Category / Travel

by Diane Tate

economics case study?

December 21, 2005

My friend May and I keep wondering, “how can SO many cafes and food places exist within one city?” Literally every block and street is lined with limitless, trendy-looking bars, cafes, bistros, restaurants….unlike the States, nobody goes to these alone. My cousin was able to explain that rather than entertain in their homes, many BA-ers go TO these places to meet up with friends and family. So that explains SOME of it…

Life here so far has been characterized by long walks and bus rides throughout this hot, sprawling, bustling metropolis. Wrestling for change for the bus (80 centavos) and always trying to make sure you HAVE change because many stores simply cannot “break” any bill larger than 20 pesos (approx. 7 USD).

Today we went to La Boca and hung out with my cousin’s artist friend Guillermo…then meandereed the hot colorful streets and took the bus to antique-filled San Telmo.

Mercifully ate less food than yesterday, when we ate and ate and ate (the gorging was topped off with a decadent strawberr & chocolate with dulce con leche ice cream sundae at aptly-named Munchi’s in Recoleta’s Design Center). I am flat-out beat!

December 21, 2005

Comments

Great stories Diane! Safe travels, and Merry Christmas!
Mike and Corina

Posted by: mismjy1

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by Diane Tate

Snippets from the trail

December 17, 2005 – part 2:

Because it´s impossible to describe the travel thing in words, here´s a David Letterman approach….

18 Images & Thoughts From the Inca Trail

Going up is a lot more fun than going down!

Porters are superhuman. As well as gentle, diligent, always smiling and humble.

If you ever have, never – ever – again look down on anyone who uses walking sticks (da bomb)

What canto of hell are we in now?

Psalm 121. All of it.

Thank you thank you thank you Nautilus, Inc.

¨20 minutes…maybe 30…up…then flat…then down…¨ (tour guide snowing us with ¨Peruvian time¨ to allay our dread on the trail)

¨So let´s see…if we´re here…and want to get to that place straight across this huge mountain pass…then why are we going DOWN so steeply? Seems like they could´ve designed this a bit better…¨ (me, several times)

Food…food…more food…such as: quinoa, pancakes, coca tea, huge plates of rice topped with a cucumber or tomato carved into the shape of an exotic bird. All served in a tent in the middle of the Andean mountains!

Washing your hands in red bowls of freezing water and ¨drying¨the with thin, rough cloths hanging from the tent that never seem quite dry.

The privilege of hearing every frog, cough and snore within the campsite (ask me about the Seinfeld incident when I get home).

Thin …very thin…toilet paper. And squatting because the duress on your quads is far less egregious than the consequence of sitting.

Trying not to look too far ahead because it is discouraging…while at the same time, reminding oneself to stop and look around you so you don´t lose out on the majesty of your surroundings and why you are doing what you are doing, providing new depth and significance to the one-step-at-a-time approach to life.

Sharing the trail with llamas, horses and pigs.

Slithering around like Gollum to traverse the wet rocks.

Your only responsibilities being: get up to fresh air and mountains, coca tea and pancakes so you can walk amidst some of the most majestic places on earth. Oh yeah, and roll up your sleeping bag.

The beauty, strength and character of Peruvians forged by the harshness of the elements as well as their political and economic history.

The majesty and power of the land…and yet, Psalm 97:5

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