| Local Lodging and Learning
|
Mariana was in Regina last summer and it was
great to visit her family in Argentina. They were very kind
to us and taught us tons about the culture. We met all their
friends that weekend, moving from house to house eating and
talking.
|
Looking lost and confused after entering
Aregua, Rachel, who worked for the US Peace
Corp and working with community development in, grabbed us and
said we could stay on her floor for the night. We of course
used that opportunity to find all the details about Paraguay
and local culture.
|
We had no idea who the Barkley's were when
we entered Sao Paulo, but after our visit they are definitely
very special. They gave us all the information we wanted about
Brazil and the work that they were doing there. We will never
forget the churrascuria and the pizza meals!
|
Juliana took us to a wild Brazilian local soccer
game. Go Palmiras!!!!!
|
Jake and Dorothy Fehr really went out for us
in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. It was great timing because they were
house sitting for these Americans who had the best, biggest
house in the city (and we got to stay in it!!). It was great
picking their brains about everything from Bolivian life and
culture to missions and the radio ministry. There is something
special about down to earth Canadian connections too.
|
We have to say thanks to Juan, Maria, and Ilvia.
This local family took us in on the island of Amantani in Lake
Titicaca, Peru. They cooked for us and suited us up for a traditional
night on the town!
|
We again showed up in Piura, Peru not knowing anyone and the
Falks took us in and treated us like kings. We played
soccer and even got a game of ultimate going! Nothing like sipping
Inca Cola or the purple corn juice and eating northern Peruvian
specials like Ceviche (fish 'cooked' in lemon juice).
|
Cala Cali may just look like a little nothing town outside of
Quito, Ecuador. The boys here and many others run a mountaineering,
adventure, and wilderness camp called El Refugio (the refuge).
Paul and his buddies let us crash and make
exotic pasta dishes as we relaxed and listened to tunes all
day. Oh and then we noticed the blender and had a smoothy night.
|
David took us to his farm outside of Salta,
Argentina and taught us the life of a Gaucho. We learned as
much history as we could handle and we ate as much steak as
we could pack in. Then we went on a wonderful horse ride over
the hills.
|
Luiz casually led us through the drug lord
run shanty towns (favelas) of Rio! Don't be a gringo, be a local!
|
Santos led us through the Potosi mines and
helped us explode dynamite. I think his theories on coca leaves
are a little far fetched but we still love him.
|
Epi was our guide in the southwest Bolivian
salt flats. He had the best collection of English oldies and
Bolivian hits playing in the jeep all hours. He mades some great
food, treated us well and didn't bat an eye at our sketchy photography
requests.
|
Well friends, Alfonzo, for example, was our
guide in lake Titicaca, Peru. I don't know what was more interesting,
lake Titicaca, or listening to Alfonzo talk about it. Anyway,
the weather was great on the lake that weekend and we had a
great time island jumping, dancing, eating and playing soccer.
|
I think we have winners for the best guide and cook in the world.
Guido is probably the only guide that can outhike
us and Julio is a genius. Seriously, who makes
double-decker cakes over the fire and who swings deals with
the locals to get guniea pig on the menu? Julio is all about
presentation. Several course meals with garnishes and the works
are essential before relaxing with a cup of coca tea.
|
Carmen led us to Colca Canyon to get a glimpse
of the condors.
|
Our trek in the Pantanel wouldn't have been complete without
our English comerades! Hey, what's up Pippa, Jen, Lucy,
Phil, Will!!! Now do we need a new category for that
animal or does it fit in the general birds category?
|
we just couldn't get away from Penny and Nicola
(from England). First we met them in the Pantanel in Brazil,
then we saw them in Corumba on the border, then Sucre, then
Uyuni, then again in La Paz. By that time we thought that it
was about time we started hanging out. So we did just that for
a couple days - eating way too many fruit salads and drinking
too many fruit shakes. If we all would have got into the San
Pedro prison, it may have been the best experience ever! Anyway,
it is good to find a couple of girls that travel around rating
things on predefined, thought out scales. They rate people and
cities and we rate fruit shakes and various bodily outputs.
|
Anne happened to meet up with us on the border
of Bolivia and Brazil. In addition to the Canadian connection,
we spent a 30 hour bus ride together. After that we hung out
for a couple days. We swore that we would meet up again in Bolivia
somewhere but it never happened!
|
Simon and Hugo were about
as crazy as us. We got the best photos of the entire trip on
the salt flats of Bolivia I think. Late night card games...
Great oldies playing in the jeep... need I say more? Simon had
a sweet pirhana scar too!
|
What would the inca trail be without Fredrick
(the French plant guy), Suzanna, and Hobe
(never could understand him but I knew he was always making
jokes). I have to hand it to these 3 because we hiked really
fast and they were pretty much right with us the whole way.
I think we will all never forget the great food that Julio made
(like the cake and guniea pig!!! yeah!!).
|
Our first week in Argentina, our favorite waiter, Jorge,
helped us order through everything on the menu in the course
of 2 days.
|
Topo and Christian took us
on a great hike around Cordoba, Argentina and we had the best
barbeque after.
|
Mario, Brian, and their other
buddy took us under their wing in central Chile. They drove
us around and payed for us and showed us many sights all day
before dropping us off at Fray Jorje National Park.
|
Richard definitely has the cheapest and best
hostel in Salta, Argentina. He helped us book everything we
wanted from hanging out with Gauchos to Bungee Jumping. He even
gave us free internet, breakfast, and kitchen use!
|
Man if these boys didn't have a rope, we would have never been
able to scale the back of Pan De Asucar in Rio! Thanks boys,
and maybe next time we will take up your offer and sneak back
into the bushes to smoke pot with you ;)
|
He found us bored in a park in Curitiba, Brazil and took us
to his home for supper and then to church.
|
You know you are on a bus too long with people when you meet
all 30 of them and get to know them. Hi to our French Guiana
and Brazilian friends!
|
This is it! The results are in! After combing the continent
for the best fruit shakes (taste, variety, thickness, cost,
etc...), we have made our decision. For 2 Bolivianos, the best
fruit shakes can be found in La Paz, Bolivia. This lady also
whips up a mean fruit salad! When really lucky, there is the
possibility of the "special" cup!
|
|
