Last Week in South America

I left La Paz after my pancake breakfast at the Adventure Brew Hostel and made my way to the bus station.  My “direct” bus to Cusco was late (Bolivian time) and I had to switch seats as someone was in mine, but I was soon on my way to Peru.  I went through immigration in Bolivia, and then walked across a bridge to Peru and completed customs there.  The terrain in Peru was very similar to Bolivia, though it did get a bit greener closer to Cusco.  We stopped to let some passengers off in Puno, and then went straight to Cusco.  Arrived at 9:00ish, went to the Flying Dog Hostel and after a semihot shower fell asleep.  The next morning I walked to the hotel my mom and I were going to stay at to meet her.  It was amazing with both our hectic travel itineraries, that everything worked out and we met up without any problems.  Cusco was both similar and different to Cocha.  It has many plazas and cafes and restaurants like Cocha, but it is also filled with tourists and people wanting to sell to tourists.  You cannot take a stroll in Plaza de Armas without 10 people coming up to you offering post cards, finger puppets, scarves, your photo with a baby llama or a grown llama or something else.  We went to Jack’s cafe (recommended by Sarah and many others who have been to Cusco) for lunch, delicious.  It is very western, but good food is good food.  Wednesday we took a car and then a train to Agua Calientes.  The train ride is beautiful; it is along a river in between mountains.  Agua Calientes was a town that was practically built up for tourists.  It consists of hotels and restaurants and stores, but is cute nonetheless.

Thursday we got up at 4:30 to to go to Machu Pichhu.  we took the bus up the mountain (you can also walk), and after many lines at the bottom and top, got into the site.  It was an amazing experience.  Since we were there so early the fog was still lifting and it was very mystical and magical.  You felt the history and spirit of the place, as though it was alive.  We learned about the architecture and building styles, the agricultural system and temples.  By 10am it started to get crowded, and as we had been there for hours we decided to head down.  It was hard leaving, as it is a place so famous in pictures and even more powerful in person.  I still wonder who was crazy enough to decide to build a city in the mountains ( the incans felt the mountains brought them closer to the gods) as they had to bring all the stones up the hills, and water and the rest, but crazy or not, it is still cool.

Crossing into Peru

Cathedral in Plaza de Armas, Cusco

Sacred Valley

Aguas Calientes

Machu Picchu in the early morning

Machu Picchu

Flat at Machu Picchu

MP

Flat enjoying the ruins

Postcard perfect

Recycling in Aguas Calientes

I am now sitting in the Lima airport waiting to board my flight home to LA via Miami.  I have 5 days at home and then roadtrippin’ it back to AR.  I have only seen a glimpse of what South America has to offer these past 3 months, but it has been amazing and I can’t wait to return.

Salar de Uyuni

On Wednesday I left Cochabamba for Oruro, it is a 4 hour bus ride through winding green valleys, very beautiful.  We then got on the train in Oruro at 7:00pm and were greeted by watching Escape to Witch Mountain, and the Bucket List ( both in Spanish-but with English subtitles).  I fell asleep at some point, only to be woken up to a cold midnight sky.  We arrived in Uyuni at 2:30am, and found a hostel for a couple hours sleep.  It was FREEZING.  The wind makes the temp a good 20 degrees colder than it actually is, and it already felt below freezing.  Thursday morning we walked around to find a tour agency and finally decided on one with an English speaking guide.  Our group consisted of me, Nick, Sam, Rob, Neil, Herbert (our guide) and Chino (our driver).  At 11:30 we were off, first stop train graveyard.

Rather than fixing old trains, people just decided to buy new ones and leave the old ones to rust, thus creating the train graveyard.

Next, we went to a small town where we watched how they process salt.  They leave it out in the sun to dry for 2-3 days, then further dry it over ovens, then grind it up with iodine and package it.

We then went to an island in the middle of the salt flats that is covered with cacti.  The Salt Flats in Bolivia are the largest in the world, and were created by the drying out of a lake.  This is also why you can see old coral.

During the dry season there is no perspective so you can take crazy pictures

Then off to a salt hotel to sleep

Friday we ventured to see mountains, lakes and volcanoes, llamas and FLAMINGOS!!!!

Saturday we got up at 5 to go see geysers and hot springs.

Then some more volcanoes, lakes, rock formations and back to Uyuni.  We ate the best pizza I have had in Bolivia at Minuteman pizza and waited for our FREEZING train ride to Oruro….I then got on a bus to La Paz where I am now, and I will be leaving for Cusco tomorrow to meet up with my mom on Tuesday.  Only have a week left before I have to head back to the States.

Rain, Snow and Sun

Two things to report.  Yesterday it rained.  Now this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but as this is not the rainy season it is.  It is the first time I have seen rain since I left Arkansas, and it rained so much that it snowed in the nearby mountains of Cochabamba.

Also, I gave a presentation on solar powered energy today.  It went well, though I am not sure they understood the part about global warming.

Flat even got to help

Desperdida Fiesta

Saturday night we had a party at Sustainable Bolivia for all of the volunteers leaving this week (including myself).  I am not usually one for costume parties, but this one intrigued me.  The theme was “La Cancha”.  La Cancha is the largest outdoor market in South America where you can find anything and everything.  Thus, you had to buy something at La Cancha and make a costume out of it.  People did not disapoint; there was one volunteer who dressed in traditional Bolivian garb, including rented braids, one person made his costume out of DVDS, and of course my flatmates who are pictured below.    I bought the cowboy hat at La Cancha and made a vest, complete with pockets, out of a shopping bag.  It was fun.  Can’t believe I leave Cocha this week, I am going to miss it.

Left to Right (Michael, Donal, Adi, Me, Phil, Paola, Jesse).

A Bit of Bolivian Jungle

Sarah, the Flats and I went to see part of the Bolivian jungle this past weekend.  Bolivia is an amazing country because it has such a wide variety of climates and terrains.  Cocha is a valley, over 8000 feet, extremely dry and cold at night.  Where we went was mountainous, very humid, at 300 feet and never cold.

If you can’t see the video, just see below

On the way to the jungle

Me and Flat with the mono

We went to an animal rescue center that primarily has monkeys, but also had other animals

The monkey was eating Sarah's hair

Lookout of the town

Went to a park with giant swings

could be the Buffalo

Delicious fish and maracuya juice

HP6 midnight screening

So I will admit to being an avid Harry Potter fan, not to the point of dressing up, but I did attend the midnight premiere in Bolivia tonight/morning.  First, I must say I am very impressed there was a midnight screening on the same day as the US premiere.  Many times when I have been in other countries the date is pushed back, and everything I read said that the movie didn’t come out until the 17th in Bolivia. (you may think 2 days is no big deal, but it is).  Second, I was surprised by how many people showed up for the movie, and actually stood in line, as lines aren’t big here.

Lisa and Phil…they look excited

Yes I wore sweatpants to the movies, and glasses and my cool green Bolivian hat…I think midnight screenings call for comfortable clothes, though Nique was not to happy to be seen with me(not pictured)

I have never seen multicolored popcorn, but they had it

So we have watched the past 3 HP movies the past 2 nights, and the excitement was definitely building. After some technical glitches (the projection was backwards-subtitles were inside out) and previews, the movie started. I am not going to give anything away, though if you haven’t read the books by now you probably don’t care, and if you have then you know more than the movie anyways, but it was a good film. They changed some parts that I didn’t think should have been changed, and didn’t quite agree with all the directing or editing. I don’t think it was one of my favorite HP movies, though the book also raises more questions than it answers, and the movie also makes you walk away wanting more….the 2 part HP7 movies won’t be released until 2010, 2011, so there will be quite a bit of waiting…

Sidenote: People believe it is perfectly acceptable to answer their phones in movie theaters and proceed to have an actual conversation. This I don’t get. I have been told it happens in churches and conferences as well…

Solar Power

Today CEDESOL, the organization that Nique is working at, came to deliver the solar stove I purchased for La Colonia.  By using solar power people can reduce their carbon impact, save money, and just as importantly save time.  With a solar stove, it is very hard to burn things, so people can put the food in, leave it, and return when it is done.  Of course today we spent a couple hours just staring at it, waiting for the bubbles to come, but I am sure the novelty of that will wear off.  When there is no sun it can also be used as a heat retention cooker.  This means that you can heat up whatever you are cooking, and then put it in the stove to finish.  I was very impressed by the cooker, and a shout out to Nique and CEDESOL for their help.

Julie and Flat with the Solar Cooker

CEDESOL explaining how the solar cooker works

Clinton School collaboration with the Flats

Cooked food for lunch (I had some-it was cooked : ))

You can see the bubbles!!!!!!!!!!

La Paz and Lake Titicaca

So last weekend Nique and I met Sarah and her parents in La Paz.  We started off with a 7.5 hour night bus ride from Cochabamba.  The cama bus left at 11:00pm and arrived at 6:30am.  It was pretty comfortable, but very very cold.  We went to our hostel and napped until it was time to explore the city.  One thing Nique introduced me to was water in a bag, they are way more economical and we decided more ecofriendly than a plastic bottle.

We needed to stay hydrated, and bags of water are the cheapest way to do it

View from our hostel

After eating a delicious breakfast, and lunch we went to explore more.

Plaza Murillo-has the presidential palace here

Zebras serve as crossing guards in La Paz-they are 16-22 year old volunteers helping to enforce traffic laws

On our way to dinner we witnessed the crossing guards.  Who said you had to go on safari to see Zebras

Maybe Nique has found his calling...

The wonderful Clark family

Saturday morning we woke up to get on our 4 hour bus to Copacabana.  3 hours in you have to deboard the bus and get on a little ferry while the bus gets on another ferry.

The most amazing trout I have ever had

Once we arrived in Copacabana it was time to eat Trucha-It was delicious-you get a whole fish, and we had lemon and garlic.  It was by far the best trout I have ever had.

Cathedral in Copacabana that Bolivians pilgram to for the Virgen de Copacabana

Isla del Sol

Isla del Sol is one of the most important religious sites in the Andean world.  It is where the sun was thought to be created.  You can take a 2 hour boat ride there from Copacabana, and walk 4 hours from one side of the island to the other.  There are Incan ruins and spectacular views.

Tres Cochabambinos in Copacabana

Postcard perfect

Finally, Sunday night, Nique and I made another hike up a mountain to catch an amazing sunset over Lake Titicaca

One of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen-well worth the hike up the mountain

Olimpiadas

This week La Colonia is hosting their second annual Olympics.  Last night kicked off the weeklong event with the opening ceremony.  There were fireworks, a torch, banners and flags.  There are five teams representing a country in five  continents.  White is Kenya, representing Africa.  Green in Jamaica, representing the Americas.  Blue is Spain, representing Europe.  Yellow is the Marshall Islands, representing Oceania.  Red is India, representing Asia.

Over the next week the kids are going to compete in soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, chess, high jump, long jump, track and possibly swimming.

Reciclar y Compost

Today, another volunteer and  I made a presentation to the children at La Colonia about recycling and composting.  We talked about what can be recycled and what can’t and why it is important to recycle.   I was a bit nervous to give a presentation in Spanish, but luckily I was allowed notes and kids are quite forgiving. Below are pictures and one of the signs I made for the center.

Flat and I with the 3 Rs-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Two of my new roommates ( who also volunteer at La Colonia), J.T. and Lisa with Monica and Flat and a poster describing recycling at La Colonia and what goes in each bin