Montt once again in order to commence our journey back to Concepción.
I have really had quite the vacation this past weeka and a half. I loved it, but I also can't wait to get back home to Conce!
I legitimately miss my familia chilena.

Lago San Rafael

WOW its been a while since I've blogged! Sorry to keep you waiting, if anyone's reading this :)

10/26/09
Today we had a surprise party for Sam, it was legit. We all hid in an upstairs rented room in Triana's apartment and when she walked in, we jumped up and yelled ¡Feliz Cumpleaños! After that everybody got together later that night to hit up Go! and Tercer Tiempo for some good times at the gringo bars.

10/27/09
My puppy, Knight, died today :(
He had a tumor and he was only 9.
I started packing for the south trip in my melencholy state.

10/28/09
Today I hung out with Hayley and some of her friends from church downtown. Vero and her sister Clara showed us some sweet secondhand stores in el centro, but they were full of american clothes, unfortunately. I'm actually convinced that this is where they send Goodwill clothes that get salvaged from the stores in the U.S. Vero was so nice, she bought us empanadas and ice cream. I also learned a lot of chilenismos from them. I was proud I was talking so well with Clara, Vero's older sister. I figured out that I speak better with certain people, I don't know why, but thats just the way it works. Also depends on how tired/alert I am. And even how long I've known the person.
Anyway later Karl and I went to check out the Vega Monumental next to our house. I had been there before, but he hadn't. We bought a ton of strawberries for only 500 pesos. Yummm

10/30/09
Today before leaving for the bus station (to ultimately meet up with the class in Puerto Montt for the south trip), Lindsay and I went downtown for the day to shop and just run around. We found a few huge artesanías where we each found some souvenirs for friends back home. We head to the bus station around 9 because we were taking an overnight bus to Santiago the next day. Unfortunately, a guy tried getting into my purse. I didn't know what was happening until Hayley told me. It was the first time I didn't have my eyes on my purse since being in Chile. I figured being surrounded by 7 people I was somewhat safer but I shouldn'tve let my guard down. I feel something tugging on my purse and I look down to see Hayley's hand on someone ELSE's hand INSIDE my purse and she's pulling it out. I was really flustered and confused, the guy stormed off awkwardly. Later on the bus I noticed he was sitting kitty corner from me, one row up! WHen we got off the bus in the morning he kept staring at me before I figured out that was the guy who tried to rob me and I glared at him and gave him the finger from afar.
Anyway on the bus, Alison and I talked about relationships with friends and family for so long since we couldn't sleep. I love that girl, we really click.

10/31/09
We checked into the boat in the morning and had a few hours to wander around the port city of Puerto Montt. We hadn't ate breakfast yet so we picked a cute little café that overlooked the water called Café Don Carlos. While we sipped coffee and ate empanadas we watched the fishermen come in with their catch of the morning. Some of them brought the bags right onto shore, straight into the restaurant beside us, and threw live seafood into boiling water. Now thats fresh!
I bought some pretty sweet pants, they're red, yellow, and green striped. Lots of people wear them here in different colors but of the same material, but I"ll prolly just wear them to bed because they look like pajama pants. We also found a super delicious dried fruit store where we bought some tried papaya, kiwi, and raspberries.
We boarded the boat, settled in, and they fed us dinner. After all that, there was a party in the common room, but of course most of the gringos had drinks and dressed up for Halloween. Half the people on the boat loved us, and half of them hated us. I myself felt like I was on a nursing home since they were all pretty old, but that didn't make it less fun.
At one point I went out to look at the stars, but the lights on the boat were too bright to see much :(

11/01/09
In the morning Alison and I went to the top deck to watch the islands go by. It was really cold up there with the wind from how fast the boat was going. Alison saw seals and dolphins when I had went back inside thanks to not feeling well.
Another time I was out on deck, I met a sweet old woman traveling with her daughter, who just so happened to have studied in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin when she was studying English in college. I was really excited they knew where Milwaukee and Oconomowoc were.
My favorite quote of the day was at lunch with Alison: "You know whats a really bad idea? Peel an orange and then touch your fucking eye."

Later we got off the boat because it stopped in a small port town called Chacabuco. EVERYthing was closed because it was a Sunday. Did I ever mention that nearly everything closes down on a Sunday in nearly all of Latin America? True story.
Alison and I went back to the boat early and played giant chess on the back top deck.

11/02/09
TODAY WE SAW GLACIER!
When we woke up we were going past huge chunks of ice and it reminded me of the Titanic. In the morning they handed us all orange life jackets, we climbed down a long flight of stairs to little boats that took us over to the glacier. Since its nearly summer here, we couldn't get very close because huge chunks of ice were falling off it. It was so beautiful! Huge chunks of ice that had fallen into the lake were floating by, some of them 4 times the size of our boats, and they were the bluest blue I've ever seen. We froze our asses off in those little boats, not prepared for the rain/hail falling that day, not to mention the cold of the extreme south. At one point we saw sea otters playing around the ice.

11/03/09
We started heading back to Puerto Montt today but stopped in Aysén for a small town tour. There really wasn't much there besides three rivers that were called "dead" rivers. When we returned to the boat in the afternoon and left the port, the waves were starting to get really bad and I think about half of us on that boat were sick that night. We could hardly sleep the boat was rocking so badly, I felt as though I'd fall off the bunk. Out of inability to sleep, a few of us climbed up on deck to watch the waves: this turned out to be a TERRIBLE idea! As soon as we reached the top of the stairs, wind hit us like a hurricane and we nearly fell over! Karl and I held onto the railing for dear life and tried to sneak around to the front of the ship but it was literally impossible slash way too dangerous.
When we returned to the living quarters we ran into a guy on his way outside to yell at us to come in because it was way too dangerous.

11/04/09
Today we finally got off the boat in Puerto Montt and many of us went our seperate ways: Some of us were headed to Santiago and ultimately Buenos Aires, others stayed in Puerto Montt a few extra nights, some went to Bariloche, a southern Argentine town famous for chocolate, and then there was the group of 8 that included me who went to the island of Chiloé. Or, I should say, Had PLANS to go to the island of Chiloé. We went to the bus station to get tickets (theres a bus that takes a ferry across the straight to get to the island) and it turns out the fishermen were on strike and nobody was allowed to cross on the ferry today. Instead, we read up on Lindsay's and Cheryl's guidebook and chose to start heading north to Osorno. We were all pretty disappointed but we decided to go a little bit north at a time and keep checking on the strike in Puerto Montt. We found a decently cheap hostel for the night and just settled in, deciding to explore the city tomorrow.