This has undoubtedly been the "theme" of my time here in Trinidad! Thanks to Grandpa Jud for first introducing this song to me!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Hey Mannn! (say this in a Caribbean accent)
Hey there! or should I say Heyyyy Mannn!
Just a quick note to say hello from Trinidad and Tobago!
I have been here over a week now and LOVING it. I think I might have to come back and sail some more in the near future.
Our next stop is Grenada, but in the meantime we have been busy hiking and kayaking around the Island and jungles. I have been tromping through tropical rivers and swimming in hidden waterfalls, exploring caves, and keeping an eye out for monkeys! This lifestyle is certainly one I could get used to.
Next on my agenda for travel will include a cross Atlantic flight to Europe. I'm looking forward to seeing friends and trying to prepare myself for some serious weather shock! haha
My last couple of months in Lima were absolutely perfect. I was sad to leave such good friends and a very lively city but I have high hopes to visit again in the near future. Ojala!
Well, I better be off. The plan for the evening is a barbeque on a nearby beach.
Hugs to all!
Just a quick note to say hello from Trinidad and Tobago!
I have been here over a week now and LOVING it. I think I might have to come back and sail some more in the near future.
Our next stop is Grenada, but in the meantime we have been busy hiking and kayaking around the Island and jungles. I have been tromping through tropical rivers and swimming in hidden waterfalls, exploring caves, and keeping an eye out for monkeys! This lifestyle is certainly one I could get used to.
Next on my agenda for travel will include a cross Atlantic flight to Europe. I'm looking forward to seeing friends and trying to prepare myself for some serious weather shock! haha
My last couple of months in Lima were absolutely perfect. I was sad to leave such good friends and a very lively city but I have high hopes to visit again in the near future. Ojala!
Well, I better be off. The plan for the evening is a barbeque on a nearby beach.
Hugs to all!
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| Kayaking back to the boat |
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| a "rough" morning lounging around on deck |
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| cooling off in one of a series of beautiful waterfalls |
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| swimming in caves! |
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| Getting coconuts! |
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| Enjoying the juice. My favorite! |
Sunday, September 4, 2011
More photos!
More photos from Peru! |
| Click the giant dancing guinea pig for more photos of my time here in Peru! |
Long time!
To say that time is flying is an understatement! I can't believe how fast the last few months have just zipped by. I have quite a full schedule with work, taking a quick trip up to San Francisco for my friend's wedding, traveling south with friends again, and taking a fun adventurous vacation along the northern coast of Peru.
Not too much has changed here in Lima. We're still under constant cloud cover during these winter months but as I write this, the sun is surprisingly peaking through. Thank goodness for a rooftop terrace on afternoons like these! Work continues to take up the majority of my time here in town but I'm thankful for a really great group of co-workers. It seems like there is always someone new at the office. It's hard to work with so many travel lovers because hearing about other's crazy trips just makes my own appetite for travel that much stronger.
Thank goodness for some vacation I had in the end of August where I could satiate the need to explore more of Peru and also see some much desired sunshine. I went with my close friend and roommmate Johanna and another girl, Simone, all the way up to the Peru and Ecuador border. From there, we spent ten days slowly making our way down the coast stopping at little sleepy fishing villages and beach towns along the way. The trip was a perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. We made no plans prior to traveling, only knowing the direction we would head the first night. Each day we had the ability to decide if we wanted to move on down the coast or stay another day and explore the area we were in. With this flexible schedule we had a blast. There wasn't a day we went without sunshine (such a nice change compared to cloudy Lima) or a day without making new friends. Here's a quick run-down of the places we visited:
Trujillo - north of Lima by about eight hours, this town is actually quite big. There's a gorgeous colorful Plaza de Armas and lots of history here.
Huanchaco - about 20 min outside of Trujillo, this is a quaint little coastal town that's a prime destination for surfers. We enjoyed our stay here and visited some nearby archaeological sites. I was a big fan of sitting on the beach and watching fishermen make their handmade reed boats.
Tumbes - All the way up at the Ecuadorian border, this was another larger city. It's definitely not a tourist destination so we stood out quite a bit. We had fun exploring some of the city before heading to the coast.
Zorritos - Loved this place. It's along the Pan-American and basically just a thin strip of lovely beach and crystal clear waters. We stayed in a pretty little hotel right smack on the beach. We also went on a day excursion from here to Puerto Pizzaro where we hired a boat to take us out among the Mangrove trees. Very very fun. With our little wooden motor boat, we stopped and visited crocodiles in a protective sanctuary and ate lunch on our own little private island.
Punta Sal - My favorite place we stayed at. Again, we found a perfect little place right on the beach and spent the whole time soaking up the sun and swimming in warm calm waters. I loved this place and hope to come back for a visit again someday. It was a TINY town (especially in the low travel season right now) and we spent our evenings cooking for ourselves and friends and relaxed on a secluded beach perfect for campfires.
Mancora - This was a fun and much more lively stop on the trip. Mancora is a big surfer destination and tourist hub for Peruvians. It was a fun change up from the northern sleepy neighbors of Zorritos and Punta Sal but I was ready to keep moving after one day.
Cabo Blanco - Just a quick stop here, we wanted to see where Ernest Hemmingway spent months writing "The Old Man and the Sea." It was the SMALLEST little place but just breathtaking. Quite an adventure getting there but definitely worth it. We had seafood on the beach, met a couple from Seattle (talk about a small world) and then, as there was absolutely no accommodation available, we continued on. Of course having to do the adventure of getting there in reverse which involved climbing a dirt road in the back of a pick-up for 30 cents. Not a bad rate! =)
Lobitos - This place was unique and definitely different from our previous stops. Thank goodness we found somewhere to sleep as we had to drive around to three different hostels before finally finding a fourth that had room for us. It's a great little town (again, very very small) that serves primarily as a surfer destination. We spent the day exploring the coast and watching wind and kite surfers.
From Lobitos, it was one quick night in nearby Talara before flying out to Lima the next morning. Despite going by extremely fast, it was such a fun and memorable vacation.
I can't believe it has been over four months of living here in Lima. So much seems to have happened already, but I'm also looking forward to what's ahead. I'm off to soak up this sunshine now before it vanishes and I don't see it for again for a while! Hope summer is going well north of the equator!
Not too much has changed here in Lima. We're still under constant cloud cover during these winter months but as I write this, the sun is surprisingly peaking through. Thank goodness for a rooftop terrace on afternoons like these! Work continues to take up the majority of my time here in town but I'm thankful for a really great group of co-workers. It seems like there is always someone new at the office. It's hard to work with so many travel lovers because hearing about other's crazy trips just makes my own appetite for travel that much stronger.
Thank goodness for some vacation I had in the end of August where I could satiate the need to explore more of Peru and also see some much desired sunshine. I went with my close friend and roommmate Johanna and another girl, Simone, all the way up to the Peru and Ecuador border. From there, we spent ten days slowly making our way down the coast stopping at little sleepy fishing villages and beach towns along the way. The trip was a perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. We made no plans prior to traveling, only knowing the direction we would head the first night. Each day we had the ability to decide if we wanted to move on down the coast or stay another day and explore the area we were in. With this flexible schedule we had a blast. There wasn't a day we went without sunshine (such a nice change compared to cloudy Lima) or a day without making new friends. Here's a quick run-down of the places we visited:
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| Reed Boats in Haunchaco |
Huanchaco - about 20 min outside of Trujillo, this is a quaint little coastal town that's a prime destination for surfers. We enjoyed our stay here and visited some nearby archaeological sites. I was a big fan of sitting on the beach and watching fishermen make their handmade reed boats.
Tumbes - All the way up at the Ecuadorian border, this was another larger city. It's definitely not a tourist destination so we stood out quite a bit. We had fun exploring some of the city before heading to the coast.
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| Our boat driver in the Mangroves |
Punta Sal - My favorite place we stayed at. Again, we found a perfect little place right on the beach and spent the whole time soaking up the sun and swimming in warm calm waters. I loved this place and hope to come back for a visit again someday. It was a TINY town (especially in the low travel season right now) and we spent our evenings cooking for ourselves and friends and relaxed on a secluded beach perfect for campfires.
Mancora - This was a fun and much more lively stop on the trip. Mancora is a big surfer destination and tourist hub for Peruvians. It was a fun change up from the northern sleepy neighbors of Zorritos and Punta Sal but I was ready to keep moving after one day.
Cabo Blanco - Just a quick stop here, we wanted to see where Ernest Hemmingway spent months writing "The Old Man and the Sea." It was the SMALLEST little place but just breathtaking. Quite an adventure getting there but definitely worth it. We had seafood on the beach, met a couple from Seattle (talk about a small world) and then, as there was absolutely no accommodation available, we continued on. Of course having to do the adventure of getting there in reverse which involved climbing a dirt road in the back of a pick-up for 30 cents. Not a bad rate! =)
Lobitos - This place was unique and definitely different from our previous stops. Thank goodness we found somewhere to sleep as we had to drive around to three different hostels before finally finding a fourth that had room for us. It's a great little town (again, very very small) that serves primarily as a surfer destination. We spent the day exploring the coast and watching wind and kite surfers.
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| Pretty waters in Lobitos |
I can't believe it has been over four months of living here in Lima. So much seems to have happened already, but I'm also looking forward to what's ahead. I'm off to soak up this sunshine now before it vanishes and I don't see it for again for a while! Hope summer is going well north of the equator!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Adventure in Machu Picchu
Well, I suppose being behind in keeping up with my blog should be a good sign as it points to a very busy schedule and lots of fun being had. =)
Besides staying occupied with a heavy work load, I have enjoyed quite a bit of adventure in the last few weeks. In the end of June my sister and good friend Janell came down to visit Peru. During their week here I took off work and we made the absolute most of every moment they had to spend in this wonderful country. Thank goodness for previous tour guide experience because I was determined to show them a good time in and around the neighborhoods I frequent in Lima. I especially had a blast introducing them to my roommates and close friends down here. Another highlight involved encouraging them to try various Peruvian dishes such as Aji de Gallina, Ceviche, Lomo Saltado, and of course, the infamous Pisco Sour.
After a couple of quick days around Lima we headed off to Cusco and from there, Machu Picchu. Despite an unfortunate day of getting sick in Cusco (the risk of traveling and eating in South America), we made the adventurous journey to the sacred Inca site. For being such a well known place, Machu Picchu is surprisingly hard to get to. First a flight to Cusco, followed by a two hour drive through the Sacred Valley to Ollyantaytambo, then an hour a half by train to Aguas Calientes (hold on, you're not done yet), then by bus or foot up to the ruins. With this all this hassle, you might ask, "is it worth it?" And the answer: YES, definitely. The first glimpse of the historic mountain dwelling is breathtaking. Our cameras certainly got a work out while trekked through the various dwellings and paths of the ancient ruins. We arrived just in time for sunrise and spent the entire day exploring. Easily we could have spent another full day hiking but due to limited time, headed back to Lima the very next day. Although Lima might not compare to the Incan masterpiece, it certainly has its fair share of places to visit. We made sure to see the fishing village of Chorillos, the coastal neighborhoods of Barranco and Miraflores, as well as the areas of La Marina and the historic downtown center of Lima.
It was rough to say goodbye to my visitors but I'm so very thankful for their visit all the way down here. It was by far one of the most memorable trips I have taken. I also have to say that I'm quite impressed with both Kadi and Janell's ability to adapt in different situations. They handled getting sick and being surrounded by a foreign language like pros. My friends (even the ones who don't speak a word of English) were so sad to see them go!
Next on the agenda for me here in Lima is to survive the winter weather we have been having lately. Everyday it has been cloudy and a chilly. Certainly a little different from the gorgeous weather I hear about back home. Today (Saturday) we had a morning of sunshine and my roommates Johanna, Cedric, and I spent the better part of the day on our rooftop terrace. This is definitely best place to be to make the most of the sun. This evening I have plans with some Peruvian friends (several are determined to teach me some South American dance moves - I'm doubtful, but they insist they can teach me. We shall see...). I have a tentative trip planned for next weekend in search of some sunshine on the coast and then before I know it, I'll be spending a week in San Francisco. Counting down the days for this upcoming vacation!
Happy belated Fourth of July! I baked good ol' fashioned chocolate chip cookies in honor of America on the 4th and loved introducing the concept of eating raw cookie dough to my friends. Of course they were won over and I have since gotten several more requests to bake once again. =)
Miss you all! Will write more "soon." =) Pictures up later today I hope!
Besides staying occupied with a heavy work load, I have enjoyed quite a bit of adventure in the last few weeks. In the end of June my sister and good friend Janell came down to visit Peru. During their week here I took off work and we made the absolute most of every moment they had to spend in this wonderful country. Thank goodness for previous tour guide experience because I was determined to show them a good time in and around the neighborhoods I frequent in Lima. I especially had a blast introducing them to my roommates and close friends down here. Another highlight involved encouraging them to try various Peruvian dishes such as Aji de Gallina, Ceviche, Lomo Saltado, and of course, the infamous Pisco Sour.
After a couple of quick days around Lima we headed off to Cusco and from there, Machu Picchu. Despite an unfortunate day of getting sick in Cusco (the risk of traveling and eating in South America), we made the adventurous journey to the sacred Inca site. For being such a well known place, Machu Picchu is surprisingly hard to get to. First a flight to Cusco, followed by a two hour drive through the Sacred Valley to Ollyantaytambo, then an hour a half by train to Aguas Calientes (hold on, you're not done yet), then by bus or foot up to the ruins. With this all this hassle, you might ask, "is it worth it?" And the answer: YES, definitely. The first glimpse of the historic mountain dwelling is breathtaking. Our cameras certainly got a work out while trekked through the various dwellings and paths of the ancient ruins. We arrived just in time for sunrise and spent the entire day exploring. Easily we could have spent another full day hiking but due to limited time, headed back to Lima the very next day. Although Lima might not compare to the Incan masterpiece, it certainly has its fair share of places to visit. We made sure to see the fishing village of Chorillos, the coastal neighborhoods of Barranco and Miraflores, as well as the areas of La Marina and the historic downtown center of Lima.
It was rough to say goodbye to my visitors but I'm so very thankful for their visit all the way down here. It was by far one of the most memorable trips I have taken. I also have to say that I'm quite impressed with both Kadi and Janell's ability to adapt in different situations. They handled getting sick and being surrounded by a foreign language like pros. My friends (even the ones who don't speak a word of English) were so sad to see them go!
Next on the agenda for me here in Lima is to survive the winter weather we have been having lately. Everyday it has been cloudy and a chilly. Certainly a little different from the gorgeous weather I hear about back home. Today (Saturday) we had a morning of sunshine and my roommates Johanna, Cedric, and I spent the better part of the day on our rooftop terrace. This is definitely best place to be to make the most of the sun. This evening I have plans with some Peruvian friends (several are determined to teach me some South American dance moves - I'm doubtful, but they insist they can teach me. We shall see...). I have a tentative trip planned for next weekend in search of some sunshine on the coast and then before I know it, I'll be spending a week in San Francisco. Counting down the days for this upcoming vacation!
Happy belated Fourth of July! I baked good ol' fashioned chocolate chip cookies in honor of America on the 4th and loved introducing the concept of eating raw cookie dough to my friends. Of course they were won over and I have since gotten several more requests to bake once again. =)
Miss you all! Will write more "soon." =) Pictures up later today I hope!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Time flies!
I just returned home to Lima after a wonderful and whirlwind busy two weeks in Cusco. Not surprisingly, like most who get a chance to visit this historic Incan city, I fell in love with the place. My days were spent exploring as much as I could while helping clients navigate their way through the narrow cobblestone streets and hills. Although I did spend a lot of time in our Cusco office, I was able to get out and make several new friends and enjoy some delicious restaurants and cafes. I have still yet to taste "Cuy" or more specifically, fried Guinea pig (a delicacy here) but I'm saving that event for when Kadi visits. Thankfully, altitude sickness was hardly noticeable (Cusco is at about 11,000ft) and I quickly became acquainted with the old town and it's many hills. Every block seemed to be full of "eye candy" and I constantly took out my camera at every possible moment. Unfortunately, I tried and failed to learn any Quechua (native Incan tongue) but lucky for me, I get to return to Cusco in just a few days. Perhaps I'll have better luck this trip.
Some very special people happen to be on their way to Peru right at this very moment and I can't wait to show them around and hopefully impart some useful Spanish phrases as well. Grandpa Jud had some very wise suggestions of useful phrases =) I have a busy couple of days ahead of me as I prepare for my visitors and then it's off to vacation. Can't wait!
Until I can write about adventures in Machu Picchu and upcoming travels, here are some recent photos from Lima and my time in Cusco!
Some very special people happen to be on their way to Peru right at this very moment and I can't wait to show them around and hopefully impart some useful Spanish phrases as well. Grandpa Jud had some very wise suggestions of useful phrases =) I have a busy couple of days ahead of me as I prepare for my visitors and then it's off to vacation. Can't wait!
Until I can write about adventures in Machu Picchu and upcoming travels, here are some recent photos from Lima and my time in Cusco!
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| My friend Dani - teaching me about Peruvian culture |
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| I had to prove that I successfully made a pancake. My roommate Johanna is a pro! Although she's German and insisted that these were "German Pancakes," they seemed awfully similar to the Swedish ones Grandma Betty makes... |
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| The pro German Pancake Maker |
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| My friend's Capoira dance group down at the beach on a Saturday |
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| Plaza de Armas in Cusco! |
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| Nightly entertainment in the square in Cusco |
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| My daily lunch (enjoyed in the sun in Francisco Plaza) Freshly squeezed papaya and orange juice and chicken sandwich. |
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| June is a month long celebration in Cusco. Parades every single day. |
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| It can get a little busy in Cusco during this festive month. |
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A bit more from the weekend
Hola!
Another weekend here at last! Although I was hoping for a long relaxing weekend after a busy week of work, it seems that other plans were in store. Tomorrow I head off to Cusco for a couple weeks where I will work in my company's smaller office and interact directly with our traveling clients. I'm certainly looking forward to getting to know this famous city and imagine I'll be working even more than usual. Wish me luck as I take off to another fascinating Peruvian location!
In the meantime, here are a few more photos from last weekend's trip to Paracas.
Another weekend here at last! Although I was hoping for a long relaxing weekend after a busy week of work, it seems that other plans were in store. Tomorrow I head off to Cusco for a couple weeks where I will work in my company's smaller office and interact directly with our traveling clients. I'm certainly looking forward to getting to know this famous city and imagine I'll be working even more than usual. Wish me luck as I take off to another fascinating Peruvian location!
In the meantime, here are a few more photos from last weekend's trip to Paracas.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sun and Sand
What a wonderful and relaxing weekend - my first journey outside of Lima was quite successful. I traveled south about three and half hours by bus and landed in Paracas. When my friend Elizabeth suggested a couple days away to relax and enjoy some sun and warmth on the coast and it didn't take me more than a second to agree wholeheartedly. What a fantastic idea! We spent the majority of the weekend at a gorgeous beach front hotel soaking the rays and testing out some delicious Peruvian dishes. One of my favorite parts of the weekend had to be our exploration of the nearby sand dessert. Can you think of a better way to travel around the vast expanse of sand dunes than with an ex race car driver? I certainly can't. We raced our way around and over the dunes and it when our driver said that this was the "Peruvian version of the roller coaster," he was not exaggerating. I especially enjoyed the thrill of sand boarding down some incredibly steep slopes. All in the all, the weekend was a blast.
I'm doing my best to keep up with life in here Lima and getting the hang of a busy weekly routine. At the office I have started making hints that I would love a chance to travel for the job if necessary. I'm crossing my fingers for an upcoming chance to do so! Enjoy the photos of sand and sun and more to come soon! I hope everyone had a special Memorial Day today.
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| Thinking about what a big sand castle I could build here... |
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| This hardly depicts how steep it actually is. Trust me - it was steep! |
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| If you can't tell, I'm screaming very loud here. |
Monday, May 23, 2011
Loving Lima
I wish I was able to write more for the blog, but take it as a good sign that I'm so busy here that I don't have much spare time to get creative and sit down to write! I'll try and do better, I promise. Life seems to be flying by at an incredible pace here in Lima. If I'm not busy at work, I'm enjoying making new friends and exploring more of the city. I recently moved into a fantastic apartment on the border of the neighborhoods Miraflore and San Isidro. It's a nice quieter (but not too quiet) part of the city and my street is very safe and surprisingly peaceful. My absolute favorite part of the new place is a huge, gorgeous, open rooftop terrace which we have all to ourselves. I live with four other roommates and we get along fantastically. We try and split up the cooking and share meals at least a few times during the week. Such meals which we enjoy as much as possible on the terrace.
This weekend I will be taking my first trip out of Lima to Paracas. An area about three hours south of the city and known for it's beautiful location on the coast. I can't wait for the rest and relaxiation! Last weekend I was able to experiene a very unique park here in Lima - the magical fountains. The park is enormous and full of all sorts of spectacular water fountains and light shows. It was quite an adventure and of course I had to see how many fountains I could run under without getting drenched. I survived for the most part, but did get sufficiently soaked before heading home. It's hard to resist the challenge. =)
I'm looking forward to more adventures in the near future. I can confidently say that I'm almost a "master" at the bus system here in my area. I can now hop on and of a moving bus, no problem.
This weekend I will be taking my first trip out of Lima to Paracas. An area about three hours south of the city and known for it's beautiful location on the coast. I can't wait for the rest and relaxiation! Last weekend I was able to experiene a very unique park here in Lima - the magical fountains. The park is enormous and full of all sorts of spectacular water fountains and light shows. It was quite an adventure and of course I had to see how many fountains I could run under without getting drenched. I survived for the most part, but did get sufficiently soaked before heading home. It's hard to resist the challenge. =)
I'm looking forward to more adventures in the near future. I can confidently say that I'm almost a "master" at the bus system here in my area. I can now hop on and of a moving bus, no problem.
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