tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67326472416217414522024-02-06T23:33:31.818-06:00La Viajeramusings from the mind of a nomadla viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-68589388086052880502012-11-12T15:16:00.001-06:002012-11-12T15:18:24.021-06:00a new pathThis Summer changed everything. There are times in a persons life when they think they have it all figured out. My life was going in one direction. Then it did a 180. I wouldn't say I'm going backwards, just not the way I thought I was going.<br />
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Now instead of the Andes mountains, bus rides with chicken and dirty faced children, and colonial architcture, I'm surrounded by cornfields, hill-billys (not really) and 'Iowa nice'.<br />
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A few months ago I found a new path to take. The Burmese (Myanmar) people that have settled in Des Moines are in need of so much help, and they are so kind.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/8180001057/" title="Burmese study in Omaha by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Burmese study in Omaha" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8180001057_6d2ccce399_o.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/8180001975/" title="Food before our study by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Food before our study" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8180001975_0dfca75550_o.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/8152751725/" title="Special talk and slide show from Burmese bother in Omaha. by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Special talk and slide show from Burmese bother in Omaha." height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7114/8152751725_3f9b65bee8_o.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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So though I'm stuck in Iowa, I've found a reason to get out of bed in the morning. A new people and culture to learn about. I'll try and update this blog more often, and I'll include photos from my travels. Hopefully to Thailand and NYC.la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-38328161468213484032011-12-08T13:02:00.001-06:002011-12-08T13:21:24.665-06:00Not much to reportA busy, but mostly boring couple of months...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6338675465/" title="street view 1 by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="street view 1" height="265" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6111/6338675465_879e412b47.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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Visitors and swine flu are my latest excuse for not writing. :)
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6463544679/" title="Climbing Sica Sica by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Climbing Sica Sica" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6463544679_61fde50947.jpg" width="265" /></a>
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I didn’t realize till yesterday that it’s been more than two months since I last wrote. Mom said a few of
you had asked about it, sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s see, where did I leave off?<br />
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We've had lots of visitors in the city. Some from Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Sweden and Germany.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6345322379/" title="Puerto Rican Party! by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Puerto Rican Party!" height="240" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6227/6345322379_f7c3704b84.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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This coming weekend we’re off to Potosí. We’re going early on Saturday. I’m excited because it’ll be the first time I get to do some touristy things there. I’m going up with the Brits and Emily. On monday we’re going to a hot water spring that’s really deep, and they’re doing a tour of the mine...which I think I’m going to skip. Being trapped under a mountain riddled with carelessly dug mine shafts whilst dynamite goes off isn’t my idea of a good time.<br />
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I’m still in love with my new apartment, though it’s been a bit more crowded than it was at first. We’ve had a visitor, Jenny Golyer, for almost two months. Unfortunately Jenny got really sick. We thought it was a problem with altitude and her hypoglycemia at first. But I was getting really worn out being the main caretaker and dealing with other dramas, and got sick myself. Turns out the swine flu has been making the rounds here in Sucre. Let me tell y'all, it’s not fun. I lost almost three weeks, not sure where they went. We got a case of extreme cabin fever, as you can see from the pics below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6398427595/" title="Cat by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Cat" height="212" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6102/6398427595_b608d060d7.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6323459972/" title="late night boredom by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="late night boredom" height="241" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6094/6323459972_e4aefae277.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6322932297/" title="late night boredom by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="late night boredom" height="241" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6115/6322932297_232c66188f.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Other highlights include a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/sets/72157627989989111/with/6345315703/" target="_blank">puerto rican party</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/sets/72157628275637415/" target="_blank">taco night</a>, check out the rest of my pics on my FLICKR page.
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Until next time!la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-58305465243015709402011-10-04T15:22:00.002-05:002011-10-04T15:22:42.961-05:00I've found that the road I find myself going down is constantly finding ways to challenge me. There's always something new to try. Most new things don't scare me, or at least I can pretend it doesn't to get myself through it. Yesterday I tried something new, at first I didn't think it would scare me. But there were a few minutes where I didn't think it would happen. But having two older brothers has helped me learn to push through my fears. So I climbed to the top, and I might have found a new addiction. Here are the pics.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6209581681/" title="Emily making her way to the top by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Emily making her way to the top" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6209581681_38b8fb0634.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Emily said she doesn't really like rock climbing...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6209578835/" title="Emily making her way to the top by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Emily making her way to the top" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6209578835_9776a5c3cd.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
...but she made it to the top like a pro.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6210092780/" title="Belay by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Belay" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6210092780_18c8e591a7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Judd was belaying Emily.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6209553581/" title="first attempt of the day by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="first attempt of the day" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6209553581_7de5d6ca03.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Steve trying to get over a tricky part of the rock.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6210055370/" title="El Ojo by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="El Ojo" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/6210055370_80ba4f85fc.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Ben working out the best way over 'el ojo'.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6210061804/" title="Spider Man? by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Spider Man?" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6042/6210061804_f7da7ec80e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Judd doing what he calls a 'jump start'la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-66579632142209264722011-08-18T23:14:00.000-05:002011-08-18T23:14:31.648-05:00It's been a whileIt's been such a long time, I doubt anyone even checks my blog anymore. But for you faithful here's a bit. :) <br />
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I've been back in Bolivia for about two months. The first month I spent in the Amazon regions of Beni and Pando. It's really a whole other world from where I live in Sucre. I honestly loved it. From La Paz I flew with friends to Rurrenebaque. As we took off from El Alto airport we passed by the Cordillera Real part of the Andes. We were so close I thought we would crash if a strong wind came. Almost instantly the mountains dropped out and everything was green. The rivers snaked there way across the jungle floor making their way to the mighty Amazon. The difference in altitude and humidity was super notable as soon as we arrived. Being a Florida girl I felt right at home. Even the bugs made it feel more homey. haha <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5236/5878984222_50440919f4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5236/5878984222_50440919f4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After spending nearly a week lost in tourist-ville I took a 16 hour to Riberalta. For some reason while looking at the map and reading up I thought I would really like Riberalta. The people I met were great, but the town it self was a giant red dust ball. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5074/5878424855_60a9ea598f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5074/5878424855_60a9ea598f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
From Riberalta it was another 10 hour bus ride to Cobija, my final destination. The bus ride was memorable for the two river crossings. The bus approaches the river where everyone gets off before it can load onto a barge of sorts before everyone gets on after it. The first crossing was rather short. The second we took quite the ride down river before meeting up with another river. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5112/5878988086_e92abb312d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5112/5878988086_e92abb312d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cobija is a nice city of about 50,000 people. I loved that it's border with Brazil. It was my first time being around Brazilians. I went to Brazil for the day, it was so much fun. <br />
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I enjoyed each leg of my journey but hope to go back and visit Cobija. <br />
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Other than that life has been normal. Just trying to settle back in and work on my two year visa requirements.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5970126033/" title="night view Sucre by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="night view Sucre" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/5970126033_301553844a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Well there was the day we ate minnows in the market, but I won't get into that.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/6055960045/" title="Fish n Chips Bolivian Style by la viajera, on Flickr"><img alt="Fish n Chips Bolivian Style" height="332" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6085/6055960045_3d150b6229.jpg" width="500" /></a>la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-7028490891795417122011-02-26T19:40:00.001-06:002011-02-26T19:46:13.862-06:00Lake TiticacaQuite possibly the worst named body of water in the world. Or is it? ;) <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5470689045/" title="Lago Titicaca by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5470689045_f3068f4bb4.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Lago Titicaca" /></a><br />
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The lake is at an extremely high altitude of 12,500 feet, though the island we were on (isla del sol) was a bit higher. Believe you me the climb up to our hotel was not enjoyable, even though I paid a local boy to carry my pack up. Just when I thought I was getting in shape! The views tho...unforgettable. We stayed on an island called Isla del Sol which translates to island of the sun, there is a smaller one called moon island or isla de la luna. The water was a deep blue, and the lake so vast I could almost trick my mind into believing I was at the ocean. In the afternoon watching the clouds come in covering the land (Peru) across the lake was amazing. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5471280510/" title="Lago Titicaca by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5471280510_5741e08fc1.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="Lago Titicaca" /></a><br />
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My mind wondered and I wondered what the spaniards must have thought when they first arrived. If they came in rainy season and it was just as cloudy would they have thought they found another ocean? What must they have thought of the sun worshiping indigenous population. But then it just makes me think of how they exploited them, and who wants to think such sad thoughts. Almost as sad as the documentary I saw on the mines in Potosí. It was called '<a href="http://www.thedevilsminer.com/index_new.html">The Devil's Miner</a>'. If anyone wants a real look at how life is for the miners in one of the worlds oldest and largest mines you should check it out. It show's how life really is here, and honestly it's pretty sad, but worth a look. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5470678979/" title="La Paz by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5470678979_16f1a8bc5b.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="La Paz" /></a><br />
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After two days at the lake we spent some time in La Paz. I love the hustle and bustle of a big city, but only for a few days. The taxi drivers are crazy even for me, which is saying a lot considering I grew up with driving with my Dad who is quite possibly the craziest (or worst depending on how you look at it) driver west of the Mississippi. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5470677619/" title="La Paz by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5470677619_55fc20cf23.jpg" width="500" height="332" alt="La Paz" /></a><br />
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We went to some amazing restaurants. You can eat delish gourmet food for what it would cost you to eat at Applebees back in the states. I was spoiled since my friends that were visiting treated me. I love having visitors. :)<br />
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in La Paz (especially the visit to this great little modern art museum) but I am glad to live in a smaller less hectic city. <br />
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Next month I'm making a trip back to the states for work, though I don't really want to my bank account is demanding it. :) So no more posts for a while. If you know my Dad don't tell him I'm coming, I'm trying to surprise him. Hopefully I won't give him a heart attack. But at his age you never know! lolla viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-68038877905465457702011-01-19T16:45:00.000-06:002011-01-19T16:45:26.055-06:00Rostro AsadoFor nearly a year before my move to Bolivia I was vegetarian. I quit for two reasons: I wanted to eat one last time both Popeye's chicken and Bún chả from Lucky Dragon and secondly I knew being a vegetarian anywhere in South America, especially Bolivia, would be difficult. But I have to say after this past weekend I'm strongly considering being vegetarian once again. Here's what happened....<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5370645007/" title="P1010584 by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5246/5370645007_d00e8e729f.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1010584" /></a><br />
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I went with some friends of mine to the town of Oruro, which is near the border with Chile. It has extremely cheap electronics and we went to buy portable dvd players to help with the volunteer work we do with the deaf community here in Sucre. We also wanted to enjoy some of the regional dishes Oruro is famous for. Just to be clear I had no idea what any of them were. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5371248018/" title="P1010578 by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5371248018_e427c16ba9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1010578" /></a><br />
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On Friday we enjoyed Charki-khan. It was a plate of Llama meat that had first been dry-cured over several days then fried. It's accompanied by mote (something similar to hominy), boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, and cheese. Not forgetting the hot sauce or llajua. To be honest, I enjoyed the simple combination. I enjoy food you are supposed to eat with your hands and we ate it with a cold beer. mmmmm <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5371249266/" title="P1010581 by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5371249266_a9d27f7875.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1010581" /></a><br />
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The next day was filled with more shopping, I scorred an awesome wok for $5 and a coat for $2. Then in the evening we were in search of another gastronomical adventure. Generally I'm very adventurous. I had a fried fish head in Haiti, guinea pig in Ecuador, even chicken feet (tho I didn't really enjoy them). But this next adventure has nearly put me over the edge as far as becoming a vegetarian once again. <br />
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We were in search of Rostro Asado. I felt as tho I were a guest host of the Andrew Zimmerman show. On the corner of a downtown street there was a lady with a huge plastic bag sitting inside of a tiny shack. 'Rostro Asado?' she asked us. 'Ummmm sí' was the tentative reply that launched us down the path to the carnivoric atrocity to follow. Reaching deep into the bag she pulled out the specimen to show us what we were buying. Minutes later we were in my friend Teresa's house, sitting around the table and contemplating the monstrosity in front of us. Some of us took it better than others.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5370647511/" title="P1010594 by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5370647511_86709f27bd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1010594" /></a><br />
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Having come this far I couldn't back out. If I had it would have just confirmed to the Bolivians we foreigners are weak-bellied cowards. <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5371251914/" title="P1010593 by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5209/5371251914_e62d520878.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1010593" /></a><br />
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So I partook of his cheek, which wasn't that bad, and finally of the ceso (brains) which had the same 'coat your throat' effect of pure cream that makes me gag. That was the last straw. My eyes were opened and I realized what I had just ate. As soon as my stove/oven gets back into working order and I can cook at home I will begin my path back to veggi-dom.la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-73819188630452325432011-01-01T09:29:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:29:07.309-06:00Trip to Tarabuco<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5311991313/" title="P1010431 copy by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5208/5311991313_1a735a8f9b.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1010431 copy" /></a><br />
I’ve written about Tarabuco before, one of the isolated towns we preach in. It’s also a popular market town and tourist trap. I’d been there for my volunteer work many times, most of the week it’s a sleepy mountain village. Sundays are a completely different story. I went with the four french sisters, we arrived about nine thirty and the town was already abuzz. It’s nice at first to have such a variety, until you realize what a tourist trap it is and how much they overcharge. Haggling is expected and even necessary if you want to get a fair price. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5311992753/" title="P1010436 copy by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5311992753_0b921e3146.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1010436 copy" /></a><br />
We walked around, people watching until lunch time. They wanted to go to a restaurant that was full of tourists...thinking that it must be good and ‘safe’ for their stomachs since other foreigners were there. Not wanting to rock the boat I went along. After waiting for close to a century a little girl brought us our soup, but she got distracted before bringing them all. A old typical Tarabuco man staggered out with the last soup and all I could think of was the remark I’d heard many times that they rarely if ever bathe. The little girl informed us he was the ‘cook’. Then Gaelle found two hairs in her food and we saw an unidentifiable dead stuffed animal through the kitchen door. To top off the trip on the bus ride home there was a bag of live chickens under our feet, but we didn’t realize they were alive until one of the french girls slightly stepped on them. Days like that all you can say is, Welcome to Bolivia!la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-83242545078806265352011-01-01T09:23:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:23:05.576-06:00My New Favorite ThingIn the states, ketchup was far from my favorite condiment. When I was little I could have eaten in on anything. I wonder how many gallons the average public elementary school goes through in a week? Since I turned ten though and it lost it’s childhood mystique it rarely was welcome on much more than my french fries and meatloaf. In my eyes it pales in comparison to homemade barbecue sauce, hidden valley ranch (mmm wish I had some now) or some good brown mustard. Here the ketchup is SO bad. So when I found myself in the condiment aisle at the local supermarket the other day I was strangely attracted to an over-sized (read-american sized) red bottle. Mesmerized by the promise of high fructose corn syrup and ‘natural’ flavoring in the list of ingredients I quickly put the bottle in my cart. Never mind that this one item was half the cost of my grocery bill.<br />
As I write this I’m enjoying some on my salchipapas (french fries with cut up hot-dog on top) that I got from a street vendor near my house. The Heinz company really knows their stuff! Now I have to figure out what to do with 43 3⁄4 oz that are left.la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-63045688029067885112011-01-01T09:19:00.002-06:002011-01-01T09:19:22.287-06:00What I MissSo I of course miss all of you. That’s obvious. There’s email and phone calls (I have internet in the house for a month so I can call and Skype much easier now). <br />
But what I REALLY miss, what I cannot call up on the phone is....fried chicken with honey and hot sauce, greens (it’s all your fault Ingrid), and corn bread, though if I could call them I wonder what they would say? :) For the past few days I’ve had a craving that will NOT go away. I wake up hungry. Which might be a good thing, meaning I’m completely adjusted to the altitude. <br />
So I’ve found people in the market that sell turnips with the greens still on them, but I can’t find the other greens. And I found honey and hot sauce (but not my favorite kind). And some of the most exciting news of the month...I got a stove/oven and a fridge. The fridge doesn’t fit in my tiny kitchen, so it’s become part of the living room furniture along with my new table and bookcase. <br />
It finally looks like I live here, and it finally feels that way too. Now if I can only make chicken like Popeye’s and greens like Ingrid! I’m so hungry!la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-65513630462041472692011-01-01T09:18:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:18:52.408-06:00Bolivian ChocolateMy years in Ecuador were filled with yearning for good chocolate, I would have even accepted Hershey’s in my desperation. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5312560842/" title="krapulito by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5312560842_24545781f7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="krapulito" /></a><br />
Though I had been told Bolivia has good chocolate my first chocolate experience here left me sad and disillusioned, thinking the chocolate is the same as in Ecuador. A very sweet young sister bought me ‘chocolate’ in service. The name “krapulito” was very fitting since they looked like rabbit turds yet tasted like wax covered cardboard. Needless to say I didn’t buy any chocolate for a few weeks. <br />
Then one day I passed by the “Para Ti” chocolate store. Apparently they actually have a chocolate factory here in Sucre. I will never again dream of Hershey’s. Maybe it isn’t as good as Belgium chocolate but it isn’t far off. Smooth and creamy, even the dark is great. SO good. As they say here in Bolivia, super deli (really delicious)!la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-39684127893384642452011-01-01T09:12:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:12:31.486-06:00Argentina here I come, whether I like it or not (september 2010)Things don’t always work out as we plan, no matter how hard we try to make it go smoothly. <br />
My visa situation has been a pain. Literally, I think I’m getting an ulcer and persistent headaches too. If any of you remember the movie “french kiss” you might remember the line ‘I’m currently with out country’. I watched the movie the other day and found myself identifying with it. If only a frenchman and a vineyard were waiting for me at the end of it all.... Maybe an Argentinean and a vineyard??? haha Too much to ask for? Ah well. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5311951025/" title="P1010179 copy by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5090/5311951025_0cf9bed2d2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="P1010179 copy" /></a><br />
I’m going today to leave for the border with Argentina to re-do my entry visa in the hopes that they’ll give me the normal visa so I can look for work later and not the missionary visa that they want to give me. It’ll cost more at first but I think it’ll be worth it in the long run. And hey I wanted to go to Argentina anyways. Granted I didn’t want to just visit the border but hey, mustn't be picky. <br />
This is just a taste of the red tape here in Bolivia, South America in general. Everything is super cheap. And in general very easy, unless of course you have to do anything with the government. It reminds me of HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy and the bureaucratic Vogons. There were never truer words than: Don’t forget your towel!la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-44479349689377577232011-01-01T09:03:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:03:00.469-06:00It all shuts down and they all get drunk- commentary on the Bolivian Independence dayWell maybe not ALL of them. <br />
What does independence day mean to you? Thoughts of fighting for freedom, patria, fireworks and BBQ normally come to mind. Here in Bolivia it’s a time of parades, in which pretty much anyone that goes to any school has to dress up and walk up and down the street seemingly several times. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/5040066074/" title="one of many parades by la viajera, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/5040066074_02f3ec3917.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="one of many parades" /></a><br />
Street vendors pop up out of nowhere and sell everything from salteñas (more about that next time) to imitation hamburgers. Imitation? Not just the fact that they’re imitating our food, but I’m also not entirely sure what the meat is made of. <br />
After a night of partying the streets are empty, only trash and dogs foraging for scraps remain. Slowly people begin coming out of their houses. There are andean street sweeper ladies dressed in traditionally shaped outfits but they’re the color of orange penitentiary jumpsuits. I think I saw a picture of Lindsey Lohan in one before I left. Anyways these little ladies use enormously long (over 15 ft I’d say) palm branches to sweep the streets of debris in preparation for more parades and more drunkenness. <br />
All of this goes on for at least three days. Putting to shame the Americans with their measly fireworks and backyard barbecues. So if you want a spectacle of patriotic proportions come to Bolivia August 6, or really anytime around then since it lasts so long. <br />
But as a local friend pointed out to me the other day, it isn’t all doom and gloom here, nor is it all drunks and parades. ☺la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-53926557312231922062011-01-01T09:01:00.000-06:002011-01-01T09:01:40.126-06:00BoliviaSo I've been here for the past, oh I dunno five months. I've accumulated a few articles that I've put in my newsletter. But I thought I'd share them here to, to a wider audience. Enjoy!la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-56391072096724475042010-01-07T22:56:00.002-06:002010-01-07T23:04:50.112-06:00Stupid Iowa MalesSo this will be a small rant....I know I never post anymore!<br /><br />Ok, rant of the day. The weather of late has been horrendous. And we are in Iowa! You would think people would know how to dress when there are blizzard conditions. But NOOOOO. This afternoon, despite the black ice and arctic wind, I went to the store to get ingredients for cookies I had to make for the remodel at our hall. There was a surprising amount of people there and a good number of the men were wearing shorts! I know what it's like to wish it were winter. But I wear bright colors and think happy thoughts....not shorts in blizzard weather. Today on the news they said we've already received the average amount of snowfall we should have for the WHOLE year. Please let me inherit some money from someone so I can leave soon!!la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-16004331052172448792009-09-19T14:25:00.001-05:002009-09-19T14:27:39.858-05:00ELEW<object height="344" width="425">I'm not a huge evanescence fan but elew can make just about anything mind blowing! <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZhGMZOaf3Z4&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZhGMZOaf3Z4&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_profilepage&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-82905554008917474082009-09-10T22:42:00.002-05:002009-09-11T00:00:07.250-05:00¿qué piensan?<iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=115980799153505351203.0004730926bb72b3646da&ll=-19.692883,-65.401992&spn=7.236838,9.338379&z=6&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=115980799153505351203.0004730926bb72b3646da&ll=-19.692883,-65.401992&spn=7.236838,9.338379&z=6&source=embed" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">Bolivia</a> in a larger map</small><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mixtaperiot.com/wp/wp-content/media/Fievre-La-Lupe-Remix.mp3">Fievre</a>la viajerahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12682247884454267274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-44617796745790293542009-09-02T20:02:00.003-05:002009-09-02T20:40:29.178-05:00regretsI am arguably the most indecisive person I know.<br />It usually stems from thinking I can do more than I am capable of. Today is the day I was supposed to be on a plane south to Peru. It hit me as the day went by that I would rather be there than here. I will try and give my best if I can. But honestly I don't know how long I'm going to make it here. I should have spent more time counting the cost before I changed my plans. :( Maybe this darkness will pass and I'll make it the whole year but as they say I wouldn't put money on it. It's not even anything to do with the adventure...if it is it's a small part. I just get so sick of the daily grind, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">american</span> mindset and the materialism that seems to suck me in a little more every day. I just don't like the person I am when I'm here.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">aaaahhhhhh</span> I hate regret.<br /><br />Now I just have to get motivated and find a way to change it. Tomorrow maybe, tonight I think I'll revel in the regret...maybe next time I won't make a stupid decision.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-28615944550967126542009-08-28T00:03:00.004-05:002009-08-28T00:38:30.771-05:00midwestEvery now and again I forget that I'm living in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">midwest</span>. My bosses are from Chicago and the east coast. All my return visits are from Africa. Most of the restaurants I go to are of the Asian style. I listen to radio stations from Seattle, read out of state news papers, watch <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bbc</span> world news. Really the only part of me that is in the mid west is the physical. Mentally and emotionally too I'm somewhere else. :)<br /><br />But there are times when it becomes <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">blatantly</span> obvious that I am in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">midwest</span>. It happened twice this week. First at the fair <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">sunday</span> evening. In Iowa the fair is serious. Ten days of farm animals, food on a stick and fashion emergencies. I went on the last day so I could pay half price. It was worth the people watching alone. The proud farmers showing off their livestock, the obese preteens eating funnel cakes, and the old timers reliving the glory days all had something very specific to say about the midwest. I'll leave you to come to your own conclusions.<br /><br />The other revealing moment this week actually happened tonight. Tomorrow we're going camping so I went to the store after meeting. I ended up at walmart. I haven't been there in months. It too had something to say about the midwest and the people in it. How many kinds of bacon do we really need? The overabundance boggled my mind. Anyways after getting everything I thought I needed I headed over to the camping section to see if there was anything I forgot. Turning down one of the aisles I got a knot in my stomach at the sight of guns hanging from the shelves. Not just shot-guns for hunting. Hand guns too. There was more than one aisle dedicated to them. It made me sick to think that you can get it at walmart. I guess it really is one-stop-shopping. Question is, do they supply ski masks too??<br /><br />Welcome to America.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-81446763547391338232009-08-09T23:32:00.000-05:002009-08-09T23:33:18.611-05:00I get the urge...<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z3EofN3Flag&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z3EofN3Flag&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-12219965646119179732009-07-19T17:07:00.002-05:002009-07-19T17:11:28.671-05:00So.............things have changed. It turns out I'm not going to Peru in September. Not this September anyways. I'm going to spend another year here and help out with french. I've been trying to deny the fact that they really need me here, but I finally realized staying one more year would be the right thing to do. AND....I'm going to France for a month! I would be a fool to turn down that opportunity. I'll write all about my trip to France on here. And who knows what else. That's it for now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-4315397252052095502009-07-09T10:50:00.002-05:002009-07-09T10:57:01.939-05:0054 daysIt's been crazy, we just got back from french convention in Charlotte NC. I love the south!haha Convention was nice, I feel like I'm finally getting a grasp on french. We had a great time, downtown Charlotte was a lot of fun. <br /><br />I'm leaving in 54 days, parring a disaster I think I'll wait to post more on the blog till I arrive in Peru. I need to focus on what's going on here, figure things out. I hope everyone has a great summer!<br /><br />-summer<br />je ne sais pas, je ne sais plus, je suis perduUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-45826711352689559162009-06-23T18:17:00.002-05:002009-06-23T18:20:53.374-05:00So I saw this on YouTube today and loved it. They're from Peru so I thought I'd let you all see it.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WJ3Rcw0Xq4M&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WJ3Rcw0Xq4M&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-38013453553097055202009-06-03T00:39:00.003-05:002009-06-03T00:57:51.252-05:0090 days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12_CO0MFbMwVi_WWsRWjpD1V1HdnhcegUZmI-Gv9I_HzYqoHlXKyFe14ttbmCzP13LCzl5Qz_3iWtl_kYTFJCb0FojPTeohCIuzjtQGN2IQkzwyAraq0TPnxQZwLmNaqAhxJdZZNDjNA/s1600-h/_DSC0085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12_CO0MFbMwVi_WWsRWjpD1V1HdnhcegUZmI-Gv9I_HzYqoHlXKyFe14ttbmCzP13LCzl5Qz_3iWtl_kYTFJCb0FojPTeohCIuzjtQGN2IQkzwyAraq0TPnxQZwLmNaqAhxJdZZNDjNA/s320/_DSC0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342975471549398818" border="0" /></a><br />In exactly ninety days I will be in an airplane somewhere over central america on my way to my new home. I have no idea what will happen after that. Does that scare me? I'm not sure. I'm excited but I'm not sure if I'm scared yet. When I was little I would ride the biggest scariest roller-coaster over and over again. After the terror went away it just wasn't as fun. --I know I'm crazy. Now I have ninety days to have a garage sale to get rid of all my junk and make some cash, go to convention in English and maybe French, and try to fit all my shoes into my suitcases. I'm sure I'll find more things I NEED to do and more things I NEED to buy. But for now I'm hopeful that it will all get done. But it still hasn't gotten scarey, and I'm not TOO excited <span style="font-style: italic;">YET.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-58554878877738966972009-05-24T08:55:00.002-05:002009-05-24T09:27:07.313-05:00busssssssssssssssssyI haven't written in a while. I've wanted to, I've even had interesting things to talk about. I just haven't had the time. So know I've got the time and I don't know where to start. Might as well do it chronologically. I'll try not to bore you with too many details.<br /><br />Chicago: As some of you know I went to Chicago for a week on a 'working' vacation. It was honestly more vacation than work but I was still exhausted by the end of the week. We stayed in an apartment building in the area known as the magnificent mile. I had my own apartment on the 45th floor (there's a pic on my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/summers_wanderings/">flickr</a>). I got to take the kids to all the fun places, navy pier, ect. I hit the art museum, china town and shopping on michigan ave on my own. Chicago is an old city, home of Jazz and the Blues too. There's a place called Jazz Record Mart in downtown. It is loaded to the gills with Jazz and Blues music. When you step through the doors you feel like you've gone back at least forty years. It's by far my favorite place in Chicago.<br /><br />Ohio: The day after I got back from Chicago we left for the french special day assembly in ohio. I was worried Ohio would be just another Iowa (sorry Iowans). But Colombus turned out to be a cool college town. The assembly was wonderful, I understood way more than I thought I would. On the way there I had flashbacks of my first assembly in Spanish and the headaches, boredom and confusion that came along with it. I guess it really is true that if you learn one language it's much easier to learn another. :)<br /><br />Other highlights since I last wrote have been 'the sounds' concert which was amazing. I also started teaching my first spanish class to a couple that recently switched to the spanish congregation. I love it. I can't wait to teach english in Peru! So that's it....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6732647241621741452.post-83488811086678264592009-04-18T17:02:00.003-05:002009-04-18T23:44:43.736-05:00¿Dónde?Well folks it's election season once more. It's time to vote for which <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101828820550844491792.000467cf4d58dc1faceac&z=4">city in Peru</a> you think I should move to. Here are the candidates in no particular order:<br /><br />Tacna/ pop 250,000+/ elev 460m<br />Known for being the countries largest producer of olives,Tacna is a bustling border town not with out it's charms. It's home to some of the best schools and hospitals in Peru and just a stones throw from Chile, the Pacific Ocean and it's very own wine country (I hear they make a decent red). Temps from 48˚to 83˚<br />Check out: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsNJAXmIo80">Video</a> & <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/morrissey/4731139/">picture</a><br /><br />Moquegua/ pop 60,000/ elev 1420m<br />Located in the mountains of southern Peru, Moquegua is an oasis surrounded by desert. Grapes, olives and avocados are cultivated there. Cobblestone streets and a shady plaza featuring a wrought-iron fountain designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel makes Moquegua a quaint city in the mountains. Temperature fluxuates between 52˚ and 80˚. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/acme1001/2180826042/">Pictures </a>and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoctor/2563350562/">more pictures</a>.<br /><br />Ayacucho/ pop 143,000+/ elev 2750m<br />This city in the central Andes is one of the most traditionaly colonial cities in Peru. The first road linking it to the coast was not finished until 1924 and the paving of a road to Lima was not completed until 1999, a fact which has kept Ayacucho culturaly sound. Despite it's beauty and culture it has not yet become a travel destination for foreign travelers. Ayacucho is also a famous handicraft center known for it's weaving. Temps from 43˚to 76˚. Check out: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G57F8Q-ca6c">video</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veloman55/320440085/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">picture</span></a><br /><br />Huaraz/ pop 88,000+/ elev 3091<br />Trekking capital of the Peruvian Andes, Huarez is a village with a lot of personality. It's beauty is not in the streets or buildings but in the mountain views and endless blue sky. It attracts adventure junkies from all over the world with mountain climbing, rock climbing, mountain biking. Temps from 65˚to 87˚. Check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI40wMZKlbM">video</a>.<br /><br />Cuzco/ pop 322,000+/ elev 3326<br />South Americas oldest continuously inhabited city and gateway to Machu Pichu, Cuzco is on most every travelers destination list. Every year thousands of tourists file there way through this beautiful city on there way to Machu Pichu and the Inca trail. There is a huge Quechua speaking population, decendents of the Incas that once ruled the land and left there mark on it. The city is full of mueseums, remnents of the Inca empire and tourist snapping pictures of it all.<br />Temps between 32˚and 70˚. Check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqMUlt_szWQ">video.<br /></a><br />Cajamarca/ pop 135,00+/ elev 2650<br />The most important city in the northern Andes, Cajamarca is a mix of the old and the really old. Delicate colonial structures line Inca built cobbled streets. Cajamarca is surrounded by fertile farm land and filled with both campesinos (peasants) and city dwellers. Few travelers make it here. Temps between 42˚and 70˚. Check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0q7l8zpSek">video</a>.<br /><br />So, what do you think? Tacna, Ayacucho and Moquegua are my favorites so far. Let me know what you think, and don't forget to vote!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2