Kienitz and Webster:Our Bolivian Safari: A Trip of a Lifetime/Waking Nightmare

"The Bolivian Border Patrol let us in for $50 US dollars, a bribe as we understood. " Kienitz

"There wasn't even a bathroom, just a plethora of Land Cruisers." Webster

"The wind was so strong we could feel our very intestines of our bodies being racked and ravaged by it." Kienitz

"There was no coca tea and I had a hard time due to the elevation." Webster

"The desert is beautiful. Vast. Incredible and harsh." Kienitz

"My mind was scrambled and I couldn't remember where I was or what had happened to get me there." Kienitz

"We covered our faces and wore our sunglasses but the dust still found its way into our lives." Webster

"Shortly after seeing some anemic looking flamingos the mighty wind came. I will never forget that storm." Kienitz

"Javier found a hospedaje for us to eat at and spoke quechua with la duena. She was dressed in true Bolivian fashion, sparkly skirt, shawl, and leg warmers and charged us to use her bathroom." Webster

"Our time at this place was dismal at best." Kienitz

"Morale was down." Webster

"We pulled into our hotel, but due to wind the water was not working so we drove around looking for a place to host and feed 18 strangers." Webster (We found a place)

"The drive was gorgeous, streams meandering through patches of green in the desert slowly being painted purple and pink by the setting sun, slowly awakening with magic and mystique." Kienitz

"I almost cried I was so cold I nearly lost the plot, but I just kept picturing getting off the plane and seeing Evey to make me feel better, also I didn't want to cry for fear that the tears would freeze to my face." Webster

"I went to sleep in a creepy, drafty, cracked, mint-green room with silky pink 'comforters'." Kienitz

The Sun Shows Its Face

"We drove in the sun and sand until we reached the salt flats, this amazing expanse of a dried up lake is 4000 miles and really extremely bizarre." Kienitz

"It was white everywhere and the only things I could see seemed like an oasis." Webster

"We went to Incahausi, an island of cacti that the Inca's used as a refuge whilst crossing the salt flats." Webster

"The huge expanse of salt white and salt forever was framed with 360 degrees of blue mountains and volcanoes and prickly pokey silly looking cactus plants poking up in the foreground." Kienitz

"I have no idea how the Inca's did it, how did they carry their food, their water, and dress for the elements?" Webster

"There also live small, scratch that, huge rodent, squirrel, rabbit beasts on the island. It had the largest tail I have ever seen, if it can survive here, there is no hope." Webster

"Two young girls packaging salt, scooping it from a large pile and into plastic bags and sealing it on a burning piece of metal." Kienitz

"Uyuni was a small place with a bit of an eerie feel to it. I didn't want to leave it felt so mysterious and different." Kienitz

"Uyuni is where we were introduced to our only hope for return to San Pedro. Flavio, Flava Fave, Payaso, etc, he is crazy. He is 24 years old and clearly still lets his amygdala make the majority of his decisions." Webster

"This part of the trip was especially long and sort of frightening. Hannah and I both admitted later we had both imagined some pretty awful daymares of armed guards and accidents, shootings, and being stranded in the deathly desert, maimed, wounded, limping, and mad." Kienitz

"We drove about thirty minutes before we ran out of gas on the road in the driest desert in the world. Why didn't he check it before he left?" Webster

"We continued on and drove through a lake with a truck stuck inside and for some reason, Flavio thought we could maneuver our way through it even though a truck twice our size couldn't, by some miracle we made it through." Webster

""It was dark, and of course, cold. I slept in two pairs of pants, three layers on top, including my jacket, two hoods up with my hat on in a down sleeping bag under two heavy blankets, that's how cold." Kienitz

"The rooms kept getting dodgier and dodgier, but in this room I had a really nice velvet bedspread to warm my cold cold body." Webster

"We consumed some instant potatoes, hot soup, and small weenies." Kienitz

"Being back at the Bolivian customs was the feeling of survival, unexpected survival." Kienitz

"Exhausted and dusty, mostly now made of dust, we ended our adventure. A bit shell shocked and thankful for life." Kienitz.

Just because it's the desert, doesn't mean it's warm.

I don't even know where to begin with this post because so much has happened.

We came, we saw, we conquered seems to fit the bill, but even that doesn't do justice to the epic experience Kristin and I shared in Chile and Bolivia. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Kristin for my sanity and also tell you all that she is an amazing friend.

We left Monday evening and arrived in La Serena (the mermaid) early Tuesday morning. We had a great time enjoying the beach, relaxing, and being attacked by gypsy woman trying to put tea in our hands.

We left La Serena and headed to San Pedro de Atacama (which happens to be the driest desert in the world). We practically went crazy on the bus ride, it was long, hot and smelly, but alas we arrived and were ready to thrive off the heat, but unfortunately there was none. It was freezing and EXTREMELY windy. We checked into our hostel which reminded me of some creepy polygamous colony in Texas and set ourselves up a few tours.

We went on a tour of the Taito geysers, now I'm not trying to be all superior here, but they didn't even hold a candle to Old Faithful, but Kristin and I still managed to laugh and have a brilliant time there. We were also supposed to have a tour of the Valle de la Muerte (Valley of Death) which was cancelled due to the ridiculous wind, in retrospect, it's a probably a good thing we didn't tempt fate by taking a tour of the Valley of Death.

Kristin and I have an affinity for Lewis and Clark (I credit my dad for this) so the Bolivia adventure will be presented through our journal entries, to honor those great men who helped write our history. It should be posted within the next few days. Enjoy that warm weather, we are jealous.

Quotes:

"Sex and the city, sex and the city, Big is big!" yelled at us while we were walking down the street by a 50 year old man (we being Honni, a red head, Kelsea, a blonde, Kristin a blonde, and me).
"You are very beautiful, very very beautiful." A man to Kristin.
"You like Michael Jackson? I dance for you." A man at a bar, he did the moonwalk for us.
"Hannah, this Virgin is for you, put it in your room like we have it in ours, she is always watching you, but if you want to do something naughty put her under your bed." Lorna and Jorge to me while giving me a goodbye gift. Imagine this is Spanish in front of my whole family. It is a good thing I am not easily embarrassed.

I am certain there will be many more quotes to come because we are off to La Serena, San Pedro de Atacama (the most arid place in the world) and Bolivia. Kristin is making my dreams come true.
We have to pack for all sorts of weather because it gets to be about 75 in the day and 9 during the night. I think I will post pictures of our outfits at some point so you can all admire our craftiness.

Miss Hannah, thanks for the entertainment.

That is what one of the letters from my students said and I think that pretty much sums up my teaching experience in Chile.
I had to host a talent show on my second to last day and I was the only one who could really enjoy it because I am the only one who really speaks English. It was very sweet though and the students were darling. One of my students (the girl I run with) got up and read a very sweet letter to me that brought tears to my eyes. I will say that leaving that school was one of the happiest moments of my life, it was like graduating high school all over again.
I don't really have time to write about everything that has happened because I am too busy celebrating my newfound freedom and trying to convince some men to take Kristin and me into Bolivia, but I will share some photos.

These are my favorite girls. I know, I know, you shouldn't have favorites, but I do.

This guy is a joker, but he was dancing the cueca (the national dance) for Kristin, doesn't he look sharp?

This is a Mapuche (an Indigenous group) dance at a school we visited. It was awesome.

A picture of Mapuche's and their handiwork.

This is Rodrigo, my new boyfriend (I don't think Zach will mind, he is very friendly). He was so cute. The kids had never seen white skin and asked their teacher if we were real.

Kristin enjoying the goodbye asado. It was delicious.

Kristin has been a real champion down here. She went on an incredible sounding hike, traveled on her own, and has made friends with everyone she meets. I will let her tell you all about this later.
Until then, what are your opinions on us entering Bolivia?

A giant hello to Hannah Webster's giant fan base!!!! I am very honored to have been given the task of "guest blogger" on the ever-exciting, highly humorous, and never disappointing 'traversing through chile' blogspot.

I have been in Chile for one week. My experiences have been full and colorful, meaningful and exciting, new and thought provoking, and....all in a fast, beautiful language that I, unfortunately, do not understand. It's a good thing I speak 'dance'.

The joys of my trip have been contained in many choice moments, a few of which I will recount for you here....

Hannah and I were able to catch each other up on many months of passed time in the morning sunlight on the porch of Hannah's house in Santiago. (She has several families and several houses across the Chilean landscape...none of you who know her are bewildered by such a feat, considering her nature of extreme and sometimes excess friendliness.) We drank tea and ate breakfast and sat and laughed in the sun, our feet up on the table and our eyes blissfully taking in the sights below. We felt like queens, rocking in our patio chairs, laughing, anticipating the coming day's adventures.

The adventures included day trips to surrounding areas...beautiful towns not too far from Santiago. Hannah has already told of these trips, but I must include the lasting impression the town of Valiparisio had on me. This town is full of intense color and perfectly situated houses on hills, and with skillful, thoughtful graffiti placed in unsuspecting places. I am inspired to mimic this town in my art. Oh, the colors!

Don't get me started on the handicrafts.

The prize moment of my trip so far has been the privilege of meeting Hannah's familia de Chile. These people are full of love and life and a desire to share it with anyone who crosses their doorway. Though it would be nice to speak Spanish just to know what is going on around me, I am more motivated to learn this language than ever before, just so I can communicate, learn, and relate to this family.

Last night, however, we were all speaking freely in a language commonly known as 'dance'. Everything was understood. (except for how Mata's hips can move.) I believe this language is similar to other universal languages such as music and smiles. Jorge and Lorna had been out until 8 pm or so. They came back from a long day and were sitting down to eat some dinner when Jorge heard the word 'dance' come from someone's mouth. Within minutes, Jorge had some Cuban music blaring, and the living room rugs had been pulled aside, transforming the room into a dance hall. Lorna gave Hannah and I a Salsa lesson, and we proceeded to have a full-on dance party for nearly an hour before we all ran out of steam and remembered our dinner.

Muy bacan! (cool)

Sincerely, Kristin

The Tinsel Hits South America

Kristin arrived Friday morning and we wasted no time getting this adventure started. Chile had a game that day and so we got right into the heart of it in downtown Santiago. I have never been in a mob scene or seen riot police but Friday I experienced both. The police had shields and were dressed to look like Ninja Turtles, I don't think that is what they were going for, but it was somehow calming. We got a bit lost and they were very helpful, I thank Kristin's beauty for this.

Here is one of many business men dressed ridiculously in support of Chile.
There were huge screens set up in various parts of the city so people could watch Chile. It was absolute madness and Chile lost, but that didn't keep people from honking their horns, blowing those horns, or containing their excitement that Chile advanced due to a tie.

Saturday we went to Pomaire the ceramic handicraft haven town that is about one hour from Santiago. We were dropped off on the side of the highway and had to find our way to the town, this proves Kristin is the best travel partner because she not only thought it was as funny as I did, she enjoyed it too. Kristin and I are a dangerous combination when it comes to handicrafts because we cannot resist them. Somehow we managed to leave the town without buying all their goods, but we definitely stimulated their economy. I would like to take this opportunity to sing Tinsel's praises because it takes a very special to trust me with their travel plans and she has done so wholeheartedly and with a great attitude even though she must be exhausted.

I loved Valparaiso the first time I went there with the Hanley's but the love was solidified experiencing it with Kristin. The whole city is an expression of art and the type of place I imagine Kristin living because it oozes creativity, individuality, and relaxation, just like her. We walked around the hills (which we were informed there are 45 of) and enjoyed the graffiti all around. We got a little bit picture crazy and will share the results of one pisco sour and a camera in our hands now.

The photos are more creative thanks to Kristin.

This photo is for you, Mom, notice the bird?

She was furious, can't you tell?

This dinosaur was ferocious.