San Telmo, Buenos Aires

After spending one night at a "party hostel" where we tried to get a job, we decided that it would be much more cost effective and suit our lifestyle better if we rented a room in an apartment.  We actually found this apartment on Craigslist...it was perfect!  In a great neighborhood called San Telmo, right next to the subway train, near markets and stores, etc.  Minus the fact that we had to push two twin sized beds together to sleep, this place was wonderful for us!

Show tunes anyone?  Our neighbor across the way was always playing his piano and we were told sometimes in the nude!

Defensa Street Antique Market was within short walking distance from the house.

Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

Lake Titicaca....yes I do giggle every time I say it...ha!  The lake is the worlds highest, 12,500ft, as well as South Americas largest!  We made our way to the lake from Peru as we headed into Bolivia because the  lake sits on the Peruvian/Bolivian border and it was very interesting to see prices of everything DRAMATICALLY DROP and the ways of life change once we arrived in Bolivia.  We spent a few nights enjoying the views of the lake from our room in Copacabana, Bolivia.

As we arrived in Copacabana you can bet that all the backpackers were singing that tune...

Copacabana, Bolivia.

map.

The view of Lake Titicaca from our room!

Inside our room...under $20..not so bad.

Cholitas (older women wearing this exact outfit).  These women were dressed exactly the same and they were everywhere!  Mini bowler hat, cardigan, huge skirt with a baby or goods to sell slung to their backs with traditional woven fabric.  I considered making this a fashion statement back at home....but decided against it!

Near by outdoor cafe.  I want this swing chair!

Getting some sun and coffee at the cafe.

Mas cholitas.

This woman was took her Alpaca under cover when an unexpected hail storm arrived.  Alpacas are SO CUTE and soft!

I pulled this photo off the web so you can see how cute they are!

This is the Bolivians way of crossing the lake.  Yes, that is our bus...the green one on a floating wooden platform.  Good thing they had us get off the bus and cross in separate boats, yikes.

Salt Flats - Bolivia

We took an amazing tour of the salt flats, geysers, hot springs, mountains, desert, flamingo lagoons in a three day tour in a '95 Land Cruiser with a couple of Italians, a Brazilian, Chilean and Argentinean (who all loved reggae and singing songs in the car...which drove us crazy)...which I am surprised that we made it out of that car ride alive with the way the Bolivian guide would drive!

Abandoned train that used to carry salt and other exports to Uyuni, Bolivia.

Before stepping onto the salt flat we were taken to a village where each building and even the furniture was made out of salt blocks.

The salt got to this truck.

Tours of Land Cruisers were everywhere - this one was leaving the flats.

Walking on the salt flat with about 2" of warm water covering the entire flat.

One of the many flamingo lagoons we saw during the tour.  I had never seen flamingos in the wild and were surprised to see them flourish in such cold weather.

Desert rocks.

Mike and I looking at one of the flamingo lagoons...it was freezing!

Geysers at 4 am.

Machu Picchu: a five day trek

The trek to Machu Picchu on the Salkantay trail was not an easy one....especially compared to the Lost City Trek we did in Colombia.  We hiked approximately 8-10 hours 5 days in a row!  We were in a lot of pain by the time we made it to the top of Machu Picchu, but it was well worth it.  We are in a rush right now to head to Buenos Aires so I don't have time to write about how beautiful and amazing it was to see Machu Picchu and take a tour of it, but, it was absolutely breath taking.  Here are some of our photos!

Me and Mike on the first day of the trek...feeling good.

Us with our trekking group of Brazilians.

Second day of the trek just before the snow hit us.  H&M tights under cheap "water-proof" pants that just create condensation didn't keep me warm enough.

Only the 4 of us made it all the way to Machu Picchu on foot.  The other family had to opt for horses and cars.

One of our camps in the middle of a beautiful valley.

We woke up at 3:45 am to beat the crowds and climb the stairs for about 1.5 hours before reaching Machu Picchu.  When we got there we had spectacular views, even with the mysterious fog.

The llamas that live at Machu Picchu.

We took a break on a cliff overlooking the site.  The tall mountain in the back right is Huayna Picchu which you can bet we climbed later!

The view of Machu Picchu from Huayna Picchu.