Hello Goodbye
I made a donation to the Marijuana Party of Canada about 6 months ago, I asked for a tax reciept. Only now have they contacted me about it...hmmm...I guess I shouldn't be surprised it is the Marijuana Party.

Anyway that is neither here nor there

"I'm in love with the world,
through the eyes of a girl,
who's still around the morning after"
-Elliott Smith

Hello Everyone, I am alive. I learned in Tanzania that travelling is all about the people you meet; I have learned that again here in South America, having said goodbye to wonderful people.

I have been through southern Peru, a week in Bolivia and now am in Chile. Chile twists the brain a bit as the wealthiest country in South America, after having been in Bolivia, one of the poorest nations. Ahhh Chile, where the vegetarian plate comes with canned ham. Seriously.

I am becoming swallowed up by travelling, the last few weeks, especially in Peru, have been a wonderful rush of days places people and experiences. A consuming daze that I am only now coming out of.

Here are some postcards of what I've done-

Sandboarding down massive dunes in the Desert. (similar to snowboarding but on sand) You get sand everywhere but it's glorious once you get the hang of it.

I had Pizza at a place that does Pizza and Tattoos. While I was eating my pizza some guy was getting a tattoo.

I saw the poor man's galapagos.

Did a winetasting tour that ended up at a disco dancing to "Beat it" by the Chipmunks.

We had service so bad I eventually got up went to the fridge and got our drinks for us.

Had a wonderful Birthday celebration in Arequipa, drank happy hour prices well past happy hour, went to a trendy place with a great cover band of english speaking tunes. There was no dance floor, but that didn't stop us, we cleared a space and danced. Midnight was when it became my birthday and Tequilla was imbibed.

The next day I was given a homemade birthday card from the girls we were travelling with and Emily gave me a spanish movie poster. I had been looking everywhere for spanish movie posters. All in all it was a strangely wonderful birthday.

The next day we hiked the deepest canyon in the world, the Colca canyon. It was quite difficult. Who would have thought the deepest canyon in the world would be difficult to hike? It was amazingly beautiful though. The second day back up we left at 4am and during the second half we got to watch the sunrise come up spilling blue, purple, red and orange onto the canyon walls. One of the highlights of Peru for me. Saw huge Condors soaring at the top of the canyon on the way back.

Cusco- The focal point of all travel in Peru, the mecca of Gringoes, the point of departure for the Inka Trail. In Cusco we ate like kings, drank for free, and got to dance to good old gringo tunes.

We did the 4 day Inka trail that leads to Macchu Pichu. It was gruelling, over 40 km, but totally worth it, as on that 4 day as you watch the sun rise on Macchu Pichu you feel like you've truly earned the right to be there. Later in the day when the tourists show up off their buses to snap photos you are visited with the overwhelming urge to throw mud on their clean clothes.

Macchu Pichu is a breathtaking combination of location- nestled in this beautiful valley- and impressive ruins.

Saw lake Titticacca, largest lake above 2000 metres. It's so big you forget it's a lake. I think I saw every shade of blue on that lake. Did hike at the beautiful Isle del Sol.

Lake Titticacca was also the site of the creation of Tittijuice. Tittijuice is a mixture of Inka Cola and Red Wine. Surprisingly good.

Sing it with me now ?"Copa, Copacabana". That's right the first place we visited in Bolivia was the tranquil little town of Copacabana. Overall the town was a nice change from Peru. However we did have a few run ins, one was at the a local bar called "Jack Daniels", in which a man with a roll of dimes or a roll of mentoes in his pocket insisted on talking to us and trying to shake our hands repeatedly. The girls were also subjected to another gentleman showing his appreciation for them...uh... quite openly and on the street.

After Copacabana we stayed in the very large and busy La Paz, the capital of Bolivia and the highest Capital in the world (3700 metres). I've been living and hiking at above 3000 metres for so long now that I'm looking forward to doing hiking at sea level, it should be much easier. There is a burger king in La Paz.

Finally we zoomed through the rest of Bolivia, seeing the amazing salt flats on the way. The salt flats are what remain of where large salt lakes you used to exist 25 000 years ago. Now there these brilliant white plains that are used for much of the industrial salt around the world. (Such as street salting in winter). The flats are amazing they look like snow and ice and...well you'll just have to see the pictures but it's very cool. The first night we stayed in hostel buil out of the salt.

Good story. We had an awesome almost last night as group. We went to one of the only open places in La Paz (Capital of Bolivia and highest, 3700 metres, captital in the world) on a Monday night, it was called love city (where every night is Love). It's right out of a Lynch film. It's a chinese restaurant but also has a karaoke section and a dance floor. The decor is out of the flintstones or somehting...almost. All around you is chinese men in tuxedoes getting you drinks. So anyway we karaoked and danced up a storm, and finally as we were leaving at 3:30 am Ems and I are were getting a cab when we heard a crash. The crash was Richard a guy we'd been travelling with from England who somehow hit a pole and gashed open his head. So we had to find a Bolivian hospital and get him stitches at about 4am. The best part is that he got them we went home and the next morning we (including Richard) biked the "world's most dangerous road" on 3 hours sleep and with six stiches in Richard's forehead. I sang Richard Marx and American Pie.

The worlds most dangerous road leads from La Paz to Corico is primarily downhill, and primarily one lane not paved with cliffs on the side, and trucks coming both ways. It was excellent good fun.

So that's about it, this in now way captures or sums up the experiences I've been having but is just some minor snap shots so everyone knows i'm alive. i'm alive.

We are left with a 3 week world wind tour of Chile and Argentina. I am back in Edmonton April 20 after a two day stop in Chicago and another two day stop in Ottawa. Take care everyone!

love
Charles
"The greatest thing I ever learned was to run away and hide"
B.N.L