The hardest climb of my life!

Two days ago we arrived here in Pucon. It was about a six hour bus ride from Talca. The first day here we went white water rafting. Class four and five rapids and we had to portage around a class six. That was one crazy looking rapid. It was pretty much a crazy waterfall. Great time. We got to float in the water through some of it and I loved that the most. I realized I didn´t spend much time on a river last summer and I missed that.

Yesterday was pretty amazing. One of the reasons people come here to Pucon is to climb its active volcano. We decided that since we were here we might as well do it too. We left at 0700 and met with our guides. They gave us gators, boots, snow gear, crampons and an ice axe. We got to the trail head at about eight and we were told it would take five hours to get up and two to get down. That´s exactly what it took. We were in a group of ten. It was hard. Really hard. A bunch of us really struggled but it still took the five hours like they said. Pretty steep in parts and tons of switchbacks up the volcano. I reached the top at about one. One of the guides gave me trekking poles which I think saved me. That reall made a huge difference. The view from the top was incredible. We spent about an hour up there and the longer we were there the more the clouds burned off so we could see the lake and surrounding area. The crater was huge. The sulfur made us cough a lot but it was amazing to be standing on top of a volcano. Coming down was an exciting time. We slid the whole way down on our butts. For a good part of it, it was like being in a louge. It was carved out from so many people. It was awesome to slide down it!!! The sunburn I have right now is probably worse than the pain in my muscles. I wore tons of sunscreen but the sun was crazy yesterday. I have to say it was a pretty amazing experience.

After the volcano we went to some hot springs to relax. Great way to end a painful, painful, exciting day!

Two posts in one day!!!

So here I am at the internet cafe...again...

I have to share this story. It just may be the highlight of my trip so far. After we left the internet cafe before, we set out in search of another vineyard. Along the way we found this place that looked like one so we went in. It was dark in there but there were lots of the large wooden vats to hold wine so we figured we were in the right place. This man comes up to us and starts speaking really fast in Spanish. No comprende, at all. Somehow he figured out we wanted to look around so he starts walking really fast and leads us up this crazy old staircase. He has us walk out onto the top of one of the vats. I was hoping that you could swim in wine because I was expecting the top to fall in with all of us up there. He pulled the cork out of the top and had us all stick our finger in to taste it. Kind of gross but that is wine in the process. The whole time he is with us he is talking away...no comprende. We just smile and nod. Then he leads me out onto this crazy old board that is from one vat to another, pretty far up off the ground, so I could have a photo op. From this point on it was all about the photo op and he made sure we got it. We all took our turn on the crazy board that could have broken from the weight of a piece of baby corn and then finally down the crazy staircase. He then took a ladder, put it up against a vat and showed us how to pose for the best picture. This guy was so random it was great. We went back to the front desk and he gave us all a small bottle of red wine for free. He did not want any money for anything. He let us taste the white wine and it was pretty good. I bought a really large bottle of it for 1000 pesos, or about $1.50. Later we noticed a bug floating in it... protein. This guy made our day. It was such a random 20 minutes of our day. He did not understand a word of what we were saying and we had no clue what he was saying but it was great. I just had to share this. I hope you are all well and having lots of snow wherever you are. I have a pretty good sunburn going on...

Gracias

Hola! Como esta? Gracias. So I think Alex may be getting a tad bit annoyed that I know how to say gracias. I say it a lot. When I don´t know what to say, I say gracias. At least people are thanked for their services. :)

We are back in Chile. In a little town called Talca. Today we are going on wine tours and wine tasting. I like wine. I like wine tastings. Had a wonderful late harvest wine this morning that was super sweet. Tonight we are taking a night bus to Pucon. We are all really looking forward to this. We´ll be there three nights. Pucon is on a lake with a perfect cone shaped volcano. We hope to climb the volcano, go white water rafting and visit the hot springs. Should be three full days of adventure.

Yesterday we got into Talca and had no clue where we were going. We went into a gas station and asked directions. There was a man there who offered to take us to where we needed to go. He seemed nice enough. He really was great. Jill and I sat in the back of his van, her on her pack and me on a rickety old lawn chair. We wondered if this guy was taking us for a ride, but he was really wonderful. He took us to our hostel and didn´t want any money. He spoke no English and he knew we didn´t speak much Spanish but he, like most people, when they find out we don´t know Spanish seem to speak faster and more. I like how they don´t give up but they speak expecting us to know what they are saying. They don´t speak to us like we are dumb, they just repeat it, or not, until we get it. Gracias. I say this a lot.

Abseling down a waterfall...what a way to spend a day!

Grettings all from Argentina! We arrived here yesterday and tonight we are taking a night bus back to Chile. The trip kind of got off to a rocky start but things are getting pulled together more now. When we first arrived in Peru, my pack was dropped in the ocean on the way here. I swear it must have been. Both Alex and I had soaking bags when we picked them up. All our clothes were soaked and now they have a sort of stench. Oh well...what are you going to do... Then my ATM stopped working. For about three days I couldn´t get money out. In all my traveling this never happened. Yesterday I finally heard that beautiful noise of money being dispensed from an ATM machine! I felt such joy in that moment! :) Yesterday we took the bus from Chile to here, Mendoza, Argentina. I sat next to this old man who was traveling with his cousin and a friend. They were hilarious. The spoke pretty good English which is great because my Spanish is awful. They just made me laugh the whole time. At one point they busted out in song--from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to Dean Martin to who knows what else they were singing. It was great. The bus ride over the Andies was amazing! SO stinkin´ beautiful! Tonight when we leave we are taking the night bus so we can sleep and not spend one of our days traveling but I am so thankful we got to see it yesterday. Today was great. We went trekking with a guide then rapelling down a waterfall. Such a great time! It was extra great just being able to get out and be active. We have been trying to get as much exercise as we can in preparation for the end of our trip. I wish I could put pictures on here but the computers here are different and I am afraid of erasing all my pics so you will all just have to be patient. I am off to work on my Spanish since Jill and Alex are off on another hike. I am on my own now. I´m sure I will say something to offend someone...not on purpose but it is bound to happen!

Chile or bust

Just wanted to let you all know I made it to Peru safely. Five airports later I made it. Spent the night in the San Fransciso airport. That makes for a long night but cheaper than a hotel for five hours. Alex and I met up in San Fran where Sam and David, some friends from camp, picked us up and took us out to dinner. So great to see them! It was really great to actually fly with someone else. I do not remember the last time I traveled with someone else on a plane! It was fun to have someone to laugh with and talk to for 24 hours. So I have learned that two years of high school spanish 11 years ago is not enough to help you speak fluent Spanish. Gracias. That is not enough to get by but Jill and Alex seem to know a bit so that makes it easier. Some things are coming back for sure but very slowly. Tomorrow we fly down to Chile for ten days. Should be a good trip. I will try to keep this updated as I can.

Under my feet, the grass is growing

Whenever I pack to leave a place I listen to Tom Petty and the song Time to Move On... I am listening to that song now. 

I am packed and ready to go. I have moved all my stuff out of Rebecca and Stephen's house. My pack is ready to go and my plane leaves in five hours. I am leaving for South America this afternoon and although I am excited to be going, I am just as excited to come home already. The last thirteen weeks here have been great. I feel like I have had a life and friends and have met some great people. I am trying to get the same job back that I just left yesterday when I come back. I'll get an apartment in Spokane though. I look forward to some sort of stability in my life. 

So I will be in Peru on Sunday. Fly to Chile on Tuesday. Visit Argentina for a few days. Explore Chile. Fly back to Peru and hike Machu Picchu. I look forward to crossing another thing off my life list. I'll be home two days before Christmas and take some time before returning to work. Just wanted to update you all on my life. Please pray for safety during my travels. I will be with three other friends so no solo trip this time. I look forward to being able to play with friends! I will try to keep this updated as much as possible during my travels. I know I am bad at this but under my feet the grass is growing and not much time to sit still these days. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Rain, hopefully snow and preparations!

Winter is here. The leaves have fallen and the cold air is moving in. There was snow on the hills of Spokane the other morning when I was driving home from work. The rain is here and we are just waiting for the snow to start...

Aunt Claudia came to visit for a bit. It was great having here here. Thanks for all your help!!! Super cute pictures of her with the babies!

So the countdown has begun. I am headed to South America the day after Thanksgiving. Crazy. I will be a hurtin'. I am going with three other friends to travel around Peru and Chile. We are going to do a four day hike into Machu Picchu. I can't wait but I am not in shape enough for this. Oh, well. I climbed Mt Whitney last year so I figure I can do this, hopefully. I wonder though, do you think hiking to Homestead a few days a week will get me in shape enough for this? We shall see...