Hello All! I realized I hadn´t actually posted anything in a while, but thats I´ve been in Sucre enjoying myself and not doing much. I started Spanish school on Monday, began with the alphabet and today was some verbs! the classes are about 4 hours a day and then a few hours of homework each night. Its a nice school, Private one-one teaching.
In celebrating for Carnival the city is having a constant water fight. At first I was unsure if it was simply local boys getting there kicks throwing water ballons at travellers, but nope... no one is safe. Little ladies even sell water ballons on the street. you have to watch above your head cause the kids will stand in there balconies and throw them too. I got wise and bought a water gun: revenge is mine!
Ill be here until the end of Carnaval. My spanish lesson are one week long, (Unless I do another week, but Im thinking one is all). No complaints, lots of other great travellers and the city is nesstled in the mountains. Heard about the crazy cold and snow there....Sorry guys!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Bolivan bus trips
Well, When my bus ride first started I was actually thinking about how I could describe beautiful the mountain,s covered in lush greenry, waterfalls everywhere from the over abundance of rain. As the sun set the full moon arised and supplied enough light that I could still make the outlines of 30 foot catcti in the distance. And then we got a flat tire, which I actually thought was nice since it gave me time to watch the pretty firefly´s outside.
If only I could of jumped to the end of the trip there.
We got back on the road and continued for about 15 mintues when we stopped again...I was sitting right behind the bus drivers (there are two) when one got out with a flash light, and walked the route where the bus was supposed to go. However I looked out of my window and down and saw nothing other than a shear cliff to the river below. The one guided the driver very slowly while watching the wheels. And than all of a sudden he started screaming GO GO Go! and the driver gunned it and we made it o.k. But by now I am WIDE awake and no possiblity of sleep; unlike everyone else snoozing peacfully. Than, we came to a river....seriously? I was like this possibley cant be the road....Yep! There was some cars that been stopped since then couldnt make it through since the water would have been over the doors, who all got out to watch this attempt... And Off we go! the bus smashed something on the bottom and we drive the smoking bus into the little hamlet 20 yrd away to fix yet another flat tire.
So off we go again. The only delay until we had to cross another river was stopping to help someone else fix a flat tire. The next river though the drivers were smart they waded all the way across and felt for rocks to move...the water was up to their thighs. and through this river we go.
We got to a rickty bridge which the drivers made us all get out and walk across...I couldnt help but think why didnt they do this many times sooner¿ By now the sun was up and I thought all was to be good...When suddendly we came to a stop....what now could it be?
Well only a rockslide that took out the entire road! Apparently it was going to take hours to clear it or something so many people started walking because apperently a bus ran from the next small town...I didnt want to be seperated from my bag so I stayed...and than the people from my bus started by hand working together and moving the rocks and boulders. So of course I pitched in Dont need to be able to speak the language to understand when work need to be done...and if little old Bolivan ladies were helping so would I....we worked for probley about half an hour, and right near the end (kara style of course) I managed to Gash my finger right open on one of the rocks...one of the old ladies wrapped my finger to stop the bledding but I got a bunch of blood droplets on my pants. SO we made it through the big landslide!
and if only this was the last of it...Not to bore you with the details of yet ANOTHER flat tire, we than came to a semi truck that had managed to get stuck in wheel deep mud completely sideways blocking both sides of the road. And yes that is bascially the end of it....
3 flat tires, 2 rivers crossed, one cliff survived, a rockslide, and a stuck semi, no sleep, and 21 hours later I arrived here in Sucre.
If only I could of jumped to the end of the trip there.
We got back on the road and continued for about 15 mintues when we stopped again...I was sitting right behind the bus drivers (there are two) when one got out with a flash light, and walked the route where the bus was supposed to go. However I looked out of my window and down and saw nothing other than a shear cliff to the river below. The one guided the driver very slowly while watching the wheels. And than all of a sudden he started screaming GO GO Go! and the driver gunned it and we made it o.k. But by now I am WIDE awake and no possiblity of sleep; unlike everyone else snoozing peacfully. Than, we came to a river....seriously? I was like this possibley cant be the road....Yep! There was some cars that been stopped since then couldnt make it through since the water would have been over the doors, who all got out to watch this attempt... And Off we go! the bus smashed something on the bottom and we drive the smoking bus into the little hamlet 20 yrd away to fix yet another flat tire.
So off we go again. The only delay until we had to cross another river was stopping to help someone else fix a flat tire. The next river though the drivers were smart they waded all the way across and felt for rocks to move...the water was up to their thighs. and through this river we go.
We got to a rickty bridge which the drivers made us all get out and walk across...I couldnt help but think why didnt they do this many times sooner¿ By now the sun was up and I thought all was to be good...When suddendly we came to a stop....what now could it be?
Well only a rockslide that took out the entire road! Apparently it was going to take hours to clear it or something so many people started walking because apperently a bus ran from the next small town...I didnt want to be seperated from my bag so I stayed...and than the people from my bus started by hand working together and moving the rocks and boulders. So of course I pitched in Dont need to be able to speak the language to understand when work need to be done...and if little old Bolivan ladies were helping so would I....we worked for probley about half an hour, and right near the end (kara style of course) I managed to Gash my finger right open on one of the rocks...one of the old ladies wrapped my finger to stop the bledding but I got a bunch of blood droplets on my pants. SO we made it through the big landslide!
and if only this was the last of it...Not to bore you with the details of yet ANOTHER flat tire, we than came to a semi truck that had managed to get stuck in wheel deep mud completely sideways blocking both sides of the road. And yes that is bascially the end of it....
3 flat tires, 2 rivers crossed, one cliff survived, a rockslide, and a stuck semi, no sleep, and 21 hours later I arrived here in Sucre.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Well, I think i´m going to give up on going to the Parque to Volunteer for now. It hasn´t stopped raining for more than about 2 hours since the last post. I´m looking into travelling to the south of Boliva first and than coming back up to work. I´d be in a big city for the Caranval and In Sucre (which would be where im headed) I can take spanish lessons. Which would be a great assest in a country that no one speaks english =)
And how does it smell¿ Like humdity, I dont think i´ve been completly dry once since I got here. I made the stupid mistake of washing some clothes but in 100% humidity, things don´t dry. However It is still very warm out, and of course if i´m hot in canada when it´s -15 out...I find it still very hot here.
I haven´t seen any more cochroaches in my room but I have one small Gecko I named Fred, he´s much cuter than a bug, plus I dont have to kill him.
I think I might of ate some pigeons, The menu at the resturant had Quails on it...which kinda confused me since quails was pluralized, so I ordered it. Two little birds the exact size of the hundreds of pigons that live on the square about 5 meters way, were pn my plate. And since they were so small none of the insides were cleaned out...yummy.
Also, take time to appricate our bus system back at home....you walk up to the counter and buy a ticket for where you want to go. If it only it was that easy....With the help of my english/spanish speaking Portugues friend we tried inquiring about tickets to the city near I want to Volunteer at. However there is not one booth to go to....the bus sations has about 47 different boths to go to, all run separately by different agencies some going to the same places, some going to other, none with corrosponding information.
I met a man from Quebec last night who has been riding his motobike since November...West through sask and alberta, up through yukon to alaska, and now down all the way to here continuing to the southern tip of chile. Quite the trip!
Here´s to hoping that not ALL the roads are washed away, I´ll keep you posted!
And how does it smell¿ Like humdity, I dont think i´ve been completly dry once since I got here. I made the stupid mistake of washing some clothes but in 100% humidity, things don´t dry. However It is still very warm out, and of course if i´m hot in canada when it´s -15 out...I find it still very hot here.
I haven´t seen any more cochroaches in my room but I have one small Gecko I named Fred, he´s much cuter than a bug, plus I dont have to kill him.
I think I might of ate some pigeons, The menu at the resturant had Quails on it...which kinda confused me since quails was pluralized, so I ordered it. Two little birds the exact size of the hundreds of pigons that live on the square about 5 meters way, were pn my plate. And since they were so small none of the insides were cleaned out...yummy.
Also, take time to appricate our bus system back at home....you walk up to the counter and buy a ticket for where you want to go. If it only it was that easy....With the help of my english/spanish speaking Portugues friend we tried inquiring about tickets to the city near I want to Volunteer at. However there is not one booth to go to....the bus sations has about 47 different boths to go to, all run separately by different agencies some going to the same places, some going to other, none with corrosponding information.
I met a man from Quebec last night who has been riding his motobike since November...West through sask and alberta, up through yukon to alaska, and now down all the way to here continuing to the southern tip of chile. Quite the trip!
Here´s to hoping that not ALL the roads are washed away, I´ll keep you posted!
Monday, January 21, 2008
STUCK
So, Since its rained and rained and well.....rained. The roads out of Santa Cruz are closed. The funny thing is i was going to buy my ticket out today and stopped to eat; (a delcious $1 meal including a BBQ chicken, Rice, and papas fritas....French fries) When on the T.V came the news showing the road closures. Which I understood watching on the T.v, but If I got to the train station I dont think I would of understood why I couldn´t buy a ticket.
I could fly out but it´s a difference from about $8 compared to $100....It stopped raining today and cleared up, the roads dry fast so thats hopeful.
Theré´s a few day trips near here that I may go on if the roads don´t open soon.....I´ve enjoyed it here, Nice laid back city, enjoyable people, however I´m itching to play with animals.
Oh....and you can buy puma shoes here for 6 bucks...crazy!
I could fly out but it´s a difference from about $8 compared to $100....It stopped raining today and cleared up, the roads dry fast so thats hopeful.
Theré´s a few day trips near here that I may go on if the roads don´t open soon.....I´ve enjoyed it here, Nice laid back city, enjoyable people, however I´m itching to play with animals.
Oh....and you can buy puma shoes here for 6 bucks...crazy!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Santa Cruz
Well, I have arrived in Boliva!
Santa Cruz is a nice city (I suppose I have nothing to compare to eh?)
The inabilty to speak the lanuage can be trying; however I met a nice student from Brazil who has been a great help in communicating with the locals. Since the Caranival is soon, there was a HUGE parade last night, basically just thousand of people dressed in their regional costumes dancing and playing music. Being the rainy season though this was done in a complete downpour, which added to it I thought.
I need to get my passport extended so I can volunteer however the information in the lonely planet was wrong. And everything is closed on sundays, Even finding the internet was hard since the places that were open didn´t work since is POURING rain. infact I am dripping wet right now. So I´ll be in santa Cruz for another day or so while I get the immigration issue fixed. So i`m going to enjoy my time here since I have running water, electricity, t.v, and cochroaches. Where im going will only have the latter.
Santa Cruz is a nice city (I suppose I have nothing to compare to eh?)
The inabilty to speak the lanuage can be trying; however I met a nice student from Brazil who has been a great help in communicating with the locals. Since the Caranival is soon, there was a HUGE parade last night, basically just thousand of people dressed in their regional costumes dancing and playing music. Being the rainy season though this was done in a complete downpour, which added to it I thought.
I need to get my passport extended so I can volunteer however the information in the lonely planet was wrong. And everything is closed on sundays, Even finding the internet was hard since the places that were open didn´t work since is POURING rain. infact I am dripping wet right now. So I´ll be in santa Cruz for another day or so while I get the immigration issue fixed. So i`m going to enjoy my time here since I have running water, electricity, t.v, and cochroaches. Where im going will only have the latter.
Friday, January 18, 2008
January 18- MIAMI
After stopping in both San Francisco and Las Vegas I arrived in Miami this morning at 6:30am. Since my flight doesn't leave until 11:10pm I couldn't just sit in the airport all day;
Busing down to South Beach I had breakfast overlooking the boat filled bay and then tried napping under the shade of a tree. (to many ants) Then walking and wandering around for hours enjoying the hot humdity (that's a lie I don't enjoy it...Heat and I are not freinds, but considering the weather back home I'm not going to complain about it being to hot) I found the Miami college. The Internet at the airport is $1.00/minute, I decided that free was much better and managed to get permission for free guest access here at the school.
Until Boliva...adios!
Busing down to South Beach I had breakfast overlooking the boat filled bay and then tried napping under the shade of a tree. (to many ants) Then walking and wandering around for hours enjoying the hot humdity (that's a lie I don't enjoy it...Heat and I are not freinds, but considering the weather back home I'm not going to complain about it being to hot) I found the Miami college. The Internet at the airport is $1.00/minute, I decided that free was much better and managed to get permission for free guest access here at the school.
Until Boliva...adios!
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