Family Bonding Time

It took us 4 buses to arrive to Arequipa, Peru. The buys made questionable food choices the whole way. Garrett bought this seafood torta from a lady who came on the bus.

After spending less than 24 hours in Chile, and all the hours logged in on bus, we were excited to arrive in a hostel. Our taxi driver helped us find a nice one. Although it was a little more expensive, we got a 4 person private room with a bathroom. It felt like a mansion compared to our small hostels and buses before. 

Garrett was downstairs paying the cab driver. When he came up to the room he told us that the cab driver was coming back in an hour because he didn’t have change. He then proceeded to tell us that he may or may not have said that he would pay him 25 soles (the taxi cost 8 soles). We immediately started giving him a hard time and he was like, “I know, I panicked, he was so nice!” He further explained that he almost lied and told us a lower amount (a cost that we would split) and then he would cover the rest because he was so embarrassed. The rest of the trip we joked about him and Peter, the cab driver, who also left Garrett his number for further cab needs.

We all took turns showering and finally feeling clean before heading out to eat. The restaurant we went to had a beautiful view of the church on the main square. We got there around 8:45 and the waiter told us they were closing at 9. We were extremely shocked because in Uruguay, most families don’t go out to eat until 9. Luckily, they let us eat anyways.

After dinner, we walked around the main square for a bit and then headed back to the room and crashed.

The next morning, we got a lazy start. Around 12, we headed over to the main square again where we were meeting up for our city tour. 

Why you shouldn't drink Mate in the bus

The tour took us to this beautiful outlook spot.

The rest of the tour went downhill from there but it was still fun. We stopped at a makeshift zoo with alpacas, vacunas, and llamas which actually just turned out to a clothing store gimmick.

We had the option to ride horses or 4 wheelers at the last stop. We were going to pick 4 wheeling but found out that wasn’t an option anymore because 2 people had fractured bones in the last tours. We opted to not do anything because we didn’t want to pay for a horse ride but Garrett decided to do it. It turned out to be a ride on a dirt road to a tree 300 yards away and back. It seemed exhilarating.

After the tour, we went back to the main square where it happened to Arequipa day. There was live music and everyone was laying out listening to music. We all went our separate ways to wonder around and met up around sunset at the church. The church was absolutely gorgeous. We ended up standing, watching the sunset and talking about life for hours.

When we decided it was time to eat, we headed to out to find a restaurant that fit our requirements, cheap and good. We passed a lot of places before finally choosing what looked like a Chinese restaurant. We got in and ordered our waters (with gas for safety sakes). Another waiter came by and we found out they didn’t have water with gas, even though we specifically asked our first waiter.

We ordered our food, super excited to eat and then one by one our plates come out and we realized what a mistake we had made.

This is a candid shot of how unhappy the boys were.

After dinner, we couldn’t stop laughing at how cheap we were, for literally 3 more dollars we could have a really fancy meal but we were so concerned about saving money that we bought this disaster of a dinner.

In consolation, we went to McDonald’s and got a McFlurry. We also checked out the casino right across the street. Davis was really excited that he was able to smoke inside and lit up as soon as we got inside. We just did a lap and then headed out, where we read the sign that no smoking was allowed inside.

We headed back to the hostel and once again just had a chill night tonight, laughing and goofing around. We also skyped MELI!!!!!

The next morning, we packed up all of our stuff (we had thoroughly taken advantage of having our own space). Then we separated, the guys went out to go to the bus terminal and buy tickets and Maya and I went to wander around.

We found really good and cheap chocolate (we have refined this skill over the past 6 months), and just window shopped. We went to the plaza when it was time to meet up and waited for the guys to get back. We had set up a meeting time but weren’t surprised they were running late because they had to go all the way to the terminal.

Maya and I didn’t mind because we got to chatting and there were still festivities going on for Arequipa day. 20 minutes later, the boys got back. 

When we asked if they were ready to go find lunch, with sly grins on their faces they said they already ate. Turns out they found a ticket office 2 blocks away and then went to a Chinese place for lunch. (We later found out that they paid more for our tickets because they went to the office instead of the terminal just so they could eat Chinese food. That’s when Maya and learned that there was no more leaving chores to the boys ;)

We spent the rest of the afternoon exploring Arequipa. There was a local market that we went to and loved.

All too soon it was time to board the bus again and head to Cusco. It was the worst bus ride we had had yet.  

Although our time in Arequipa wasn’t adventure filled, it was great to just spend time together. I’m going to miss these people so much when I’m home that spending time doing nothing together is still one of the most amazing things we can do. 

A Short and Sweet Visit to Chile

We arrived in Chile without any problems. While on the bus, we made the decision to only spend the afternoon in Chile and to find another night bus that night to head to Peru.

The first thing we did when we got there was look for a ticket. We found what we were looking for and then continued searching for a tour we wanted to take to fill our afternoon. We originally were planning on going on a tour of the Moon Valley because we had been referred by a friend. After some investigation we realized that, even though it seemed amazing, it was going through scenery that we had just passed the last 3 days admiring. Instead, we looked for tours of the Laguna Cejar, a salt water lake in the desert.

We were unable to find any tours that would get us back in time to catch our bus that night so we opted for a little more expensive private tour.

We were picked up in a pickup truck and driven out by our guide Louis, into the desert to the Laguna. We once again found ourselves on dirt roads but thankfully, in the bigger vehicle, it was a lot cozier ride. Soon, we arrived at the lake. We were one of the first groups to get there so we had the luxury of seeing the gorgeous landscapes without a bunch of other tourists. 

Louis pointed out the Laguna Cejar and explained that it wasn’t the lake we could swim in because it is where the flamingos live and eat. I appreciated that they tried to maintain and protect the area as well as show it off.

We all quickly changed into our “suits” and got ready to go swimming. After almost a full day of traveling, we were all ready to feel clean and refreshed. The coolest thing about the lake is that it is salt water so you can float. Louis told us that the salt water is really cleansing, it not only cleans your body but it cleans out your soul, leaving you refreshed and renewed. As the salt literally lifts up your body, it also lifts up your soul.

I handed my camera to Louis, who turned out to be a great photographer and paparazzi, and we all jumped in. It was freezing cold but it felt so good.

It was weird to jump into a lake and feel the salt seep into your mouth and eyes. Even weirder, was being able to stand completely straight in the water, without touching the bottom, or treading water. I literally had to stand on Davis’s shoulders to get him to go under water.

I also really enjoyed grabbing both my ankles with my hands and floating on my belly with no problem. It was an odd but amazing sensation.

After about 30 minutes of playing around, we were thoroughly frozen through and ready to shower off. We got cleaned up (such a blessing after traveling) and met up with Louis to see what was next. He told us to go explore around the other Laguna (Laguna Cejar) while he prepared a snack. During this time, all the other groups of people left, so it was just us out in the desert.

The lake was gorgeous. We all walked in silence as we observed the beauty around us. The most awe inspiring thing for me was just how silent it was. In my quiet sanctuaries, the woods and waters of Wisconsin, there is always some sort of noise, a bird, crickets, or some other animal making ruckus. Here, I have never heard such silence; it was a profound, deep silence with not a single noise piercing the sky.

Garrett broke our entrancement with the world around us by passing some gas. We soon were back to joking and chatting. We wondered back to Louis, who had set up a beautiful picnic for us in the now deserted Laguna.

He had prepared for us cheese, crackers, and chips. Also, the traditional Chilean/Peruvian drink Pisco Sour. While we snacked he began to tell us the stories of the mountains around us according to the local people. There as a father and his son. The son fell in love with the daughter of another mountain.  They father did not approve and ordered them to stop seeing each other. When they did not agree, the after cut the head off of the son and banished the daughter to the other side of the city. For that reason, on of the mountains has a flat top and the other one is so randomly placed by itself.

After the stories of the mountains, he continued to explain the stars and universe. He stressed how important it was to do good things in life because that good energy comes back to you. He said whatever you send up to the stars, comes back to you 10 fold. More or less, he was explaining karma.

Throughout the rest of our trip, somewhat joking but somewhat serious, we reminded each other to send up good waves so that we could get them back later.

All too soon, it was time to load up the truck and head back to the city. We arrived at the bus terminal feeling refreshed and renewed.

Once on the bus, we began to chat. None of knew exactly what it was but we were entranced out in the desert. Maybe it was the beautiful scenery, maybe it was the refreshing water, maybe it was just being in each other’s company or maybe a combination it all but we all felt rejuvenated. At some level, we all had really bought into what Louis was telling us, and felt like our little time in San Pedro was kind of a spiritual one.