I have lots of posts. This one will link you to a highlighted story from the series and then you can go to the link at the bottom of the story for more tales from that country. Enjoy!
Argentina - Arrive.
Argentina - Elvis?
Argentina - Man with no legs.
Bolivia - Barrells of coca leaves.
Bolivia - Copacabana highest lake in the world.
Peru - Machu Picchu
Peru - How Disgusting
The Art of peeing in a bathroom a of a moving bus.
Ecuador - Guayaqil. Machine gun exposure.
Colombia - Bogota
Panama - Caribbean and houses on stilts.
Costa Rica - Santa Teresa. White sand and Americans.
Nicaragua - Volcano Island and Jehova Witnesses.
Nicaragua - Miraflores. Broken ass.
Nicaragua - Torture Chambers
El Salvador - Lucha Libre!!!
Guatemala - Mayan village in a crater lake
Guatemala - Tikal ruins
Mexico
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Friday, May 26, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
It is COLD in Canada!
It is about 20C degrees outside. I am wearing a long sleeve shirt and a fleece. I actually wore a toque the other day to keep warm. I wanted my scarf and gloves. I left them at home in fear of people laughing hysterically at me. People are outside with t-shirts and shorts.
It's not going to warm up for another month or so, at least.
I is grumpy. And cold.
It's not going to warm up for another month or so, at least.
I is grumpy. And cold.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Cell phone and shiny cars epidemic...
in the land of silicone and surfer dudes. It's spring break on E 24/7.
Thirty hours away and I am in a whole new dimension. I walk down a street that was so wide that, in most of the countries I was in, could have fit three rows of houses and a couple of dirt roads inbetween. Don't forget to add the stray dogs.
I was in a daze. Boys and girls are all quite perfect, in their designer clothes and perfect hair. I couldn't walk down the street without seeing at least 5 people on their cell phones.
Conversations overheard most certainly contained the words "like" or "dude" or "whatever." Most people were smiling. On a chilly day of 25C, people were out on the beaches suntanning. Actually, they were all slathered up in sunscreen as most tans seemed to have been acquired at any of a number of 24Hour/discount/internet cafe/ laundry tanning salons.
In a gas station where I was picking up loads of chocolate bars that I had not had since leaving Vancouver, the clerk praises my English. "It better be [good]," I replied, "I'm from Canada." I guess they get a whole lot of Asian tourists down there who randomly and individually go into out-of-the-way gas stations to buy a lot of chocolate.
I spent an afternoon playing mini-golf and went go-carting. Then we proceeded to have dinner at an Asian chain restaurant which was overpriced and not very authentic. It wasn't a fusion restaurant, they were trying to do the real thing. Trying was the operative word. Think trendy med-range restaurant with skinny, pretty waitresses. The food wasn't bad but, I would not be a repeat customer. I'm so spoiled from living in Vancouver.
Overall, it was a nice city. A pretty one, to boot. Just a bit of culture shock on my part, adjusting and noticing that my perceptions have changed over the past year and a half. I could have been any number of those cell-phone toting, "like-whatever," primped gals before I left.
Growth is good.
Thirty hours away and I am in a whole new dimension. I walk down a street that was so wide that, in most of the countries I was in, could have fit three rows of houses and a couple of dirt roads inbetween. Don't forget to add the stray dogs.
I was in a daze. Boys and girls are all quite perfect, in their designer clothes and perfect hair. I couldn't walk down the street without seeing at least 5 people on their cell phones.
Conversations overheard most certainly contained the words "like" or "dude" or "whatever." Most people were smiling. On a chilly day of 25C, people were out on the beaches suntanning. Actually, they were all slathered up in sunscreen as most tans seemed to have been acquired at any of a number of 24Hour/discount/internet cafe/ laundry tanning salons.
In a gas station where I was picking up loads of chocolate bars that I had not had since leaving Vancouver, the clerk praises my English. "It better be [good]," I replied, "I'm from Canada." I guess they get a whole lot of Asian tourists down there who randomly and individually go into out-of-the-way gas stations to buy a lot of chocolate.
I spent an afternoon playing mini-golf and went go-carting. Then we proceeded to have dinner at an Asian chain restaurant which was overpriced and not very authentic. It wasn't a fusion restaurant, they were trying to do the real thing. Trying was the operative word. Think trendy med-range restaurant with skinny, pretty waitresses. The food wasn't bad but, I would not be a repeat customer. I'm so spoiled from living in Vancouver.
Overall, it was a nice city. A pretty one, to boot. Just a bit of culture shock on my part, adjusting and noticing that my perceptions have changed over the past year and a half. I could have been any number of those cell-phone toting, "like-whatever," primped gals before I left.
Growth is good.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
In San Diego, US of A
Beach 15min walk away from my buddy's house...After a 30 hour gruelling bus ride from Mazatlan to Tijuana, I made it into the USA. Little luxuries that you don't realize that you miss:
Cops are the good guys.
Cross the street according to the lights, not run when it is kinda safe.
Hot running water with adequete water pressure.
Flushing toilet paper down the toilet.
It's OK to carry your credit card with you - all day.
Clean sidewalks.
People driving in the correct lanes (most of the time).
Cell phones.
This is what happens in bars....Sigh.......... anyways, I'm visiting a friend here and will probably be back home sometime next week. I've gotta book my tix.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Bus ride to Tijuana
When I bought the tickets from Mazatlan, the lady told me that it would be a 23 hour bus ride. Brutal, but OK. It was an overnight bus and there was TV.
The busride took 30 hours.
I was right restless byt the time we got to Northern Mexico. Plus, when I got to Tijuana and cross over to San Diego, I was supposed to call a friend to come pick me up, and then go hang out. By the time I got into the USA, it was about 10:30pm and my buddy was already getting ready for bed. He came out to pick me up nevertheless, thank God!
So instead of heading to bars and whatnot, I had a peanut butter sandwhich (which was SO good), a beer, and a NICE first world shower. It was nice to be clean.
The busride took 30 hours.
I was right restless byt the time we got to Northern Mexico. Plus, when I got to Tijuana and cross over to San Diego, I was supposed to call a friend to come pick me up, and then go hang out. By the time I got into the USA, it was about 10:30pm and my buddy was already getting ready for bed. He came out to pick me up nevertheless, thank God!
So instead of heading to bars and whatnot, I had a peanut butter sandwhich (which was SO good), a beer, and a NICE first world shower. It was nice to be clean.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Bus ride to Mazatlan
You know what? It's been so long that I don't even remember much of my ride from Guadalajara to Mazatlan.
The bus was late; I rode around on a taxi looking for a place in town to stay - I hit up about 6-7 hotels until I found the one I wanted; Yeah that's about it.
Mazatlan was another quaint town. City centre was quite modern and the beach was about a 20 min walk away.
The first night consisted of me getting lost in the dark. Since I arrived late, I was hungry and went to hunt for food. And being hungry makes my brain go numb so I forgot my map and wandered around a little bit. Nothing happened but I was tired.
Day two - walk about in town. Found some food, checked out the church, got a facial, bought some pretty shoes, went to the beach. I didn't go in the water as I was alone and didn't have anyone around to watch my stuff.
Day three - bought tickets to Tijuana, rushed back to the hotel to pack and check out, rushed back to the bus station to wait an hour for the bus.
Yeah, that's about it. Just took it easy.
The bus was late; I rode around on a taxi looking for a place in town to stay - I hit up about 6-7 hotels until I found the one I wanted; Yeah that's about it.
Mazatlan was another quaint town. City centre was quite modern and the beach was about a 20 min walk away.
The first night consisted of me getting lost in the dark. Since I arrived late, I was hungry and went to hunt for food. And being hungry makes my brain go numb so I forgot my map and wandered around a little bit. Nothing happened but I was tired.
Day two - walk about in town. Found some food, checked out the church, got a facial, bought some pretty shoes, went to the beach. I didn't go in the water as I was alone and didn't have anyone around to watch my stuff.
Day three - bought tickets to Tijuana, rushed back to the hotel to pack and check out, rushed back to the bus station to wait an hour for the bus.
Yeah, that's about it. Just took it easy.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Classical Guitar concert, Guadalajara, Mexico
The next evening, a few of us went to a classical Guitar concert. The two boys I went with looked like harsh bikers. Tattoos, piercings, torn clothing, the whole works. Turns out that both have studied classical instruments and have their own respective bands. They knew how to appreciate and recognize the selections from the opera Carmen (the only one I recognized) and the other selections as well. Some were Spanish standards and others were well known in Latin America.
It was a lovely evening of being mesmerized by the intricate melding of two instruments. Beautiful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)