tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1357845406242298832024-02-07T19:20:48.404-08:00Aventuras Ecuatorianas: The Trials & TribulationsFollow the (literal) ups and downs of our Ecuadorian adventures as we descend the Andean slopes to explore the country's tropical rain forests, coastal beaches and other magnificent sites!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-23852484180913423752011-07-22T18:26:00.000-07:002011-07-22T18:57:36.605-07:00Glacier National Park<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />The night before backpacking, Jess was giving Nik and me a few different tips on what to pack and why. I asked if we would need our bathing suits for any swimming fun and she answered, "Well, it is <span style="font-style: italic;">glacial runoff</span> so I don't know how much <span style="font-style: italic;">swimming </span>we'll be doing."<br /><br />Noted. We leave our bathing suits at home. (The car.)<br /><br />After our hike into <span style="font-style: italic;">backcountry</span> we got up the ganas to take a dive sans clothing! (And by dive, I mean cautious but simultaneously clumsy tip-toeing off the rocks.) And guess what? Glacial runoff is COLD. We dunked ourselves in the lake, came up gasping for air, and took a really fast splash-bath. Reaching for the edge of the water almost as soon as we got knee-deep, Nikk and I had a new respect for backpackers who do this on the regular (aka Jess, our wise backcountry guide).<br /><br />Here are some funny pics for our blog friends, and not our Facebook friends:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4rJ4MIHbkhxKn93PlhJXVPyhPyM_0By2VyV2b-LxNcV-f_mpMDCpGRIp5OrhZLVEGMGJkUS2bL31Zwo0653iXts0MlpmM2HarHi6ixNg1w6eT65fckA-MisoOJXmpnykTXywzr2e8ZrR/s1600/from+SD+to+CA+094.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4rJ4MIHbkhxKn93PlhJXVPyhPyM_0By2VyV2b-LxNcV-f_mpMDCpGRIp5OrhZLVEGMGJkUS2bL31Zwo0653iXts0MlpmM2HarHi6ixNg1w6eT65fckA-MisoOJXmpnykTXywzr2e8ZrR/s320/from+SD+to+CA+094.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632358325483633650" border="0" /></a><br />Note the CAMP SOAP, our BFF<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx1yNzLnpTBaPiPCuiw64nUKPDNegJbQBtskiwVDJQPiUV4Nn26g36xycLKHp5-l1_HHUgkEpwnYsFGXuzcYy9CWDX-FZ29B6QIkef-_CajV09q5fSnIsYkCpSlpguKwTeualwfENNQO8/s1600/from+SD+to+CA+096.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx1yNzLnpTBaPiPCuiw64nUKPDNegJbQBtskiwVDJQPiUV4Nn26g36xycLKHp5-l1_HHUgkEpwnYsFGXuzcYy9CWDX-FZ29B6QIkef-_CajV09q5fSnIsYkCpSlpguKwTeualwfENNQO8/s320/from+SD+to+CA+096.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632358837260209954" border="0" /></a>Fly high!!<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-79254745769208686672011-07-08T20:24:00.000-07:002011-07-08T20:53:42.119-07:00The Break Down//Miracle on Rt. 90We're putt-putting along Route 80/Route 90 into Chicago, and Nik is in the driver's seat. She starts to tell me what to look for in case the car breaks down. (Her car shut down when she was coming home this summer with her mom.) Nikki says, "Kels, just in case it happens, I want you to be prepared. The last time it happened, we lost the ability to accelerate, we lost power-steering...oh, WAIT, IT IS HAPPENING NOW."<br /><br />She smoothly glides the car onto the side of the road. I have to give her props, she seemed totally unfazed. I, on the other hand, after the car was safely stopped, instantly got out and opened up a bowl of pasta salad (from my Aunt Debbie, thanks!). WOOPS. Stressed-out eating habit, ay-yayay.<br /><br />Anyway, Nik calls her parents to see what she should do. We're sitting on the side of the road, about 102 miles from our destination (Chicago). Not sure what to do, we take a look at our surroundings...<br /><br />We're in SOUTH BEND, INDIANA. You might be wondering, "Um, what? What's that town like?" Well, person, it is home to Penn State rival Notre Dame. Do we want to celebrate the 4th of July in rinky-dink South Bend with a bunch of Fighting Irish? Let me remind you of who we are.<br /><br />WE ARE....<br /><div style="text-align: right;">...PENN STATE.<br /></div><br />Speaking of which, we were also SHC scholars. Using her brain, Nik tries to restart the car on a whim. It runs. Perfect, leh-go!<br /><br />Now, keep in mind that we were 102 miles from Chicago. Nikki has AAA insurance that allows for towing up to <span style="font-style: italic;">one hundred miles </span>of the breakdown. We're just outside the window of 100 miles. (Get ready for el milagro) The car drives for about 5 more minutes when the engine totally shuts off again. We pull over to the side of the road and check the GPS...we're 92 miles (or so) to Chicago. Yes, that's right, by a strike of luck, we made it within 100 miles of our friend Daissy's house!!<br /><br />The decision is made--if we're gonna be stranded, it will be in Chicago! Nik calls AAA and all we have to do is wait out the tow truck. A REAL LIFE MIRACLE. We're getting towed ONE HUNDRED MILES TO A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, SUCKERS.<br /><br />In another post, you can read about the shenanigans we got into while waiting!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-9100639634839495672011-07-08T19:44:00.000-07:002011-07-08T20:21:17.642-07:00Wall DrugHey All,<br /><br />As my blog recently reminded me on facebook, we've been a bit absent from keeping this up to date...mostly because we don't have internet! But we're aiming to do better. I'm adding a few tonight, and then in a few more days check back. We'll be out in the wilderness until Tuesday (I think). Tomorrow we're going on a backpacking trip through the "back country." YIKES BEARS! A REAL HIKE. This time, I'm all sorts of ready.<br /><br />Check it:<br /><br />1. I bought hiking pants (not gonna be sporting my NWMS gym shorts! not sure what I mean? check out a post on here from the inca trail)AND THEY ZIP APART. One pant leg up! what's it mean!<br />2. I'm wearing my sneakers (aka not breaking in hiking boots the day before and forming outrageous blisters)<br />3. I'm borrowing Jess's mom's sleeping bag and backpack so I won't die of frostbite.<br /><br />But back to Wall Drug. Nik and I saw so many billboards along the road in South Dakota. They were made of wood. (not metal.) Most were encouraging us not to get an abortion, one suggested we start wearing fur! (for population control, of course) and mannyyy were advertising Wall Drug. This place was made famous during the Great Depression because it gave out free ice-water. NOM. It still does!<br /><br />Here is a photo journal of our short time there:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZfFdC2fsazNsoykvcATOEbJPtrJgN4DfKEgNkXf-e650RvKQ99xi3M6Nhl6GGgTFMcSShKJGDyUaIzHqrZnDaLqnnajT8JxXrZEQmLkDURxBfcj0RDMEjLaIOBR5-f-G4PoIHAqHBJfJ/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZfFdC2fsazNsoykvcATOEbJPtrJgN4DfKEgNkXf-e650RvKQ99xi3M6Nhl6GGgTFMcSShKJGDyUaIzHqrZnDaLqnnajT8JxXrZEQmLkDURxBfcj0RDMEjLaIOBR5-f-G4PoIHAqHBJfJ/s320/photo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627181758404305042" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Just sayin' HI!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxhBuXyF8RA_6ee4cBNGAy8vP2cJWxF496RdHLm-3mNX3LPCdaGucnZ7GtwyQJsR0oV8nZXFN7F-8AEgSmOsKDsVNwHVGNIUGKKonCWJ6SSeiuLVo5hmggqB2TWpkiFGUGOeNZKGCC8jD/s1600/photo%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxhBuXyF8RA_6ee4cBNGAy8vP2cJWxF496RdHLm-3mNX3LPCdaGucnZ7GtwyQJsR0oV8nZXFN7F-8AEgSmOsKDsVNwHVGNIUGKKonCWJ6SSeiuLVo5hmggqB2TWpkiFGUGOeNZKGCC8jD/s320/photo%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627182994617235554" border="0" /></a>Me and Jess being culturally sensitive!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_PWxOJEDst6g_C6ItM1fqm_IpuxM11YMnHnrhD-yQE-USGdECpt4jgc-nk2VuQaRUudw9GCA6SwEh7rlBCOR-ueMIaWNpVO1rgdjrGHsQQuQZMkmnn5g5iJOtMpxZt3nWJbOjJNY9PbC/s1600/photo%25283%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_PWxOJEDst6g_C6ItM1fqm_IpuxM11YMnHnrhD-yQE-USGdECpt4jgc-nk2VuQaRUudw9GCA6SwEh7rlBCOR-ueMIaWNpVO1rgdjrGHsQQuQZMkmnn5g5iJOtMpxZt3nWJbOjJNY9PbC/s320/photo%25283%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627183653844144946" border="0" /></a><br />Jess taming the mysterious, wild jackalope!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMpR_FlkUFfwNYtPYgJv2JKOTx9vnNKTljiafT95THvxDQuKLK6Sawk2jlYal5n_TAb81yNMgW1vMXD1MjLvHhT1rGA5-Z45s86hkfQ_wFRAp3p9qXfFo41zt2s3ya8Y-DHTGJjkMK5dM/s1600/photo%25284%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMpR_FlkUFfwNYtPYgJv2JKOTx9vnNKTljiafT95THvxDQuKLK6Sawk2jlYal5n_TAb81yNMgW1vMXD1MjLvHhT1rGA5-Z45s86hkfQ_wFRAp3p9qXfFo41zt2s3ya8Y-DHTGJjkMK5dM/s320/photo%25284%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627185312813513122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Me, being a party pooper. (That shit wasn't wild.)<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb9FWmKz9d-BdCn81s1f7ETaSbthKUgGpwJgjPmKTOyPNnzdKzsifw4PQdRJwo6xp_kQ_GpqsUoOOhMXKj7GW3Gg1lFC2uV_0cVqqchyRGrjgLuNJwDZPQVX9EfqNvVKNs9Hfa2fvZQ-A/s1600/photo%25281%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIb9FWmKz9d-BdCn81s1f7ETaSbthKUgGpwJgjPmKTOyPNnzdKzsifw4PQdRJwo6xp_kQ_GpqsUoOOhMXKj7GW3Gg1lFC2uV_0cVqqchyRGrjgLuNJwDZPQVX9EfqNvVKNs9Hfa2fvZQ-A/s320/photo%25281%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627185724805399986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Nikki riding a <span style="font-style: italic;">fake horse.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErFdaq3b3HtzWwvOhCn8hxvwdxHAw-zQwGocPrzX5hUqZ7ahIY20TlW5JPkR8irgo3kbYHn1QXZVaUX9zDYbi243tzPIowM4T77p-AAN-aX9-paOAPwLmxmfWsMeAByy5mX8Iqb3nIemb/s1600/photo%25285%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErFdaq3b3HtzWwvOhCn8hxvwdxHAw-zQwGocPrzX5hUqZ7ahIY20TlW5JPkR8irgo3kbYHn1QXZVaUX9zDYbi243tzPIowM4T77p-AAN-aX9-paOAPwLmxmfWsMeAByy5mX8Iqb3nIemb/s320/photo%25285%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627186191651845090" border="0" /></a><br />Boob-grab. BOW-WOW-WOW<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFIdCHBiqKV2D5AikkBhgXXu01orgyoa15qxCMvWvqDJ6AeOVOImAz6YSW1DGu1M3miYjn8PQjXoK2k-R04Dosx31ytSy-PNQyEqqcfLv-2-eMAQey_nfMJlRkNtvHdgwZ5Yk195VhA8_/s1600/photo%25286%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFIdCHBiqKV2D5AikkBhgXXu01orgyoa15qxCMvWvqDJ6AeOVOImAz6YSW1DGu1M3miYjn8PQjXoK2k-R04Dosx31ytSy-PNQyEqqcfLv-2-eMAQey_nfMJlRkNtvHdgwZ5Yk195VhA8_/s320/photo%25286%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627186816206792194" border="0" /></a>Guns for kids!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgoWVqyZCS4FGYP2uc4UEUJINgjuvIsn6pzmsP7XAfMHNizLV-M99qOCeCrnqsDVcb9_O7LIIpxtL7RnYQaSvGmtXc5G-irZh-DiBHHHRcuxUHXUc8Dat-2h57kydabVgqPStMPh6Ron2/s1600/photo%25287%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgoWVqyZCS4FGYP2uc4UEUJINgjuvIsn6pzmsP7XAfMHNizLV-M99qOCeCrnqsDVcb9_O7LIIpxtL7RnYQaSvGmtXc5G-irZh-DiBHHHRcuxUHXUc8Dat-2h57kydabVgqPStMPh6Ron2/s320/photo%25287%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627187219906036994" border="0" /></a>So long, Wall Drug!<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-26155887914266885232011-07-04T17:43:00.000-07:002011-07-04T17:55:05.827-07:00BullshitAs we sit in a park listening to some marching band pop band (it's a band of nerds!) and playoff bs nik says to me- I am trying to collect all the cards because lying stresses me out! Haha, I predict she will not win that strategy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-36139240169506507602011-07-02T08:54:00.000-07:002011-07-02T09:03:22.056-07:00On the road...again!Just about to start our month long trip across the country! First up, State College and after Chicago.<br />Gotta figure out how to upload an image of our bucket list-- 11 items since it's 2011 and a mix of easy to complete and less easy but still pretty doable items.<br /><br />I'm not even sure how to make this post! I still do not own hiking pants. I am reviving the traveling hat! It's with me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-84001664103957971442009-06-11T17:05:00.001-07:002009-06-11T17:29:27.249-07:00KeZley part 2...It became immediately clear uppon arrivein in Ecuador that Kelsey is not a very common name here. Not only that, but also that nearly all spanish speakers across the board, regardless of whether they are indigenous folk from ecuador or bilingual tango show hostesses in Buenos Aires, can not for the life of them pronounce her name. Her family lovingly referred to her as kesley (pronounced kezley, like elvis presley) the entire semester, the customs men at the post office in ecuador laughed bluntly in her faced and asked if that was seriously her name, but the icing on the cake occurred last night at our tango show.<br /><br />So last night, we attended our first tango show in Buenos Aires after it was recommended to us by a New Zealandish...New Zealander...New Zealandian??...New Zealandic!!! comrad at our Hostel. He RAVED about the show, telling us they were ¨like, real professionals¨(pronounced profishonells) and that it was the best steak he had in all of Buenos aires, and the Tango musicians and singers were just.... FANTASTIC!!! We took his word for it and were presented with something between a strip show and the dance fighting scenes from West Side STory...the whole time i whistled ¨when you´re a jet you´re a jet all the way¨ in kelsey´s ear. Speaking of Kelsey....<br /><br /><br />So, in order to schedule the tango show kelsey called to make a reservation... now in her words a recounting of what happened:<br /><br />¨i call the place, talk to the lady, get the information and hang up.<br />then nik is like, she told you the wrong time, call back and make sure its right.<br /><br />okay, i´lll call back.<br /><br />i call back and the lady is like OH GOOD i forgot to tell you about this promotion with your hostel, you get the whole meal for 180 pesos (originally we were just going to get drinks and desserrt) so i´m like COOLIO that´ll work just fine. and she´s like can you tell me your name again? and so we go through the whole process of trying to get her to understand that KELSEY is a NAME. but like everyone else in latin america, she doesn´t believe it for a second. so then i get off the phone, and am fairly confident that she has an idea of what my name is and that we do in fact have reservations.<br /><br />but then nikki still isn´t convinced that the time the lady told me was right. so i call back AGAIN. in like a five minute period. but it is a good thing i call back because the lady is like OH GOOD YOU CALLED BACK AGAIN. i forgot to get your full name. (which was her way of saying, i still have no freakin clue what the hell your name is. why isn´t your name REAL??)<br /><br />so i start to tell her my last name is stewart. and she´s like how do you spell it, and i´say S-T-E- and she´s like no your first name. so i change to K-E and nik is like NO THE NEXT LETTER IS W!!! hahahaha. but finally i spell it out, k-e-l-s AS IN SUSIE...etc. etc.<br /><br />a few hours later we finally arrive and go to check in, and what is my name written down as on the reservation??<br /><br /><br />KELFLY.¨<br /><br /><br />hahahahahahahahah<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Also, another quick and trivial happening that just occurred. We were just taking the elvator down in our Hostel to head over to this internet cafe and when we stepped aboard the 60 year old door man of the hostel was standing in the elevator car. I walked in, the doors closed, and immediately i had the sensation i was being suffocated. Initially confused, i quickly realized the waning oxygen was the result of a growing abundance of cigarette smoking filling the elevator and sneaking up my virgin nostrils. hahahaha. Anyway, i look furtively using my peripherals and see the door man holding a marlboro, sucking on it idiotically with his old chapped lips. Horrified i instantly started shooting dagger eyes of death at kelsey and then down at the cigaretted hand. She began to laugh. Then the man dropped his cigarette after hot boxing the ´vator and put it out on the ground. Then i burst out laughing until i realized i shouldn´t waste what little oxygen i had left.... Moral of the story, WHO THE HELL SMOKES A CIGARETTE IN AN ELEVATOR.. A SMALL ENCLOSED METAL BOX. WHO FREAKING DOES THAT?? IS IT EVEN LEGAL? I´m inclined to complain and say what the hell is wrong with the whole rest of the world why do they all smoke, but i realize the real problem is the GODDAMN TOBACCO INDUSTRY...YOU FUCKERS HOT BOXED MY ELEVATOR IN BUENOS AIRES. TAX THOSE CIGARRETTES, TAX ÉM ALL DAY CONGRESS!!!<br /><br /><br />ok ok we´re getting a little loopy down here. Tonight or tomorrow night we´re trying to go to this greek restaurant where they break plates and stuff. i´m hoping for a rousing rendition of mizerlou on the bizouki!<br /><br />WE GET HOME IN T-5 DAYS!!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-5856197575360847392009-06-06T14:32:00.000-07:002009-06-06T14:42:12.021-07:00Buenos Aires is a black hole.......it sucks you into this ridiculous partying lifestyle where everyone starts drinking at 2am and stays out being mental until 9am and then they sleep until 18:00 when they roll out of bed and start all over again. The first three days we were here we saw nothing because we slept all day and then just went out with Bob and Anna Frank. Today we finally got up early, at noon, and saw a city of dead people where i sang that marly and marley song from a christmas carol and tried to get Kelsey to sing ¨DONT CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA¨in front of Evita´s grave, but she wouldn´t. Then we saw a giant flower. We were really impressed. Then kelsey ate plastic again because she cant resist buying lollipops made out of that candy apple candy, or mojjjie apples or whatever, and she asked the guy selling them to take the wrapper off but instead he just held it over a flame until it was melted on and all the plastic chemicals were inside the lollipop. Delishish. THen we saw a tree with these big pod things hanging in it, kelsey got one down by yanking on a braNch. Michelle Branch. Then she tried chucking it at the ground to see what was inside, but it didnt break open. Then i tried and it hit a car. Then we left. Tonight we are trying to see an ESPECTACULO!!! A tango show at Señor Tango where Bill and Hillary and Selma and Sting all saw shows. Hope we can get in looking like hobos (we always sleep too late to do our laundry). Luckily tomorrow night we head to Iguazu falls to see the coolest waterfalls in the world. It will hopefully break up the cycle. Peace and Love. (when you sneeze 3 times in spanish speaking countries they say Salud, Amor y Dinero for each sneeze respectively...health, love, MONEY)Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-30478233704792952842009-06-05T18:19:00.001-07:002009-06-05T18:25:16.212-07:00B.A. Updatehere in argentina.<br /><br />today we went to la boca, the colorful famous houses!<br /><br />i accidentally ate a lot of plastic.<br /><br />we really like being in a city. its quite the change from peru and ecuador. especially taxis.. we even had one that had a GPS system. last night we went out and met up with a few friends Nik has here studying abroad plus some of their friends. The scene was crazy and really crowded and we discovered something new..<br /><br />THE MORE SOUTH THE MORE CREEPER.<br /><br />You think guys in Ecuador are bad. And I already complained about the men in Peru. BUT the men in Argentina take the icing off the cake. Or top the cake. Or whatever that saying is. They are crazy and really forward and in your face.<br /><br />MEN STOP IT. LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT MANNERS.<br /><br />It has been very surprising..for some reason we thought they'd be more tame down here.<br /><br />Oh also hilarious, we went to this vegetarian restaurant today and everything was gray/brown and tasted the same. Once Nik tried to ask what something was and the response she got was "de verdura" or of vegetable..well DUH! It was really reminiscent of a church fellowship meal, just without the weird meats and without my mama's delicious addition to the meal, baked ziti. YUM. (If you're reading this mom, I really want some of that baked ziti when I get home :-) ) The restaurant just looked like a soup kitchen. Thanks for the suggestion, Lonely Planet..hahaha.<br /><br />We come home so soon and we can't believe our trip is almost over!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-13361835499076675662009-06-02T14:18:00.000-07:002009-06-02T14:51:46.856-07:00i love a shower in hollandHola! <br /><br />Back in Lima and staying at the Flying Dog Hostel, which is very clean and quite nice. (WAYY better than the last spot we stayed here..) We went dorm style rooms and were lucky enough to get a bunk bed without reservation ahead of time! And once the toilet flooded and left an inch of water outside the door which Nik splashed through without hesitation. HAHA. Then a man ¨cleaned it up¨with a mop and bucket and there was still an inch of water next to my bed, which is where we accidentally dumped a pile of chips. Gross. Soggy chips. There´re still there right now.<br /><br />To celebrate we went out and got a few drinks with three other people from our hostel...two 23yr olds from Holland and one roughly 45(?give or take 3yrs?)yr old from Florida. It was really fun and we learned two games, one called Hello bishop, which I will try to bring back to EEUU. <br /><br />A few highlights of the night..<br /><br />*After introducing themselves to us, Nik and I almost simultaneously turn to each other to get secret clarification of one of their names...IS THAT BOY´S NAME...HAM?? (it was not.)<br />*One of the boys kept addressing us as ¨girl.¨ I´m not sure why, but I found it hilarious every time... It´s your turn girl! or You have to drink girl!<br />* The word for burp in dutch is the same as the word for farmer. (knowledge points)<br />*Long conversation about showers in Holland. Not gonna go into it but I´m now under the impression that families and friends shower TOGETHER in Holland. All the time.<br /><br />Other than that we´ve spent most of our time in Lima planning the next part of our trip and doing nothing. We walked a long way today and I ate a hotdog for lunch. I think our old travelling companions would be proud at how far we walked in place of getting a taxi. It is cold and I´m concerned for BA, since it is winter there and I have no winter clothing.<br /><br />Also, one more thing about LIMA. THE MEN HERE SUCK AND ARE GROSS. We are sick of the kissy sounds and gross greetings. GET A LIFE YOU IDIOT MEN. plus YOU´RE OLD so why do you even BOTHER??<br /><br />We miss you all and are excited to come back and see you though this next part of our trip should be extra fun...tango lessons, world wonders and cheap pizza (or so I´ve heard.)<br /><br />This post was more boring than I meant it to be..oh well, it was at the very least informative.<br />Neat-o Burrito,<br />KelseyNikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-13836600257968298392009-05-31T09:57:00.000-07:002009-05-31T10:37:34.833-07:00pHOTO jOURNAL<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiLAS9WA3KI/AAAAAAAAAIA/Mt2RRCosSTk/s1600-h/Imagen+193.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiLAS9WA3KI/AAAAAAAAAIA/Mt2RRCosSTk/s320/Imagen+193.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342043539951901858" /></a><br /><br />SUCCESS!!! MACHU PICCHUUUUU!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK-jL1rJ6I/AAAAAAAAAH4/kMjg5ThyNBQ/s1600-h/Imagen+173.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK-jL1rJ6I/AAAAAAAAAH4/kMjg5ThyNBQ/s320/Imagen+173.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342041619697444770" /></a><br />Martin! The porter/chef who cooked us gourmet meals along the trail!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK9L0q0m5I/AAAAAAAAAHw/aSC0SMxeX_Q/s1600-h/Imagen+107.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK9L0q0m5I/AAAAAAAAAHw/aSC0SMxeX_Q/s320/Imagen+107.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342040118829292434" /></a><br /><br />Kelsey´s hilarious makeshift blister remedy. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK7krI4J2I/AAAAAAAAAHo/qu8BMx0N1BI/s1600-h/Imagen+059.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK7krI4J2I/AAAAAAAAAHo/qu8BMx0N1BI/s320/Imagen+059.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342038346744473442" /></a><br />Truck on fire at the bus terminal in Chimbote, Peru...ghetto<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK6vzC0YGI/AAAAAAAAAHg/yjL0bbeUI4A/s1600-h/Imagen+032.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SiK6vzC0YGI/AAAAAAAAAHg/yjL0bbeUI4A/s320/Imagen+032.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342037438333476962" /></a><br /><br />Allie, Mikhail, Pierce and Peter At the beach in Mancora, stop number 1 on the whirlwind journeyNikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-88677523684578313022009-05-31T09:36:00.000-07:002009-05-31T09:56:57.963-07:00Less Money, Mo´ Problems in PeruSo WE DID IT!!! WE SURVIVED THE INCA TRAIL and have some neat Apus Peru (our trekking company) tshirts, some massive blisters, and atrophying calf muscles to show for it :) Those of you that thought our two out of shape butts would never make it were almost right, but still..WRONG! To be honest, yeah it was a challenge, but totally not impossible considering we had 9 tiny peruvian men carring all of our crap (over 100lbs per porter) plus they would sprint past us to all of our camp sites where they´d set up a fancy dinner tent and cook us gourmet meals, ballin. <br />Highlights Include:<br />-The name of our guide: Big Willy<br />-Big Willy´s magic potions which involved rubbing something that smelled like teatree oil all over kelsey´s altitude sick head. greasy. and then clapping alot and making her smell his hands.<br />- Pooping in little holes in the ground.<br />- Unbelievably beautiful, clear starry nights<br />- The porters getting a little too close for comfort when thanking us for the generous tips (accidental boob squeeze?)<br />- Porters baked cake for mikhail´s birthday...how do you even do that in the woods<br />- Making friends (or enemies) through song: being recognized by the other 800 people hiking along the trail as the girls who sing (everything from motown medleys to showtunes) to keep themselves from jumping off the cliffs.<br />-abSURD blisters: a few days before hiking the inca trail we hiked a mountain in Huaraz national park to practice and acclimate. Unfortunately all it did for Kels was give her MASSIVE MOON CRATER BLISTERS on the backs of her ankles due to the new hiking boots<br />- Kelséy´s makeshift attempt to fix the blister problem by wearing one venus (4$ ecuadorian style chuck taylor) and one hiking shoe<br /><br /><br />The Ancient City was all we expected it to be and more, though our sheer exhaustion after the four day hike led to a midday machu picchu nap and yoga session. We also saw many bird spirits. <br /><br />Since then we saw the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, man made islands constructed of reeds where entire communities have lived for hundreds of years, originally started as a way of evading Incan and Spanish conquerers...ingenious!<br />We´ve spent the last few days in the lovely little colonial city of Arequipa, Peru, catching our breath and trying to plan the next leg of our trip: some charms of the city--delicious alpaca steaks and lovely christmas themed tablecloths at our cozy hostal. Also, they sell candy (mojjjey???) covered skewered strawberries here, like apples at a church bazaar but better!<br /><br />Last night we decided to nurture our culture craving souls with a seemingly highly regarded and well advertised argentinian ballet that turned out to be a live, amateur, soft core porn. GREAT. It would have been less awkward if i hadn´t graciously offered to buy an extra ticket for a lonesome 31 yr old civil rights lawyer who had just arrived in the city and was also staying in our hostal......<br /><br />So now, our friends have gone, and the two of us broke college students are trying to figure out how the heck to get all the way to buenos aires without having to live on teh streets when we get there... suggestions would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. <br /><br />off to lima to hitchhike back down south, <br /><br /><br />CATCH YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE!!!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-71605502632831453642009-05-21T18:38:00.000-07:002009-05-21T18:48:33.137-07:00a sleepy time in cuscohello all!<br /><br />so TOMORROW at 6am we start the inca trail! craziness...but other than that we´ve been trying to relax here in cusco. here´s a brief update of our trip<br /><br />1. we decided to fly into cusco and what a good decision..turns out people were protesting so intensely (the govt wants to privatize water but the farmers disagree) that roads were blocked. the guys we´re travelling with met girls who had to walk 35km into cusco because their bus was overtaken by protesters who kicked everyone off and then stole their toothpaste in order to write on the side of the bus. interesting.<br /><br />2. at the beginning of the flight, when they were giving annoucements, nikki was doing something funny that caused me to laugh. the laugh came out as a sort of snort-cough which sounded kind of gross. the two people in front of me turned around and glared and i had no idea why. turns out, i cough-laughed right after the swine flu announcement. i felt like a jerk.<br /><br />3. we´ve been feeling pretty under-the-weather since being here and actually spent the entire day sleeping yesterday. luckilly, we´re in a really nice hostel that is clean and is a charity that helps orphans in peru. doubly good. let´s just hope that nik´s crazy stomach pains go away. i called my parents for advice and it seems like it is NOT apendicitis due to the quiz my mom gave me for it. we actually slept about 34 hours alltogether. <br /><br />4. today we went shopping and it was quite nice. i bought my nana the cutest hat that i hope she will wear. if she doesn´t want it, i will gladly take it. <br /><br />5. with ease we´ve been finding veggie restaurants for allie, hooray!<br /><br />we love you, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we embark on the next leg of our trip...mountain climbing with no pants!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-56426828940311141982009-05-19T14:13:00.000-07:002009-05-19T14:48:49.226-07:00updizzle.Not too easy to keep this thang updated without internet. This is the first time i´ve had internet since the start of our adventure (kels had a sec for a s hort post a few nights ago). I´ll try to give you a short play by play of what weve done so far:<br /><br />2 days in mancora, sweet beach in northern peru, where we mostly just layed around getting sunburned. Pierce was very excited when he found us a 5$ hostal on the beach, what a GREAT DEAL!!! What he didnt realize was that kelsey´s bed was infested by ants, there would be a cockroach in our toilet or, my personal favorite, that ocean water was pumped directly into our shower--how refreshing!! Actually my hair turned into one giant dreadlock from that. it was sort of gross. we did find a nice vegitarian restaurant where i hastily orded the hummus which, obviously, could never live up to moms but was a nice latino-style attempt. From there we took a bus to Chimbote, and from Chimbote a connecting bus to Huaraz. This portion of travel was the most treaturous and the biggest mishap of the trip yet. Here they have busses they refer to as ¨bus camas¨(cama in spanish means bed). They advertise luxurious leather seats that recline completely and charge a pretty penny. Knowing the trip would be at least 14 hours (it turned out to be 24) we coughed up the dough only to find out we´d been SCAMMED. Not a BUS CAMA AT ALL. BUS TRASH CAN IS MORE LIKE IT. lowest ceilings ever, the seats not only didnt recline into beds, they pretty much leaned forward. Also, no windows, it was suffocating. We arrived inChimbote in the am around 6 to see a giant 18 wheeler on fire in the bus terminal. Next we bussed to national park Huaraz which took about 10 hours and a bus filled with crates of chickens. I can confidently say that These were the most death defying switchback mountain roads i´ve seen yet in south america. Barreling down A one lane unpaved dirt road teetering over an ominous gorge was enough to make me want to poop my pants, but i did see some amazing views and have some cool pics ill try to load when i get a chance. Along the way we stopped at a shack stuck to the side of a mountain for ´lunch´. Allie, our vegetarian friend, asked for a platter without meat. No problem, the indigenous lady promised us, and promptly gave her a heaping helping of cua cua, a stew made of cow innards and potatos. YUM.<br /><br />After that we finally got to huaraz where we st ayed in a beautiful hostal with nice hot baths and comfy beds. After a good nights sleep we did a crazy hike up to mt. churup to see lake churup at an altitude of around 13 to 14,000 ft. The atltiude was tough but we took breaks and ate snacks until after a few hours we came to a treacherous mountain scaling portion that required 10000% arm strength that, to be frank, i just aint got. Us three girls decided to wait while the boys hap hazardly, sans ropes or safety nets, attempted the climb when, of course, it started to hail and thunder. Obviously us three decided to make a break for it and turned around. Even though we never saw the lake we did see the snowy peak from the hike and it was really beauitful. Overall it was about 7 or 8 hours of hiking. I´ve never been so exhausted or full of achies but it was a good day. Since then we got a real bus cama and came to Lima where we are now. Something awkward happened though in the bus station where, in order to board, they forced us to give our fignerprints. Some warning thing went off in my head and i imagined my parents telling me some lawyer stuff about why it was a bad idea and i freaked out at the woman and told her i wouldn´t do it. she grabbed my hand jabbed it in the inkpad and with only a moment left to think, i smeared my print messily across the paper, grabbed my ticket and sprinted away. Thinking back i´m lucky i didnt end up in a Peruvian jail, i realize i didnt follow my moms advice: KALP (KEEP A LOW PROFILE). Dont worry mom, i wont let you down in the future! That´s it for now, tomorrow we fly to Cuzco where we´ll be for two days before we finally start the four day hike to Machu Picchu on friday!! Til then,<br />NikNikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-21340333738340253022009-05-17T21:03:00.000-07:002009-05-17T21:10:10.051-07:0024 hour travelhey people,<br /><br />just wanted to keep you updated real quick on our one month adventure... today after HONEST TO GOD 24 HOURS OF STRAIGHT TRAVEL we landed in huaraz, peru. we´re staying at a really nice hostel and got upgraded for FREE to this bangarang room. also we had delicious indian food for dinner tonight.<br /><br />tomorrow i´ll try to post photos of the ridiculously awesome views we had on the last 8hour or rather, 12 hour portion of our trip.<br /><br />tomorrow we´re off to see a lake, a 3 hour hike in order to practice for the big mama of all hikes, MP!! tomorrow evening a bus to lima.Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-57572617127997337162009-05-13T08:22:00.000-07:002009-05-13T08:33:34.411-07:00the monster, PARTIN<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Sgrn3QarRDI/AAAAAAAAAHY/bbgkT75huvI/s1600-h/familydogbitefarm+153.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Sgrn3QarRDI/AAAAAAAAAHY/bbgkT75huvI/s320/familydogbitefarm+153.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335331645059449906" /></a><br />he does things like this on his own without prompting. he knows how to capture hearts.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrnV-iHICI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/1siDd7lAklw/s1600-h/familydogbitefarm+072.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrnV-iHICI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/1siDd7lAklw/s320/familydogbitefarm+072.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335331073323114530" /></a><br />i think my parents could relate to this photo<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrmzjumvrI/AAAAAAAAAHI/xTzah4UevIQ/s1600-h/familydogbitefarm+067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrmzjumvrI/AAAAAAAAAHI/xTzah4UevIQ/s320/familydogbitefarm+067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335330482012208818" /></a><br />sometimes i give him a taste of his own medicine<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrmfMArNFI/AAAAAAAAAHA/3l7Zt0MU6V8/s1600-h/familydogbitefarm+022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrmfMArNFI/AAAAAAAAAHA/3l7Zt0MU6V8/s320/familydogbitefarm+022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335330132048163922" /></a><br /><br />in my house lives an adorable little two year old named martin. sometimes we call him isaac. and SOMETIMES we call him partin, because he can't pronounce m-sounds and instead says m's as p's. its hilarious and he's cute. he is slightly disastrous. sometimes we make him dance for water, Martin--dance and we'll give you water! hahaha. and he does and its cute.<br /><br />and once when i came out of my room in the morning he was eating butter out of the container with a fork. his mom was horrified when i told her.Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-55637087458434159362009-05-13T07:53:00.000-07:002009-05-13T08:06:11.439-07:00dogs suck it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrhMlMmdSI/AAAAAAAAAG4/dWWdCSUTGNw/s1600-h/familydogbitefarm+133.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgrhMlMmdSI/AAAAAAAAAG4/dWWdCSUTGNw/s320/familydogbitefarm+133.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335324314833417506" /></a><br />so all you people (mom and dad) who would laugh when i complained about the dogs and made jokes about there being a cat outside on the street!! just take a look at our friend daissy's dog bite :-((( she almost made it out alive, the dog attacked one day before her departure! we miss you daissy and we hope you don't have rabies.<br /><br /> secondly, AMAZING NEWS... we heard that there is now a mandate in lumbisi and all dogs with owners have to put collars on them because soon enough the dogs found withOUT collars will be KILLED! i shouldn't be so glad about that but i am. nikki's mom told her that they put meat with poison in the streets and the dogs eat it and die and then there are a bunch of dead dogs all over the street. which is gross. but really sort of nice at the same time..CHISTE!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-30734819400360614302009-05-12T08:21:00.000-07:002009-05-12T08:40:47.215-07:00Piccccaaazzzz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgmWUNLWhiI/AAAAAAAAAGw/wZ69o5xBaGM/s1600-h/IMG_1356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgmWUNLWhiI/AAAAAAAAAGw/wZ69o5xBaGM/s320/IMG_1356.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334960507475887650" /></a><br /><br />Parade in Riobamba during spring break!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgmWT0tRLJI/AAAAAAAAAGo/RNxQWa6CZ_A/s1600-h/IMG_1418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgmWT0tRLJI/AAAAAAAAAGo/RNxQWa6CZ_A/s320/IMG_1418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334960500907256978" /></a><br /><br />Fat baby!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgmWToyK7wI/AAAAAAAAAGg/SZkDzuMViiM/s1600-h/IMG_1421.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/SgmWToyK7wI/AAAAAAAAAGg/SZkDzuMViiM/s320/IMG_1421.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334960497706594050" /></a><br /><br />service trip to bring toothbrushes to the kids in HuasalataNikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-8939105608253541052009-05-12T07:59:00.000-07:002009-05-12T08:01:45.658-07:00And then it was over…So Thursday is our final day in Ecuador: fastest 4 months of my life. I know we’ve been MIA for the last like 5 weeks, sorry to disappoint, we’ve been caught up in a chaotic whirlwind attempt to fill every second of every day with worthwhile last minute sites and experiences while simultaneously trying our darndest not to fail all of our final projects and exams. Speaking of school, here’s something that will probably come of no surprise to those of you who read/recall my post about our fieldtrip with the Plantas Medicinales class (medicinal plants) and the leathery-faced, chain smoking, lunatic teacher:<br /><br />Two weeks ago this teacher planned a mandatory field trip to the Columbian border. For those of you that don’t know what that means, let me spell it out for you: F-A-R-C. That’s right, FARC territory. For those of you still in the dark, las fuerzas armadas revolucionarias de Colombia are famous worldwide for their knack at political kidnappings, terrorist actions, involvement in drug trafficking, etc. You may recall the front-page photos released of withered former Colombian Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancour after her 7-year stay with the FARC. Rather unpleasant to say the least. What’s more, there are upwards of 20 known and well-documented FARC bases on the Ecuadorian side of the border, and in the last 5 years the kidnappings and deaths of a decent number of Americans have been recorded in that area. That being said, it seems a given that a bunch of American abroad students should at least attempt to avoid meandering through the area. Something about the way our professor joked about bringing our passports just incase we come across the FARC gave me a tip off we probably shouldn’t be going there, and after checking with the International Student Office and the US Embassy, of course, I was right. Not only were we prohibited from attending the field trip (not that I wanted to get stuck with this lunatic again anyway) but the US embassy assured us that if we took our chances and got kidnapped by the FARC they’d simply say ‘I toldja’ so and leave us to die. I know what you’re thinking, any teacher in their right mind, completely aware that they have international students in their class, would NEVER plan a trip to the middle of ****ing FARC territory. Right?......WRONG, BITCH THIS IS ECUADOR. I think you can see where this is going…<br /><br />1. Lunatic teacher gets pissed at us because he has already fronted the $$$$ for the bus to take us to the middle of the jungle, and us 4 international students wouldn’t be going so he’s out 80$.<br />2. When we ask if we can do a make up assignment, he berates us and our program coordinator, essentially telling us we’re morons and don’t deserve to live and that we are automatically going to be docked 10% of our final grade for not going.<br />3. Dean of Undergraduate students spends nearly an hour on the phone attempting to explain why it is unacceptable to force American students into FARC territory and persuading Prof. Imadickwad to give us a fair make-up assignment. Dean does not neglect to mention that even Ecuadorian students should not be going to FARC territory and that this is a major liability for the university and if anything happens he’s in deep you know what.<br />4. Prof proceeds to give us the silent treatment in class except to explain the completely outrageous assignment he claims is comparable to what the other students will be doing.<br />5. We are sick of the b/s and, with excessive difficulty and unnecessary fines, proceed to drop the class completely.<br />6. (Meanwhile, the professor cancelled the bus b/c not enough students were going to pay for it, and he has the students drive to the jungle in their own cars)<br />7. Day of the trip; MASSIVE CAR ACCIDENT. One of the student cars got in a terrible accident and flipped over multiple times. Now: Professor has a neck brace and so does one other student, the third student has a severe back injury and is still in the hospital hooked up to some machine that is lifting her head to decompress her spinal chord. GREAT IDEA PROFESSOR MORON. <br /><br />SO this is what happens when you take a Medicinal Plants class with a total mental case.<br /><br />Aside from that occurrence we’ve been preparing for the next leg of our trip: Adventures of Nikki And Kelsey—the mysteries of Machu Picchu, why Evo Morales charges Americans $100 to enter Bolivia, and How Argentina got its Groove Back. <br /><br /><br />The upcoming entries may be short, but we’ll try to keep you up to date on the crazy happenings. As it were, this Thursday we are leaving on a massive whirlwind, intracontinental trip through South America. First stop: the Inca Trail!! (A 4 day hike from Cuzco, Peru to Machu Picchu, the worlds largest and oldest and sickest Inca ruin.)Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-81469075118447443832009-04-21T10:53:00.001-07:002009-04-21T10:53:28.156-07:00Ay, Qué Tiempo!Sorry to leave you guys hanging for so long, unfortunately we spent the last few weeks out of touch with western civilization, oh you know, just canoeing around the amazon, strolling along cobblestone streets of Cuenca, basking under the midday ecuadorian coastal sun and riding a crap load of busses (and, consequently, downing the Bonine). We covered some serious ground since you've last heard from us, so i'll try to make this post as short and sweet as possible.<br /><br />Chapter 1: The Amazon<br />Would you care to hear the epiphany I had while canoeing down the meandering Napo river through Haorani territory of the Ecuadorian amazon? Squatted low in the hollowed out log, gazing up at the dense foliage I had a distinct feeling of familiarity. Deja vu? A dream perhaps? No, I realized at that moment that the lazy river of Walt Disney World's Typhoon Lagoon was a total rip off of the Amazon! You know I felt right at home though, i felt like around the next bend i might see Mickey or Goofey waving as we floated by. It was a pleasant momentary daydream until we arrived at camp, drenched from the waterlogged boat and already covered in bug bites. Moments later, the second boat of classmates showed up with a tree monkey they had captured. They tied it to a pole and it stayed there screaming the whole weekend. Aayaya! For the most part the weekend was relatively enjoyable, we had a chance to get to know the everday happenings of a Haorani family, which mostly involved trecking waist deep through dense mud of the Amazon in search of food. We ate mostly normal stuff, a lot of yuca, some fish, soups, platanos (plantains), etc. All cooked in delicious brown river water!! (More to come regarding this issue...) One day we hiked through the mucky, merky dense mud of the Amazon (so eloquently referred to by Laura as "Mother Nature's Vagina") in search of a good fishing spot. On our trek it poured like i've never known rain to pour before, i got stung by a wasp in the forehead (which later resulted in my eyes swelling shut in a more comical than not sort of way), we snacked on cacao seeds picked straight from the tree (the fruit that chocolate is made from), we got lost, and finally after hours of rubbing our ankels raw in muddy wet rainboots we arrived at the river, only to be informed by our naked Haorani guide that we couldn't fish because the rain had flooded the river. GREAT. so we walked back with our honorable war wounds, half starved. That is sort of a good overview of what the weekend was like. We also spent alot of time swimming in the brown river, baking on the banks, getting rained on, getting bug bites, and eating yuca. One night the Haorani even did a mock wedding ceremony which was pretty sweet, some of our classmates broke out their guitars and kept us entertained as well. I'd say the lowlight was the final day when the river was too low to canoe back to the road and so we hiked, in our travel home clothing, waist deep, through rivers, mud, and the freaking amazon rain forest! It was mostly a disaster. My boots were filled with river water, my feet stank by the end, i was disgusting and muddy and sweaty and i have never seen a group of people with worse hair. Honestly. Three days without bathing in the Amazon does something crazy to your hair. In the end, despite the nasty treks, bug bites, soaking wet clothing, etc. I was pretty gald i'd done it. I mean how many people can say they hiked through the freaking Amazon? Not too many.<br /><br />Now back to cooking with the river water: one by one the gringos went down like flies. One classmate started puking before we even left. Two others on the bus ride home. And the rest of the gringos (sans Kelsey and I, though I have no clue how we were saved) were hospitalized with relentless vomiting, explosive diarrhea and dehydration. That's right, when I showed up at school on monday I was one of two gringos in our class who wasn't in the hospital. Hollllerrrrr. <br /><br /><br />Ok, Chapter 2 will be spring break, i'll give you a quick preview and post about that later this week:<br />Mindo-zip lining and tubing<br />Cuenca - Pretty churches<br />Ingapirca - incan Ruins<br />Beach---BEACH!!!<br />Riobamba - Awesome cultural festivals to celebrate una batalla de independencia. <br /><br />k thats all for now <3 <3 <3<br />nikNikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-79543198355214022912009-04-21T10:47:00.000-07:002009-04-21T10:51:53.127-07:00Amazon up close and personal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Se4Hct27UPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/P-CGCk7qWIc/s1600-h/IMG_1103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Se4Hct27UPI/AAAAAAAAAGY/P-CGCk7qWIc/s320/IMG_1103.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327203599153582322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Se4HcakpZlI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/vQsFvWHEZNY/s1600-h/IMG_1086.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Se4HcakpZlI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/vQsFvWHEZNY/s320/IMG_1086.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327203593976637010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Se4HcNNZpTI/AAAAAAAAAGI/GXsH6OiFI94/s1600-h/IMG_1104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Se4HcNNZpTI/AAAAAAAAAGI/GXsH6OiFI94/s320/IMG_1104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327203590389474610" /></a>Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-88429808251609942722009-04-08T11:53:00.000-07:002009-04-10T13:50:07.301-07:00Let it RainSo mom and Al have been here in Ecuador visiting for the last week. I think they're enjoying it so far--I've done my best to give them an authentic taste of Ecuadorian culture. From stuffy, closed-window, puppy-stank bus rides on windy mountain roads, to goat stew, to HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) they've pretty much experienced it all. But now I just want to share with you a short anecdote about our time together...<br /><br />TeleferiQo<br /><br />A few years ago, a massive ski lift was installed up to the towering peak of Mt. Pichincha, an 8 minute ride for which they overcharge unsuspecting tourists. Of course we couldn't miss it so we hopped into a precariously swinging pod and slowly scaled the mountainside. WIth only one or two heart stopping glitches that left our pod swinging out of control thousands of meters in the air, we reached the top. It was a relatively unimpressive sight due to the afternoon's low clouds. In fact, we were so high up we were walking around in clouds, so dense that i could barely see two feet in front of my face. But this is neither here nor there....<br /><br />One thing about Ecuador (and the greater part of South America) that Americans find particularly difficult to adjust to is the bathroom situation. Unfortunately we don't have high powered flushers here, and as a result you just can't flush the TP. Instead, there's a trash can in each stall where you, um, toss the used hygienic tissue. That being said, at fancy hotels like the JW Marriott you don't have to worry about being put out of your tiny little American comfort zone, which makes it even harder for JW Marriott guests to remember not to flush the TP when outside of their luxurious first-world-in-the-third-world-hotel. I assume you've guessed where this is going by now, but if not let me go on. So, after an only slightly HACE inducing ride up the teleferiQo, Mom decided to use the ladies room at the small oxygen bar/eatery located at the summit. Giggling guiltily as she leaves the bathroom, she confesses she accidentally flushed a small piece of TP. I told her not to worry, that a small piece shouldn't matter, but as the words left my mouth i was interrupted by the sound of pouring water, almost like rain. We turned around to witness a steady stream of water leaking through the bathroom ceiling, and as we watched the steady stream turned to a torrential tsunami, and after about twenty seconds, the bulging ceiling burst under the pressure and exploded to the ground, a river flooding out the door. We took one look at each other and made a break for the ski lift back down. <br /><br />Not gonna lie, that turn of events made for the best entertainment of the afternoon. Thanks mom.Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-3712117868528759352009-04-02T08:28:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:30:54.247-07:00The Wheels on the Bus (Ecua-version)Verse One: The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round...<br /><br />Well, at least they mostly go round and round. Nik already covered the hilarity and cow poop that ensues when you get a flat tire in Ecuador (loved the plantas trip) but also important to note is that sometimes the wheels are going round and round but they're not taking you anywhere.. Since all the busses are stick-shift, they stall and spin and practically roll down the Lumbisi hills everyday. Mostly, the busses impress me because they manage to go round and round really dangerous curves and cliffs. Gutsy, Ecua-bus, very gutsy.<br /><br />Verse Two: The vendor on the bus goes BON ICE, BON ICE, BON ICE...<br /><br />Mmm. Delicious. I love the Bon Ice sellers. Its super normal for vendors of all sorts to hop on and off the bus at redlights or stops. These poeple sell the afore mentioned Bon Ice but also delicious fruit, lollipops (yeah 3 for a dollar say WHA?), Ecuadorian snacks and the ocassional cure-all or religious jewelry. These last guys come on the bus, hand out their merchandise and then shout about it for awhile. The first few times I thought these vendors were just people giving things out for free and that I was getting ignored because I am a gringa, WHY DON'T I GET A FREE TOY TOO??!! but then, after I calmed down a bit, I realized his hand outs were just meant to tempt the buyer. Because after you hold that Jesus necklace in your sweaty hands, you have just GOT to buy it! Its like the DEB slogan, want it, need it, got to have it! (unless you shop on the OTHER side of DEB of course in which case the slogan is Its not a size, its an attitude!..why do i know these things.)<br /><br />Verse Three: The windows on the bus go open and shut, open and shut, open and shut….<br /><br />Unspoken war.<br /><br />War, my friends, between the gringos and Ecuadorians. (And sometimes between the gringos and the bus itself since the windows are often jammed and LOCKED shut.) One cultural difference I’ve noticed, Ecuadorians do not appreciate or want the refreshing breeze that a bus windows offer. They prefer stagnant, humid, recycled air. The first thing that ANY true gringo does when boarding the bus is to run around like a crackhead opening every possible window because it doesn’t matter if it is 85 degrees and sunny, as soon as the bus is full, you can count on the Ecuadorians to promptly shut the windows, cut off the oxygen supply and then breathe hot breaths all over the place. WHY, you ask? I DON’T KNOW. I’m reminiscent of all those times we’d ride to the pool in the little red car with the windows up (in order to get there as hot as possible) only to arrive at the exact moment adult swim was starting. Its like I’m constantly ready for a cool, dip in the pool but I can’t because I’m eight and its freaking adult swim.<br /><br />Verse Four: The driver on the bus shouts “Suba! Suba! Suba!”<br />Basically this is the dealio. There’s two guys in charge of each bus. One man drives and the other one shouts. That’s it.Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-70055822587588272432009-03-23T13:01:00.000-07:002009-03-23T13:09:02.982-07:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrqecJWwI/AAAAAAAAAGA/MQQ_z3T73ZA/s1600-h/DSCF7355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrqecJWwI/AAAAAAAAAGA/MQQ_z3T73ZA/s320/DSCF7355.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316477000092310274" /></a><br />this isn´t even a place we visited..we just stopped to take pics along the side of the road because everything is so gorgeous in ecuador<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrqPj0HZI/AAAAAAAAAF4/YBZxNbq4W9U/s1600-h/DSCF7425.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrqPj0HZI/AAAAAAAAAF4/YBZxNbq4W9U/s320/DSCF7425.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316476996097940882" /></a><br />here´s a picture of the scary spider that lives in my shower and that i have yet to be able to kill!<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrqGrEgYI/AAAAAAAAAFw/t7VspG9EzKQ/s1600-h/DSCF7454.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrqGrEgYI/AAAAAAAAAFw/t7VspG9EzKQ/s320/DSCF7454.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316476993712456066" /></a><br />beautiful waterfall<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrpepsCTI/AAAAAAAAAFo/v2m3l1O6a6o/s1600-h/DSCF7489.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfrpepsCTI/AAAAAAAAAFo/v2m3l1O6a6o/s320/DSCF7489.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316476982969239858" /></a><br />little cute puppy... an Ecuadorian dog that I don´t dislike!?<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Scfro6ZOsFI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rKcXv06MLz8/s1600-h/DSCF7495.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/Scfro6ZOsFI/AAAAAAAAAFg/rKcXv06MLz8/s320/DSCF7495.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316476973236531282" /></a><br />here´s a music man!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-5716285454473265682009-03-23T12:57:00.000-07:002009-03-23T13:00:40.079-07:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfqHFp-37I/AAAAAAAAAE4/sTJPgN_xl4I/s1600-h/DSCF7355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfqHFp-37I/AAAAAAAAAE4/sTJPgN_xl4I/s320/DSCF7355.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316475292632407986" /></a><br /><br />this isn´t even a place we visited..it is just a place we stopped on the way to some other beautiful destinationNikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-135784540624229883.post-38874692823309745912009-03-23T11:26:00.000-07:002009-03-23T11:34:06.830-07:00Photossssss<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVK76gitI/AAAAAAAAAEw/4qV-rXGWfo4/s1600-h/IMG_0889.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVK76gitI/AAAAAAAAAEw/4qV-rXGWfo4/s320/IMG_0889.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316452268992662226" /></a><br /><br />Spices at Otavalo!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVKo2w0sI/AAAAAAAAAEo/m9kDXIAYloo/s1600-h/IMG_0879.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVKo2w0sI/AAAAAAAAAEo/m9kDXIAYloo/s320/IMG_0879.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316452263876678338" /></a><br /><br />Kelsey ill/sleeping on the bus lololz.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVKTxFopI/AAAAAAAAAEg/KC8rFJDD4P4/s1600-h/IMG_0900.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVKTxFopI/AAAAAAAAAEg/KC8rFJDD4P4/s320/IMG_0900.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316452258215731858" /></a><br /><br /><br />Alexis bought a Puppy at Otavalo! We named him Poncho. He was being starved and abused, she just had to buy him. now we will have a dog that's our friend in lumbisi!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVJo9QHoI/AAAAAAAAAEY/17C5oIvgzUg/s1600-h/IMG_0927.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xQTMw8qSVEM/ScfVJo9QHoI/AAAAAAAAAEY/17C5oIvgzUg/s320/IMG_0927.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316452246724025986" /></a><br /><br />Kelsey and Me at la cascada de Peguche!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18423987018527557754noreply@blogger.com2