The Highest We've Ever Been...

I'm talking about elevation, boys and girls.  C'mon!  We've been between 8000' and ~14763' feet for the past week.  Enough to make the head spin, but that stuff above is salt and we'll get to it in a minute.

So, I guess it's time to start this story out right!

From the Chilean and Bolivian Frontier - 

My goodness is it the middle of nowhere and certainly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been (I feel like I've said that here before).  

I'll start with the animals before more nature shots.  We saw: 

Flamingoes (there are three varieties - Andean, James', and Chilean.  The amount of photos is not one of each variety, I dont think, just some that I liked): 

Llamas (which are quite tasty, I might add):

Vicuñas:

And then of course there were the Mountains, Lakes, Streams, Snow, Wind, Canyons, Gorges, Valleys, Moons, etc.  Some will only live on as mental images though as it was impossible to photograph it all.  Mainly due to high winds and cold, but also because we couldn't be stopping every five seconds.  Though the excuse certainly could have been made:

The Road!

Lago Colorado - Let's play spot the Flamingo!

Lady contemplates Lake (while shivering)...

Sorry so many Red Lake pictures - I've never seen a red lake, and got excited!

Àrbol de Piedra

As I understood it, this train is used to transport minerals out of the mountains: Borax, Salt, etc

And finally we made it to the Uyuni Salt Flats.  The night before we pulled into our hostel just as the sun was setting, but not to late to soak in the fact it was made completely of salt!

The next day, we were up early to hit the Flats -- first we were all like: 

Then, we were all like: 

But we finished up all like: 

Nom, nom, nom... 

More Pictures from the World's largest Salt Flat: 

Glow Cactuses from an island in the middle of the Salt Flat

It was a great adventure, filled with freezing cold temperatures and arguably the worst hotel I've stayed in on this entire trip (not pictured and literally the only place possible to stay on this adventure).  Thanks for being such a sport, Megan.  Especially after your first visit was to beaches and ride elephats.  I hope you have a safe flight home. 

I head to Lake with a name that is a favorite amongst all 4-grade Boys -  Lake Titicaca - today.  We'll see how active I am as I seem to have caught a cold.  A cold that had me vomitting my guts out at 430 am this morning.  I don't think I've vomited since Sophomore year of College, but I'll consider myself lucky as it is the first time I've been sick on the trip.  So gross though.   You're welcome for the detail.

And, I'll part with a simple hello to all of you, written in salt (of course) and with love: 

As always, I've posted and will keep posting other shots to the Tumblr page: http://justcuzitsround.tumblr.com/, feel free to check them out. 

Llama Me, Maybe?

San Pedro de Atacama in Pictures

We spent the day around San Pedro de Atacama today and I have to say that it is quite photogenic.  It is quite cold in the evenings, but the day was spectacular.   Before we head into the hills towards the Bolivian Salt Flats, I wanted to share a bit of this weird landscape.  It was like being on Mars (or the Moon, if you prefer). 

There were valleys covered with salt and clay:

Powdered Ginger Scones, anyone?

Such random rock formations in the middle of these huge fields of salt.

There were Massive Sand Dunes: 

And of course the Andes and their Volcanoes... 

Megan vs. the Volcano!

Feliz Cumpleaños a mi Gemelo y Yo

On this day in history the following people were born:

Geronimo
Tupac
OJ's Best Friend, A.C. Cowlings
Harold, from Harold and Kumar, John Cho
The current leader in the clubhouse at the US Open, Phil Mickelson

A real illustrious bunch that we'll add these two guys to -

Younger and Cuter

Older and Thicker

Happy Birthday to my Brother and to me!

Parker vs. the Volcano

There is actually a Volcano in this story.  But it's been awhile so you'll have to wait to get to that part.  Nothing is terribly exciting, but I figure you all miss me and I have some pretty pictures to share.

First off, I again have access to my (dwindling) fortune.  A HUGE debt of gratitude to Miss Amy Bell for helping me out and for the incredible hospitality while in Santiago!

Next, the adventure of speaking Spanish is off to an amusing start.  I've quickly learned that there is very little that is as humbling as learning a language.  Last week, I took a "Super Intensive Class" in Santiago and we had a great time with our respective struggles.

The language is coming a long.  I understand it pretty well and when I speak I'm getting by.  Though, "getting by" might be stretching it, for instance, when I don't know how to say what I need to, I generally try to patch the words I know together to approximate.  This behavior is more or less encouraged/suffered, I think, because of the absurdities that could follow.  I've called a sleeping bag a "bolsa de sueños' (bag of dreams), remembered the word for butter - but not the words to direct a taxi. etc. etc.  I'm told I have a good vocabulary, and I'm trying.  But, after 3 weeks, I have to say that I'm confident at this point I'll be much better at the end of my tour in South America, but likely still not very good.  We'll see.  Maybe if I really do get a bag of dreams, it will help...

Anyway, as another week comes closer to closing I'll catch you up on the adventure since I left Santiago.  After a long overnight bus last Friday night I arrived on the lovely islands of Chiloé.  It was ridiculously cold and quite rainy for my time there, but I made a go of it.

The city of Ancud, a sleepy little fishing town with an old Spanish Fort. 

Certainly one of the most colorful churches I've ever seen and it was quite a surprise walking inside to a completely wooden interior with only woodgrain as the color. 

Los Palafitos

After Chiloé, I headed up in the lakes region of Chile.  The region is also a part of the Pacific Fire Belt, and the base of Volcano exploration is Pucón.

The Villarrica Volcano

The beginning of the ascent.  It looks so much closer than it was.  We didn't make it to the crater, due to high winds and ice, but it was still a magnificent view and a good, strenuous day on the mountain.

There are two other Volcanoes in the region and we got a good view of them above the clouds!  The close one is Lanín and the far one is Quetrupillán.  By some weird boundary marking, Lanin is in Argentina. 

One of the many lakes we could see from the mountain as well. 

The walk up is long, done with crampons, and at 50-60 degree slope.  The way down was much more fun.  Sliding down on the ol' keister!

In other news, I leave this evening for Santiago and to meet up with Megan, who is coming back for her second tour of duty here at Just 'Cuz It's Round.   A quick refresher on who Megan is courtesy of our friends at iPhoto:

Not sure what iPhoto is trying to say, but we'll be heading out to Valparaiso and Viña Del Mar and then up to the Atacama Desert and Bolivian Salt Flats over the next week or so.  Should be some weird and wild stuff coming to this venue soon.   

Hola Frío Chile!

Algún día en cualquier parte, en cualquier lugar indefectiblemente te encontrarás a ti mismo, y ésa, sólo ésa, puede ser la más feliz o la más amarga de tus horas. - Neruda

Chilly, Chile!  The view from "the Mary" in Santiago, Chile

Well folks, I've made it almost entirely around the world being just a few clicks west of full, longitudinally speaking, from NYC. 

I've made it to the 6th continent of this journey.  I'm in CHILE!!!

And, boy, is it chilly here! (ba-zing!)

I've been here for almost a week now, but between the ridiculous jet lag and rain, I've been a little bit of a bum.  

I haven't exactly been sitting around fearing the end though. (I mean, that's still months away!)  There's been more than a few highlights, some of which include: 

• I've learned that my understanding of Spanish is far better than I would've thought.  Of course, my speech is slow, terrible on conjugations, and most likely confusing; but I've been getting by.   And, I start "Super Intensive" classes tomorrow morning in Santiago!
• Santiago has an unbelievably convenient Metro system.  Has been fun to ride a subway for the first time since New Delhi! (I skipped the one in Hong Kong - took ferries and walked instead)
• The above view of the Mountains surrounding Santiago and this sunrise:

• Café con Piernas ("coffee with legs") - a bit of an amusement here in Santiago is the fact that some coffee shops have scantily clad women serving the beverages.  I've been told that due to the darkened windows on the shop below, the cladded ladies inside, may not be cladded at all. 

Cafe Tsunami - A sea of goddesses.  Though, I'm pretty sure Eva Longoria doesn't work here!  And, the sign on the door says something like: "See that we have the best coffee and best international and chilean girls.  Do not miss." (I'm guessing that's what "minas" means.  I can't imagine they are talking about mines)

• And, Valparaiso, about an hour and a half outside Santiago:

The city is all hills (think: San Francisco), so it makes for a pretty tough wander, but it is the only way to see the amazing colors and street art of the city.  Some of my favorites below:

The first two days basically just poured rain, so I was thrilled to have sun the last day and half.  Now it's back in Santiago getting ready for a week's worth of Spanish classes.  

Given that I only had 30 pesos of spending money, I was grateful the views from the bus were free:

I can't wait to see what else South America will throw my way!

Translation for the Neruda quote above: 
Someday, somewhere - anywhere, unfailingly, you'll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest or bitterest hour of your life.

Left with only a penny...

Here's a first - I am out of money and have no way of getting more.   

Due to a misplaced decimal point by the Finance Department (This is not a mundane detail, Michael!), I have no money in my checking account.   So, my ATM card is useless to me.

And, since it is Sunday here, no way of exchanging money either. 

Anyway, the fallout could've been worse.  At least the Travel Gods were shining upon me when they left me enough to get back from Valparaiso with 30 pesos - 1 penny - to spare!  
   

These bad boys are going in to a lucky charm of some sort...

Too bad they won't be able to save the budget coordinator.  That guy is bound to be pretty sore from beating himself up about it.