One of the coolest things about travelling is of course meeting people from all over the world and here are 2 fun examples of what can happen.
4 of us were hanging out in the hostel, laughing having a grand ol time when someone asks us where we are from (she assumed as she told us later we were all travelling together). we kind of chuckled and had to ay, France, Sweden, Canada, and Holland. I love it.
I was in el Chalten in the hostel on a rainy day and met a french girl, so we spoke in french, then met an American girl, so we spoke in english, and then the 3 of us spoke together so we spoke in.......Spanish.
Cheers
Off to the pool.
Bus tonight is heading into Brazil
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
futbol game
sorry for the delay in writing folks!! I am now in Uruguay, enjoying the sights and sounds, but what I really want to talk about is the soccer game I went to last week.
It was a championship game for the copa sudamericana. It was packed at 50 000 people, and everyone was wearing red, I had to go through 2 security checks to get in and there was no place to move, it was rush seating, and we had troubles finding a spot even 1 hour beforehand. The atmosphere was electric right from the get go and did not stop. The fans from the opposing team were cordoned off in one section, with sections left empty around them for security, with 3 lines of police on either side to prevent intermingling. These fans were also not allowed to leave right after the game, they had to wait for everyone else to leave first.
During the game, we stood up the whole time and sang songs, the entire game, we did not stop, it was nutso. The game unfortunately ended 1-0 for the wrong team but was still a great south American experience!
It was a championship game for the copa sudamericana. It was packed at 50 000 people, and everyone was wearing red, I had to go through 2 security checks to get in and there was no place to move, it was rush seating, and we had troubles finding a spot even 1 hour beforehand. The atmosphere was electric right from the get go and did not stop. The fans from the opposing team were cordoned off in one section, with sections left empty around them for security, with 3 lines of police on either side to prevent intermingling. These fans were also not allowed to leave right after the game, they had to wait for everyone else to leave first.
During the game, we stood up the whole time and sang songs, the entire game, we did not stop, it was nutso. The game unfortunately ended 1-0 for the wrong team but was still a great south American experience!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Free Hugs
So yesterday in Santiago, Me and a couple of friends were walking downtown, having a great day with ice cream and what not, and ran into a group of people giving out free hugs. When asked why, they said simply to bring good cheer to Santiago.......sweet. I think there should be free hug groups everywhere.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Argentina
Welcome to Argentina!
So , the first few days in Argenitna have been a little bit of an opposite culture shock. I feel like I ma back in the developed world now.
The shock came rather quickly, on the first bus-ride into Cordoba.
WHAT? no garbage lining the roads?
WHAT? organized farming with Tractors?
WHAT? Seats on the toilets?
WHAT? No vendors hounding you at every turn?
WHAT? A taxi-meter?
All things that have changed drastically from my first 3 countries.
ANother shocker is he time frame here. Let me explain.
People here go out ridiculously late. In fact, you cannot even eat dinner here until after 9pm. Most restaurants will not serve dinner until that time. SO you eat dinner until 10 or 11, then go home and get ready to go out, start pre drinking, and then actually go out around 2am. That is correct folks, people go out after the bars back home would close. It makes for an evening that stretches to 6-7 am....kinda kills the next day but is super fun.
ANother difference here in Argentina is the accent. I was doing great in Bolivia with conversing in Spanish but this accent is goignt o take some getting used to . WOW they speakl fast. It is like the Newfie of South America. (sorry if any wonderful Newfoundlanders are reading this)
Cheers
So , the first few days in Argenitna have been a little bit of an opposite culture shock. I feel like I ma back in the developed world now.
The shock came rather quickly, on the first bus-ride into Cordoba.
WHAT? no garbage lining the roads?
WHAT? organized farming with Tractors?
WHAT? Seats on the toilets?
WHAT? No vendors hounding you at every turn?
WHAT? A taxi-meter?
All things that have changed drastically from my first 3 countries.
ANother shocker is he time frame here. Let me explain.
People here go out ridiculously late. In fact, you cannot even eat dinner here until after 9pm. Most restaurants will not serve dinner until that time. SO you eat dinner until 10 or 11, then go home and get ready to go out, start pre drinking, and then actually go out around 2am. That is correct folks, people go out after the bars back home would close. It makes for an evening that stretches to 6-7 am....kinda kills the next day but is super fun.
ANother difference here in Argentina is the accent. I was doing great in Bolivia with conversing in Spanish but this accent is goignt o take some getting used to . WOW they speakl fast. It is like the Newfie of South America. (sorry if any wonderful Newfoundlanders are reading this)
Cheers
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Bolivia
IS very beautiful!, Some highlights,
Death Road. Man this was cool, from 4700m to 1100m on a bike, with cliffs and waterfalls and rivers, pics soon I hope!
Halloween in La Paz. Big Party in the Hostal, everyoine was dressed up, it was quite cool, a nice halloween seeing I was away from the real halloween parties.
Markets. You can buy ANYTHING in the markets here, I mean anything. Electorinics, Irons, Food, Clothes, anything.
Salara de Uyuni, mind boggling amounts of Salt.
Why are there no seats on the toilets?
Why are there no toilets on the busses? Why does the bus without toilets only stop once in a 12 hour ride?
Why do the fake tourist police have to have robbed sooo many people (not me luckily...knock on wood)?
Death Road. Man this was cool, from 4700m to 1100m on a bike, with cliffs and waterfalls and rivers, pics soon I hope!
Halloween in La Paz. Big Party in the Hostal, everyoine was dressed up, it was quite cool, a nice halloween seeing I was away from the real halloween parties.
Markets. You can buy ANYTHING in the markets here, I mean anything. Electorinics, Irons, Food, Clothes, anything.
Salara de Uyuni, mind boggling amounts of Salt.
Why are there no seats on the toilets?
Why are there no toilets on the busses? Why does the bus without toilets only stop once in a 12 hour ride?
Why do the fake tourist police have to have robbed sooo many people (not me luckily...knock on wood)?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
A few random thoughts
Oddest bathroom so far.
So of all he bad bathroom swithout toilet seats or utterly gross or just a hole in the ground, this next one is the strangest. We were at a restaurant in Chivay, Peru, for lunch. This restaurant had obviously been an afterthought and a roof added as there was a water spout that entered into the restaurant. SO as a solution, they had a plastic bag divert the waterspout into the mens washroom. Into the sink you may ask? Nope, onto the floor. So it was of course raining when I used this washroom. Imagine standing up, doing the normal business, but your feet are getting wet due to rain being funneled in.....odd experience, makes you second guess your aim a little bit.
Awesomest Dinner of the trip so far.
For 7 dollars (roughly)- Steak, Pork Chop, Chicken Breast, Sausage, Hot Dog, Fies, Salad, Drink.........I love South America.
Other random thoughts.
So many Beatles (the car) here, it is nutso.
Thought I got my bag stolen today after a quick bus switch that seemed really sketchy, luckily, all was legit and our bags made it.
Condors are large.
So of all he bad bathroom swithout toilet seats or utterly gross or just a hole in the ground, this next one is the strangest. We were at a restaurant in Chivay, Peru, for lunch. This restaurant had obviously been an afterthought and a roof added as there was a water spout that entered into the restaurant. SO as a solution, they had a plastic bag divert the waterspout into the mens washroom. Into the sink you may ask? Nope, onto the floor. So it was of course raining when I used this washroom. Imagine standing up, doing the normal business, but your feet are getting wet due to rain being funneled in.....odd experience, makes you second guess your aim a little bit.
Awesomest Dinner of the trip so far.
For 7 dollars (roughly)- Steak, Pork Chop, Chicken Breast, Sausage, Hot Dog, Fies, Salad, Drink.........I love South America.
Other random thoughts.
So many Beatles (the car) here, it is nutso.
Thought I got my bag stolen today after a quick bus switch that seemed really sketchy, luckily, all was legit and our bags made it.
Condors are large.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Machupicchu!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31366522@N08/
Wow another little while since my last post!
I checked out hte Nazca lines as promised in the last blog and quite enjoyed them. It was a little pricey to get in the plane, but I think it was definitely worth it.
On to Cuzco! Cuzco has been a beuatiful town although I have spent too much tim ehere now and am excited to move on to the next spot. The reason I spend so much time here first off was to acclimatize before doing the Salkantay trail to Macchupicchu, which reaches an altitude of 4800 meters. In those few days I checked out a few ruins around town, along with some old spanish churches. Very cool. The best named of all the ruins was Saqsaywaman, you say it...yup it is exactly what you think!. SO after a few days in Cuzco bumming around it was time to head off to Slakantay!
Woot. This was a 5 day trek and for a beginner trekker like me was great. Not easy by any means, but not too techinal either, and with our own cook and horeses to carry our gear, my life was made easier, I just had to walk. I will post pictures of the beautiful scenery on flickr later today, or tomorrow, I promise.
The toughest day of the trek was day 2 with 800 meters straight up to the hight point of the trek...in a snowstorm and then 1600 meters down to our campsite. Really quite touch but rewarding when it was all said and done. Did not really get cold in the snowstorm because e were working so hard but as soon as we sat down for lunch....wow were we cold and wet! But we made the most of of it by not drinking our coca tea, but merely holding it as long as possible to get warm.
The other days were tough but seemed easy in comparaison to day 2 so I will not bore you and simply post pictures later times. I loved every minute of the trek, even in the cold, me and my trekmates were able to find humour and have a good laugh. Speaking of my trekmates, we got a long super well and I hav eformed even more friendships to take with me through the rest of South America, I am running into people everywhere!
Once we arrived to Machupicchu on day 5, I was in awe. I loved it, it was more than I could have imagined. You see the pictures and read about it, but it is way different experienceing it yourself for sure. we also did the extra hike to waynapicchu.
so to leave off this kind of scattered post, so point form highlights of the trek.
-Meeting great people
- Awesome scenery
- Lots of altitude.
-PLaying Loup Garou with the group
-Our guide Nico
-Lots of laughing! some morning my stomach hurt more than my legs.
-Machupicchu
-Hot springs! woooot
Wow another little while since my last post!
I checked out hte Nazca lines as promised in the last blog and quite enjoyed them. It was a little pricey to get in the plane, but I think it was definitely worth it.
On to Cuzco! Cuzco has been a beuatiful town although I have spent too much tim ehere now and am excited to move on to the next spot. The reason I spend so much time here first off was to acclimatize before doing the Salkantay trail to Macchupicchu, which reaches an altitude of 4800 meters. In those few days I checked out a few ruins around town, along with some old spanish churches. Very cool. The best named of all the ruins was Saqsaywaman, you say it...yup it is exactly what you think!. SO after a few days in Cuzco bumming around it was time to head off to Slakantay!
Woot. This was a 5 day trek and for a beginner trekker like me was great. Not easy by any means, but not too techinal either, and with our own cook and horeses to carry our gear, my life was made easier, I just had to walk. I will post pictures of the beautiful scenery on flickr later today, or tomorrow, I promise.
The toughest day of the trek was day 2 with 800 meters straight up to the hight point of the trek...in a snowstorm and then 1600 meters down to our campsite. Really quite touch but rewarding when it was all said and done. Did not really get cold in the snowstorm because e were working so hard but as soon as we sat down for lunch....wow were we cold and wet! But we made the most of of it by not drinking our coca tea, but merely holding it as long as possible to get warm.
The other days were tough but seemed easy in comparaison to day 2 so I will not bore you and simply post pictures later times. I loved every minute of the trek, even in the cold, me and my trekmates were able to find humour and have a good laugh. Speaking of my trekmates, we got a long super well and I hav eformed even more friendships to take with me through the rest of South America, I am running into people everywhere!
Once we arrived to Machupicchu on day 5, I was in awe. I loved it, it was more than I could have imagined. You see the pictures and read about it, but it is way different experienceing it yourself for sure. we also did the extra hike to waynapicchu.
so to leave off this kind of scattered post, so point form highlights of the trek.
-Meeting great people
- Awesome scenery
- Lots of altitude.
-PLaying Loup Garou with the group
-Our guide Nico
-Lots of laughing! some morning my stomach hurt more than my legs.
-Machupicchu
-Hot springs! woooot
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