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 may derive pleasure reading these and others may just be confused...nontheless.... Scene One: Becky: I´m tired. Rachel: Its Probably because you have poop in you. Becky: What? (Becky was h [View Full Entry]

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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, went fishing for Piranhas, played volleyball, took a Jeep Safari, and also a boat tour. It was really kind of bizarre [View Full Entry]

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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 temperatures! I wanted to share two of the poems I have written relating to my experiences in Brazil. The first poem came to me as Becky and I were walking with some of our Brazilian friends at night in Ilha Grande. Suddenly we entered [View Full Entry]

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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 so close to so much life! Rachel and I saw lots of different fish, crabs, jellyfish, starfish, all sorts of coral/sea plants with [View Full Entry]

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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 sweetest/most stupid kayaking experience of my life. Rachel and I were kayaking in some coves, protected from the waves and winds, so, we didn~t wear our life jacket. bad choice:) Well, we ventured out into some more open water, the waves were a bit bigger, but we thought we could get into another cove on the island, so we just [View Full Entry]

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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 and dancing and singing in the streets, so, we just followed and danced along with them until we got to our hostel, it was fun. And [View Full Entry]

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Yes, we are pooped....pooped from all the craziness of Carnaval. It has been six days of non-stop noise, mobs, music, drumming, dancing, partying, and merry-making. It has been wonderful but we are ready to GO! So we are going tomorrow to Ilha Grande, a small island of 2,300 two hours south of Rio. It is a natural conservation so there are no roads, cars, or buses. YIPEEEE!!!!! Quite a change from the 15 million plus here in rio! When we first arrived in Rio six long days ago, we headed to a bloco which is a block party full of locals [View Full Entry]

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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 sad, for it is hard to stay sad in this city of joy. I am planning on moving into the Buddhist [View Full Entry]

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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. I was blown away, and again, all I could think to say was Thank you God, this is awesome. I probably said that 50 billion times because there is a trail that you take [View Full Entry]

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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. I´m still adjusting to everything around me, I´m 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 becky´s entry.... in yapayu we met an incredible artist who showed us the abandoned riverbanks of rio uruguay. through the dirt, roots, and old trees, we sifted through old remnants [View Full Entry]

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