Malia and Squirrel

...but other than having to use the baño every half hour and having burps that smell like rotten hard boiled eggs (yeah, really gross), the travels have been looking up. We made our way to the big, crazy city of La Paz, Bolivia. The city is situated in a giant ravine-ish sort of thing so the streets are either uphill or downhill and the don´t seem to make a lick of sense to me. But then again, I am directionally challenged to begin with! The entry from Argentina to Bolivia was not as smooth as expected. Apparently at the border crossings sometimes they decide to make Americans (and Americans only) buy a visa. The visa is good for five years and costs $135 USD, and only payable in USD. Other border crossings say nothing of this ... read more

...even though I know they will. So I was hoping that the next blog entry would be a little more uplifting than the last one. But I have to tell you what really went on here. We were staying in a hostel in Mendoza and I was getting ready for bed. Matt had gone downstairs to get some water and check his e-mail when someone grabbed his neck. He thought it was someone just messing around but when he turned around there were three young guys standing behind him warning him to be quiet. Out of natural reaction he used some language I won´t repeat here and asked them what the heck was going on. One of the guys took a gun out on his pants and opened the empty cartridge (to show him that there ... read more

...I got robbed! We were 10 minutes from getting on the bus to Argentina where life is a bit more affordable and some professional thief stole my backpack, the important one, from right under Matt´s nose. I had run to the internet to try and find a hostel in Mendoza, our next stop, and left Matt with all the packs. It just happened so quickly. In the beginning of my travels I had been so careful and took all the correct precautions. But I let my guard down and started to carry my important stuff in my purse. Credit and debit cards (3), cash, passport, immigration card, immunization card, camera with lots of pictures, drivers license, prescription glasses, oakley sunglasses, ark teryx ski jacket, guide book, and most importantly my wine guide to the area!!! That ... read more

Just skied at Nevados de Chillan. After sitting in the hostel all day yesterday while it poured rain, it was nice to know that the ski hill opened up today. We met up with a friend from Bozeman who owns a ski tour company in Chile and he showed us some awesome terrain. Matt and I agreed that it was our best day of skiing a resort ever. It was like skiing backcountry with out having to hike!!! Visibility wasn´t the best but the full moon is out tonight and hopefully tomorrow we will have a bluebird powder day. Pretty sweet day!!!... read more

Well now Matt and I are in the big city of Santiago. The time apart was good for me to level my head. of course I still don't know where I am headed in life but a bit of breathing room was good for both of us. We spent his birthday in the beautiful city on Valparaiso. Spent the day drinking win, eating great pasta and basically just walking around the city which has the best graffiti and it so artistic and colorful. We are now back in Santiago and today's mission is to get geared up for skiing. We will see how easy that is in a big, foreign city. Chile is so far removed from the countries I have been traveling in. It feels like being in the states, it is so modern. Peru ... read more

Alright, so I have no good reason for this being my first entry. I could tell you everytime I went to Canoa (a 30 minute walk down the beach) either the power went out or the internet shut down. I could tell you it is because I have been such an attentive Spanish student, busy filling my brain with important information. I could say it is because I have been so busy learing to surf while working on my tan. I could say it is because drinking big cold beers while watching the sun set over the ocean is a much nicer way to spend my time than in the internet cafe. I could say it is because i have been spending all my time with my new best friends, Caroline (4 years) and Rosalea (9 ... read more

So here goes...thought I should try this blogging thing while I am still at a computer I am familiar with. I am starting to realize that I am actually going on this adventure...and soon! I have about seven different lists started but not finished right now. I'm sure that number will just keep growing in the next few weeks. Leaving Bozeman on the 14th. Arrive on the O.P. to visit friends for a few days and then I am off! Will arrive in Quito, Ecuador on the 19th of May. Till then!!!... read more