The 18th was kind of a bust. That's not an insult to Chile or San Pedro de Atacama, the town of 2500. The group was just not up for partying Chilean style (going to the bars at 11pm, going to the clubs at 1am, and going to the after party at 4am or 5am) after getting up at 3:30 that morning.
Since we didn't go out the night before, we were well rested when we awoke at 7:30 on Saturday, ready for our tour of las lagunas, an Andean village, and a desert oasis. Our Chilean tour guide, however, did party and he was definitely a little hungover, but still in good spirits.
The tours were good. There was a group of eight volunteers from Inglés Abre Puertas that was on the tour with us in addition to a family of three which ditched us after an hour to go with another group because us youngins were too loud. One of the volunteers in that group was actually the princess of Transylvania, or so she said.
We arrived back in San Pedro that night, but since it was the day after independence day, a lot of restaurants and stores were still closed. We found a good place to have our last supper.
It ended up being a quiet day, but it was a great way to end the vacation.
Day 10: Saturday, September 19th at 7:30am until Saturday, September 19th at 11:30pm)
The next day was our trip home. We got up, gathered our belongings and left the hostel. Our hosts were nice enough to drive us to the bus station.
There was a lot of traveling that day with luggage and a backpack.
1. Drive to bus station in San Pedro
2. Bus from San Pedro to Calama
3. Cab from Calama bus station to Calama airport
4. Plane from Calama to Copiapo airport for quick stop
5. Same plane from Copiapo to Santiago airport
6. Shuttle bus from Santiago airport to Pajaritos metro station on the red line
7. Metro from Pajaritos to Tobalaba
8. Switch from red line to blue line at Tobalaba
9. Tobalaba to Crístobal Colón on the blue line
10. Walk from Colón to my house
I arrived home to a new city. Santiago had several terribly wet and rainy days leading up to our vacation, but when we came back, the city had begun it's spring and it had transformed, almost unrecognizably so. It was funny because as I was walking from the metro to my house, I was noticing how everything looked different and unfamiliar. The trees and bushes were blooming and my neighbors had completely redone the front of their house. When I arrived at my house, I punched in the code in the keypad to unlock the gate and a new dog poked his head out. I thought for sure I was in the wrong place, but sure enough, I was home. It turns out that while I was away, my dog got herself a boyfriend and the two of them are living here now.
Day 11: Return Home (Sunday, Spetember 20th at 7:30am to Sunday, September 20th at 11:30pm)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Spring Break: Part IX
Today was the day. We had heard about the 18 since the first meeting of the Tufts-in-Chile Program 2009 way back in April. We had heard that Chile took their independence day seriously and that this year marked the beginning of the 200th year of its independence, so the parties were going to be something to write home about.
We started our 18 bright and early at 3:30am (normal wake-up time for us on this trip). We got ready and waited for the tour guide to come pick us up and take us to El Tatio, the geysers in Chile. We arrived at the geysers shortly after 6:00am. You have to get there early because the geysers are better seen when the air temperature is lowest (aka, at the butt-crack of dawn). It was worth it though. We all had a good time. The tour company also provided breakfast, which was a great incentive to get us going. It wasn't anything extra special, just instant coffee, bread, cheese, ham, an apple, and a small chocolate bar. We're college students, so any time there is food, we're always a little happier.
After the geysers, we headed to the thermal baths. It was a fun place. There are a ton of tour groups in San Pedro, especially at this time of year, but our tour company sets out on their treks about 30 minutes earlier than all the others so we get to every place a little bit sooner and have the chance to take pictures without a bunch of tourists in the way. We were actually the only group at the thermal baths which was nice.
Since we got up early that morning, we made it back to town right before lunch. We stumble across this nice little restaurant on a side street. It had a small sign advertising its empanadas. We were intrigued. Leanne and Austin got theirs to go, but Katy, Emily, Steven, and I decided to eat in and take advantage of the Pastel de Choclo that they had on the menu. Pastel de Choclo is a classic Chilean dish made with corn, chicken, and a beef and onion mixture called Pino (the same mixture that is found in the empanadas de pino). The four of us got empanadas and two pastels to share. It was appropriate that we had empanadas and pastel de choclo considering it was Chile's independence day and these two things are top five on Chile's list of national foods along with cazuela, super 8, and pan.
We spent the afternoon relaxing in the hostel before heading out to dinner and experiencing the nightlife in a small Chilean town on independence day. Unfortunately I wasn't blown away with the festivities. There was a section of the town blocked off and there were about 20 booths selling food and things. I guess we're still not acclimated to the Chilean lifestyle because we called it a night around 10:30pm, but the next day, our tour guide (slightly hungover) told us that the party had started in the bars at 11:00pm.
Day 9: Friday, September 18th at :30am until Friday, September 18th at 11:30 pm
We started our 18 bright and early at 3:30am (normal wake-up time for us on this trip). We got ready and waited for the tour guide to come pick us up and take us to El Tatio, the geysers in Chile. We arrived at the geysers shortly after 6:00am. You have to get there early because the geysers are better seen when the air temperature is lowest (aka, at the butt-crack of dawn). It was worth it though. We all had a good time. The tour company also provided breakfast, which was a great incentive to get us going. It wasn't anything extra special, just instant coffee, bread, cheese, ham, an apple, and a small chocolate bar. We're college students, so any time there is food, we're always a little happier.
After the geysers, we headed to the thermal baths. It was a fun place. There are a ton of tour groups in San Pedro, especially at this time of year, but our tour company sets out on their treks about 30 minutes earlier than all the others so we get to every place a little bit sooner and have the chance to take pictures without a bunch of tourists in the way. We were actually the only group at the thermal baths which was nice.
Since we got up early that morning, we made it back to town right before lunch. We stumble across this nice little restaurant on a side street. It had a small sign advertising its empanadas. We were intrigued. Leanne and Austin got theirs to go, but Katy, Emily, Steven, and I decided to eat in and take advantage of the Pastel de Choclo that they had on the menu. Pastel de Choclo is a classic Chilean dish made with corn, chicken, and a beef and onion mixture called Pino (the same mixture that is found in the empanadas de pino). The four of us got empanadas and two pastels to share. It was appropriate that we had empanadas and pastel de choclo considering it was Chile's independence day and these two things are top five on Chile's list of national foods along with cazuela, super 8, and pan.
We spent the afternoon relaxing in the hostel before heading out to dinner and experiencing the nightlife in a small Chilean town on independence day. Unfortunately I wasn't blown away with the festivities. There was a section of the town blocked off and there were about 20 booths selling food and things. I guess we're still not acclimated to the Chilean lifestyle because we called it a night around 10:30pm, but the next day, our tour guide (slightly hungover) told us that the party had started in the bars at 11:00pm.
Day 9: Friday, September 18th at :30am until Friday, September 18th at 11:30 pm
Spring Break: Part VIII
We arrived in San Pedro de Atacama Chile via Tur Bus on the morning of Thursday, September 17th, 2009. Although this night bus was not nearly as impressive as Cruz del Sur in Peru was, some of us slept better than ever before.
We descended the stairs from the second level, collected our bags, and hopped into an old van that was waiting to take us to our hostel. The hostel was off the beaten path, about a 10 minute walk from the center of town. It was a cute place with a tranquil courtyard with two comfortable hammocks. Once we settled in and took showers, we headed into town to plan our three day stay in San Pedro. We stopped in a number of tour offices and finally decided on the company recommended by Steven's Fodor's travel book. Fodor's had given us some trouble on other legs of the trip, but for some reason, this tour office seemed the most professional and gave us a great deal on three excursions over three days.
Satisfied with our decision to go wit Cosmo del Andino tours, we headed out to kill two hours before the first tour began that afternoon. We found a quaint restaurant for lunch. Since we were back in Chile, and far enough South, we decided it was okay to eat the vegetables. It was the first salad I had eaten in more than a week. It was delicious and I didn't leave one lettuce leaf on the plate. I also was no longer afraid to get fish, so I ordered the salmon, which came with a side of quinoa. I have heard a lot about this fantastic, protein-packed grain, but had never tried it before this trip. Peru was full of it. While there, I got hooked on these Inca energy bars that were bits of quinoa and puffed corn with some dried fruit, shaved coconuts and honey to keep it all together. It has a kind of spongy texture, but I liked it.
After lunch we wandered the streets for a little while before it was time to meet the tour guide at the office and head out to La Valle de la Luna, La Valle de la Muerte, y el Atardecer. It was a long day full of hiking and walking and climbing and sliding, but it was all worth it. We were tiered and a little cranky when we returned to the town for dinner, but we all had a good time. We knew we had to get up early the next day for a special tour of the geysers and that it was the 18 so we justified a quiet dinner and early bedtime.
Day 8: (Thursday, September 17th at 8:30 am until Thursday September 17th at 10:30pm)
We descended the stairs from the second level, collected our bags, and hopped into an old van that was waiting to take us to our hostel. The hostel was off the beaten path, about a 10 minute walk from the center of town. It was a cute place with a tranquil courtyard with two comfortable hammocks. Once we settled in and took showers, we headed into town to plan our three day stay in San Pedro. We stopped in a number of tour offices and finally decided on the company recommended by Steven's Fodor's travel book. Fodor's had given us some trouble on other legs of the trip, but for some reason, this tour office seemed the most professional and gave us a great deal on three excursions over three days.
Satisfied with our decision to go wit Cosmo del Andino tours, we headed out to kill two hours before the first tour began that afternoon. We found a quaint restaurant for lunch. Since we were back in Chile, and far enough South, we decided it was okay to eat the vegetables. It was the first salad I had eaten in more than a week. It was delicious and I didn't leave one lettuce leaf on the plate. I also was no longer afraid to get fish, so I ordered the salmon, which came with a side of quinoa. I have heard a lot about this fantastic, protein-packed grain, but had never tried it before this trip. Peru was full of it. While there, I got hooked on these Inca energy bars that were bits of quinoa and puffed corn with some dried fruit, shaved coconuts and honey to keep it all together. It has a kind of spongy texture, but I liked it.
After lunch we wandered the streets for a little while before it was time to meet the tour guide at the office and head out to La Valle de la Luna, La Valle de la Muerte, y el Atardecer. It was a long day full of hiking and walking and climbing and sliding, but it was all worth it. We were tiered and a little cranky when we returned to the town for dinner, but we all had a good time. We knew we had to get up early the next day for a special tour of the geysers and that it was the 18 so we justified a quiet dinner and early bedtime.
Day 8: (Thursday, September 17th at 8:30 am until Thursday September 17th at 10:30pm)
Spring Break: Part VII
Day 7 was a day of traveling. We woke up at 5:30 in our hostel in Arequipa. We ordered two taxis that were waiting for us outside the door. We hopped in (two groups of three) and headed for the bus station. We got on a bus from Arequipa to Tacna and were on our way.
Tacna is a small town in southern Peru. It's about a 20 minute drive to the Chilean border. For whatever reason, buses don't cross the border from Peru to Chile, so if you want to make that switch, you have to get a cab or special bus from Tacna, Peru to Arica, Chile, which is exactly what we did. In the bus station, I befriended a police officer. We were chatting for a few minutes while other members of the group were going to the bathroom or getting snacks. He was a kind man and took us under his wing and helped us find appropriate transportation to cross the border. He first took us to a bus that he said was safe a a good price. The group wasn't happy with that, so we ended up getting two collectivos. They're like taxi's in that they're cars, but they're also like buses in that they are not private. Austin, Leanne, and I were in the back seat of a '91 Chevy while the driver and two Chilean men were in the front seat. It wasn't a bad deal. The driver was Chilean and took a liking to us. He sped all the way to the border, helped us budge in line at customs and immigration in Peru and Chile, and before we knew it, we were already in Arica ready to take advantage of the 5 or so hours we had before it was time to board a night bus to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
We weren't in Arica for that long. We had just enough time to wander the streets and get a meal at a fire station. Interesting Fact: All fire companies in Chile are volunteer operated. I believe there are approximately two paid positions at each fire company and all of the firemen are volunteers. They raise money for their company by selling raffle tickets to the citizens who they protect from their own stupidity most of the time. It just doesn't seem to sit right with me, but that's Chile.
Lunch was great. It was our first meal back in Chile and we were all excited to see familiar foods like pan y pevre, pollo a la pobre, palta, etc. It wasn't a huge deal, but it's part of the culture we have come to associate with "home" over the last two months. After traveling in an unfamiliar country on an unfamiliar continent for a week, anything that is remotely familiar provides an eerie sense of comfort. Eerie in the sense that it's a false feeling, but still comforting.
After our welcome back meal, we wandered the streets of Arica and observed the preparations for the 18 (Sept. 18th is Chilean Independence Day). There were lots of stands and craft tents set up and the city was getting ready for the festivities to begin. Since this year's 18 marked the start of Chile's 200th year of independence, or the bicentenario, celebrations began on the 17th and continues almost non-stop through the 20th (Thursday to Sunday).
After wandering we returned to the bus station for pre-made PB&J before boarding a night bus to our "last" destination, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
Day 7: (Wednsday, September 16th at 5:30 am to Thursday, September 17th at 1:00am)
Tacna is a small town in southern Peru. It's about a 20 minute drive to the Chilean border. For whatever reason, buses don't cross the border from Peru to Chile, so if you want to make that switch, you have to get a cab or special bus from Tacna, Peru to Arica, Chile, which is exactly what we did. In the bus station, I befriended a police officer. We were chatting for a few minutes while other members of the group were going to the bathroom or getting snacks. He was a kind man and took us under his wing and helped us find appropriate transportation to cross the border. He first took us to a bus that he said was safe a a good price. The group wasn't happy with that, so we ended up getting two collectivos. They're like taxi's in that they're cars, but they're also like buses in that they are not private. Austin, Leanne, and I were in the back seat of a '91 Chevy while the driver and two Chilean men were in the front seat. It wasn't a bad deal. The driver was Chilean and took a liking to us. He sped all the way to the border, helped us budge in line at customs and immigration in Peru and Chile, and before we knew it, we were already in Arica ready to take advantage of the 5 or so hours we had before it was time to board a night bus to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
We weren't in Arica for that long. We had just enough time to wander the streets and get a meal at a fire station. Interesting Fact: All fire companies in Chile are volunteer operated. I believe there are approximately two paid positions at each fire company and all of the firemen are volunteers. They raise money for their company by selling raffle tickets to the citizens who they protect from their own stupidity most of the time. It just doesn't seem to sit right with me, but that's Chile.
Lunch was great. It was our first meal back in Chile and we were all excited to see familiar foods like pan y pevre, pollo a la pobre, palta, etc. It wasn't a huge deal, but it's part of the culture we have come to associate with "home" over the last two months. After traveling in an unfamiliar country on an unfamiliar continent for a week, anything that is remotely familiar provides an eerie sense of comfort. Eerie in the sense that it's a false feeling, but still comforting.
After our welcome back meal, we wandered the streets of Arica and observed the preparations for the 18 (Sept. 18th is Chilean Independence Day). There were lots of stands and craft tents set up and the city was getting ready for the festivities to begin. Since this year's 18 marked the start of Chile's 200th year of independence, or the bicentenario, celebrations began on the 17th and continues almost non-stop through the 20th (Thursday to Sunday).
After wandering we returned to the bus station for pre-made PB&J before boarding a night bus to our "last" destination, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
Day 7: (Wednsday, September 16th at 5:30 am to Thursday, September 17th at 1:00am)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Spring Break: Part VI
Today is day six of our South American journey. To recap quickly, we started out in Santiago de Chile on Wednesday, September 9th and made our way to Arequipa, Peru via Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and Cusco again. We arrived in Arequipa via overnight bus this morning at 5:45am and spent the day getting to know Peru´s second largest city (population-wise, I think).
We got two cabs to the hostel. Traveling in a group of six can be a tad inconvenient when it comes to traveling in cabs. We rang the doorbell of the immense wooden door and a guy came to let us in. The doors the the rooms at the hostel don´t have locks, so the front door is the only defense against outsiders. We stored our stuff in the closet by the hostel´s office while we ate a typical South American hostel breakfast of bread, jam, butter, tea, and Nescafe (continent-wide instant coffe, or at least Chile and Peru).
Our room wasn´t available so we eventually decided to explore. We headed to a local church becaue the Fodor´s travel guide said it was open at 8. When we arrived, we realized it didn´t actually open until 9. What do six Americans do in Arequipa with a hour of time before the guided tour of the city begins? Go to the Plaza de Armas, that´s what! We strolled around and got the lay of the small neighborhood while 9 approached. We then retraced our steps back to the hostel and waited the arrival of our tour guide and his van. We hopped in and for S/. 35 (read: thirty-five soles) we got a great four hour tour of this unknown city. The people seem to live on the outside encircling a huge plot of agricultural land. It´s odd since most cities I have come to know are surround by farmland instead of surrounding it. It´s not an overly developed city, just like the other´s we´ve see in Peru. The tourist areas are nice, but most everywhere else is not very modern my any means. There are, of course, nice parts of the city and a bunch of nice old buildings. There are three volcanoes that sit nearby so the land is fertile and there is a ton of white volcanic rock that the founders used to make many of the cities first buildings. That´s why it has the nickname "The White City."
Our tour of the city was interesting. We saw some plazas and some churches with obvious Spanish influence as well as the mansion of the founder of the city, an alpaca textile factory, and a Peruvian farm where we got to feed a bull and ride horses. We also got a quick little tour of a Peruvian garden that had artichokes, papayas, passion fruit, squash, and other typical Peruvian crops. We tried some toasted corn kernels that looked like huge unpopped popcorn kernels, but had a nutty flavor and a powdery texture inside. They were pretty good.
After the city tour concluded, we headed out to lunch. We then stopped by a museum to see one of the oldest and most well-preserved mummies on Earth. She was sacrificed by the Incas to the Sun God over 500 years ago.
Next stop was the grocery store for more PB & J supplies. You may think that we would get sick of this childhood favorite, but I assure you, we haven´t. Between the 6 of us, we have already consumed three loaves of bread, three jars of peanut butter, and three jars of jelly. That´s not including the one and a half loaves for tomorrow, and the one and a half jars of both PB and J for tomorrow as well. It´s a great way to eat while traveling because it travels well, it´s cheap, it´s somewhat nutritious, and is generally a crowd pleaser if you don´t have to have the crunchy vs. creamy debate or the strawberry vs. grape debate. For the record, both crunchy and creamy have their place in my metaphorical lunchbox; it just depends on what´s available between the two, what´s available to accompany it (apple, celery, cracker, etc.), or how I´m feeling at the time. In terms of jelly, it has to be strawberry preserves most of the time with rare exceptions when certain circumstances present themselves, but I won´t get into that now.
Steven and I headed back to the hostel to shower while Leanne and Austin went exploring for Peru souveneirs and Emily and Katy went on their typical hunt for something sweet. Steven and I met up in the dining area and commenced the ritual preparation of PB & J. We have it down to a science now. A light layer of PB on both pieces of bread with a coating of jelly in between to maintain the integrity of the wheat bread. Once you have a whole loaf ready, you stack the sandwiches back in the bag and you´re all set to go. Man, I´m going to miss this part of cheap travel.
After the group showered, five of us went to get our last Peruvian meal. Lomo saltado (asian inspired beef stew-like dish served over papas fritas and a side of rice) for Austin and me, and pollo a la plancha for Emily, Leanne, and Steven. We also got our Peruvian pisco sour in just in time. I prefer the Chilean variety because it´s a little more sour.
One of my favorite parts abour Peru is that you can eat great for pretty cheap. We all got Menu Ejecutivo which included a pisco sour, soup, an entree, and a beverage for S/. 15 (or S/. 18 for lomo saltado, but totally worth it!). That´s a little more than US $5.
Now we´re all back in the hostel and getting ready for bed. We have to wake up at 5:30am tomorrow to catch cabs to the bus station where we´ll embark for Taca, a small Peruvian town on the border of Chile where we´ll make the switch to a collectivo (cross between taxi and bus) and attempt to cross the border (cross your fingers that all goes well).
Day 6: Tuesday, September 15th at 5:45am to Tuesday, September 15th at 10:30pm
We got two cabs to the hostel. Traveling in a group of six can be a tad inconvenient when it comes to traveling in cabs. We rang the doorbell of the immense wooden door and a guy came to let us in. The doors the the rooms at the hostel don´t have locks, so the front door is the only defense against outsiders. We stored our stuff in the closet by the hostel´s office while we ate a typical South American hostel breakfast of bread, jam, butter, tea, and Nescafe (continent-wide instant coffe, or at least Chile and Peru).
Our room wasn´t available so we eventually decided to explore. We headed to a local church becaue the Fodor´s travel guide said it was open at 8. When we arrived, we realized it didn´t actually open until 9. What do six Americans do in Arequipa with a hour of time before the guided tour of the city begins? Go to the Plaza de Armas, that´s what! We strolled around and got the lay of the small neighborhood while 9 approached. We then retraced our steps back to the hostel and waited the arrival of our tour guide and his van. We hopped in and for S/. 35 (read: thirty-five soles) we got a great four hour tour of this unknown city. The people seem to live on the outside encircling a huge plot of agricultural land. It´s odd since most cities I have come to know are surround by farmland instead of surrounding it. It´s not an overly developed city, just like the other´s we´ve see in Peru. The tourist areas are nice, but most everywhere else is not very modern my any means. There are, of course, nice parts of the city and a bunch of nice old buildings. There are three volcanoes that sit nearby so the land is fertile and there is a ton of white volcanic rock that the founders used to make many of the cities first buildings. That´s why it has the nickname "The White City."
Our tour of the city was interesting. We saw some plazas and some churches with obvious Spanish influence as well as the mansion of the founder of the city, an alpaca textile factory, and a Peruvian farm where we got to feed a bull and ride horses. We also got a quick little tour of a Peruvian garden that had artichokes, papayas, passion fruit, squash, and other typical Peruvian crops. We tried some toasted corn kernels that looked like huge unpopped popcorn kernels, but had a nutty flavor and a powdery texture inside. They were pretty good.
After the city tour concluded, we headed out to lunch. We then stopped by a museum to see one of the oldest and most well-preserved mummies on Earth. She was sacrificed by the Incas to the Sun God over 500 years ago.
Next stop was the grocery store for more PB & J supplies. You may think that we would get sick of this childhood favorite, but I assure you, we haven´t. Between the 6 of us, we have already consumed three loaves of bread, three jars of peanut butter, and three jars of jelly. That´s not including the one and a half loaves for tomorrow, and the one and a half jars of both PB and J for tomorrow as well. It´s a great way to eat while traveling because it travels well, it´s cheap, it´s somewhat nutritious, and is generally a crowd pleaser if you don´t have to have the crunchy vs. creamy debate or the strawberry vs. grape debate. For the record, both crunchy and creamy have their place in my metaphorical lunchbox; it just depends on what´s available between the two, what´s available to accompany it (apple, celery, cracker, etc.), or how I´m feeling at the time. In terms of jelly, it has to be strawberry preserves most of the time with rare exceptions when certain circumstances present themselves, but I won´t get into that now.
Steven and I headed back to the hostel to shower while Leanne and Austin went exploring for Peru souveneirs and Emily and Katy went on their typical hunt for something sweet. Steven and I met up in the dining area and commenced the ritual preparation of PB & J. We have it down to a science now. A light layer of PB on both pieces of bread with a coating of jelly in between to maintain the integrity of the wheat bread. Once you have a whole loaf ready, you stack the sandwiches back in the bag and you´re all set to go. Man, I´m going to miss this part of cheap travel.
After the group showered, five of us went to get our last Peruvian meal. Lomo saltado (asian inspired beef stew-like dish served over papas fritas and a side of rice) for Austin and me, and pollo a la plancha for Emily, Leanne, and Steven. We also got our Peruvian pisco sour in just in time. I prefer the Chilean variety because it´s a little more sour.
One of my favorite parts abour Peru is that you can eat great for pretty cheap. We all got Menu Ejecutivo which included a pisco sour, soup, an entree, and a beverage for S/. 15 (or S/. 18 for lomo saltado, but totally worth it!). That´s a little more than US $5.
Now we´re all back in the hostel and getting ready for bed. We have to wake up at 5:30am tomorrow to catch cabs to the bus station where we´ll embark for Taca, a small Peruvian town on the border of Chile where we´ll make the switch to a collectivo (cross between taxi and bus) and attempt to cross the border (cross your fingers that all goes well).
Day 6: Tuesday, September 15th at 5:45am to Tuesday, September 15th at 10:30pm
Spring Break: Part V
We still needed a day of recovery from Machu Picchu so we took it easy in Cusco on Monday strolling the streets and soaking up the local flavor, again. Cusco is a nice place. The center of the city is surrounded by little hills that are jam-packed with pueblos jutting out from the mountainside in every direction. The majority of the streets are cobblestones which make for a really quaint experience. Unfortunately it´s pretty touristy so it´s hard to feel like you´re getting to know the real Peru. My group is very cautious about the food and making sure we´re feeling well to take advantage of our vacation which restricts most local eateries from the list of lunch and dinner locales. Most of the restaurants offer a menu del dia which is a cheap two or three course meal that gives you a little local flavor like Peske de Quinoa, a variety of soups, lomo saltado, and aji de gallina.
We spent a good amount of time in San Blas, a bohemian section of Cusco right off of the Plaza de Armas. It was a nice place to stroll around and see some shops and local artist working on their crafts and explaining their exhibitions.
We wrapped up the day spending a little time observing the people in the plaza where we met a cute puppy named Nacho and saw a lamb frollicking around while it´s owner tried to wrangle it.
Around 6pm, we got our stuff from the hostel and organized our bags for our overnight bus ride from Cusco to Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru. We exited the hostel to find a huge procession blocking traffic and preventing us from hailing a cab. We trekked down the hill towards the bus station and finally were able to secure two tiny cabs for the six of us, our six suit cases, and six backpacks. It was a tight squeeze, but a short ride.
We arrived at an empty lot with no signs, no passengers, and no busses. We sat down, decided we´d approach the window and see if we were, in fact, in the right place. After standing in the Cargo line for five minutes, I asked the man in front of me where we needed to get our boarding passes. We had to exit the lot and go the the Cruz del Sur office around the corner. All went well and we got our passes, ate our assembly line PB & Js, checked our luggage, and boarded our bus. We were in the "first-class" of the bus. It was the first level, only nine seats and they were leather, wide, and insanely comfortable. After the excitement wore off, we all popped a dramamnie, ate the dry chicken sandwich, ham and cheese in a flaky pastry dough and slice of coffee cake, and went to bed. The ride was smooth for the most part. We were able to sleep uninterrupted except for speed-bumps and sharp turns through the mountains.
The most surprising thing about this bus was the security. In the US airport security is high, but Amtrak and other public transportation has very limited security. This bus had a metal detector and video footage of the passengers to know who was on and where they were sitting in case something happened. Since we´ve all heard horror stories of robberies on these overnight busses, these security checks helped us all sleep a little bit better.
Day 5: Sunday, September 13th, 8:15am to Sunday, September 13th, 9:30pm
We spent a good amount of time in San Blas, a bohemian section of Cusco right off of the Plaza de Armas. It was a nice place to stroll around and see some shops and local artist working on their crafts and explaining their exhibitions.
We wrapped up the day spending a little time observing the people in the plaza where we met a cute puppy named Nacho and saw a lamb frollicking around while it´s owner tried to wrangle it.
Around 6pm, we got our stuff from the hostel and organized our bags for our overnight bus ride from Cusco to Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru. We exited the hostel to find a huge procession blocking traffic and preventing us from hailing a cab. We trekked down the hill towards the bus station and finally were able to secure two tiny cabs for the six of us, our six suit cases, and six backpacks. It was a tight squeeze, but a short ride.
We arrived at an empty lot with no signs, no passengers, and no busses. We sat down, decided we´d approach the window and see if we were, in fact, in the right place. After standing in the Cargo line for five minutes, I asked the man in front of me where we needed to get our boarding passes. We had to exit the lot and go the the Cruz del Sur office around the corner. All went well and we got our passes, ate our assembly line PB & Js, checked our luggage, and boarded our bus. We were in the "first-class" of the bus. It was the first level, only nine seats and they were leather, wide, and insanely comfortable. After the excitement wore off, we all popped a dramamnie, ate the dry chicken sandwich, ham and cheese in a flaky pastry dough and slice of coffee cake, and went to bed. The ride was smooth for the most part. We were able to sleep uninterrupted except for speed-bumps and sharp turns through the mountains.
The most surprising thing about this bus was the security. In the US airport security is high, but Amtrak and other public transportation has very limited security. This bus had a metal detector and video footage of the passengers to know who was on and where they were sitting in case something happened. Since we´ve all heard horror stories of robberies on these overnight busses, these security checks helped us all sleep a little bit better.
Day 5: Sunday, September 13th, 8:15am to Sunday, September 13th, 9:30pm
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Spring Break Part I
This week marks the start of Spring Break for La Universidad de Chile. We had Spanish class on Monday because that is run through Universidad Catolica. Tuesday was the first class-free day. I went to the gym, washed up, went to do some errands downtown and then made a typical Chilean lunch with my friend Mariluz. It consisted on pan y pebre, arroz primavera, y ensalada chilena. Pan y pebre is bread with chilean salsa made from tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, aji pepper, cilantro, and salt. Arroz primavera is simply white rice with mixed vegetables. Ensalada chilena is tomatoes, onions, hard-boiled egg, cilantro, and salt (very similar ingredients to pebre, but it tastes pretty different because the flavors don´t mix as much).
After lunch I packed my stuff for my 10-day trip to Peru and the north of Chile, ate dinner, and went to bed. I got up at 3am on Wednesday to catch a cab that picked me up, then Leanne, then Katy. We were off to the Santiago airport in style. US 80s hits were playing in the cab and since Leanne and I were in the back seat, we got to see the music videos too!
The three of us met up with Austin, Emily, and Steven at check-in and the family vacation started. We ran into Anna, Aspen, and Tilly at the gate because we were all on the same flight. We knew they were on the flight, so it wasn´t as much of a surprise. We boarded the plane and we were in Lima before we knew it.
We checked out bags into lockers in Lima and headed out on adventures. I was elected to find a cab that would take us to downtown Lima. I knew it was socially acceptable to bargain in Peru, so I started immediately with the cab company. I didn´t get very far because this cab company was owned and operated by the airport, so it was a flat rate. We did, however, get a great cab driver that acted as a tour guide as we made our way from the airport just outside the city to the center. Lima is not the nicest city and there is a lot of wealth disparity. We drove through some very poor neighborhoods with dirt roads and an overall rundown appearance. Many people thought Chile was typical South America and that it wasn´t as modern as it is. Aside from a few cultural differences, the language, and the food, even the most comfortable westerner would feel relaxed and at home in Santiago in terms of what we consider to be necesities and luxuries as well.
We got out of the cab in Plaza de Armas, Lima and headed into La Catedral in which Francisco Pizzaro is buried. Next, we sat outside the government building to watch the changing of the guards. It was a little slow, so we headed to another cathedral (under the order of San Francisco de Asis) that is very well known for its catacombs. We saw thousands of bones from skeletons of people who were buried there. When historians were studying these tombs, they rearranged the bones into interesting formations. Most of the bones that were left were skulls and femurs because they are the heartiest bones in the body and take the longest to decompose. It was surprising to see the bones up close. I would think anything like that in the US would be encased in glass to prevent any human damage, but in Peru, there was one wooden handrail between you and the bones. It was kinda cool.
Next, our family of six split into two groups of three to head to San Isidro, a nice, residential part of Lima. We were using a map in the Fodor´s guide book that was completely insuffiecient. We arrived and were worried the other group that didn´t have a map would never be seen again. We all eventually met up at the entrance of the mud pyramid built by indigenous people that predate the Incas. There, we were able to see one of the most well-preserved mummies on earth. You could see her hair, eyes, and skin (with tattoo).
It was a greusome day between bones and mummies, so we decided to head to the beach. The walk through San Isidro was amazing. The weather was about 65 and breezy. It didn´t really look like a beach town because there were many apartment buildings instead of brightly colored houses like you would see in Valpo or even the Jersey Shore. Before actually making it to the Pacific, we stopped at a Starbucks for a bathroom break. Yes, all Starbucks are almost exactly identical. That´s the point, and as a business philosophy, it´s extremely interesting to me.
We arrived at the coast and started heading further south to a town called Miraflores that is known for its nightlife. It was a lot farther than we expected and after walking for an hour, we decided to split into two groups of three again and get dropped off at the park. Again, we got out of our cabs and didn´t see the other three anywhere. By chance, we were able to meet up again and took in the magnificence that is Miraflores together. The park is gorgeous and we had a good time sitting, chatting, and people watching before getting back into a cab and heading back to the airport.
We got our belongings out of the lockers, staked a claim on a table in the food area and waited 6 hours until 4am when we could check in. Needless to say, it wasn´t the best night sleep we ever got, but we sure could have used it after only sleeping four hours the night before and then wandering around an unfamiliar city for the day. We got on our plane to Cusco at 530am on Thursday and I was asleep before take-off. Such a shame because that´s one of my favorite parts of flying. I woke up just in time for beverage service and weird-tasting muffin, and then went back to sleep. The next time I woke up, we were taxiing to the gate. I missed landing, another one of my favorite parts of flying.
We got out of the airport in Cusco, hopped in a cab to our hostel and immediately went to sleep. I consider that to be day 1 (Wednesday, September 9th at 3am to Thursday, September 10th at approximately 9am).
Bargains from haggling:
Lunch in Lima
Cab to San Isidro
Cab to Miraflores
Cab back to the airport
After lunch I packed my stuff for my 10-day trip to Peru and the north of Chile, ate dinner, and went to bed. I got up at 3am on Wednesday to catch a cab that picked me up, then Leanne, then Katy. We were off to the Santiago airport in style. US 80s hits were playing in the cab and since Leanne and I were in the back seat, we got to see the music videos too!
The three of us met up with Austin, Emily, and Steven at check-in and the family vacation started. We ran into Anna, Aspen, and Tilly at the gate because we were all on the same flight. We knew they were on the flight, so it wasn´t as much of a surprise. We boarded the plane and we were in Lima before we knew it.
We checked out bags into lockers in Lima and headed out on adventures. I was elected to find a cab that would take us to downtown Lima. I knew it was socially acceptable to bargain in Peru, so I started immediately with the cab company. I didn´t get very far because this cab company was owned and operated by the airport, so it was a flat rate. We did, however, get a great cab driver that acted as a tour guide as we made our way from the airport just outside the city to the center. Lima is not the nicest city and there is a lot of wealth disparity. We drove through some very poor neighborhoods with dirt roads and an overall rundown appearance. Many people thought Chile was typical South America and that it wasn´t as modern as it is. Aside from a few cultural differences, the language, and the food, even the most comfortable westerner would feel relaxed and at home in Santiago in terms of what we consider to be necesities and luxuries as well.
We got out of the cab in Plaza de Armas, Lima and headed into La Catedral in which Francisco Pizzaro is buried. Next, we sat outside the government building to watch the changing of the guards. It was a little slow, so we headed to another cathedral (under the order of San Francisco de Asis) that is very well known for its catacombs. We saw thousands of bones from skeletons of people who were buried there. When historians were studying these tombs, they rearranged the bones into interesting formations. Most of the bones that were left were skulls and femurs because they are the heartiest bones in the body and take the longest to decompose. It was surprising to see the bones up close. I would think anything like that in the US would be encased in glass to prevent any human damage, but in Peru, there was one wooden handrail between you and the bones. It was kinda cool.
Next, our family of six split into two groups of three to head to San Isidro, a nice, residential part of Lima. We were using a map in the Fodor´s guide book that was completely insuffiecient. We arrived and were worried the other group that didn´t have a map would never be seen again. We all eventually met up at the entrance of the mud pyramid built by indigenous people that predate the Incas. There, we were able to see one of the most well-preserved mummies on earth. You could see her hair, eyes, and skin (with tattoo).
It was a greusome day between bones and mummies, so we decided to head to the beach. The walk through San Isidro was amazing. The weather was about 65 and breezy. It didn´t really look like a beach town because there were many apartment buildings instead of brightly colored houses like you would see in Valpo or even the Jersey Shore. Before actually making it to the Pacific, we stopped at a Starbucks for a bathroom break. Yes, all Starbucks are almost exactly identical. That´s the point, and as a business philosophy, it´s extremely interesting to me.
We arrived at the coast and started heading further south to a town called Miraflores that is known for its nightlife. It was a lot farther than we expected and after walking for an hour, we decided to split into two groups of three again and get dropped off at the park. Again, we got out of our cabs and didn´t see the other three anywhere. By chance, we were able to meet up again and took in the magnificence that is Miraflores together. The park is gorgeous and we had a good time sitting, chatting, and people watching before getting back into a cab and heading back to the airport.
We got our belongings out of the lockers, staked a claim on a table in the food area and waited 6 hours until 4am when we could check in. Needless to say, it wasn´t the best night sleep we ever got, but we sure could have used it after only sleeping four hours the night before and then wandering around an unfamiliar city for the day. We got on our plane to Cusco at 530am on Thursday and I was asleep before take-off. Such a shame because that´s one of my favorite parts of flying. I woke up just in time for beverage service and weird-tasting muffin, and then went back to sleep. The next time I woke up, we were taxiing to the gate. I missed landing, another one of my favorite parts of flying.
We got out of the airport in Cusco, hopped in a cab to our hostel and immediately went to sleep. I consider that to be day 1 (Wednesday, September 9th at 3am to Thursday, September 10th at approximately 9am).
Bargains from haggling:
Lunch in Lima
Cab to San Isidro
Cab to Miraflores
Cab back to the airport
Spring Break: Part IV
We woke up at 3:20am to get in line for Machu buses so that we could be within the first 400 that entered and receive tickets to climb Waynapicchu. We got hungry in line so Steven and I went back up the hill to the hostel to beg for the complimentary breakfast that they start serving at 4:45am. Even though it was 25 minutes early, the girls there went out to buy bread and bananas for us. We were the heroes when we brought the bread, bananas, and left over jelly from PB and Js to the rest of our family at the bus stop.
It was a 25 minute ride up to Machu and then a 20 minute wait to enter the park. We got in around 6:30 and had an hour and a half to ourselves before we were to meet our tour guide our front. It was breathtaking seein the sun come over the mountains and slowly shed light over the Incan city. It was chilly in the morning, but as soon as the sun was high enough (around 7:15am) it was time to shed the layers and sport the t-shirt.
The tour was a great source of information. I think most of us would have been completely lost without it. We finished the tour around 10:05 am. At this point, we had been up for almost seven hours, but we had so much adrenaline going that we were still ready for more hiking. After a quick pause for more PB and Js that we made in assembly line format the night before, Steven, Katy, and I headed up Winapicchu while Austin, Emily, and Leanne peeled off to do their own thing.
Waynapicchu is a steep and precarious climb, but a lot of fun. It´s harder going down the climbing up because the stairs are really small and very steep. We survived it though, and it was completely worth it. It was supposed to be rainy, but it was about 70 and sunny. A bunch of us got burned, but again, well worth it.
We headed back to the hostel around 2:30pm, took a short rest, and then Steven, Leanne, and I headed up the hill in Aguas Calientes to the agua caliente (the hot springs). We realized it´s kinda the equivalent to the community pool and people are not shy. There was an old Peruvian woman in a white t-shirt who shouldn´t be entering any wet t-shirt contests anytime soon. We also saw a woman shaving her legs in the showers there. The highlights of the springs were the views and the one hot pool there. The views were absolutely magnificent. Seeing the Peruvian mountainside from the bank of a creek was an unforgetable experience. The best part of the springs themselves was the gravel at the bottom of the pools. You could dig little holes for your feet and feel the hot water bubble up.
After 45 minutes or so at the springs, we headed back to the hostel, changed, and went to an early dinner. Bedtime right after because we were all tired and Emily had sprained her ankle. The cold beer at dinner (Pilser (we had Cusqueño the night before)) was enough of a reward after a day of hiking that we didn´t feel the need for helado or discotecas.
Day 4: Saturday, September 12th at 3:20am to Saturday, September 12th at 9:30pm
It was a 25 minute ride up to Machu and then a 20 minute wait to enter the park. We got in around 6:30 and had an hour and a half to ourselves before we were to meet our tour guide our front. It was breathtaking seein the sun come over the mountains and slowly shed light over the Incan city. It was chilly in the morning, but as soon as the sun was high enough (around 7:15am) it was time to shed the layers and sport the t-shirt.The tour was a great source of information. I think most of us would have been completely lost without it. We finished the tour around 10:05 am. At this point, we had been up for almost seven hours, but we had so much adrenaline going that we were still ready for more hiking. After a quick pause for more PB and Js that we made in assembly line format the night before, Steven, Katy, and I headed up Winapicchu while Austin, Emily, and Leanne peeled off to do their own thing.
Waynapicchu is a steep and precarious climb, but a lot of fun. It´s harder going down the climbing up because the stairs are really small and very steep. We survived it though, and it was completely worth it. It was supposed to be rainy, but it was about 70 and sunny. A bunch of us got burned, but again, well worth it.
We headed back to the hostel around 2:30pm, took a short rest, and then Steven, Leanne, and I headed up the hill in Aguas Calientes to the agua caliente (the hot springs). We realized it´s kinda the equivalent to the community pool and people are not shy. There was an old Peruvian woman in a white t-shirt who shouldn´t be entering any wet t-shirt contests anytime soon. We also saw a woman shaving her legs in the showers there. The highlights of the springs were the views and the one hot pool there. The views were absolutely magnificent. Seeing the Peruvian mountainside from the bank of a creek was an unforgetable experience. The best part of the springs themselves was the gravel at the bottom of the pools. You could dig little holes for your feet and feel the hot water bubble up.
After 45 minutes or so at the springs, we headed back to the hostel, changed, and went to an early dinner. Bedtime right after because we were all tired and Emily had sprained her ankle. The cold beer at dinner (Pilser (we had Cusqueño the night before)) was enough of a reward after a day of hiking that we didn´t feel the need for helado or discotecas.
Day 4: Saturday, September 12th at 3:20am to Saturday, September 12th at 9:30pm
Spring Break: Part I
This week marks the start of Spring Break for La Universidad de Chile. We had Spanish class on Monday because that is run through Universidad Catolica. Tuesday was the first class-free day. I went to the gym, washed up, went to do some errands downtown and then made a typical Chilean lunch with my friend Mariluz. It consisted on pan y pebre, arroz primavera, y ensalada chilena. Pan y pebre is bread with chilean salsa made from tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, aji pepper, cilantro, and salt. Arroz primavera is simply white rice with mixed vegetables. Ensalada chilena is tomatoes, onions, hard-boiled egg, cilantro, and salt (very similar ingredients to pebre, but it tastes pretty different because the flavors don´t mix as much). After lunch I packed my stuff for my 10-day trip to Peru and the north of Chile, ate dinner, and went to bed. I got up at 3am on Wednesday to catch a cab that picked me up, then Leanne, then Katy. We were off to the Santiago airport in style. US 80s hits were playing in the cab and since Leanne and I were in the back seat, we got to see the music videos too! The three of us met up with Austin, Emily, and Steven at check-in and the family vacation started. We ran into Anna, Aspen, and Tilly at the gate because we were all on the same flight. We knew they were on the flight, so it wasn´t as much of a surprise. We boarded the plane and we were in Lima before we knew it. We checked out bags into lockers in Lima and headed out on adventures. I was elected to find a cab that would take us to downtown Lima. I knew it was socially acceptable to bargain in Peru, so I started immediately with the cab company. I didn´t get very far because this cab company was owned and operated by the airport, so it was a flat rate. We did, however, get a great cab driver that acted as a tour guide as we made our way from the airport just outside the city to the center. Lima is not the nicest city and there is a lot of wealth disparity. We drove through some very poor neighborhoods with dirt roads and an overall rundown appearance. Many people thought Chile was typical South America and that it wasn´t as modern as it is. Aside from a few cultural differences, the language, and the food, even the most comfortable westerner would feel relaxed and at home in Santiago in terms of what we consider to be necesities and luxuries as well. We got out of the cab in Plaza de Armas, Lima and headed into La Catedral in which Francisco Pizzaro is buried. Next, we sat outside the government building to watch the changing of the guards. It was a little slow, so we headed to another cathedral (under the order of San Francisco de Asis) that is very well known for its catacombs. We saw thousands of bones from skeletons of people who were buried there. When historians were studying these tombs, they rearranged the bones into interesting formations. Most of the bones that were left were skulls and femurs because they are the heartiest bones in the body and take the longest to decompose. It was surprising to see the bones up close. I would think anything like that in the US would be encased in glass to prevent any human damage, but in Peru, there was one wooden handrail between you and the bones. It was kinda cool. Next, our family of six split into two groups of three to head to San Isidro, a nice, residential part of Lima. We were using a map in the Fodor´s guide book that was completely insuffiecient. We arrived and were worried the other group that didn´t have a map would never be seen again. We all eventually met up at the entrance of the mud pyramid built by indigenous people that predate the Incas. There, we were able to see one of the most well-preserved mummies on earth. You could see her hair, eyes, and skin (with tattoo). It was a greusome day between bones and mummies, so we decided to head to the beach. The walk through San Isidro was amazing. The weather was about 65 and breezy. It didn´t really look like a beach town because there were many apartment buildings instead of brightly colored houses like you would see in Valpo or even the Jersey Shore. Before actually making it to the Pacific, we stopped at a Starbucks for a bathroom break. Yes, all Starbucks are almost exactly identical. That´s the point, and as a business philosophy, it´s extremely interesting to me. We arrived at the coast and started heading further south to a town called Miraflores that is known for its nightlife. It was a lot farther than we expected and after walking for an hour, we decided to split into two groups of three again and get dropped off at the park. Again, we got out of our cabs and didn´t see the other three anywhere. By chance, we were able to meet up again and took in the magnificence that is Miraflores together. The park is gorgeous and we had a good time sitting, chatting, and people watching before getting back into a cab and heading back to the airport. We got our belongings out of the lockers, staked a claim on a table in the food area and waited 6 hours until 4am when we could check in. Needless to say, it wasn´t the best night sleep we ever got, but we sure could have used it after only sleeping four hours the night before and then wandering around an unfamiliar city for the day. We got on our plane to Cusco at 530am on Thursday and I was asleep before take-off. Such a shame because that´s one of my favorite parts of flying. I woke up just in time for beverage service and weird-tasting muffin, and then went back to sleep. The next time I woke up, we were taxiing to the gate. I missed landing, another one of my favorite parts of flying. We got out of the airport in Cusco, hopped in a cab to our hostel and immediately went to sleep. I consider that to be day 1 (Wednesday, September 9th at 3am to Thursday, September 10th at approximately 9am). Bargains from haggling: Lunch in Lima Cab to San Isidro Cab to Miraflores Cab back to the airport
Spring Break Part III
We awoke in Cusco on Friday, September 11th around 8am, ate hostel breakfast, and then headed to the taxi station to make our way to Ollantaytabo where you get the train to Machu Picchu. We had a little trouble getting to the taxi station because we got a little lost in Cusco, but we made it there. In the end, it was a good thing we were running late because the cab drivers that were there knew they weren´t going to get many more people heading to Ollanta because there are only two trains a day that leave at exactly the same time everyday. I was able to haggle the fare down from US$60 to S/. 60 (Peruvian Soles) a difference of about US$40.
We got to Ollanta on time, but Austin didn´t have his boarding pass. He was able to get one at the ticket office without any major problems. Then I realized I was in a differen car on the train and there is no way to move between cars. The rest of the group had my lunch, and no one is going to get between me and my PB and J, so I sweet-talked the woman in charge to getting me into Car A. The family was together again!
The train ride from Ollanta to Machu Picchu is about an hour and a half and was my favorite part of the journey so far. It was a winding track through the mountains of Peru. I´ll upload photos, but they can´t do it justice.
When we got to Aguas Calientes, the little community in Machu Picchu, two representatives from our hostel were waiting for us with a sign with Leanne´s name on it. We hiked up the hill to the hostel, plopped our stuff down, and immediately headed out to get Machu tickets and bus passes. We then took advantage of the afternoon and wandered around Aguas Calientes where I was bargaining my ass off. It was a blast! I ran into the guys I was sitting next to on the train in the market and we chatted for a good long while. We parted ways when it was time to meet at the hostel for dinner. The group went out to dinner with Allie, Meera, and Becca, who were also staying in our hostel again that night. The waitress tried to overcharge us for the meals and slap us with a bogus care-of-tourist tax. I haggled both of those down and saved another US$25. (Fun times!)
It was early to bed that night because you have to get up at 3:30am to get in line for Machu busses in order to be one of the first 400 that get a chance to climb Winapicchu (the mountain in the background of all the famous Machu pictures).
Day three: Friday September 11th at 8am to Friday, September 11th at 10pm
We got to Ollanta on time, but Austin didn´t have his boarding pass. He was able to get one at the ticket office without any major problems. Then I realized I was in a differen car on the train and there is no way to move between cars. The rest of the group had my lunch, and no one is going to get between me and my PB and J, so I sweet-talked the woman in charge to getting me into Car A. The family was together again!
The train ride from Ollanta to Machu Picchu is about an hour and a half and was my favorite part of the journey so far. It was a winding track through the mountains of Peru. I´ll upload photos, but they can´t do it justice.
When we got to Aguas Calientes, the little community in Machu Picchu, two representatives from our hostel were waiting for us with a sign with Leanne´s name on it. We hiked up the hill to the hostel, plopped our stuff down, and immediately headed out to get Machu tickets and bus passes. We then took advantage of the afternoon and wandered around Aguas Calientes where I was bargaining my ass off. It was a blast! I ran into the guys I was sitting next to on the train in the market and we chatted for a good long while. We parted ways when it was time to meet at the hostel for dinner. The group went out to dinner with Allie, Meera, and Becca, who were also staying in our hostel again that night. The waitress tried to overcharge us for the meals and slap us with a bogus care-of-tourist tax. I haggled both of those down and saved another US$25. (Fun times!)It was early to bed that night because you have to get up at 3:30am to get in line for Machu busses in order to be one of the first 400 that get a chance to climb Winapicchu (the mountain in the background of all the famous Machu pictures).
Day three: Friday September 11th at 8am to Friday, September 11th at 10pm
Spring Break Part II
We were tired as hell and "slept the shit out of" Thursday. We woke up in our hostel in Cusco (on the Plaza de Armas!) at 4pm, and headed out to find a place to eat, use an ATM, and exchange some money. There was much indecision surrounding the dinner destination, but we finally decided on a place. (I´m usually really excited to talk about food, but in Peru, I´m staying clear of anything too "interesting" because I wouldn´t want to ruin my trip to the ruins with the runs.) After dinner we took a quick jaunt to the local supermarket where we stocked up on snacks and bought bread, peanut butter, and jelly to make sandwiches for Machu Picchu!
We trekked back to the hostel and were out by 10pm. (Day 2: Thursday, September 10th at 4pm to Thursday, Spetember 10th at 10pm).
We ran into Alli, Becca, and Meera at our hostel in Cusco, but again, we knew that we would.
We trekked back to the hostel and were out by 10pm. (Day 2: Thursday, September 10th at 4pm to Thursday, Spetember 10th at 10pm).We ran into Alli, Becca, and Meera at our hostel in Cusco, but again, we knew that we would.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Why is blogging so hard?
Again, I have fallen behind on my blogging responsibilities. No excuses, but let's just say that there hasn't been much to say.
Chances are that if you are reading this: 1. You are really bored 2. You enjoy torturing yourself and 3. You are friends with me on Facebook. My Facebook fotos are a pain-free way to see what kinds of things are going on here, in Santiago. For example, the Tufts group went to Valparaíso last Saturday. Six of us decided to spend the night in an awesome hostel, take advantage of the nightlife there.
J. Cruz is the alleged birthplace of the Chilean chorillana and it's located in an alley in Valpo. Being the comilones that we are, we had to go. It was a great fun for us, but not so much for our arteries.
Chorillana:
Fries, fried onions, fried eggs, steak bits
After staying up until 5am on Saturday night clubbing at Huevo, a club with 3 levels and a terrace, we crashed. Our hostel was really comfortable and a nice place to stay. I think it makes the top 5 list of our whole trip.
On Sunday we hopped on a bus to the sand dunes in Reñaca, about a 20 minute ride from Valpo. We hung out, had an enormous photo shoot and then headed back to Santiago. That wraps up last weekend.
This week was pretty normal. I did go to the theater with my host mom on Wednesday. We saw "Las novias de Travolta." It had nothing to do with John Travolta, and I still don't know why they called it that. They probably just wanted to attract some attention. It was pretty good. It was a comedy, so I thought I wasn't going to be able to understand a lot of it, but it wasn't that bad at all. I guess the acting was great because I understood most things. The whole play was basically "Sex and the City" on stage with a lot more comedy.
Oh, I almost forgot. My internship has been a fiasco. I was trying to find something in the business world down here in Santiago because I think I might want to do something with international business. I thought living here for 6 months would be a great way to get a taste of working abroad. The people who help us find internships have zero contacts in the business world here. After searching for 6 weeks, I finally found a great internship opportunity at Deloitte and Touche teaching English and working on youth leadership programs. I have been told that I have the internship, but who knows when I'll actually start. This internship is for credit, so I need to get on that ASAP.
Hope you're doing well,
Dan
P.S. If you would like a postcard, please send me your address.
Chances are that if you are reading this: 1. You are really bored 2. You enjoy torturing yourself and 3. You are friends with me on Facebook. My Facebook fotos are a pain-free way to see what kinds of things are going on here, in Santiago. For example, the Tufts group went to Valparaíso last Saturday. Six of us decided to spend the night in an awesome hostel, take advantage of the nightlife there.
J. Cruz is the alleged birthplace of the Chilean chorillana and it's located in an alley in Valpo. Being the comilones that we are, we had to go. It was a great fun for us, but not so much for our arteries.
Chorillana:
Fries, fried onions, fried eggs, steak bits
After staying up until 5am on Saturday night clubbing at Huevo, a club with 3 levels and a terrace, we crashed. Our hostel was really comfortable and a nice place to stay. I think it makes the top 5 list of our whole trip.
On Sunday we hopped on a bus to the sand dunes in Reñaca, about a 20 minute ride from Valpo. We hung out, had an enormous photo shoot and then headed back to Santiago. That wraps up last weekend.
This week was pretty normal. I did go to the theater with my host mom on Wednesday. We saw "Las novias de Travolta." It had nothing to do with John Travolta, and I still don't know why they called it that. They probably just wanted to attract some attention. It was pretty good. It was a comedy, so I thought I wasn't going to be able to understand a lot of it, but it wasn't that bad at all. I guess the acting was great because I understood most things. The whole play was basically "Sex and the City" on stage with a lot more comedy.
Oh, I almost forgot. My internship has been a fiasco. I was trying to find something in the business world down here in Santiago because I think I might want to do something with international business. I thought living here for 6 months would be a great way to get a taste of working abroad. The people who help us find internships have zero contacts in the business world here. After searching for 6 weeks, I finally found a great internship opportunity at Deloitte and Touche teaching English and working on youth leadership programs. I have been told that I have the internship, but who knows when I'll actually start. This internship is for credit, so I need to get on that ASAP.
Hope you're doing well,
Dan
P.S. If you would like a postcard, please send me your address.
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