I am now a traveling registered polysomnographic technolist (aka: travel registered sleep tech)... which mean I have the same job but now I travel for short term assignments around the US. I am in Prescott, AZ for 13 weeks. I arrived in Arizona on Saturday and today was my first day of work! Yesterday I hiked around Lynx Lake.. cute... and def saw some WILDLIFE: tons of dessert lizards, 2 jack rabbits, and a baby deer. Every few seconds I could hear something scurrying around near me on the ground.
Nice Surprises: 1-It is not Phoenix HOT! Phoenix was 118... here 87! Holler! Also that means I am TREES!!! Yay!! It is dessert but still has some green dessert-like plants. 2-The town is bigger than Sylva! I really thought I might have bee moving to the middle of nowhere... but I have a Walmart and a Mall.. and I whole bunch more town around than I was expecting! Watch out now! I even have 'Whiskey Row'... stripof pubs and bars... so excited! 3- Closer to a million cool palces out West I wanna see.. and I can still make it home for dinner (well maybe bedtime). 3-Places to live. Thanks to my 2 FABULOUS sisters.. I have only 1 problem with housing... TOO MANY OPTIONS. I am probably moving into my new 3 bed/2 bath house Friday or Saturday.... so every better come visit me! I need reasons to have all the space! hehe!
Work- Co-workers seem totaling awesome and I even get to be top dog as of Sept. 1st... making schedules and all one my first day! Ashley- I have 5 days off for the wedding so nooooo worries! Excited already!!!
Welllll.. looking forward to many adventures and looks like my first guest Andy and I will be headed out to Sedona Saturday!!! Don't be jealous.. just come... I'll take each one of ya!! :O)
Oh... PS- I said Ya'll the other day and a few people stopped to 'AW' at me and tell me how cute I was!!! This place needs more Southerns!!!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Horses...
So while in Huaros... we decided to ride on some horses since the mountains are HUGE!!! We- Raul, Sarah, Lorena, Crocer, and Me- got on thise 5 horses and literally headed straight up the side of the mountain. The pueblo quick becam a tiny spot below us. At times the horses are climbing up steep stairs and scary rock beds. As we climb I continue to worry about the trip back down... I will probably just side right over the horses head!!! Lorena agrees with me that we are super scared. Finally we reach a stretch of flatter land... not really flat... but not steep. A great time running running... thank Raul... because once 1 horse runs.. they all do! They like to be together and they don´t like listening to directions at all!!
Finally we reach a part that is to steep for the horses so we tie them up and clim farther. We reached a beautiful waterfall coming off the top of the mountain! Walking up to the base of the waterfall was beautiful!! I truly wish my camera was working at this point... but no.
Finally we reach a part that is to steep for the horses so we tie them up and clim farther. We reached a beautiful waterfall coming off the top of the mountain! Walking up to the base of the waterfall was beautiful!! I truly wish my camera was working at this point... but no.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
WEEKEND RIDES...
So one thing that is very different here in Peru is the driving! This weekend I travel out to Canta, Obrajillo, and Huaros. I took 4 rides and have an interesting story about each (esp. the last one):
#1-Lima to Canta- Via a double-decker grey-hound type bus. By far the best ride of the weekend. I was much luckier then Sarah with my seat choice about 3 rows back on the second floor. Sarah had front row... and since the driver is on the 1st floor you get a head to toe window. Sarah said she felt like she was on a roller coaster going around the mountain for 3 hours. I got a little bus sick and tried to sleep the whole way!
#2-Canta to Huaros- Huaros is tiny pueblo another 1.5 hours up into the mountain. First sign... when I was getting on the bus I saw two men lying under the bus covered in black liquid and parts of the bus on the ground! But we get on because it must be the only bus headed that way! This bus is similar to a very old city transportation bus. We, Sarah, Lorena, Croker, Eric, Alex, Raul, and I, are all seated nicely in the back of the bus. W e are booking it around mountains... the views are truly phenomenal! But this bus is ride on the small road at the edge of the mountain´s cliff. At some points I can only see it’s about 3 inches from the buses tires to the edges and after the edge it’s a long way down! I took a fun video leaning out the window so everyone can enjoy this ride with me!! Apparently their is a system... instead of slowing down around corners the driver just honks a few times and if no one honks back they speed onward. Between this towns I see no houses, only beautiful landscape, but every so often the bus stops and lets people out. I watch one man and he just starting hikes p the side of the mnt. after.... he lives there I guess! We are traveling along safely through parts washed out by the rivers... only at 1 part did the front of the bus have to unload to help us make in over a hump/stream! (Once we arrive we hear about a taxis going off the road with 5 people in a family...1 survived, 2 had not been found, and 2 dead!)
#3-Huaros to Canta- Of course after the taxis story we want the big bus again... lucky us it didn´t come this day... we get a small cambi- an old van! First the sliding door takes 10minutes to get opened! Haha... then we of course have WAY too many people... think there was 17 people! Once we are all loaded we- Sarah and I- are located closest to the door which is not closed all the way! There are things strapped to the roof and stick keep flying off and the tarp is hanging way down. Besides that once again we are going around the mountain at lightening speed... after the driver’s family yelled at him to slow down because we all catch air out of our seats as we jumped out of a stream! There are frequent cows and horses in the road that we have to slow down for until they get out of the road. Mostly we just cruised on down the mnt. on this tiny death road!
#4-THE TERROR! Canta to Lima- The phrase ´you get what you pay for´ remained in a mind the whole trip! We paid s/30- $10 for the double decker bus... and for this old city transit bus we paid s/8- $2.80ish! Let me first remind you it took us 3 hrs to get here and it only took us 2hrs to get home! I conveniently feel asleep before we started moving, but when I woke up... there was no returning to sleep! It is dark outside during this ride. We are in the back once again because we have a big group which is great for the back huge row. Well... the bus is rattling down the mountain at an uncontrollable speed. Have you ever gone a little too fast on a dirt road and the car shakes... well we are shaking at an 8.0 earthquake magnitude! NO JOKE! I am rattling in my little seat... I close the window and it rattles back open 4 inches in minutes! One of the lights in the bus is going on the off the whole journey! Surprisingly enough...we aren`t going fast enough! Other cars on the road are PASSING us! Our magnitude 8 earthquake is apparently not as life threatening and other people choose to hurdle faster down this pitch black road into the darkness! I see a little blue light near the door... which I later realize signals when the driver is using the brake. Now I wonder if that’s to remind all of us passengers that he is using the brakes from time to time OR time let us know the brakes actually do work! I can remember we slowed down... not stopped but slowed 8 times! Never once for people... animals... small children... or other cars we past on this skinny road! 5 times for huge speed bumps in small pueblos... probably put there because the people are scared for their lives ever time they have the cross the street. 1 time because a bus like ours was broken down in the road. 1 time for a bigger bus coming past us. We just hurdled down the mnt. flashing the headlights at cars... which apparently means I´m bigger so watch out, because we didn’t slow down but this once... and I think it was because the road was extremely narrow at this point and debatable if both buses would fit! Lastly we stop to pick up a man… how is waiting in he dark in the middle of no where. Since the bus is full he amazingly stands for a whole hour during our earthquake shaking journey down to Lima.
#1-Lima to Canta- Via a double-decker grey-hound type bus. By far the best ride of the weekend. I was much luckier then Sarah with my seat choice about 3 rows back on the second floor. Sarah had front row... and since the driver is on the 1st floor you get a head to toe window. Sarah said she felt like she was on a roller coaster going around the mountain for 3 hours. I got a little bus sick and tried to sleep the whole way!
#2-Canta to Huaros- Huaros is tiny pueblo another 1.5 hours up into the mountain. First sign... when I was getting on the bus I saw two men lying under the bus covered in black liquid and parts of the bus on the ground! But we get on because it must be the only bus headed that way! This bus is similar to a very old city transportation bus. We, Sarah, Lorena, Croker, Eric, Alex, Raul, and I, are all seated nicely in the back of the bus. W e are booking it around mountains... the views are truly phenomenal! But this bus is ride on the small road at the edge of the mountain´s cliff. At some points I can only see it’s about 3 inches from the buses tires to the edges and after the edge it’s a long way down! I took a fun video leaning out the window so everyone can enjoy this ride with me!! Apparently their is a system... instead of slowing down around corners the driver just honks a few times and if no one honks back they speed onward. Between this towns I see no houses, only beautiful landscape, but every so often the bus stops and lets people out. I watch one man and he just starting hikes p the side of the mnt. after.... he lives there I guess! We are traveling along safely through parts washed out by the rivers... only at 1 part did the front of the bus have to unload to help us make in over a hump/stream! (Once we arrive we hear about a taxis going off the road with 5 people in a family...1 survived, 2 had not been found, and 2 dead!)
#3-Huaros to Canta- Of course after the taxis story we want the big bus again... lucky us it didn´t come this day... we get a small cambi- an old van! First the sliding door takes 10minutes to get opened! Haha... then we of course have WAY too many people... think there was 17 people! Once we are all loaded we- Sarah and I- are located closest to the door which is not closed all the way! There are things strapped to the roof and stick keep flying off and the tarp is hanging way down. Besides that once again we are going around the mountain at lightening speed... after the driver’s family yelled at him to slow down because we all catch air out of our seats as we jumped out of a stream! There are frequent cows and horses in the road that we have to slow down for until they get out of the road. Mostly we just cruised on down the mnt. on this tiny death road!
#4-THE TERROR! Canta to Lima- The phrase ´you get what you pay for´ remained in a mind the whole trip! We paid s/30- $10 for the double decker bus... and for this old city transit bus we paid s/8- $2.80ish! Let me first remind you it took us 3 hrs to get here and it only took us 2hrs to get home! I conveniently feel asleep before we started moving, but when I woke up... there was no returning to sleep! It is dark outside during this ride. We are in the back once again because we have a big group which is great for the back huge row. Well... the bus is rattling down the mountain at an uncontrollable speed. Have you ever gone a little too fast on a dirt road and the car shakes... well we are shaking at an 8.0 earthquake magnitude! NO JOKE! I am rattling in my little seat... I close the window and it rattles back open 4 inches in minutes! One of the lights in the bus is going on the off the whole journey! Surprisingly enough...we aren`t going fast enough! Other cars on the road are PASSING us! Our magnitude 8 earthquake is apparently not as life threatening and other people choose to hurdle faster down this pitch black road into the darkness! I see a little blue light near the door... which I later realize signals when the driver is using the brake. Now I wonder if that’s to remind all of us passengers that he is using the brakes from time to time OR time let us know the brakes actually do work! I can remember we slowed down... not stopped but slowed 8 times! Never once for people... animals... small children... or other cars we past on this skinny road! 5 times for huge speed bumps in small pueblos... probably put there because the people are scared for their lives ever time they have the cross the street. 1 time because a bus like ours was broken down in the road. 1 time for a bigger bus coming past us. We just hurdled down the mnt. flashing the headlights at cars... which apparently means I´m bigger so watch out, because we didn’t slow down but this once... and I think it was because the road was extremely narrow at this point and debatable if both buses would fit! Lastly we stop to pick up a man… how is waiting in he dark in the middle of no where. Since the bus is full he amazingly stands for a whole hour during our earthquake shaking journey down to Lima.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
FUNNY!! Me.... a NUN!
So when I arrived in Callao everyone kept referring to Sarah and I as sisters, which we are. But later that night someone finally asked us what everone had been thinking.... so you are sisters... like of the church??? HAHAHA!!! They thought SARAH AND I WERE SISTERS.. LIKE NUNS!! HAHAHA! Thats funny stuff! Apparently because Sarah and I don´t look alike and Sarah had told people she doesn´t drink they assumed we were sisters of the church! There is a first time for everything!! :o) Good thing they cleared that up at dinner because they were having a farewell party later on that night involving pisco!!! haha!
IDUKAYPERU- Callao
I have moved!!! I am living in Callao.. a different part of Lima with IdukayPERU. A volunteer organization- NGO. And I LOVE IT! So basically over the past 9 years they have developed a program for children in one of the poorest area s of Lima. They have a small house/ school called the Casita... small house. There are 3 classrooms, a library, kitchen, and a clinic. All are about the small of 1 small room with a common opened area in the middle!
So far a have gone there a few times. Once in the afternoon to wash the the childrens hair. This consists of having one kid at a time lean their head over a bucket while I pour water in their hair from a larger bucket. They I wash with shampoo, brush, fine comb- because of the lice buggies, and lastly add vinegar- its suppose to kill the buggies! Some of the lice buggies are pretty big about ---- that big! Yeah!! Jenny Payne would love it here!! Haha! I like doing the little boys hair because most of them have shaved heads and its easy to brush!! After they get their hair washed all the kids get lunch!We wash their hair twice a week and every evening 3-6ish we have an afterschool program. The children are divided into 3 classes by age and I currently have the pequeños... ages 3-8! And they are FULL of energy! Yesterday was math day so some are learing the numbers and how to write them while others on doing simple addition problems! I can successfully teach this kind of math! haha! Alex... the founder of the organization came and had a puppet show for the children in my class and they LOVE it and him!! A lot of times there is a nurse volunteer here, but right now there is not... so that puts me as closest to medical type skills! So far I have cleaned and bandaged a little boys arm that was scraped up pretty bad and clean a nose sore!
At the house... its great! Over the past few years Alex and his family have continued to build on to their house to allow all the volunteers to live here as they come throughout the year. Now its huge four story house with 8 or more small rooms.. most of which have bunk-beds. I here in the summer they have up to 18 volunteers living here.. in addition to the family members! Wow! Now there are about... 3 of us from the US and 1 or 2 from Spain.. 2 just left yesterday!
My favorite part is the meals. Not only because they is always someone to cook you a wonderful meal... its the TABLE! We have 1 big table that everyone sits at together to eat every meal! Breakfast, lunch and dinner with 12-18 other people! All my girls at home know I don´t like being alone.... so yo understand why I love being surounded with people at every meal! I can pretty understand all conversations in Spanish now..... but 2nd dinner here the people from Peru and Spain got into a big debate about how the corruption here and in Spain... with 8 people all talking in spanish at the same time... well I only got the key points!! haha!!
So far a have gone there a few times. Once in the afternoon to wash the the childrens hair. This consists of having one kid at a time lean their head over a bucket while I pour water in their hair from a larger bucket. They I wash with shampoo, brush, fine comb- because of the lice buggies, and lastly add vinegar- its suppose to kill the buggies! Some of the lice buggies are pretty big about ---- that big! Yeah!! Jenny Payne would love it here!! Haha! I like doing the little boys hair because most of them have shaved heads and its easy to brush!! After they get their hair washed all the kids get lunch!We wash their hair twice a week and every evening 3-6ish we have an afterschool program. The children are divided into 3 classes by age and I currently have the pequeños... ages 3-8! And they are FULL of energy! Yesterday was math day so some are learing the numbers and how to write them while others on doing simple addition problems! I can successfully teach this kind of math! haha! Alex... the founder of the organization came and had a puppet show for the children in my class and they LOVE it and him!! A lot of times there is a nurse volunteer here, but right now there is not... so that puts me as closest to medical type skills! So far I have cleaned and bandaged a little boys arm that was scraped up pretty bad and clean a nose sore!
At the house... its great! Over the past few years Alex and his family have continued to build on to their house to allow all the volunteers to live here as they come throughout the year. Now its huge four story house with 8 or more small rooms.. most of which have bunk-beds. I here in the summer they have up to 18 volunteers living here.. in addition to the family members! Wow! Now there are about... 3 of us from the US and 1 or 2 from Spain.. 2 just left yesterday!
My favorite part is the meals. Not only because they is always someone to cook you a wonderful meal... its the TABLE! We have 1 big table that everyone sits at together to eat every meal! Breakfast, lunch and dinner with 12-18 other people! All my girls at home know I don´t like being alone.... so yo understand why I love being surounded with people at every meal! I can pretty understand all conversations in Spanish now..... but 2nd dinner here the people from Peru and Spain got into a big debate about how the corruption here and in Spain... with 8 people all talking in spanish at the same time... well I only got the key points!! haha!!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Paracas-Ica-Nasca...extreme sports and near-death experiences included!
WHAT A WEEKEND!!!
Day 1- 7am on Cruz del Sur bus to Paracas. Arrive in Paracas and am pick-up by the Santa Maria Hotel driver. Get to the hotel and successfully talk the man down from s/100 to s/70! YES! I got skills... that´s like $25! Head out on our first adventure to the National Reserve of Paracas. Paracas is a very small town but the landscape is amazing. The ocean goes straight into the beach and then the desert with zero green! The contrast of the bright yellow sand out to the dark blue Pacific is breath taking. At the reserve we rode from spot to spot just to look at some of the most breath taking landscape ever! We saw some of the most beautiful rock formation out in the ocean, some red rock cliffs, salt covered banks, literally millions of birds. I ran through the millions sitting on the edge of the water!! So much fun! Even the view of all the old wooden boats in the cove was wonderful. We even got within 2 arms lengths of a huge bird... thanks to our new found friend from England! After returning we decided to relax on the beach... which turned into time to learn to make bracelets on my leg and get a free cooper wound ring from some locals. Thank goodness our English friend came by to rescue Sarah and I. For lunch I tried my first Pisco Sour-The National Drink- Includes Pisco, Lime, Lemonade, and raw egg whites! Yum! Then the 3 of us had a late stroll down the beaches and super nice Hotels of Paracas.. priced over my budget with their pools with individuals jets! Haha! Dinner and a few Piscos on the 3rd floor hostal terrace and off to bed.
Day 2- 8am off on a boat to see the Islas Ballestas and Candelabro. While waiting to get on the boat a group of pelicans walked close enough from me to touch! Beautiful blue beaks. The islands were about 20 minutes out in the sea, so we got a bonus and swung past the famous Candelabro- carved in the sand. As we continued to the islands flocks of birds were stationed on every rock protruding out from the ocean. The Islas Ballestas were literally covered with birds on ever cliff... some many the sand was hard to see. Sea Lions- mariana lobos- were sun bathing on all the rocks. We even saw a beach covered with HUNDREDS of babies, huge sea lions, and lots of parents too. They were all barking and cooing together and cumulatively it was sooo loud! Like the whole beach was howling together! Must the reason for the name ´sea wolves´ in Spanish. I watched to waves crash in on the beach with the hundreds of sea lions and bunches of them would be carried in with the waves while others would be pulled out as the wave would recede. It was probably the most amazing wild life animal display I have ever seen (and I took videos for everyone else when I get home). After we circled the islands we headed back to Paracas. My boat was caught inside of a flock of hundreds of birds forming a ´V´ so on both sides of the boat were trails of birds as far back as I could see. At this moments I truly felt like I was in Jarassic Park with all the birds and wildlife around me... it was surreal!! We then wondering through the local market and relaxed on the beach for a bit more- minus locals! At 4ish we headed to the Cruz del Sur station to venture to the next city. At the Paracas station we met Silvestre -Sly- and and in Ica we met Sarah Charley. Who became our traveling buddies for the next few days. Sly had a hostal lined up so we all took a taxi together out of Ica to Huacachina... where we all stayed for the next 2 nights- The Carola del Sur. Minus the black steams of ants, the roosters that cock-a-doodle-dooed at 2am, and the ducked-tapped shower head that sprayed the whole bathroom I liked my top bunk! Sarah, Sarah C. and I all shared the same room and Silvestre apparently had a room to himself.. plus ant in the bed! Haha! We were able to sign-up for a dune buggie/ sand boarding venture and receive an extra s/5 off a night... for s/20 each a night...that's like $7!! The 4 of us around the Lagoon of Haucachina and Sarah C. and Sly tried their first Pisco Sours at dinner. After a few each we all decided to climb these HUGE sand dune... which we later realized had no top. I know your thinking of course it did but really we climb up for like an hour, I still only felt 1/2, and I could see the entire lagoon and all the surrounding building from a great height above... And Sarah C. had continued above the us 3 so far I couldn't see her and she never found the top!!! The sand recedes out from under you as you climb and no matter how big your steps are you only move forward a few inches. On the way down you can jump out and fly like 20feet. Sarah C. took 7 steps/jumps to make it back to the bottom practically! A late night dip in the murky water pool at the hostal and bedtime!
Day 3- Taxi driver from the bus station to the hostal yesterday... Is now our wine tours guide.. who would have thought! He was early for 10:30 and Sly, Sarah C., Sarah and I headed to our 1st Ica winery. It was over 250acres over fields of grapes with a bell tower in the center as I great look-out point. I almost rang it via dare of Sly.. but good thing I didn´t cause later I found out it signals for lunch and the end of the day... all those workers would have been real mad lunch wasn´t ready! hehe!! We sat at an outdoor patio and started the wine tasting. 3 whites, 3 reds, 2 blush, 3 sparkling... and 3ish pisco´s. Obviously you can tell why I lost count! Sly bought 3 bottles, Sarah C. got 1, and got 2... and my sister was too busy passing of her samples to the rest of us.. like we didn´t have enough! PS-Pisco is not a wine.. it it the national LIQUOR.. So yes we were taking straight shots of pisco for every trail! Needless to say we stopped to buy crackers before proceeding to the 2nd winery. 2nd... took another nice tour solely about pisco... but I´m still not sure what the bubbling dark red swamp was... or the ´toxic´ portion they pour out that we tasted was?? We sat bar front here.... and only had a few wines... follow by many salads of pisco -cheers-!! I think I might go chest hair after that!! JK! We were definitely all pretty tipsy and needed some lunch... right after Sly bought 3 more bottles and I got 1- the cream del pisco, it was delicious! And the taxi / tour driver got us safely back to the hostal. We all grab quick naps in the room or hammocks before our extreme sporting adventure!! Dune buggies arrived at 4:30... basically huge tires, rows with 3 seats each, roll bars only-like a jeep-, and seat belts like roller coasters.. yep over both shoulder and buckled between your legs! READY! They ROARED sooo loud!! We headed straight up a nearby dune over the mountain and out of the towns views in seconds. I was literally coming out of my seat as the driver drove over hills of sand I could not see the bottom of! No exaggeration! People in the military of Israel with us were screaming! Haha! We reached a smaller hill and all got out. Sand board time! Sand boarding is like snowboarding- same boards- but you rub candle across the bottom to make it stick.. as sand is not! Then you Velcro your feet right in and off you go! Everyone was beginners and we all kinda slide half way.. then rolled a bit! First run we all did face first on our belly!! Haha... adrenaline rush for sure! Kinda got the hang of it some he walked to the next hill.. lil bit bigger... then the next... bigger... then the last... HUGE! Sly went down before us girls and when he reached the bottom he was ANT SIZE! Crazy.. that didn't help me out much! Last one every returned to face first tactics.. obv. not for beginner boarders! On one of the middle sized dunes I wiped out worse then anyone... sand in my hair. pants, shirt, bra, and eyelids!! Definitely jammed a finger and got some good bruises to prove it now! haha...and just when you think you headed back.. One last death race through the dunes! Its half dark now as we already watched the sunset over the dunes(AMAZING)... and wondering if the driver can see much at least point. Everyone was a little more worried because he would even pause before going over hills to check the other side out before diving over it!!! hahaha! All hoping the lined of previously buggies didn´t end bad.. cause we were following them!! Can´t top that night of with much,, just crazy Peruvian pizza and a Fanta!
Day 4- Before 8am in a taxi (same guy too! hehe) off the Cruz del Sur station headed to Nasca! Sly, Sarah C., Sarah, and I all venture to see the lines together. We all planned perfectly to arrive in Nasca 3 weeks after the plane crash - everyone died- and 2 days after the riot ended and prices are crazy high! A guide a had been emailing met us at the station and tried to charge us $80 each... we took a taxi straight the the airstrip and got tickets for $65 (only had to get drive pretty shady to another place to pay.. wait forever... find our German/ Denmark friends from the bus wigging out and final return to the same air strip :-/ weird)! So the 4 of us get a plane for 4.. yes.. literally 4 passenger seats, a pilot, and co-pilot. They have 2 now post-strike to insure they don´t forget to put gas in the plane.. no joking here! This plane is SOOO small and that´s not what made it soo bad. The Nasca lines can only be seen from the sky and the is no definitely explanation of where they came from, but basically they are designs of bird, people, swirls, hands, trees, etc. so huge you could see from the ground. So the 4 of us in the lil plane are shacking through the sky of Nasca to see all the pictures. As one comes up on the left the drivers says- your the headphones we are all wearing- BIRD... then leans the left wing parallel to the ground... right ´HANDS´ right wing to the ground... left ´TREE´ left wing to the ground... I think you get it... We are almost doing barrel rolls through the sky and after like 6 my sister is asking for a bag!! She tells me later she didn't even see the last 4 pics! Hahaha... I was seriously gripping the seat in front of me.. I am not much braver!! The landing... surprising was very smooth! Def know for sure... that's is my last time seeing the lines of Nasca! After we all recover at the airport.. we head off to lunch. Once again sport our friends from Germany/ Denmark and find out the 2 guys threw up in the plane!! Haha! As the 8 of us our eating lunch and we are finished with all our extreme sports... guess what happens... My first earthquake! Yep in nasca it was a 3.0.. off the coast of Peru it was almost a 6! Yeah.. we are on unsteady looking 2nd floor of some small restaurant and everything starts shaking! It wasn´t bad.. people just running outta building to go back in 20 minutes later. Lunch was still good.... aji de pollo! Back to Cruz del Sur... and arrived home in Lima around midnight!
WHAT A WEEKEND!!!
Day 1- 7am on Cruz del Sur bus to Paracas. Arrive in Paracas and am pick-up by the Santa Maria Hotel driver. Get to the hotel and successfully talk the man down from s/100 to s/70! YES! I got skills... that´s like $25! Head out on our first adventure to the National Reserve of Paracas. Paracas is a very small town but the landscape is amazing. The ocean goes straight into the beach and then the desert with zero green! The contrast of the bright yellow sand out to the dark blue Pacific is breath taking. At the reserve we rode from spot to spot just to look at some of the most breath taking landscape ever! We saw some of the most beautiful rock formation out in the ocean, some red rock cliffs, salt covered banks, literally millions of birds. I ran through the millions sitting on the edge of the water!! So much fun! Even the view of all the old wooden boats in the cove was wonderful. We even got within 2 arms lengths of a huge bird... thanks to our new found friend from England! After returning we decided to relax on the beach... which turned into time to learn to make bracelets on my leg and get a free cooper wound ring from some locals. Thank goodness our English friend came by to rescue Sarah and I. For lunch I tried my first Pisco Sour-The National Drink- Includes Pisco, Lime, Lemonade, and raw egg whites! Yum! Then the 3 of us had a late stroll down the beaches and super nice Hotels of Paracas.. priced over my budget with their pools with individuals jets! Haha! Dinner and a few Piscos on the 3rd floor hostal terrace and off to bed.
Day 2- 8am off on a boat to see the Islas Ballestas and Candelabro. While waiting to get on the boat a group of pelicans walked close enough from me to touch! Beautiful blue beaks. The islands were about 20 minutes out in the sea, so we got a bonus and swung past the famous Candelabro- carved in the sand. As we continued to the islands flocks of birds were stationed on every rock protruding out from the ocean. The Islas Ballestas were literally covered with birds on ever cliff... some many the sand was hard to see. Sea Lions- mariana lobos- were sun bathing on all the rocks. We even saw a beach covered with HUNDREDS of babies, huge sea lions, and lots of parents too. They were all barking and cooing together and cumulatively it was sooo loud! Like the whole beach was howling together! Must the reason for the name ´sea wolves´ in Spanish. I watched to waves crash in on the beach with the hundreds of sea lions and bunches of them would be carried in with the waves while others would be pulled out as the wave would recede. It was probably the most amazing wild life animal display I have ever seen (and I took videos for everyone else when I get home). After we circled the islands we headed back to Paracas. My boat was caught inside of a flock of hundreds of birds forming a ´V´ so on both sides of the boat were trails of birds as far back as I could see. At this moments I truly felt like I was in Jarassic Park with all the birds and wildlife around me... it was surreal!! We then wondering through the local market and relaxed on the beach for a bit more- minus locals! At 4ish we headed to the Cruz del Sur station to venture to the next city. At the Paracas station we met Silvestre -Sly- and and in Ica we met Sarah Charley. Who became our traveling buddies for the next few days. Sly had a hostal lined up so we all took a taxi together out of Ica to Huacachina... where we all stayed for the next 2 nights- The Carola del Sur. Minus the black steams of ants, the roosters that cock-a-doodle-dooed at 2am, and the ducked-tapped shower head that sprayed the whole bathroom I liked my top bunk! Sarah, Sarah C. and I all shared the same room and Silvestre apparently had a room to himself.. plus ant in the bed! Haha! We were able to sign-up for a dune buggie/ sand boarding venture and receive an extra s/5 off a night... for s/20 each a night...that's like $7!! The 4 of us around the Lagoon of Haucachina and Sarah C. and Sly tried their first Pisco Sours at dinner. After a few each we all decided to climb these HUGE sand dune... which we later realized had no top. I know your thinking of course it did but really we climb up for like an hour, I still only felt 1/2, and I could see the entire lagoon and all the surrounding building from a great height above... And Sarah C. had continued above the us 3 so far I couldn't see her and she never found the top!!! The sand recedes out from under you as you climb and no matter how big your steps are you only move forward a few inches. On the way down you can jump out and fly like 20feet. Sarah C. took 7 steps/jumps to make it back to the bottom practically! A late night dip in the murky water pool at the hostal and bedtime!
Day 3- Taxi driver from the bus station to the hostal yesterday... Is now our wine tours guide.. who would have thought! He was early for 10:30 and Sly, Sarah C., Sarah and I headed to our 1st Ica winery. It was over 250acres over fields of grapes with a bell tower in the center as I great look-out point. I almost rang it via dare of Sly.. but good thing I didn´t cause later I found out it signals for lunch and the end of the day... all those workers would have been real mad lunch wasn´t ready! hehe!! We sat at an outdoor patio and started the wine tasting. 3 whites, 3 reds, 2 blush, 3 sparkling... and 3ish pisco´s. Obviously you can tell why I lost count! Sly bought 3 bottles, Sarah C. got 1, and got 2... and my sister was too busy passing of her samples to the rest of us.. like we didn´t have enough! PS-Pisco is not a wine.. it it the national LIQUOR.. So yes we were taking straight shots of pisco for every trail! Needless to say we stopped to buy crackers before proceeding to the 2nd winery. 2nd... took another nice tour solely about pisco... but I´m still not sure what the bubbling dark red swamp was... or the ´toxic´ portion they pour out that we tasted was?? We sat bar front here.... and only had a few wines... follow by many salads of pisco -cheers-!! I think I might go chest hair after that!! JK! We were definitely all pretty tipsy and needed some lunch... right after Sly bought 3 more bottles and I got 1- the cream del pisco, it was delicious! And the taxi / tour driver got us safely back to the hostal. We all grab quick naps in the room or hammocks before our extreme sporting adventure!! Dune buggies arrived at 4:30... basically huge tires, rows with 3 seats each, roll bars only-like a jeep-, and seat belts like roller coasters.. yep over both shoulder and buckled between your legs! READY! They ROARED sooo loud!! We headed straight up a nearby dune over the mountain and out of the towns views in seconds. I was literally coming out of my seat as the driver drove over hills of sand I could not see the bottom of! No exaggeration! People in the military of Israel with us were screaming! Haha! We reached a smaller hill and all got out. Sand board time! Sand boarding is like snowboarding- same boards- but you rub candle across the bottom to make it stick.. as sand is not! Then you Velcro your feet right in and off you go! Everyone was beginners and we all kinda slide half way.. then rolled a bit! First run we all did face first on our belly!! Haha... adrenaline rush for sure! Kinda got the hang of it some he walked to the next hill.. lil bit bigger... then the next... bigger... then the last... HUGE! Sly went down before us girls and when he reached the bottom he was ANT SIZE! Crazy.. that didn't help me out much! Last one every returned to face first tactics.. obv. not for beginner boarders! On one of the middle sized dunes I wiped out worse then anyone... sand in my hair. pants, shirt, bra, and eyelids!! Definitely jammed a finger and got some good bruises to prove it now! haha...and just when you think you headed back.. One last death race through the dunes! Its half dark now as we already watched the sunset over the dunes(AMAZING)... and wondering if the driver can see much at least point. Everyone was a little more worried because he would even pause before going over hills to check the other side out before diving over it!!! hahaha! All hoping the lined of previously buggies didn´t end bad.. cause we were following them!! Can´t top that night of with much,, just crazy Peruvian pizza and a Fanta!
Day 4- Before 8am in a taxi (same guy too! hehe) off the Cruz del Sur station headed to Nasca! Sly, Sarah C., Sarah, and I all venture to see the lines together. We all planned perfectly to arrive in Nasca 3 weeks after the plane crash - everyone died- and 2 days after the riot ended and prices are crazy high! A guide a had been emailing met us at the station and tried to charge us $80 each... we took a taxi straight the the airstrip and got tickets for $65 (only had to get drive pretty shady to another place to pay.. wait forever... find our German/ Denmark friends from the bus wigging out and final return to the same air strip :-/ weird)! So the 4 of us get a plane for 4.. yes.. literally 4 passenger seats, a pilot, and co-pilot. They have 2 now post-strike to insure they don´t forget to put gas in the plane.. no joking here! This plane is SOOO small and that´s not what made it soo bad. The Nasca lines can only be seen from the sky and the is no definitely explanation of where they came from, but basically they are designs of bird, people, swirls, hands, trees, etc. so huge you could see from the ground. So the 4 of us in the lil plane are shacking through the sky of Nasca to see all the pictures. As one comes up on the left the drivers says- your the headphones we are all wearing- BIRD... then leans the left wing parallel to the ground... right ´HANDS´ right wing to the ground... left ´TREE´ left wing to the ground... I think you get it... We are almost doing barrel rolls through the sky and after like 6 my sister is asking for a bag!! She tells me later she didn't even see the last 4 pics! Hahaha... I was seriously gripping the seat in front of me.. I am not much braver!! The landing... surprising was very smooth! Def know for sure... that's is my last time seeing the lines of Nasca! After we all recover at the airport.. we head off to lunch. Once again sport our friends from Germany/ Denmark and find out the 2 guys threw up in the plane!! Haha! As the 8 of us our eating lunch and we are finished with all our extreme sports... guess what happens... My first earthquake! Yep in nasca it was a 3.0.. off the coast of Peru it was almost a 6! Yeah.. we are on unsteady looking 2nd floor of some small restaurant and everything starts shaking! It wasn´t bad.. people just running outta building to go back in 20 minutes later. Lunch was still good.... aji de pollo! Back to Cruz del Sur... and arrived home in Lima around midnight!
WHAT A WEEKEND!!!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Volunteer update...
We have not returned to the teeny-bopper club yet… I do have a still like them since they had a free hug (´Abrazos Gratis´) hour at the ´Woman´s Day´ event!! Hehe!
PERU vs. US
DIFFERENCES:
I have been trying to compile a list of the differences between things in Peru and the US…. I am sure I´ll find more but for now…. Here are some really interesting things I have found:
- CORN- its huge… like every kernel is 3 times as big... you can only eat like 3 at a time and have mouth full!
- NAPKINS- they are tiny….a napkin is normally folded a few times but here its 1 small piece… so strange… like really give me a napkin I can wipe more than 1 finger on! Hehe
- BANANAS- Huge… probably twice as thick as regular bananas at home!
- KETCHUP- well…. It has a strange purple-ish tint and is a lot sweeter… still good though!
- BURGERS- All inclusive… really…. Eggs, 5 sauces, potato sticks, ham, bacon, chicken, and much, much more but somehow still fits in 1 bun!?!?
- PEANUT BUTTER- Apparently Peruvians don´t eat PBJs… so its soooo expensive!!! Random!
- TUNA- Fish… no.... here´ tuna´ is a strange green fruit with a million seed inside… and depending on who you ask may or may not be ok to shallow?? I personally won´t eat another one while I´m here.
- PIZZA HUT & DOMINO'S- Thankfully… the exact same!!! Love it!
- EGGPLANTS-Small… I had to buy 3 instead of my normal 1 for eggplant Parmesan the other night.
- DELUX BUS RIDES- Trying this out this weekend, but just got the tickets. CHEAP!! S/20-30 each… about $7.15-$10.70 for 1 to 4 hour rides!! With Internet, a meal, TVs, and fully reclining seats! Can´t wait for my Cruz de Sur trip!!!
- KARAOKE- Everyone loves it and practices nightly at our house…. If not nightly its at least every other night. At this point I haven´t seen it live in public yet.
- EGGS- Did you know you can put eggs with runny centers on top of pesto pasta. I never thought of this combination until my friend Edmundo ordered it the other night. I tried it… like I´ll keep them separate still! Enjoy Edmundo... sorry bud!
PARKS… PARKS… EVERYWHERE…So I went to an event about architecture of Lima last night and the presenter stated Lima abides by the minimum for amount of green space in the city. Sarah and I were SHOCKED because there are beautiful parks are over the pace. I could literally walk to probably 20 in 5 minutes from my front door. Sarah and I have also become very creative with our picture taking since there are so many! I think the number of parks here is the number one thing in Peru I wish we had more of in the US!
Park for brides and grooms…
Yes…. In Peru there is a park designed for brides and grooms to have their pictures taken. Sarah and I visited this park on a Friday night and in the 30 minutes span we probably saw over 20 couples having their wedding pictures taken. There are ponds, bridges, carriages, grassy knolls, flowers, etc… They couples just wandering around having their pictures taken professional. A few couples even posed for me to take their photos!! Hope you like these really pretty pictures... PS- so glad I had just worked out and was wearing gym clothes for this black and white park occasion that occurs every weekend I am told.Saturday, March 13, 2010
Surprises.....
So a trend has begun here in Peru for Sarah and I. We agree to go to every event and activity we are invited to. Each time we go people tell us a little about what it’s about and/or what will being happening and every time… it’s nothing like we expected. I have a lot of examples.
#1- Carmen´s church event. Carmen, the director of our español school invited Sarah and I to come with her to her small group at the church she has been going to one night. So when we get there, there are waiters were black vests and bowties serving champagne, and trays of cute sandwiches on silver platters. It turns out to be the farewell party for the parson/preachers of this church for the past 20 years. There are professional dance performances, young groups performing songs, comedians, etc. Great idea of Carmen to put us on the second rows right behind the guest of honor…. Since are so important and know so many people!! Haha!
#2- The organization we joined- The Municipalidad of San Borja… volunteers of our neighborhood-San Borja. Our friend Edmundo has a brother that works with the municipalidad and we joined the group to volunteer at events in the neighborhood. Our first day is the Dia de la Mujeres... Women´s Day… to celebrate appreciation for all women in San Borja. As I try to control to crowd of women fighting to talk to the doctor about their skin… I realized I was doing crowd control for these women and San Borja, Lima is the same as the South Park of Charlotte. This was verified when Sarah and I went to the first meeting last Tuesday night 4-6pm. All the little South Park kids join this volunteer organization to hang out after school with their friends and sing and dance together. Sarah and I left the teenage club early at 5:15!
#3 We decide to go to the night to celebrate Women on Friday… you know a small neighborhood event… 40-50 people maximum. We invited like 4 people to come so more people would be there. Well… there were over 100 people there and it was broadcasted live on TV here in Peru. The singer of the #1 hit in Peru right now performed at our neighborhood event and a very famous Peruvian comedy was the host! There was a huge stage… flashing colorful lights… the famous singer zip-lined to the stage from a nearby tower! Really!?!? My neighbor Edmundo said he didn´t even know about the event when I invited him!
So in case you ever travel to Peru and you think you know what is happening at the event your are about to go to… please keep an opened mind… because you might be like me and Sarah… We never really know what anything is going to be like! :o)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Internet...
Soo... apparnetly I will no longer have internet at the house... unless Erik´s crazy idea of standing on the roof and re-directing the antena to ´borrow´ someone else´s wireless actually works. haha! Wish us good luck! Sorry you all don´t get to see the fabulous photos from Paulo´s birthday!! :-)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Interesting food experiences:
First of all... if you have a weak stomach.. you may wanna skip this blog.... Seriously!!! Jenn.. read at your owe risk!
Ok.... so big event the other night it was Paulo´s birthday!!! I live with Erik and his dad Paulo.. so big celebration right! Well... we all head out to eat at an excellent restuarant and I even wear a cutedress I´m so excited. You know I can eat hotdogs.. because even though the meat may ba a little of a mystery... its the mystery and not actually know ing exactly what it is that allows me to happily it eat. These food didnt even have a chance with have a mystery as the looks were so scary. My friends... for the big birthday dinner night we went to eat.... la corazon de la baca ´the heart of the cow´ and the intestines of a cow! I hate that one of my key phrases in life is ´I´ll try again once´because I was tested this night. Yes... a tried it! The heart of the cow surprising tasted like steak... I know I must I ate like 3 because.. apparently if you didnt know cows have small hearts! haha!! But the initestines on the other hand... THE LOOKS! Small tubes... small with small spikes covering it. You know my lil medical mind was just picturing...oh well... I´m sure you are picturing the same.. and if not I have posted a photo or two! Enjoy!! :o)
Ok.... so big event the other night it was Paulo´s birthday!!! I live with Erik and his dad Paulo.. so big celebration right! Well... we all head out to eat at an excellent restuarant and I even wear a cutedress I´m so excited. You know I can eat hotdogs.. because even though the meat may ba a little of a mystery... its the mystery and not actually know ing exactly what it is that allows me to happily it eat. These food didnt even have a chance with have a mystery as the looks were so scary. My friends... for the big birthday dinner night we went to eat.... la corazon de la baca ´the heart of the cow´ and the intestines of a cow! I hate that one of my key phrases in life is ´I´ll try again once´because I was tested this night. Yes... a tried it! The heart of the cow surprising tasted like steak... I know I must I ate like 3 because.. apparently if you didnt know cows have small hearts! haha!! But the initestines on the other hand... THE LOOKS! Small tubes... small with small spikes covering it. You know my lil medical mind was just picturing...oh well... I´m sure you are picturing the same.. and if not I have posted a photo or two! Enjoy!! :o)
Monday, February 22, 2010
Lima Central
Lima Central... wow the city of Lima is never ending.. I rode in a bus for over an hour and never got out of the city. Central central is the location of the President´s house, heads of congress and finance. THe presidents´s house really looks a lot like Buckingham palace in London. Armed guards were station all around the area as well as crowd cotrol and a few tanks and military hummers. Funny that while we were taking pics of the Presidents house armed men were taking pics of Sarah and I with a bright pink camera! Hahaha!!
After wondering a bit we (Erik, Paulo, Giselle, Sarah and I) decide to take a tour bus around and to the top of this mountain with a big cross.. I don´t really know the specifics as the entire tour was in Español! But it was beautiful from the top... I could see the Plaza de torros (bulls) and definitely felt like I was onto of the world.. well Lima... 7 million people below me! :o) Catholic is the major religion in Peru and I believe this cross overlooking Lima has great significance to people. Side note- on our bus tour up the huge mountain we had to close the windows because apparently people hide and throw waterballoons at tour buses!?!? Luckly not me!
Valentine´s Weekend:
Camping on the beach! My favorite part so far... I wrote about it earlier... but here´s some photos of the results of the weekend at the beach...
1 week post beach trip results in 4 people with skin diesases! Hahaha... ok maybe we are just snakes, but everyone live to peel off skin and we have pictures of just that!! :o) Enjoy! Some thing don´t change from one culture to another... the oldity of your skin coming off in massive layers and being able to peel away a layer and have another color below result is fun for Americans and Peruians!! :o) Pictures are of my leg and back, Sarah´s neck, Edmundo´s shoulder, Erik back (w/ tatoo)!! haha!! This Saturday consisted of watching burned movies still in the theatre we bought (4 for 10 soles... about $3) and peeling!!! hahaha!
Miraflores:
Miraflores (the looking flowers) is a beautiful district near where I live.. only a short bus ride.. 1-sol or about 33 cents away! The parade of the cows came to miraflores last year and all over Kennedy Park are beautifully painted cows. Acrossthe street the wonderful 2 story McDonalds which is ALWAYS packed... and no I haven´t eaten at hte McD´s here!! I have been continuing to try Peruvian foods. I did go to Erik, my roomies, favorite burger place where he claimed had the biggest best burgers around. Well... friends I bet you are like me and have had the Big Mac and others burgers you think are big and have everything on them. I thought so until I went to these place. I had a burger that included: burger, cheese, ham, chiken, ketsup, mustard, mayo, some mystery purple sauce, potato sticks and egg all inside of a bun! I had to flatten the burger to make 1/2 of it fit in my mouth at a time! Crazy! I´m sill trying to figure out all the tastes to determine if it was good! Def get the potato sticks on the side next time!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
My first week in Peru:
Roomies- Sarah, my sister who I traveled here with! Giselle, Sarah´s friend from Brazil, who is here visiting her bf, Erik. Giselle is super sweet and I can already call her a hoochie mamma! Love it! We are all at Erik and Paulo, his father´s house. Erik is very funny and loves the Cranberries. And when I say love I mean he sings their songs every day while dancing around the house in his boxers! Paulo... I love a man that cooks for me. Too bad he´s 65 and doesn’t speak a word of English! KIANA… Erik’s pit-bull... Love her! She will wait outside of the grocery store until we are finished! She never wears a leash and is trained like I have never seen… Oliver when I get home… you are gonna have to shape up!
Weather-HOT! And not like hot in North Carolina… I mean a walked around Miraflores (a nice district of Lima) for about an hour and thank God I left my long hair down or I´d look like Sarah... crispy bacon shoulders! Haha!
Exchanging $$- Well Mom if you are worried about my safety…don´t! I think I´ll be fine walking around with my little purse containing $50 because there are people on every corner wearing green money vest. YES…people wearing bright green vest waving around fists full of money ready to exchange with any travelers. I guess I should also mention, there are about 2 cops on every corner as well.
Food- My new favorite is Ahi de Gallina... which I believe happens to be rooster... but none the less... it’s DELICOUS! Ceviche on the other hand... not my fav…. Its raw fish cooked in lemon?? mixed with about a whole onion sliced up. Erik… loves it even drink the juice when he finishes it… brave sole!
Beaches- OMG.. BEAUTIFUL! And you can camp right on the beach... yes in the sand by the waves! Everyone does it here! So cool… minus the sand venturing into my tent and on my air bed through the night! Haha! In Miraflores the beach starts out with tan sand… but as it closer to the waves its black with pebbles like it was in Italy. The beach we camped on was completely sandy and the waves were manageable, unlike the big rough waves on most beaches in this area.
Things you NOT supposed to do- Put toilet paper in the toilet… please don’t tell Paulo I forget about every other day! Oops! Smiling also not acceptable… not sure but no one here naturally smiles on the streets and Sarah has asked me to stop since people apparently don’t… sorry Sarah… it’s a habit and I love smiling! :o)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
We both made it to Peru. the adventure has begun... minus luggage! lol. we are happy that we brought many extra pairs of underwear in our carry on... ha!ha!
They were delivered the next day.. so not too bad!! we got into the Lima airport at around 10 30 Saturday and had to wait a while to get off the plane, and then we had to go through immigration and hunt around for our luggage for a while, but everyone was super nice and helpful! Erik and Giselle waited for us for about 2 hours, but luckily they did not give up and go home! no really, everything is great. we had a big feast when we got back to the house and had a funny introduction to the new world of portspanglish... portuguese, spanish, and english mix! My sisters friend Giselle is like me... goofy and I am already calling her a hoochie-mamma! Ha! Erik already feels comfortable enough to dance and sing around the house with us here! And Paulo, his dad, is sooo nice and loves to cook! He made us a wonderful big dinner last night that is now my new favorite food... apparently is the breast of rooster with milk and bread... its yellow?? Soo good!
We are safe and we are being well taken care of.
They were delivered the next day.. so not too bad!! we got into the Lima airport at around 10 30 Saturday and had to wait a while to get off the plane, and then we had to go through immigration and hunt around for our luggage for a while, but everyone was super nice and helpful! Erik and Giselle waited for us for about 2 hours, but luckily they did not give up and go home! no really, everything is great. we had a big feast when we got back to the house and had a funny introduction to the new world of portspanglish... portuguese, spanish, and english mix! My sisters friend Giselle is like me... goofy and I am already calling her a hoochie-mamma! Ha! Erik already feels comfortable enough to dance and sing around the house with us here! And Paulo, his dad, is sooo nice and loves to cook! He made us a wonderful big dinner last night that is now my new favorite food... apparently is the breast of rooster with milk and bread... its yellow?? Soo good!
Today we went out in Lima.... crazy story...there are people on the street who exchange money... yes people standing on the street corners with green money vests and fists full of money to exchange from one currency to another! I don't see that happening safely anywhere in the US! And there are police men on about every corner.. probably watching out for all the money vest-exchange people!! haha!!
I love you all and thank you for all your prayers and thoughts!
We are safe and we are being well taken care of.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
