09-18-2010 Bicentennial

Tonight I went to a friend's BBQ where I bumped into old friends from California--go figure. I had the best view in town for the firework display. It was beachfront and 18 stories high. Just good food ad conversation: almost like I was home with my friends again in Colorado. After dinner, I walked down to the local bicentennial fair. The bicentennial celebration was originally thoughts to be a shoulder to shoulder rager--the largest party a person will experience in their lifetime. However, it was quite the opposite. It ended up just being a huge fair where everyone in town hung out at. I tried chicha-a local alcoholic beverage of choice. Man was it nasty! Known for putting honey on my vanilla lattes, I found it too sweet. It was thick too. It coated my mouth like cough syrup... not a fave.

Tomorrow, Fletcher has to return to the boat in the afternoon... which means blondie will be traveling on her own.

09-18-2010 Varpariso

It says "Turn off your Television and live your life."

I took a collectivo (group taxi-why they don't have these in NYC is beyond me) to Varpariso to do, what else? shop. The town reminds me a lot of San Francisco with its rolling hills and colorful homes. I even took an Ascensor ride (like the cable cars in SF) to the top of the hill to walk down the other side. The walls of the town are filled with graffiti art by locals. Some of it is very cool. Fletch explained some of the walls are leased so the artists can display their talent while other art is very much lacking. Just like in Peru, the streets in Chile are filled with stray dogs. Kind of makes you wonder why PETA never comes down this way. After a few hours of walking the hills and eating brunch, I came back to Fletch's to nap.

Tonight is the bicentennial celebration I have been looking forward to. I got to experience a little taste of it today when I was walking through Varpariso and stepped over drunken locals from the night before. I cannot wait to see what tonight brings...

09-17-2010 Vina del Mar

The view from his place.

Fletch's place

Within a few minutes of the cab ride from Santiago to Vina del Mar I fell asleep. Only to be awoken by Fletch an hour later to show me his city in all its glory. It was like I was living a dream. The way all the houses bordered the bay was pure magic. When I pulled up to his place I was groggy and still very sleepy. I squished into the tiny elevator and 18 floors later I was standing in front of his door. He told me an American girl nicknamed his place "panty dynamite" and now I know why. He lives in an ocean front four bedroom penthouse. Enough said.

09-17-2010 Gringa's Travel Day

Today was a great day to just lounge and shop in Cusco until I had to catch the early afternoon flight. By the time I got to the airport in Lima I was starving. So, I did as the Americans do and waited in line at the McDonalds. I was unaware of the South American line standing rules which are you literally need to stand on top of the person in front of you or you are not considered to be waiting in line. Poor Gringa. Blondie got cut... twice. Blondie got picked on again right before boarding my flight.

If there is one thing I dislike about traveling, it is checking my bag. It seems as though every time I do it gets lost and I end up wearing someone else's clothes for days. The lady at the counter insisted my bag was too large for the over head bin and forced me to check it after many long conversations of protest on my behalf. I even protested more immaturely when I noticed "Gringa's" bag was about half the size of many Latinos on board. I realized quickly that I was fighting a losing battle and allowed the woman to check it. Poor Fletcher I believe he did in fact listen to me bitch about it for the duration of our almost 4 hour illuminated flight. Upon my arrival in Santiago two bags were circling the carousel.

09-16-2010 Lake Titicaca (Taquile) with Fletcher the Fencer

I walked down the hill to the boat with Fletch where he stood like a child on Christmas day. He finally was going to swim in Lake Titicaca. He was a brave soul. The water was both freezing and filthy.