Lake Titicaca

Our friend joined us in Arequipa and we began the last leg of our journey.  We began by taking a bus to Puno, a small city on the southern border of Peru where lake Titicaca is located.  Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in the world at it's elevation; sitting at 12,500 feet above sea level.  It's also the largest lake in South America and, in my opinion, is the lake with the silliest name in the world!  The lake creates the border between Peru and Bolivia with each country claiming half, and it's common that Bolivians will say that they have the "titi" and Peru has the "caca".  We took day boat trip on the lake and visited the Oros Islas and Tequilla island.

The Oros Islas are a group of 44 artificial islands made of floating reeds.  The original purpose was defensive because when the Spanish conquered Peru, people in Puno created these islas so that they could be moved at any time if a threat arose.  Many people still live on them today and maintain a very traditional way of life (well, except for the solar panels with which they get electricity and can run their televisions ;)  It was a very "touristy" experience but was amazing none-the-less.

Love at First Sight

I think the purchase of my new leather jacket deserves it's own blog entry...it's THAT important!  When we went to Buenos Aries I became transfixed about this idea of Argentian leather, it's arguably the best in the world and I have been wanting a leather jacket for as long as I can remember.  So we embarked on a massive search spanning the size of the city, ending up on Murillo, where all the best leather stores are.  We spent a day going from store to store and I came across this gem hanging in the window.  It was love at first sight!

It was expensive so I decided to wait and think about it, weighing all my options and hoping I could find the jacket of my dreams for a lower price.  So the journey continued...to Montevideo, to Punta Del Este, and back to Buenos Aries...we had one more day before we left and so the decision had to made.  We went back down to the store, I tried it on again, and I said to Dan, 'this is it!'  And so begins a long and hopefully fulfilling relationship between me and my new jacket.  I think I'll name her Amorita!

Buenos Aries

After 1 month, 3 countries, 6 cities, 2 brothers, and a whole lot of steak and empanadas...we're back home in Arequipa.  The highlight of the trip was definitely Buenos Aries.  It is a big dirty city and has all the hustle of San Francisco or LA, but has a real charm to it that it's hard to quite put into words.  Buenos Aries lived up to all the hype, with busy fast talking Argentinians, filling the streets.  Of course there is the tourist trap of the tango shows, as they make no qualms that they are the birthplace of this sultry dance.  But after carefully choosing a show at the Buenos Aries Cultural Center, we were taken back by the beauty of the dance and music that defines this city.

Buenos Aries truly is the city that never sleeps.  Most people don't even go out for dinner until 10 or 11, and if you plan on going out for a night on the town, plan on staying out all night (6 or 7 am is pretty typical).  But Argentinians don't mind the late nights, because they will just sleep through the next day to recover.  Dan & I truly felt like Old Man & Mrs. Ramsey (keep it down you darn whipper snappers!)

Dan & I also finally got an opportunity to play in a real soccer game too!  These 2 guys started a group in Arequipa dedicated to getting tourists and locals together for indoor soccer...so Dan & I signed up and he got to play a game (top points earner, not to brag or anything, but my man rocks) and I got to play 2 games with woman's teams.  I was surprised to find that the game I played in with tourists (Americans & Europeans) was a much harder game then the one with the Argentinean girls.  I think it's because soccer is a mainly a boys sport in South America and most girls play volleyball instead.  But it was so much fun and I got to learn a few choice Spanish words that you won't learn in any school ;)

Now we are back in Arequipa and have 1 week of rest before embarking on the last leg of our journey...Cusco and the Inca Trail!  We are officially in training as our hike departure date is November 21.

Yummy sausages at street faire in BA

A happy man

This is where the Boca Jr's play!

The elections were held while we were there and Christina won a 2nd term.

I can't tell if he's hugging the cow & trying to put him in a head lock :)

Street Fair in BA - this lady made these beautiful scarves

Home-made raviolli's - muy ricisimia!

A picture speaks a thousand words

walking bridge in BA

We rented a car in Uruguay to get around

The boat over to Montevideo (Uruguay) from BA

Punta Del Este - a beautiful little beach town in Uruguay, this is where all the "rich" people here go to vacation in their summers.  However we went on off-season so this place was like a ghost town.

A cool statue at a beach in Punta del Este

Medialunas - the yummiest form of bread I have ever eaten!  Imagine a soft warm croissant soaked in butter and then sprinkled with sugar ;)

Also I never knew the joy of the empanada until I came to South America - these were amazing!

Goofing at the Carnival museum 

Punta del Este views

Argentina with the Ramsey Brothers

AS we ventured forth into Argentina I didn't really know what to expect, other than Argentinean Spanish is difficult to understand.

Mendoza is a picturesque city known for their selections of wine & bodegas; they are called the "Napa Valley" of South America.  They also have some of the most delicious steak in the world!  We stayed there for about 4 days and we ate...ate...and ate some more!  We went to the Pre-Columbian Museum of Art and walked around the city.

The drive from Chile to Argentina

Dan acting a fool

Navigator  Extraordinaire

Next we hopped an overnight bus to Buenos Aries and have now been here for about 3 days.

So far we love it here and are constantly enamored with the city-life of one of the oldest and most unique places in South America. 

 Buenos Aries - near the city center

 Plaza de Mayo 

Main church at the Plaza 

Whit & the Brothers Ramsey 

Love this sign! 

Meeting room in the Presidential Palace  

Balcony in the Presidential Palace where presidents and first ladies make speeches from.  I was paying homage to the famous first lady Eva Peron by singing "Don't Cry for Me Argentina".   Definite Nerd Alert.

Here I was demanded change and justice for the Argentinean people - just because no one was listening doesn't make it any less powerful 

 

Dan loved this chair! 

The awesome leather jacket that I want to buy...expensive, but you only live once!