Volcanoes!

For those of you who heard about the volcano in Ecuador we were not near the affected area.  However, we're planning on heading there tomorrow. . .  Our hostal called the hostal in Banos and they said the ash blew in the opposite direction, that the roads are open, and that you can still hear the volcano erupting.  My reaction to hearing that you could hear the eruption was slightly different than Mike next to me who was reveling in excitement.  Just like Chile we got lucky by not being in that part of the country when the natural disaster occurred.

~Suzanne

Galapagos Pictures

Hey everyone,

Again a long time since we posted, so sorry about that. We just spent 8 amazing days in the Galapagos Islands! It was incredible. The animals were so close! We took over 1800 pictures! So, now we have the difficult task of going through them and keeping only the best. Over the next week therefore we'll be uploading lots of pictures, but definitely not all 1800. Then we'll come up with an amazing blog to describe it all (we hope). For now, you can check the pictures and videos in picassa here Check back often! We're constantly uploading but the connection is slooow.

~Mike

The salt flats of Bolivia

From Uyuni Salt Flats

It all began with a piece of meat.  It sat there, on the window sill of the bus we had just boarded in Potosi, looking just cooked and yet inexplicably there.  Further examination yielded two other pieces on or near the window.  Funnily enough, that wasn't the first sign that things weren't going exactly to plan.  We had bought the bus ticket to Uyuni from a little store with a nice big bus sitting in front of it and we were assured that we were taking a bus of similar quality.  Ten minutes before departure, the lady who sold us the ticket received a phone call and became quite distraught and angry.    We didn't piece together until after we saw the meat that the subject of the call was probably that the bus wasn't coming.  So instead of our modern, big bus, we were put on a small micro bus with meat in the window sills.  Our destination was Uyuni and the salt flats of the same name.  Our guide book had mentioned these flats as one of the top places to see in South America, not just in Bolivia.  Giant white expanses of salt as far as the eye can see give it an other-worldly appearance.  Not only that, just south of the flats are tons of lagoons of different colors, flamingos, geysers and very-high mountains all around.  “Sounds like fun” we thought.

We had been warned by a nice English couple that all trips to the flats began or ended with a story about Bolivia and its roads.  They had told us of their adventure, on the way back from the flats, their overnight bus had somehow lost functionality of its alternator or its connection with it and the battery and all electricity went out, including headlights and dashboard lights, so the driver couldn't see how fast he was going, nor did he have any lights to illuminate the road at night.  After trying to diagnose the problem, he gave up and went through the bus asking for flashlights so the driver could see the dials on the dashboard.  As for headlights, he decided to be guided by a luckily full-ish moon!

So we were slightly prepared for something on the way to Uyuni, and the meat on the window told us that this might be it.  “Well, that's not so bad” we said.  “Definitely weird, but not as bad as the headlights going out”.  Then the other passengers got on the bus, including a lady with 3 large cartons of eggs who stood along with 5 other people in the aisles of the bus for the entire 7 hour bus ride to Uyuni.  Still, not so bad as our English friends.

We got to Uyuni that night and booked our tour for the next morning.  Tours consist usually of 3 days, 2 nights.  Day 1 is at the salt flats, staying at a hotel made of salt, Day 2 is seeing various multi-colored lagoons, and Day 3 you see geysers and head back or if you like cross the border to Chile.  Since we wanted to get to Chile we chose the latter option.

The next day we began our to the flats.  They were quite amazing.  Nothing but flat, white salt for as far as the eye could see.  The only down side was that it was a bit cloudy that day, but it didn't rain or anything.  It was great for pictures also.  The real adventure began the next day.


After staying a night in a salt hotel (fully made out of salt, the chairs, tables, walls, box-springs, etc) we woke up to the sound of rain falling on the roof.  As we set out, we found out that it doesn't rain there very much at all this time of the year and consequently, the great flat plain we would be driving over turned into a giant lake with very deep mud.   Check out this video:

From Uyuni Salt Flats

It wasn't all that bad until our companion land-rover suddenly stopped in the middle of the lake.  We pulled up behind and our driver got out and tried to help the other driver figure out the problem.  They thought the wires of the vehicle had gotten wet and they tried to dry them off but after an hour of trying, they gave up.  The next plan of action was to seek help at a nearby military base that was only on the other side of the lake.  So we all got in and drove to the military base, leaving the other car in the lake.

The military base was tiny as far as bases go more of an outpost really.  Just a couple of oval-shaped buildings surrounded by a fence.  Once we arrived the soldiers stationed there came up to talk to the driver and see what was up.  The driver explained and the soldiers began scouring the base for a cable to help us out.  The best they could find (apparently they don't do this much) was a very thick cable about 10 feet long.  It was about as thick as a bridge suspension cable and it was only a cable.  It had no hooks or anything else to attach it.  We had no idea how they were going to use it to tie two vehicles together but that was all they had so we put it on the roof of the car along with two of the soldiers and headed back to the other car.


Once at the other car, we witnessed the ingenuity of the soldiers who must improvise all the time.  They took some pliers and unraveled the cable into smaller cables until it was thin enough to be malleable to tie knots around the car frames but still strong enough to pull the other car through the mud lake.  Only twice did the knots they used fall apart on the way but eventually we were able to pull the other car and its passengers to the military base.  Since we were on a paying tour, our driver said we had to leave the other group there and try to continue on, even though we were four hours behind.  So we did, the other group was forced to spend the night at the military base.

So four hours late, we continued our journey, but the rain did not stop and as we got higher the rain turned to snow!  Hence most of the usually very picturesque landscape was hidden behind snow clouds while it got darker and darker.  Suddenly we realized that our driver was driving at over 13,000 feet in a snowstorm at night.  We prayed our truck would not break down as there were definitely no trucks behind us and we knew that we had no radios or cell phones to call for help.  We got to the sights, lagoons and the tree that looks like a rock but it was night and snowing so we didn't linger.  Our one desire was to get to the night's lodging.  Finally as we got close the driver turned out his headlights and asked us to look for lights that would be the sign of the hotel.  Luckily we found it quickly!

We had a late dinner but we were soo cold!  We were over 13,000 feet and there was a snow storm outside and the hostel had no heat and only a couple of blankets on the beds. We decided to sleep together with our clothes on in order to combine our blankets and body warmth.  Unfortunately we were not quite used to sleeping together on a twin bed so with the cold and the space we didn't sleep well.  Luckily this would help the next night!

So we woke up still freezing but in a way happy.  Today the sun was out and we were leaving Bolivia!

Plus we were to see the Laguna Verde (green lagoon) which is a highlight of the trip and then we were only a 45 minute bus ride over the Chilean border where warm water, showers and civilization awaited!    After seeing some beautiful lagoons full of flamingos which gave us some wonderful flying shots, we split from our tour group to head over to the border.


 All we had to do was wait for the bus that would take us down from the altiplano.  Here nature took one final shot at us.  A sudden storm came up from the west and we waited and waited but the bus did not come.  After two hours of waiting, the guides came out and told us that the border was closed and that we'd have to spend the night at another (even higher) hotel and hope the border opened in the morning. So we went back and the long wait began.  If the previous night was cold, this was even worse!  We were convinced the hotel was just a degree or two above freezing.  We were able to take our backpacks and put on every speck of clothes we had and still we were shivering.  So we ripped blankets from the beds and cloaked them around our bodies and waited.  The storm blew and blew and the day we waited felt like three.  We went to bed assured by the guides that at 9:00 am we would be able to go if the border was open.  From the night before we learned that we needed more blankets so we stole 3 more from another empty bed and pretty much wrapped our bed in blankets.  Exhausted, with a slightly larger bed, my warm wife by my side and covered in blankets, I actually slept very well.

The next day we woke up and of course at 9:00 am we found out that the border was still closed.  Our next best hope was 11:30.  Then after that deadline passed we were told 4pm.  At this point Suzanne lost her cheery outlook as the prospect of another night at the hotel loomed at us.  Then at about 3pm we heard a cheer from the crowd of tourists who were outside in the sun and we knew the border had been opened.  We got in a clean bus (with no meat on the windows!) on a paved road and no one stood in the aisles!  We had gotten out of Bolivia!   Hot showers and a warm bed awaited! At least for one night... Next began our 4 day and night bus journey to Quito. But that is definitely another post...

~Mike

Slideshow of Uyuni with all shots:


Slideshow of Potosi (mostly the mines):

Oh Retirement!

It was a Tuesday morning and we were catching a bus in the evening.  We started the day reading the news after breakfast.  Then we decided to run a few errands looking for a new filter for Mike's camera, his hobby of choice.  After walking around the now familiar streets of Mendoza we decided to stop for lunch.  At 12:00PM we were well ahead of the lunch rush.  We were on our own schedule quite different from the local routine.  The only other couple in the restaurant was an elderly couple.  All at once it hit me.  Our trip was like a brief experiment in retirement.  Some might say this is obvious since we both are not working.  However, what I felt was more than just the absence of a work schedule.  At that moment I felt like I knew a lot about the lives of the people next to us even though I knew nothing about them besides the fact that they were retired.

Our trip has provided us with a freedom that I have never experienced before for this length of time.    Everyday we can decide what we want to do that day.  All travel deadlines and schedules are self imposed.  The one constant of each day is that we will face the day's journey together.  Three months into the trip, Mike and I have spent more consecutive time together on this trip than we have ever before in our lives (probably with anyone since we each started kindergarten).  We eat each meal together and sometimes there is nothing to say.  The silence is not uncomfortable.  It allows for inner reflection and a comfort in knowing that nothing needs to be said.  We are both content enjoying the time that we have together and the sights we are able to see.  At the same time there is an understanding of the other person.  I feel as though we completed our two year newlywed time and leaped to knowing each other at a much deeper level that would normally take years.  The couple next to us also sat in intermittent silence.  There we were, two couples enjoying the early bird special of retirement.

The trip was a goal that we had saved for the past couple of years.  Each month we made a contribution to a bank account.  We named it the trip saving's fund and made no real plans for the trip other than the contributions.  It was fun to see the amount go up each month and reflect on the grand adventure that we hoped would one day be realized.  Now we are living our dream and enjoying each day fully with newfound freedom.  It is a strange feeling to see the withdrawals from the trip savings fund.  There is a sense in satisfaction of reaching the goal but also a little fear as you wonder if  you saved enough for the plans you've made.  There is a want to save a little more even though you know in your head you've budgeted it out and everything will be fine. We are willing to spend extra time searching for the best deal weighing the importance of luxuries that we don't really need.  Mike has created a spreadsheet where we document and categorize the spending of the day (so we can answer questions like 'how much have you spent on food so far').  In some ways the documentation helps to assuage the voice in the back of your head wandering where you stand.   Perhaps that is why some people who are able to retire choose not to and continue to work.  It is hard to  see the numbers go down and the freedom to do as you please can be unsettling.  It seems far easier to have a routine, earn money, and feel needed.  Each day at work there are tasks at hand and deadlines that make the day fly by and less time to think about the big picture.  Although I don't wish that I was working right now I am glad that I'm not retired.  The trip has given us the opportunity to analyze the type of life that we want to live.  The importance of family and friends continues to surface as a top priority in life.  Without these relationships working hard to really 'live' in retirement seems comical.  I hope the future holds a big family in store for us to keep us focused on what is really important.  

~Suzanne