Plans? What plans?

Ugh! Sometimes life just throws you for a loop! I've had a few twists a turns, and this is by no means a road block, but it definitely sets me back in my PLANS! A couple weeks ago I was riding my naughty pony Maisy, and took a lovely spill! Ended up in the ER with a broken wrist! Now, I have never broken a bone, and this is definitely a small fracture, but it didn't hurt nearly as bad as I expected (although I did almost pass out... twice). Long story short, I cannot work until July 21. My contract for work was cancelled, which means my PLANS for eliminating my debt by September and my PLANS for getting in great shape are both pushed back! I know, I know, these are minor problems comparatively, so my pity party is officially over!  I have a pretty awesome life and plan on taking full advantage of my time off! This whole situation reminds me of some kind of quote or proverb or whatever it is, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!" Now I am not a religious person in ANY way, but this seems applicable!

On the brighter side, I got some wonderful news! One of my best friends, MegHan, and I found out we have been selected for a mission trip with Nurses with Purpose.  We will be heading to South Africa in October 2019 for two weeks. Of course we will head there a week before and then head to Croatia for a couple weeks after, because, well, why not? 

As for my immediate plans... I'm SUPER excited that Thursday Clay Walker will be playing at the local fair! I have been a HUGE fan of his since as long as I can remember and have never had the opportunity to see him. To some he may be older, outdated, and hitting the local fair circuit, but to me, he is still in his prime and I am twelve again blasting Hypnotize the Moon in my bedroom.  Saturday, MegHan and I will be heading to Carnival for a Cause at The Block in Petaluma. Now, I have not been to The Block, but it is a local food truck gathering, which means I will be indulging in some delicious (hopefully) guilty pleasures! The event will benefit local families who have children with serious illnesses, and at $35 a ticket, which includes unlimited beer and wine tastings from local distributors, it should be a great time!  Check back next week for a review of the event, and head over to the Picky Petaluman page for a review of The Block!

What the Heck!

Where do I even begin? It has been FAR too long... so long that I didn't even realize until I logged in tonight, it has been 2 YEARS! I have no excuse other than LIFE is crazy and really took me for an unexpected and stressful ride! Someday maybe I will go into detail, but for now, lets just say 2017 was the most challenging year of my life! 2017 was full of unexpected lessons and humbling experiences. I was living far too long in a place that I had outgrown, but served a purpose that I am grateful for.  I am a FIRM believer that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON, and I do believe that 2018 has brought me out of the darkness that shrouded me the previous year.  I have A LONG WAY to go, but I am looking to focus on things that being me happiness; spending time with family, friends, cooking, working out, and yes.... blogging! 

So to quickly give an update of my last year or so, a couple fun things have happened! I discovered Crash my Playa, a country beach concert in Riviera Maya (RM) which is an amazing experience. I have gone the last two years and just bought my package for 2019!  I like to head to RM and finish it off with a couple days of R&R in Tulum. I traveled to Bali and back to Thailand with my friend. It was her first BIG international trip and I love being able to introduce someone to traveling on a budget and getting outside of the touristy hotspots to really embrace the culture. 

I have also left my previous job and am now a travel nurse! Although my travels haven't taken me too far from home... it actually brought me BACK home to Northern, CA.  I am living in Petaluma with my sister and enjoying the beautiful surroundings...that are GREEN.  Far too long I was stuck in a sandy, dusty, uninspiring location that at times felt like quicksand.  Trying so hard to leave, just to get sucked back in.  Good news though, I made it out ALIVE! Currently I am working at a hospital in San Francisco and focusing on paying off some bills! 2018 will bring me out of debt, and I CANNOT wait for that! 

Like I said, I am in the process of reconnecting to things that being me happiness and balance. Since I crawled out of the quicksand (ALMOST unscathed), I am able to work less and make more! My goals for the second half of this year are: to get in shape, cook more, blog a lot more, and focus on getting back to myself.  I will document my journey through this space, and maybe you will like it, maybe you won't!  I plan on doing A LOT of LOCAL restaurant/business reviews with a special column, "The Picky Petaluman", so keep an eye out for that! I plan on joining a local gym to hopefully kick my ass in gear and also expand my social circle. Maybe if I am feeling extremely BRAVE I will post pictures of my fitness journey-no guarantees though! I am excited to be "Hitting the Keys" again, as it really does allow for my limited, creative, self expression and brings some level of fulfillment! I do not think of myself as a creative person, but I think I'm ok that this whole writing thing...

San Pedro de Atacama

Wow! What an experience just GETTING to San Pedro! Having heard it was one of the best places in the world to see the stars and considered a “must see” destination scattered across my Google searches, I was determined to make it to the Driest Desert in the World. Since there were no clear directions of how to get to SPdA, I finally found some directions on a travel blog (thank goodness) that laid it out step by step! First, a six hour bus ride to the border town of Peru, Tacna; then a “collectivo” to Arica, the border town of Chilé; followed by an overnight bus to SPdA with a stop at 0300 in Calama for a luggage check! Luckily, my trip went according to plan and without a hitch!  Side note, the “collectivo” was an early 90’s, faded dark green Ford Taurus driven by an older Chilean woman in her 50’s, which I shared with 3 Chileans in the back seat and a Romanian man squished up front with the driver and me.  It also included two stops at the border; one for Peru and one for Chile! I decided to stay a night in Arica (bad idea, nothing but a shit hole border town) after my hours of travel; I wandered the streets dreaming of taking all the dogs that decided to accompany me on my journey along the industrial roads of an overcast and run-down beach town that is Arica, home with me.

After a 12-hour night bus (including the 0300 Calama wake-up call), I arrived to the adobe town of SPdA at a chilly 0800.  I walked my way to Hostel Rural (a whole other blog post in itself), dropped off my bags, and headed out to explore the cutest desert town you will ever find.  The dirt roads that weave their way through town are lined with one-story adobe buildings that blend in with the roads that lead you, with an occasional sparkling white building to add adorable charm.  There are endless amounts of dogs that roam the streets, along with rented bikes weaving among the plethora of backpackers flooding in from all over the world; for a quaint (you can explore the entire town in 20 min) desert oasis, it was lively as could be! After exploration, having a delicious veggie quiche, I was back at Hostel Rural where I for hours while lounging in the hammock and allowing the afternoon sun to erase the chill of the desert morning.

I spent the next couple days following the dusty roads and eating (vowing to not eat at the same place twice) my way through this small, lively, and quaint town; along with some glasses of wine with the eclectic locals of SPdA. Finally, I made it to the whole point of the trip: The Astronomy Tour.  A fellow backpacker and I, headed to the outskirts of SPdA to The Observatory.  That in itself was enough!  The sky, clear as could be (thanks to the lack of rain for Lord knows how long) was a perfect canvas for brightest stars I’ve ever seen!  Not to mention the horizontal cluster of sparkles splashed across the sky; a branch of the Milky Way.  The telescope allowed us to see the craters of the moon, the rings of Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and the 4 moons that are stuck in its orbit.  Our lovely guide (can’t remember his name, but he was easy on the eyes), showed us The Southern Cross, various other stars that are of importance (again I can’t remember their names), and I again met The Black Llama.  I rarely get super excited about touristy things, but this was a time that I truly was star struck! Literally, and yes pun totally intended!  I, for the life of me, could not wipe or fight, the huge (probably abnormally large) smile I had on my face, so finally I gave up and gave in to the millions of crystal clear stars that hung above.

The next day I was determined to do another “must see” attraction of SPdA: Valley of the Moon to watch the sunset. First thing was to find a tour company; I easily could have asked my hostel to arrange it, but I was a little questionable if I was getting a decent price through them! So again, I wandered the dusty roads, inquiring for prices among the countless (maybe 40?) tour companies that line the maze of dust I was in.  Finally, I got tired (I don’t have the gene of searching for hours for a deal; I was probably looking for 10 min but it felt like 40) and just booked one; it was cheaper than others so I felt like my sister would be proud.  After acquiring two scoops of delicious mango and berry gelato, it was back to the hammock and back to my book. 

I met up at the designated tour spot to head out to the Valle de la Luna!  Quickly I learned that when booking a tour, it is helpful to ask if the tour guide will be English speaking! So I spent the next four hours using my limited, LIMITED Spanish to decipher…..pretty much nothing! Regardless, we did some minimal hiking through the caves and up some salt capped rocks, that slightly resemble a dusting of snow.  At the top of sand dune, looking out across a beautiful desert, the sun began to set.  The colors were vivid, clear, and layered; creating a shadow of blue Andes in the back ground.  As I got stuck in a wormhole of taking pictures, I was ushered by my frantic tour guide to run down the hill so we didn’t miss the sunset.  I ran, but the whole time I was confused, because I thought we WERE seeing the sunset.  After a quick and bouncy van ride, we arrived to yet another vista.  I quickly became aware that the sunset I thought was beautiful, was child’s play compared to what was before us!  The Andes created a backdrop to whispy rain clouds (a rarity), a colorful canvas of reds, oranges, and yellows, and a canyon before us that created a wall between us and the vivid vision before us.  As the sun continued its slow decent, it took with it the rainbow of colors that we were all seeking, and just like that, my time in SPdA had come to an end.  Not a bad way to say goodbye…

Next stop: Valparaiso!     

Machu Picchu (Lares Trek), Cusco, and Arequipa

Disclaimer: I just blogged for an hour, and due to the internet, lost the whole posting, so it’s a bit less detailed.

Wow, what an experience and a challenge! The Lares Trek, an alternate route to Machu Picchu, is the less touristy, more authentic, and easier route. Having come off my food poisoning a couple days before, I was already feeling a little off.  My morning started at 0530 (remember, I am NOT a morning person), where I was picked up by my guides Edwind and Pirinia, (I’m SURE I’m spelling it wrong), and the chef, Bernadae (again, spelled wrong). We drove through winding roads, both paved and dirt, before arriving in Calca.  Here, we perused the market, had breakfast, and picked up a couple things for our trek to give to the local people we would see. After Calca, we headed up some dirt roads, and about an hour later we arrived at the beginning of our trek in a small community, where we also picked up Diego and his three horses which would help carry our equipment! After a quick pee behind a rock, it was time to start our trek… straight…up…hill…no easing into it!

15 minutes later, I am already questioning my decision and telling Edwind that I might not make it. I blamed it on the altitude; but lets be real, I was/am out of shape, and didn’t exactly “prepare” for any strenuous activity.  Basically, Edwind said, I would make it and to keep moving (of course he said it much nicer)! About 20 min later, I was truly starting to feel a bit of altitude sickness kicking in; after some coca leaves and a “magic potion” it was back to trekking… uphill…still…3 hours later (and about 10 more “quick breaks”) we were at the top of the ridge! This was essentially the first 3 days in a nutshell! Me silently complaining on the way up and taking various “breaks”, and being as happy as could be on the way down.  Over the course of the 3 days we saw endless herds of Alpacas, Llamas (we even had a baby one walk up to us!), horses and sheep.  We came across local communities with whom we shared out snacks (the kids LOVE sugar), our items from the Calca market, and also purchased a hat for Olivia on top of one of the ridges.  We saw the most beautiful stars, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and also the “Black Llama constellation”.  And I also learned A LOT about potatoes, which was the main crop along our trek.  Fun fact: The Quechua (ketch-oo-wah) people only use the land once every 6 years for the potatoes!  We had delicious 4 course meals prepared by Bernadae, and saw some of the most beautiful scenery of Peru, all while never seeing another tourist group! I also participated in a traditional offering of coca leaves and sugar to Mother Earth and a higher power of some sort, on top of the mountain ridge on day 2!  On day 3 we parted with Bernadae and Diego with his horses, and stopped for lunch in Ollantaytambo (seemed like a cool town; I wish I had more time there!), where we said goodbye to Pirinia, before catching the train to Aguas Caliente for the night. The next morning was again, EARLY! Edwind and I caught the bus to Machu Picchu (about 30 min), and after a brief climb up some stairs, we came to the “traditional” picture site! Seeing Machu Picchu was pretty incredible!  As we walked through the “Beautiful Inca Site” (that’s how Edwind referred to it) Edwind gave the history behind each “temple” and the beliefs that accompanied each one.  It was crazy to me to think of how this well-maintained and preserved historical site was once covered and hidden in jungle plants, just waiting to be discovered.  It was definitely an unforgettable experience.  Later that day, after exploring the town of Aguas Caliente, we caught a train and taxi back to Cusco, where I parted with Edwind and cozied up in my bed! Overall, I learned that 1) if you are hiking 30 miles or so in 3 days, prepare for it! 2) Even when your body says it can’t go on, it can, and you will be fine…. Stop complaining!  3) Looking back, it was worth it! Oh and 4) the Peruvian people are some of the most kind, helpful, and hardworking people I have ever met! Big thank you to Inka Trekkers and their team for making my trip enjoyable and unforgettable!

The next couple days I stayed in Cusco, recovering from my hike and also from my nasty cough I acquired along the way.  Exploring the cobble stone-like streets (these are also very slippery; I fell twice!) drinking lots of coffee and taking in the beautiful Plaza de Armas, and people watching.  Cusco is a wonderful city that has the perfect mix of tradition and history as well as modern amenities. It’s a city that is easy to melt into and get lost in the narrow streets and colorful store fronts.  Definitely highly recommend a stay in Cusco.  Next, after hearing a lot of wonderful things, I decided to take the overnight bus (company: Tepsa) from Cusco to Arequipa (10 hours).  I shared a taxi with a lovely Australian to the bus station; he has been traveling for 4 months and he helped me figure out the bus station, and after waiting for 30 min, I boarded my bus, which happened to be very comfortable, and for 60 soles ($18) it included dinner and breakfast! I arrived to Arequipa yesterday morning at 0700, where I dropped off my bags and went to the main square, Plaza de Armas, for a breakfast overlooking the “white” buildings (made from volcanic rock) that Arequipa is known for. After breakfast I sat in the square and read my new book, “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder (I just finished “The Strength in What Remains” by her as well).  After an afternoon nap, I explored the city in the evening, which is quite busy, and had a dinner of Lomo Saltado followed by some crepes. I turned in early, at about 2000 and finished my night with some more reading!  I am currently blogging from the patio at my hostel having just finished a  breakfast of bread and jam with juice and coffee.  Headed out now to explore the market and see what else Arequipa has to offer. 

Whats next? Tomorrow morning, I will take a bus to Tacna, which is the border city in Peru, before crossing into Chile and staying the night in Arica, with the final destination being San Pedro de Atacama!

Iquitos and Cusco

May 25, 2016

Today I start my adventure to South America… ALONE! Yes, I am traveling ALONE, and no I don’t believe I’m crazy.  For the past six months, I have been asked countless times, “What? You are going ALONE? Why? Are you scared? Are you crazy?” No I’m not scared, no I’m not crazy, and I am going ALONE because I CAN.  I want to travel the world, experience new cultures, and never have a regret about NOT doing something just because I’m ALONE.  I think some people find the word ALONE daunting, terrifying, and LONEly.  I on the other hand have embraced it and found that in many cases the word ALONE can also be a synonym for INDEPENDENCE. The independence and allowance to make decisions based on your own individual desire and wants, rather than constantly accommodating others.  Being ALONE for the past year has allowed me to discover things about myself that I had forgotten, buried, or simply not known. Being ALONE has also forced me to decipher what it is I truly want; which has at times, left me with more questions than answers.  Regardless of the unanswered and unknown, I’m happy to be experiences the feeling of complete INDEPENCENCE.

My first stop: IQUITOS in northern Peru. Iquitos is only accessible by boat or plane and is an access point to the Amazon river.  I arrived early on the 26th after a LONG trip from LA to San Salvador to Lima, and finally Iquitos at 8am!  So naturally I spent most of the day sleeping (one of my favorite things) at Amazon House; a guesthouse with a family.  After waking from my 5 hour “nap,” I decided to venture to downtown Iquitos for an early dinner via tuk-tuk; a motorbike equipped with a seating “cart”. Like Asia, Tuk-Tuks are the most common mode of transportation and are easily accessible, safe, and CHEAP! After a bouncy tuk tuk ride along dirt and paved roads,   I ended up at Dawn on the Amazon café which is run by an American and also has free wifi.  I met another solo traveler named Melissa and made plans to meet in the morning.  The view from Dawn on the Amazon Café is pretty amazing; set right along the Itaya river (which feeds into the Amazon); at sunset I was able to capture a cool shot of a distant rainfall over the river.

After a good night’s sleep and meeting up with Melissa, we explored the southern end of Iquitos where we came upon the floating shantys of Belen and the bustling street markets, where the locals sell their produce and goods.  The streets are lined with tuk-tuks, motorbikes, and the occasional car, as well as stray dogs, cats, and hole in the wall shops and restaraunts.  After our day of exploring, we decided to book a day tour for the following morning through Dawn of the Amazon Tours, which will take us further into Belen, and also along the amazon and the jungle.  Should be exciting! We ended the day and night eating at El Meson, which served local/regional cuisine, and took in some entertainment, consisting of what appeared to be a talent/magic show jam packed with an audience of locals.

Our day tour began with our guide, Geno walking us along the streets of Iquitos and explaining the history of the town, and some interesting tidbits about the surrounding buildings. Next we headed to Belen where we met up with another local guide to take us through the market. What Melissa and I had seen the day before was the tip of the iceburg! The Belen market is 10 blocks long, and consists of an upper and lower section. While there, we tried local fruits, an Amazonian beetle, as well as some adult beverages that were supposed to “loosen” up the ladies. Next we went to lower Belen, which half of the year is covered by the Itaya river; However, when water levels drop, what is left behind is a wide array of trash and pollution. Recently, there has been a movement from locals to push for keeping the river clean.  As we cruised through the floating shantys of Belen, it was apparent at how gluttonous Americans have become. Always wanting and needing MORE. In Belen, there are children who have no toys and have the biggest smiles on their faces; they don’t know anything else. After talking to Geno more, we were able to learn that he spent 3 years learning English, and 4 additional years of education to be a guide. We also learning that the Peruvian school system consists of preschool and elementary school. By age 15, they are done with school!  Next we headed south down the river where we came upon a jungle shanty; Geno went ahead and talked to the family to be sure they were ok with having visitors, which they were.  We were able to spend about 30 min with them, watching and participating in the crushing of black sugar cane, which we were also able to drink; it was very sweet, too sweet for me, but good nonetheless.  Before we left they offered us the fermented version; which is essentially moonshine on crack. I took one sip and felt my insides burn! After our moonshine moment, we were back in the boat for lunch under a lovely amazon tree, and then out to the amazon itself where were saw dolphins, including the pink ones (I wasn’t able to get a picture)! But what I found most interesting was how the Itaya river and the Amazon don’t mix; Geno explained there was some kind of difference in the sediment that made it not mix; kinda crazy. At the end of our tour, I asked Geno if he ever planned on moving out of Iquitos, to which he replied, "Why would I move? I have everything I need here... I might move back to the jungle... its quieter there." What he said has stuck with me; here we have a man who is happy living in a town that is extremely poor, lacks hot water in most areas, and does not have the luxuries that we view as essentials, yet he sees no reason to leave.  Why are Americans so eager to move? So eager to have more than what is necessary? So unhappy with living a life that meets all their basic needs? I am guilty of all of these things, but it does make you question just how much we need to be "happy".  After a dinner of chicken and rice, Melissa and I said our goodbyes and I headed back to amazon house. Next Stop: Cusco!

After waking up with a bad case of food poisoning, which followed me on two flights, I arrived in Cusco.  A bright city with perfect weather compared to the humid and sweltering heat of Iquitos.  However, there was not a tuk tuk in sight, only cars.  I arrived at my hostel, Eco-Packers, which is an eco-friendly eclectic hostel, which also has hot water (score!). I am staying in a female only dorm of 8; almost all of which are from California!  Unfortunately, my first day here was spend in bed and the bathroom, and a brief encounter with my guide for my upcoming trek.  Luckily, I woke up today feeling much better!  I indulged in a hot shower, which was essentially warm water, but it felt so nice! I also met some new dormmates Sera and Caroline, and we headed for a quick bite to eat in the Plaza de Armas (all cities in Peru have this; it is essentially the main square), where we found a cute restaurant that overlooked the square, the view was pretty amazing.  Leaving at 0530 for my Lares Trek tomorrow!  Should be fun, challenging, and im sure exhausting!

(This blog was supposed to have been posted long ago, however the wifi has been pretty slow.  PICTURES TO COME when the wifi picks up a bit!)