http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/rcsisters/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from rcsisters en-us Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:38:46 +0000 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 07:38:46 +0000 For all of you that said we were crazy for going to South America that it was dangerous that we shouldnt trust anyone this is a tribute to the incredible South Americans we have met in our travels. Rachel and I have been the recipients of so much kindness and help from people whom we could never repay. Many times we would have been lost or in some trouble without their help. I would like to in http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Barranco/blog-260109.html We are leaving today We have been in Lima the capital of Peru for the last couple of days. We are staying in a very wealthy area here and it feels as though we arent even in Peru There are American stores everywhere including Starbucks and Tony Romas BMW cars very few street vendors and less amigos greeting us with a buenos dias. The city is incredibly divided between the extremely wealth http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Lima/Lima/Barranco/blog-260099.html For any of you who know Rachel well you know she has a pretty bad sweet tooth. I didnt realize however how bad it was until I traveled with her. Almost everyday she has to buy icecream chocolate cookies popsicles or some sweets to satisfy her craving. Yesterday she broke into song when she got a craving. I was confused at first as to why she was singing Eminem in such a cheery voice bobbi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ayacucho/Ayacucho/blog-258609.html Only one week until we fly back home in time for the glorious Maple Syrup Festival and here we are celebrating the holy and sacred Semana Santa or Holy Week with all the faithful Peruvians Last night the central sqaure as well as several surrounding streets were covered in dyed sawdust and dried flower pedals creating various images of llamas indigenous women children crosses flowers http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Ayacucho/Ayacucho/blog-258108.html Rachel and I have just finished hiking the Inca Trail for 4 days to reach Machu Picchu. It was an incredible experience and we are exhausted. We will update on our fabulous adventures when we have more energy. Here is a public link to our photos on my facebookhttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid90740l721feid511315650Love youBecky http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-257399.html Hola Amigos I tried to post photos on this gallery but had issues so i added them to my facebook photos which you can view herehttpwww.facebook.comalbum.phpaid90740l721feid511315650take special note of Rachels hair at the red lake. It is incredible. We are preparing and getting excited for the Inka Trail to Machu Picchu Say prayers for good weather Thanks love and miss youBec http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Cusco/Cusco/blog-255479.html Here we are on rainy lago titicaca a beautiful lake surrounded by snowcapped mountains. It is an enormous lake spreading across both Peru and Bolivia and has played a major role in the spirituality of the indigenous communities here. We are in the town of Copacabana where the most important Bolivian shrine of la Virgen del Copacabana rests in the beautiful and immaculate cathedral. It is the firs http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/Copacabana/blog-254403.html The past 3 days have been absolutely incredible. Rachel and I just completed a jeep tour of the salt flats and desert in and around Uyuni and it was unreal. The world we live in is so amazing I felt like I was on the moon or some other planet because of the crazy things we saw. First there was the salt flats which look like a desert of fine white sand stretching as far as your eyes can see with http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/Potosi-Department/Salar-de-Uyuni/blog-253153.html Well Rach pretty much summed it all up but I will add some of my own thoughts. Many new experienes for me the day we went mountain biking first time mountain biking first time being groomed by a monkey and first time throwing up in a vehicle. Yes my stomach did not handle well the Altitude cold and driving through windy mountain roads . Pepto has been a dear friend these past 2 days. Ove http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/Oruro-Department/Oruro/blog-252016.html Here we are in high up Samiapta 1400 meters above sea level. The oxygen is thin the air is cool the mountains breathtaking. But unfortunately the oxygen wasnt thick enough for my poor Ohio body and I eventually became aware of the wonderful gift of altitude sickness. At first I felt as if I were high everything went by so slow and everything was wonderfully wonderful. Then fever hit dizzi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/Santa-Cruz-Department/Samaipata/blog-249757.html Bolivia Bolivia Boilvia I was all tears and smiles yesterday when we arrived because this beautiful countries reminds me so much of Guatemala and all my wonderful experiences there.....This country is rich in their indigenous culture and you can feel it in the air Wanted to update you on some random funny quotes that have kept Becky and I laughing and crying throughout our trip...Some of you http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/Santa-Cruz-Department/Puerto-Suarez/blog-247989.html We made it to Bolivia The Pantanal was so fun Rachel and I went with a tour group for 4 days and it was so great. Basically it was like Summer Camp. We stayed in Cabins and there was a main lodge with probably 40 other tourists there. We were in a group of 7 with a guide who was like our counselor and would take us on different activities every day. We rode horses tubed down the Rio Pirahna http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/Santa-Cruz-Department/Puerto-Suarez/blog-247979.html Here we are in the great big countryside of Brazil. We have seen lots of cowboys country music and great big barbeques that reminds me so much of rural America. As Becky mentioned we are about to start our Pantanal adventure and then head off to Bolivia where we will most likely encounter snow and very cold temperaturesI wanted to share two of the poems I have written relating to my experience http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Pantanal/blog-246203.html So the last day on Ilha Grande was incredible We were very blessed to be at a campsite with a bunch of very friendly young English speaking Brazilian who were great. We rented a boat for a day to go to ride around the island visit different beaches and go snorkling. It was the first time I had been snorkling and I loved it Its so amazing I felt like I was swimming in a big aquarium being http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Teres-polis/blog-245553.html Today was a fabulous day because we got to go Kayaking in the Atlantic Rach and I saw a live starfish for the first time it was bright orange and bigger than my face. Crazy. I also had one of the sweetestmost stupid kayaking experience of my life. Rachel and I were kayaking in some coves protected from the waves and winds so we didnt wear our life jacket. bad choice Well we ventured o http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ilha-Grande/blog-244289.html Parades and music and dancing and costumes and Lots of Alcohol everywhere at anytime in every neighborhood in the streets x 6 days and its still going. This is my best description and it doesnt come close to the craziness of it all. It has been alot of fun experiencing the party that is carnival today on our way back to our hostel Rachel and I got stuck behind a parade of people playing music a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Santa-Teresa/blog-243656.html Yes we are pooped....pooped from all the craziness of Carnaval. It has been six days of nonstop noise mobs music drumming dancing partying and merrymaking. It has been wonderful but we are ready to GO So we are going tomorrow to Ilha Grande a small island of 2300 two hours south of Rio. It is a natural conservation so there are no roads cars or buses. YIPEEEE Quite a change from http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Santa-Teresa/blog-243650.html We finally made it to Rio and Carnaval is blowing our minds and eyes and ears and hearts and feet away Today it is raining so we are going to head to the museums and make it to mass. As many of you know I applied for the Fullbright scholarship to live in India with Buddhist women for one year. I just found out that my application has been denied and thus no India...Im a bit sad but not too s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro/Santa-Teresa/blog-242399.html The last 2 days have been INCREDIBLY AMAZING we visited the Iguazu Falls which are so beautiful so stupendous so wonderful beyond description I LOVED IT I took tons of pictures none which even come close to actually capturing how beautiful the falls are. Basically they are Niagra Falls x5 plus immersed in the subtropical rainforest I felt like I was in paradise a never never land. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Paran-/Foz-do-Igua-u/blog-241327.html greetings from senorita raquel we are tired sweaty and burnt from all the travelling hot sun and walking with 40 pounds of gear through the streets of Argentina. Im still adjusting to everything around me Im not sure if I will ever get adjusted as I am continously experiencing something new and different. It makes the trip all the more wild and crazy...just a few things to add to beckys http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Misiones/Puerto-Iguaz-/blog-240493.html