wind in the willows

We have been in Pisco Elqui for three days now and are loving it. It is a little town way up in the desert that sits on a river that is considered mystical in the area. We have been camping right on the river under tons of willow trees and have made friends with a cat named Chino. Yesterday we walked most of the way to Horcon, the next town along he river it was a long dirt road and was super hot we there weren't many cars and the few their were didn´t pick us up. eventually a bus picked us up an charged us a little and dropped us off in Horcon. Apparently that was the only bus of the day and we were stuck untill around 5. So we walked around, there were four buildings and the first was a liquor store. "Hey, hey, hello" and a little person runs out. Andre' was his name and we sat on the side of a dirtroad and drank 1.5 liter bottles of Cristal beer with a midget whose tooth wiggled everytime he laughed. He was excited to practice english and the town drunk. He said we could stay with him and that he played the bongos. I said lets go see your house but he was reluctant because his son would know he was drinkin again. Andre` was crazy, really crazy

Santiago and beyond

So it has been a few days. I had a great time in Santiago, went to one of Pablo Neruda's houses and a pre-columbus history museum. Now we are headed to the best stargazing in the world. Where many countries have telescopes including the US. I have tried to post pictures a cou´le of different times now and they aren't showing up so I will try again.

Valparaiso

We are in Valparaiso, it is a lovely city built into the hills and are staying with our new friends Hannah and John. Valpo as the locals call it, is a once most important port city untill the completion of the Panama Canal. There are elevators built on train tracks that accend at complicated angles up the sides of colorful neighborhoods. They were built from 1870's to the 1920's and some of them used to be steam powered.

Afew days ago we were by Aconcagua, the highest point in the Americas. At a natural bridge called puente del inca it was awesome, we camped and met a guy that just got out of the Israeli Army... he told us that bolivia isn't dangerous... but he diffuses bombs in the Israeli army.

Chile on strike!

We are going camping further in the mountains of Argentina. Chile´s government workers are on strike, so we may have to wait it out a few because they won´t let us in. Argentina has no change...buisnesses won´t take your money because they don´t have change. You can´t ride a bus because you don´t have coins and everyone is grumpy about it. Today we find gas for our stove and we are goinig to "puente del inca" a natural bridge on the way to chile.....

uspallita or bust

Here we are in Uspallita, Argentina. It is two hours north west of Mendoza, in the foothills of the Andes. 7 years in Tibet was filmed nearby, I can´t say that I ever seen the movie but there is a Brad Pitt/Tibet themed bar here. From Montevideo, Uruguay, we took a 23 hour bus to Mendoza, Argentina and then another through the foothills to arive here in Uspallita. The town is run by dogs. Population 3000 elevation 6000+ feet.

The photos above: The famous La Boca Bario in Buenos Aires, awesome but watch your back and don´t go at night and A saint sculpture in a Catholic Church also in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires

-First day... hablo espanol es muy mal.
Following a fairly long 40 cent bus ride from the airport we stepped into an auto mechanic's strike, ate food and took a nap. Post nap we walked many, many, many blocks to a crazy fiesta de casa. Anyway today was our second day, I'll post some more stuff when I can. Going to Montevideo tomorrow on a ferry then we will head to Mendoza on Friday or Saturday.

buenos aires and beyond

-This just in-
Destination Beunos Aires.
Not Fond of typing, going to use as more of a photo blog with clever snippits or captions.
Mostly for you, and you. Leaving at 6:00 am tomorrow.