Beach Babe

I went to the beach (beach, peach, bitch is by the way a tongue curl for the spanish speaker) yesterday, my first time touching the ocean in 5 months (only touching it was frezzzzzin). I went with Anita from the hostel and we enjoyed 2 hrs on the beach at Vin(j)a del mar. We even got to see a attempt of robbery close up and I had a McDonald burger for the first time in forever, what an exciting day!






My plan was to try to smooth out my farmer's tan which I have been working on since I left the Galapagos, and end up looking a bit like....











... Gisele, but my plan failed miserably and today...







.... this is me!!!!

Mendoza, and now; Chile

Mendoza homes the second highest peak outside of the Himmalayas; Aconcauga which is almost 7000 m. Would loved to have climbed that baby, but due to lack of money (going with a guided group would have cost about 3000 dollars plus plus plus) and climbing partners (aint quite ready to run up there by myself) I will have to do it a bit later. Anyone interested?

However, I got to squize in a 2 day trek in the park with Bruno from Argentina. Where the second day we went up to Plaza Francia at 4200 meters and walked in total 13 hr. Beautiful weather, beautiful mountain and great walk!

<--Sign found at base camp. Nice combination with the 200 dollar fine you will get if you don't use the public toilets in the park, which is pretty much one at the start and two next to each other one placein the park... extreme trekking.

My last day in Mendoza I spent on a bike (with a basket but without breaks) cycling through the wine district. At the first winery I met Suzanna from Holland and Mike and Jeremy from England who I got to be friends with for the day. Wine tour was apparently a good combination with night bus journey as the bus driver had to come and wake me up and get me out when everyone had left the bus and got their luggage in Valparaiso yesterday morning. So now I am in Chile. Was supposed to leave for Pucon tomorrow, but due to a great hostel with amazing beds (no bunk beds thank god! I have most likely acquired a permanent head injury after banging my head on the top bunk x number of times) I've decided to spend one more day here.

And the trip continues; Argentina

After more then 3,5 months in Bolivia it was time to move on. Therefore, the 3rd of Feb I joined Dale on the bus to Villazon. This was a 18 + hr local bus (the type that is packed with cholitas sleeping on the floor and spiting coca leaves in my seat) ride where we were entertained by Take on me (A-HA) inbetween all bolivian pan flute music... Arriving in Villazon it was time to say bye to Dale (who was of to Buenos Aires) and get on the bus to Salta. The following 9 hr (including some kind of check of something by the police in the middle of nowhere) in an Argentinean bus on Argentinean roads was easy peasy after the previous bus ride. So now here I am... Havent had a steak or climbed any mountains yet but it is soon to come...

But first a tiny summary of my last month in Bolivia:

A day in Peru... when my 90 days ran out so a quick visit to Peru was made. According to the sign they hope to have you back soon, however not within 24 hr... except if you can bribe the police.. of course.

Party, party, party... and alot of it. Resulting in, among other things, me not having a iPod... It died due to excessive exposure to beer. Not good when the average bus ride the next months will be 20 hrs..

A visit to the hospital......and an insight in the Bolvian health system and its inefficiency when Cristian crashed into a little girl that suddenly came jumping into the road. Cristian broke his color bone and needed some stiches. While the girl got a fracture on her skull. Even though there was a chance of blood clot in her brain nothing was done before after 2 hrs!

Jungle Rail Trail... a great cross country ride through the Yungas with loads of waterfalls and landslides to cross. However not a very good idea for me (who had been sitting on my ass most of the time the last couple of months) to go with a bunch of guides and people that have been cycling through south america for a couple of months and who also enjoy practising adventure triathlon (!). I was shattered in the end.