tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60849222968429300702024-03-14T11:49:53.095+01:00Croquer le mondeLydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-60287498526797455092010-11-27T21:37:00.000+01:002010-11-27T21:37:41.583+01:00Enjoy the show in Buenos AiresI'm now in Buenos Aires to take intensive tango classes and dance salsa like crazy. It's the perfect place for me!<br />
Tango has been created here and it is until now really part of the culture, we can admire dancers in the streets or in many of the city theaters or ballrooms. For me tango is one of the most elegant dance, the most difficult to learn too... And dancing in a milonga (name of the tango ballroom) is extremely complicated and codified. For example the dancer cannot talk to invite a lady to dance but he "nods" to her and the lady has to understand and "nod" back. Very funny...<br />
Here the cultural activities and shows are everywhere, in every square, in the streets, in theaters, and I'm not the only one to enjoy it, as you can see below... :)<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xNBWXPNI/AAAAAAAACS8/pbZN6aCZ8e0/s800/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[BA]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xNBWXPNI/AAAAAAAACS8/pbZN6aCZ8e0/s144/IMG_1973.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xPELpeRI/AAAAAAAACTE/bvgOrg_zCXQ/s800/IMG_1935.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[BA]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xPELpeRI/AAAAAAAACTE/bvgOrg_zCXQ/s144/IMG_1935.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xPwCRBJI/AAAAAAAACTI/DWdF-GmwN8k/s800/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[BA]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xPwCRBJI/AAAAAAAACTI/DWdF-GmwN8k/s144/IMG_1921.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xQPq2bBI/AAAAAAAACTM/cldaL_1gQ0w/s800/IMG_1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[BA]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xQPq2bBI/AAAAAAAACTM/cldaL_1gQ0w/s144/IMG_1847.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xRoyXuNI/AAAAAAAACTY/yeV23WoWlSk/s800/IMG_1836.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[BA]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xRoyXuNI/AAAAAAAACTY/yeV23WoWlSk/s144/IMG_1836.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xRf6pfPI/AAAAAAAACTU/LQGSm-vB6N0/s800/IMG_1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[BA]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TO7xRf6pfPI/AAAAAAAACTU/LQGSm-vB6N0/s144/IMG_1840.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-3609113360236063062010-11-26T00:13:00.000+01:002010-11-26T00:13:23.887+01:00Gaucho culture in San Antonio de ArecoWhen I arrived in the state of Buenos Aires, I had the chance again to be there at the right time. I just came for the Tradition Festival. Every year, San Antonio de Areco, a small town in Buenos Aires great suburb, organizes this gaucho celebration: horse-riding and games, criollas skills, exhibition, dances and traditional parade of horse-riding "gauchos". Gauchos are the argentinian farmers who herd cattle in the vast farms, they look really like cowboys.<br />
I was quite fun to see them trying to ride wild horses and taste their unbeatable barbequed red meat. <br />
The perfect place to get a taste of the lifestyle of the pampas.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfX-byV4WI/AAAAAAAACQw/Z12jdPQHXcI/s800/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfX-byV4WI/AAAAAAAACQw/Z12jdPQHXcI/s144/IMG_0607.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfX-4qEGbI/AAAAAAAACQ0/_ycb-nSFVSU/s800/IMG_0503.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfX-4qEGbI/AAAAAAAACQ0/_ycb-nSFVSU/s144/IMG_0503.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYAKRlrTI/AAAAAAAACQ4/CpHiQCThOaE/s800/IMG_0684.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYAKRlrTI/AAAAAAAACQ4/CpHiQCThOaE/s144/IMG_0684.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYA0ieEgI/AAAAAAAACQ8/WOEgJj9hY94/s800/IMG_0705.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYA0ieEgI/AAAAAAAACQ8/WOEgJj9hY94/s144/IMG_0705.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYBrbV-FI/AAAAAAAACRA/TVJzz41y2wg/s800/IMG_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYBrbV-FI/AAAAAAAACRA/TVJzz41y2wg/s144/IMG_0726.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYC8WL-FI/AAAAAAAACRI/KVP4uUMftDo/s800/IMG_0959.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYC8WL-FI/AAAAAAAACRI/KVP4uUMftDo/s144/IMG_0959.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYDwotG0I/AAAAAAAACRM/y85d55x6Ptk/s800/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYDwotG0I/AAAAAAAACRM/y85d55x6Ptk/s144/IMG_1112.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYFgTvgsI/AAAAAAAACRQ/BfHQyBKwbUg/s800/IMG_1107.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYFgTvgsI/AAAAAAAACRQ/BfHQyBKwbUg/s144/IMG_1107.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYGrK5_tI/AAAAAAAACRU/mSKSdCh9k6c/s800/IMG_1136.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYGrK5_tI/AAAAAAAACRU/mSKSdCh9k6c/s144/IMG_1136.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYH9znyVI/AAAAAAAACRY/lgoKmbfcntY/s800/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYH9znyVI/AAAAAAAACRY/lgoKmbfcntY/s144/IMG_1171.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYJtppuQI/AAAAAAAACRg/x4fP6LI0KBU/s800/IMG_1421.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYJtppuQI/AAAAAAAACRg/x4fP6LI0KBU/s144/IMG_1421.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYMWlTOOI/AAAAAAAACRs/2dHi2lGdX5Y/s800/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYMWlTOOI/AAAAAAAACRs/2dHi2lGdX5Y/s144/IMG_1442.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYNJtqLRI/AAAAAAAACRw/vW3BEW_J3qY/s800/IMG_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYNJtqLRI/AAAAAAAACRw/vW3BEW_J3qY/s144/IMG_1476.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYNkZS-LI/AAAAAAAACR0/3A-dRQeCyRM/s800/IMG_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYNkZS-LI/AAAAAAAACR0/3A-dRQeCyRM/s144/IMG_1486.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table><tbody><table><td> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYIRyxmfI/AAAAAAAACRc/rYENY4LhAeg/s800/IMG_1277.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[Areco]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYIRyxmfI/AAAAAAAACRc/rYENY4LhAeg/s400/IMG_1277.JPG" /></a> </td> </tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-26378432662369147812010-11-22T16:06:00.001+01:002010-11-26T00:26:13.029+01:00An Argentinian day in RosarioWhen I arrived in Rosario I didn't have any idea about what to expect, as usual. I prefer not to have a guide book or read about the touristic attractions and let the opportunities come to me.<br />
My first stop was at a couchsurfer's house, I met Eduardo. A nice middle class argentinian guy who introduced me to the local culture.<br />
On the menu of this typical day: the Asado. <i>Asado</i> is actually a bbq. Argentinians are very proud of this "culinary specialty", but it is basically just a huge amount of beef they throw on the grill and cook perfectly. What looks awkward to me is that they hardly eat any vegetable or side dish with it. Purely carnivore...<br />
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On the drink list you can't miss the <i>Mate (pronounce Matay)</i>. It's a very unique tradition of Argentina spread a bit over south of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Mate is an herb they consume as a tea, with hot water. But it's more than a beverage here, it's a way of living, a symbol of conviviality, and an addictive habit. At the moment I crossed the Argentinian border, I've been puzzled at the sight of so many people walking around with a thermos tucked under one arm, sucking on a metal pipe stuck into a gourd with a silver rim. Obviously I had to try. Eduardo prepared one for us. But as soon as I sip into the famous gourd I cough of disgust, stroke by the bitter, earthy and grassy tasting... My host tried to hide his disappointment of my dislike and passed the mate to his friend. But he was decided to have me liking this Argentinian addiction, so he went off to the kitchen to prepare a "terere". "This one you'll like it, you'll see!" he says determined. It consists of the same herb prepared with orange juice on a bed of ice, the orange juice (very sweet) compensate the bitterness of the herb, making it much more drinkable. I was afraid of not liking it, Eduardo was so eager of convincing me, I didn't want to disappoint him too much... Thankfully I could drink it...<br />
Later on that day, the news announce the death of Nestor Kirshner, the former president who was suspected of governing through his wife, elected in 2007. It's a big thing, the whole country is shocked and 3 days of mourning are proclaimed. It gives us the start of the long discussion on Argentina's history and politics.<br />
A perfect argentinian day: asado, mate, terere, and political discussion with a cute argentinian guy. :)<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWqj5aqsI/AAAAAAAACQY/RHwmqyrxFow/s800/IMG_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[rosario]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWqj5aqsI/AAAAAAAACQY/RHwmqyrxFow/s144/IMG_0315.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWr0j4_cI/AAAAAAAACQc/LIGOh5STR3w/s800/IMG_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[rosario]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWr0j4_cI/AAAAAAAACQc/LIGOh5STR3w/s144/IMG_0322.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWssuceUI/AAAAAAAACQg/DOtnVrjmgXw/s800/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[rosario]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWssuceUI/AAAAAAAACQg/DOtnVrjmgXw/s144/IMG_0323.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWtvAj2OI/AAAAAAAACQk/eiAmxHA-X4U/s800/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[rosario]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Native house of Che Gevara transformed into a bank..."><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWtvAj2OI/AAAAAAAACQk/eiAmxHA-X4U/s144/IMG_0333.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWudiJy2I/AAAAAAAACQo/0YlR5tvUh1s/s800/IMG_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[rosario]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Kirshner mourning"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfWudiJy2I/AAAAAAAACQo/0YlR5tvUh1s/s144/IMG_0270.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYK92jZ3I/AAAAAAAACRk/azdwHINN1TE/s800/IMG_1422.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[rosario]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="The mate"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TOfYK92jZ3I/AAAAAAAACRk/azdwHINN1TE/s144/IMG_1422.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</table></tbody>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-21678050707258509172010-11-19T23:49:00.000+01:002010-11-19T23:49:25.876+01:00Traveling in questionWhen I meet people and say I've been traveling for 13 months now, their reaction is always the same. The most frequent one is: "Wow! You're rich or what? How do you finance that?". And the 2nd most frequent is: "Wow! You're lucky, I wish I could do the same".<br />
I find that both lack terribly of creativity and imagination apart from being totally untrue.<br />
For the first one, people are always under the illusion travel is expensive. It’s not. There’s a plethora of ways to travel cheap. I traveled South America for about 20 dollars a day. I’ve heard of people who do it on less. Travel is not expensive, you just need to make it a financial priority. We regret the things we didn’t do. If you want to travel, use that money now- you can’t take it with you when you die.<br />
For the 2nd one, what keeps people from traveling? "I've too many responsibilities". This is the biggest excuse people give. But when you leave, you have none. Bills disappear, car payments go away, errands you have to run become non-existent. It is often said that the more stuff we own, the more our stuff owns us. The modern world creates a lot of baggage that ties us to society’s approved path. Once you make the decision to go, you’ll find that all those bonds quickly disappear and those responsibilities vanish. The only responsibilities I have are the ones I create for myself, the only bills I have are those of my everyday needs. Once you come back, you’ll also realize you can do with much less. Also I've seen entire families traveling for one year on a bicycle. The limits we have are the ones we give to ourselves...<br />
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In the end, it's fear that keeps most people from traveling. <br />
<br />
Instead of these two basic answers, I wish I would be asked: "What did you learn in 13 months?", "Where have you seen the most beautiful smile?", "What are your dreams?".... But nobody has ever asked me any of these questions...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Lucida Casual; font-size: medium;">As Antoine de St Exupery wrote: "<i>Grown up never ask you any questions about essential matters</i></span><i>. [...] <span style="font-family: Lucida Casual; font-size: medium;">If you were to say to the grown-ups: "I saw a beautiful house made of rosy brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof," they would not be able to get any idea of that house at all. You would have to say to them: "I saw a house that cost $200,000." Then they would exclaim: "Oh, what a pretty house that is!" </span></i>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-38973022888580196812010-11-02T00:47:00.000+01:002010-11-02T00:47:32.925+01:00Feeling tiny in IguazuPuerto Iguazu is the Argentinian city nearest to the famous falls. It took me 23 hours of bus to reach this place from Salta but it was worth it.<br />
The falls are just breathtaking, I felt so small in front of these powerful and huge waterfalls! The pics surely cannot translate the impression we have in front of this fierce power of nature. <br />
They are moreover situated in a national park of the same name and while wandering between the falls I could make friend with lots of animals...butterflies, caotis begging for food, toucans and even a couple of Parisian people :)...<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4W_kFlJoI/AAAAAAAACOU/Z05SvVdUiGM/s800/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4W_kFlJoI/AAAAAAAACOU/Z05SvVdUiGM/s144/IMG_0182.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4XBlJJZQI/AAAAAAAACPE/mf1cMKuDx6c/s800/IMG_0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4XBlJJZQI/AAAAAAAACPE/mf1cMKuDx6c/s144/IMG_0199.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4XE1pEtII/AAAAAAAACOs/Wp5GElxE640/s800/IMG_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4XE1pEtII/AAAAAAAACOs/Wp5GElxE640/s144/IMG_0257.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4W9IUq57I/AAAAAAAACOI/b23SMZY0nxQ/s800/IMG_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4W9IUq57I/AAAAAAAACOI/b23SMZY0nxQ/s144/IMG_0160.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4f8oUhUhI/AAAAAAAACPA/oQ9Dnv_tBHE/s800/5-Iguazu.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TM4f8oUhUhI/AAAAAAAACPA/oQ9Dnv_tBHE/s144/5-Iguazu.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
</table></tbody>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-84185134439440799762010-10-30T17:52:00.000+02:002010-10-30T17:52:00.516+02:00Road trip to CafayateArrived in Salta, a bourgeois city which could be easily part of Spain, being so similar to Barcelona, I partied a lot with my new friends from France, Spain, Australia, Switzerland, and UK. The bars offered for most of them a folkloric show with traditional costumes and an ambiance incredible.<br />
From there we decided to rent a car and go on the road to Cafayate, capital of a pretty wine region of Argentina. The drive was amazing for the variety of landscapes we crossed! Valleys full of cactus, huge sculpted rocks houses of parrots, green mountains, small traditional villages in the middle of the desert, and extended wineries in a dry valley. Extraordinary! <br />
<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJpqu-3II/AAAAAAAACME/5OIyrRQJKpI/s800/IMG_9876.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJpqu-3II/AAAAAAAACME/5OIyrRQJKpI/s144/IMG_9876.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJq1MxJPI/AAAAAAAACMI/oD_MspBl87s/s800/IMG_9873.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJq1MxJPI/AAAAAAAACMI/oD_MspBl87s/s144/IMG_9873.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJr-4ukII/AAAAAAAACMM/ausBHjJoy4I/s800/IMG_9928.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJr-4ukII/AAAAAAAACMM/ausBHjJoy4I/s144/IMG_9928.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJs2-IwfI/AAAAAAAACMQ/SdCT80XktFA/s800/IMG_9948.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJs2-IwfI/AAAAAAAACMQ/SdCT80XktFA/s144/IMG_9948.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJuNDNHCI/AAAAAAAACMU/ynIX_MLzA6I/s800/IMG_9955.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJuNDNHCI/AAAAAAAACMU/ynIX_MLzA6I/s144/IMG_9955.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJu6DWJ-I/AAAAAAAACMY/mWQ5SnyeZCc/s800/IMG_9960.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJu6DWJ-I/AAAAAAAACMY/mWQ5SnyeZCc/s144/IMG_9960.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJwPZivwI/AAAAAAAACMc/l_y2P4WAhsI/s800/IMG_9962.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJwPZivwI/AAAAAAAACMc/l_y2P4WAhsI/s144/IMG_9962.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJw8h5DfI/AAAAAAAACMg/xnAiICVkaSg/s800/IMG_9965.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJw8h5DfI/AAAAAAAACMg/xnAiICVkaSg/s144/IMG_9965.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJyBOp1hI/AAAAAAAACMk/rYAz0LrrKS8/s800/IMG_9975.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJyBOp1hI/AAAAAAAACMk/rYAz0LrrKS8/s144/IMG_9975.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJzX7AJUI/AAAAAAAACMo/8vnpw3SKiHo/s800/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="For the one who looks without seeing Earth is earth nothing else"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJzX7AJUI/AAAAAAAACMo/8vnpw3SKiHo/s144/IMG_0007.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJ1GAzGDI/AAAAAAAACMs/iemXJ12gaWI/s800/IMG_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMEJ1GAzGDI/AAAAAAAACMs/iemXJ12gaWI/s144/IMG_0014.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMs8omzCqeI/AAAAAAAACNk/FQQXcTlONgE/s800/IMG_9989.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TMs8omzCqeI/AAAAAAAACNk/FQQXcTlONgE/s144/IMG_9989.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table><tbody><table><td> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLo8fHV_t9I/AAAAAAAACK4/emccX2TBzx8/s800/Cafayate2.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLo8fHV_t9I/AAAAAAAACK4/emccX2TBzx8/s400/Cafayate2.JPG" /></a> </td> </tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-45191565041166594042010-10-17T03:52:00.001+02:002010-10-17T03:59:26.810+02:007 colors of PurmamarcaOn my way to Salta, main city of northern Argentina, I stopped by a small village called Purmamarca (very difficult name to remember). <br />
It was my first stop in Argentina. What a change compared to Bolivia. I felt like I went 100 years ahead in time and a few thousand kilometers away... Here, people smile, there are roads and road signs, nice cars, shops, my stay in this country will be good to accommodate to European way of life again. <br />
I could relax there for one day and look at the incredible geological wonder of these mountains of 7 colors.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEXqjsEcI/AAAAAAAACLA/z9dluVL9xyc/s800/IMG_9768.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEXqjsEcI/AAAAAAAACLA/z9dluVL9xyc/s144/IMG_9768.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEYoUl8EI/AAAAAAAACLE/jHbE50E4LQ4/s800/IMG_9764.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEYoUl8EI/AAAAAAAACLE/jHbE50E4LQ4/s144/IMG_9764.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEZvGdMxI/AAAAAAAACLM/WF9Yq8ykWSc/s800/IMG_9705.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEZvGdMxI/AAAAAAAACLM/WF9Yq8ykWSc/s144/IMG_9705.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEae_rZKI/AAAAAAAACLQ/P-A0v8fEbf0/s800/IMG_9728.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEae_rZKI/AAAAAAAACLQ/P-A0v8fEbf0/s144/IMG_9728.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEbweZZBI/AAAAAAAACLU/Zr26kSF4a5U/s800/IMG_9745.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEbweZZBI/AAAAAAAACLU/Zr26kSF4a5U/s144/IMG_9745.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEdIldiBI/AAAAAAAACLY/A5Vhr7rTlRA/s800/IMG_9746.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEdIldiBI/AAAAAAAACLY/A5Vhr7rTlRA/s144/IMG_9746.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEeZCGw5I/AAAAAAAACLc/TjQt27l1_ZA/s800/IMG_9758.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLpEeZCGw5I/AAAAAAAACLc/TjQt27l1_ZA/s144/IMG_9758.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table><tbody><table><td> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLo8gA18IrI/AAAAAAAACK8/dY6VoNeSJFA/s800/Purmamarca3.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLo8gA18IrI/AAAAAAAACK8/dY6VoNeSJFA/s400/Purmamarca3.JPG" /></a> </td> </tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-2441380012271806072010-10-17T01:39:00.000+02:002010-10-17T01:39:29.929+02:00Natural wonder in UyuniUyuni salt lake has the most beautiful diversity of landscapes I've ever seen.<br />
<br />
12000km2 of salt, desert, lagoons full of flamingos, active volcanos, cactus, sand and all sorts of strange animals.<br />
We did a 3 days tour, with the 4 wheels drive we covered more than 1000km in 2 days on sand and salt (like a small Paris-Dakar), slept in salt hotels with no heating system and a night temperature of -20C...Brrr...freezing..., had a bath in natural hot springs, and saw smoking volcano.<br />
Incredible beauty!! <br />
<table><tbody>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTg4WOF7I/AAAAAAAACJs/LTfVWj7CoMA/s800/IMG_9078.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTg4WOF7I/AAAAAAAACJs/LTfVWj7CoMA/s144/IMG_9078.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTR4Bqa_I/AAAAAAAACJE/VxCy2D-xXSo/s800/IMG_9118.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTR4Bqa_I/AAAAAAAACJE/VxCy2D-xXSo/s144/IMG_9118.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxbZFlv3I/AAAAAAAACKw/4C-4LhHPdo4/s800/IMG_9036.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxbZFlv3I/AAAAAAAACKw/4C-4LhHPdo4/s144/IMG_9036.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr><td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxaBLO-GI/AAAAAAAACKs/wRC078-zEMI/s800/IMG_9057.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxaBLO-GI/AAAAAAAACKs/wRC078-zEMI/s144/IMG_9057.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxY-2wZ_I/AAAAAAAACKo/8-NEWnVOQyU/s800/IMG_9059.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxY-2wZ_I/AAAAAAAACKo/8-NEWnVOQyU/s144/IMG_9059.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTS_OPgCI/AAAAAAAACJI/XoBIQUYjSto/s800/IMG_9252.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTS_OPgCI/AAAAAAAACJI/XoBIQUYjSto/s144/IMG_9252.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTV0H_RYI/AAAAAAAACJM/0mIzgRTEq_w/s800/IMG_9358.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTV0H_RYI/AAAAAAAACJM/0mIzgRTEq_w/s144/IMG_9358.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTXbhjC2I/AAAAAAAACJQ/n29mTSiuSNk/s800/IMG_9319.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTXbhjC2I/AAAAAAAACJQ/n29mTSiuSNk/s144/IMG_9319.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTYFTPzbI/AAAAAAAACJU/vbDMwDS47JM/s800/IMG_9431.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTYFTPzbI/AAAAAAAACJU/vbDMwDS47JM/s144/IMG_9431.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTY1_CK9I/AAAAAAAACJY/mN3m9ebuV00/s800/IMG_9283.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTY1_CK9I/AAAAAAAACJY/mN3m9ebuV00/s144/IMG_9283.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTa5rcbnI/AAAAAAAACJc/CXTFuO1kCwo/s800/IMG_9282.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTa5rcbnI/AAAAAAAACJc/CXTFuO1kCwo/s144/IMG_9282.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTdt9I4_I/AAAAAAAACJg/rL39uw4moAI/s800/IMG_9583.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTdt9I4_I/AAAAAAAACJg/rL39uw4moAI/s144/IMG_9583.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTfgJ5_NI/AAAAAAAACJk/4X5IcZ2P6mw/s800/IMG_9546.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiTfgJ5_NI/AAAAAAAACJk/4X5IcZ2P6mw/s144/IMG_9546.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxWofiQ3I/AAAAAAAACKc/gGbw0XX6bwk/s800/IMG_9183.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxWofiQ3I/AAAAAAAACKc/gGbw0XX6bwk/s144/IMG_9183.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxXIHJCZI/AAAAAAAACKg/pkysucJdqAQ/s800/IMG_9176.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxXIHJCZI/AAAAAAAACKg/pkysucJdqAQ/s144/IMG_9176.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxYT8VsUI/AAAAAAAACKk/-hiMuoUmEXM/s800/IMG_9167.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLoxYT8VsUI/AAAAAAAACKk/-hiMuoUmEXM/s144/IMG_9167.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiV85Y-RRI/AAAAAAAACJ4/i1PmhpDFh5I/s800/LagunaColoradaUyuni.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiV85Y-RRI/AAAAAAAACJ4/i1PmhpDFh5I/s144/LagunaColoradaUyuni.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-12648610306876969642010-10-15T19:14:00.002+02:002010-10-17T03:14:54.021+02:00Feathers and tradition in PotosiI had the chance to see a festival in Bolivia, it was THE festival of the year in Potosi. Similar to peruvian one, the outfits of the dancers were just breath taking. <br />
Two full days of festivities, thousands of dancers from all over the country.<br />
<br />
I took almost 2000 pictures of all the different costumes, each one was unique and some completely crazy... Some were wearing dead condors on their back, some had huge feather hats, some had musical flip flops... it was very difficult to select only some of them...<br />
See for yourself.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh26LGZURI/AAAAAAAACIk/4OwpP1rxWxA/s800/Bolivie-Claire-09-2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh26LGZURI/AAAAAAAACIk/4OwpP1rxWxA/s144/Bolivie-Claire-09-2010.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh28gygi9I/AAAAAAAACIo/RkrFWuSP0Rk/s800/8-Potosi%20fiesta1.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh28gygi9I/AAAAAAAACIo/RkrFWuSP0Rk/s144/8-Potosi%20fiesta1.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh2_-UeFFI/AAAAAAAACIs/quUqRElV-jM/s800/8-Potosi%20fiesta2.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh2_-UeFFI/AAAAAAAACIs/quUqRElV-jM/s144/8-Potosi%20fiesta2.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh3CI0wbyI/AAAAAAAACIw/LlS-B4PVKFI/s800/8-Potosi%20fiesta3.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh3CI0wbyI/AAAAAAAACIw/LlS-B4PVKFI/s144/8-Potosi%20fiesta3.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh3EbNZjsI/AAAAAAAACI0/Y_3ddxvrWNA/s800/Bolivie-Claire-09-20101.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh3EbNZjsI/AAAAAAAACI0/Y_3ddxvrWNA/s144/Bolivie-Claire-09-20101.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh_aYlSN9I/AAAAAAAACI4/at9ZshV1GIs/s800/Bolivie-Claire-09-20102.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLh_aYlSN9I/AAAAAAAACI4/at9ZshV1GIs/s144/Bolivie-Claire-09-20102.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiGfyF8YPI/AAAAAAAACI8/ZaEyVY2evu4/s800/8-Potosi%20fiesta6.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="My preferred theme: shoes"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiGfyF8YPI/AAAAAAAACI8/ZaEyVY2evu4/s144/8-Potosi%20fiesta6.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiGiUQiWiI/AAAAAAAACJA/eGA-YFqldLc/s800/8-Potosi%20fiesta7.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Animals"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLiGiUQiWiI/AAAAAAAACJA/eGA-YFqldLc/s144/8-Potosi%20fiesta7.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-15972757399182303102010-10-15T04:16:00.000+02:002010-10-15T04:16:06.247+02:00One yearI celebrated my ONE YEAR on the road in South America last week, 7th of October… Wow!! Time flies and I keep walking…<br />
<br />
One of my painting to celebrate this: A street in Cusco <br />
The scan quality is very bad but...<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLe4H2tk9aI/AAAAAAAACIM/MAxAsgwhOsg/s800/Imagen.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLe4H2tk9aI/AAAAAAAACIM/MAxAsgwhOsg/s144/Imagen.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
</table></tbody>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-77067247044250429252010-10-15T03:37:00.001+02:002010-10-15T04:19:50.257+02:00Your life for a coin in PotosiThe most interesting visit in Potosi are the silver mines and its miners. The mines have been exploited since the Incas and the spanish brought millions of indigenous people to extract the huge amount of silver present in this mountain (41,000 tons of pure silver were mined from Cerro Rico from 1556 to 1783!!). And about 8 million Indians and African slaves died in the process of producing these tons of silver. This mountain is actually a real gruyere now…and is expected to collapse soon…<br />
<br />
Today, no much silver is left and the public company has left the concession to the miners organized in cooperatives. The conditions of work are still the same as when the colons arrived…no security, basic tools and very poor conditions. Their salary varies but goes around 8Eur a day. The life expectancy of miners is..40 to 45 years old… Incredible in the 21th century…<br />
<br />
But many factors affect their health, first the accidents (gas, explosions, etc), second, the dust they breath all day every day, and third, their way of living. Indeed, they spend 8 to 12 hours inside masticating coca leaves, drinking alcohol at 96deg and smoking cigarettes. No food enters the mine because they can’t defecate inside, it would produce dangerous gas… Coca leaves and strong alcohol give them energy and strength…<br />
<br />
We saw kids no older than 14 years already helping their dad in the mine, although the official age for work is 18 years old. Many of them will never live long enough to get retired at 60… <br />
<br />
Did you know?: One theory holds that the mint mark of Potosí (the letters "PTSI" superimposed on one another) is the origin of the dollar sign.<br />
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<table><tbody>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuRZZwbwI/AAAAAAAACH0/3V-2AMuHV8c/s800/IMG_6816.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuRZZwbwI/AAAAAAAACH0/3V-2AMuHV8c/s144/IMG_6816.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuSuKTWTI/AAAAAAAACH4/Rzh0c-Y7F6M/s800/IMG_6818.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuSuKTWTI/AAAAAAAACH4/Rzh0c-Y7F6M/s144/IMG_6818.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuUEskVTI/AAAAAAAACH8/qgZNB1e5a1U/s800/IMG_6819.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuUEskVTI/AAAAAAAACH8/qgZNB1e5a1U/s144/IMG_6819.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuWIy01QI/AAAAAAAACIA/zZYpp6G6HNo/s800/IMG_6822.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuWIy01QI/AAAAAAAACIA/zZYpp6G6HNo/s144/IMG_6822.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuXDZMVTI/AAAAAAAACIE/_2jvCtUJgoQ/s800/IMG_6851_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuXDZMVTI/AAAAAAAACIE/_2jvCtUJgoQ/s144/IMG_6851_c.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuYHsNLYI/AAAAAAAACII/7lZnXB64gBQ/s800/IMG_6804.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="96!!!"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TLeuYHsNLYI/AAAAAAAACII/7lZnXB64gBQ/s144/IMG_6804.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</table></tbody>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-61827115615735294172010-10-03T22:55:00.000+02:002010-10-03T22:55:40.321+02:00Paradise in Isla del SolGoing to Peru and Bolivia without visiting Titicaca lake would be a mistake. I decided to stay a few days in one of the most beautiful of its islands on the bolivian side: Isla del Sol.<br />
<br />
Isla del Sol (Sun island) is the site of the main Inca creation myth – the legend says it's where Viracocha (the creator god) had his children (the first Inca) Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo spring from the lake and found Cusco and the Inca dynasty. This legend is still very present in the minds today, I've heard this story dozen of times...<br />
<br />
We decided to stay at the North of the island which seemed being preserved from the tourism over exploitation and the modern time, quite isolated and populated with simple farmers, you feel like you're going back in time when arriving in this tiny village.<br />
The hostel room had an amazing view on the lake Titicaca and was the cheapest I ever had: 1.5Eur per night... The kitchen was very simple: a fire place shared with the owners and the bathroom a bucket of water suspended over a tent made of plastic bags.<br />
<br />
We walked through incredible landscapes and small rocky beaches, relaxed, and enjoyed the magical of Titicaca at sunset.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTYx0vbgSI/AAAAAAAACGY/ftoFcujcQAY/s800/IMG_6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="My room"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTYx0vbgSI/AAAAAAAACGY/ftoFcujcQAY/s144/IMG_6126.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTY2h7omMI/AAAAAAAACGc/RhCh_6DvNyw/s800/IMG_6129.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="The kitchen"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTY2h7omMI/AAAAAAAACGc/RhCh_6DvNyw/s144/IMG_6129.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTY8tI0SBI/AAAAAAAACGg/oHdmhsAxQh4/s800/IMG_6184.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Titicaca lake"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTY8tI0SBI/AAAAAAAACGg/oHdmhsAxQh4/s144/IMG_6184.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZAbpFjMI/AAAAAAAACGk/-_6jxlw33HI/s800/IMG_6195.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZAbpFjMI/AAAAAAAACGk/-_6jxlw33HI/s144/IMG_6195.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZMVZrPHI/AAAAAAAACGs/bW-yjH-K1GU/s800/IMG_6306.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZMVZrPHI/AAAAAAAACGs/bW-yjH-K1GU/s144/IMG_6306.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZP4Y9e4I/AAAAAAAACGw/cIqqDg_cZ-0/s800/IMG_6362.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZP4Y9e4I/AAAAAAAACGw/cIqqDg_cZ-0/s144/IMG_6362.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZWCfqrpI/AAAAAAAACG4/1LRPLtGQ0jU/s800/DSC00430.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Sun setting on Titicaca"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TKTZWCfqrpI/AAAAAAAACG4/1LRPLtGQ0jU/s144/DSC00430.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-82402237054759752122010-09-27T19:25:00.000+02:002010-09-27T19:25:10.886+02:00Experiences in BoliviaBolivia is an incredible country. There is a saying here that says: "Nada es seguro, todo es posible" (Nothing is certain, everything is possible). It is very true. I experienced many new and incredible things here.<br />
<br />
One day, I was in a crowded and dirty bus going to La Paz. It was lunch time and a woman had crossed the bus selling her whole-set lunch: roasted chicken and white rice. The old lady behind me was enjoying herself with this meal, eating with her fingers when I felt something touching my hairs. She was using my head as a napkin! What?! I flip myself, say "Ehhh" and tap on her fingers. No emotion on her face. She ignores me and keeps her hand on my head rest continuing to leave the chicken oil on my seat. I couldn't believe it. Then I decided to take a napkin and wash her hands, certain she won't stop until her hands are clean. She seemed happy about it, took the napkin and stopped bothering me...<br />
<br />
Another time, I was walking around in La Paz taking pictures of the streets of this bolivian capital. I stopped taking pictures of people here because it makes them very angry and aggressive... So, with my big camera I posted myself on the side walk and shot the "atmosphere". There were nobody close enough to be bothered...at least I thought. Then I continued my way along the same street when suddenly an old woman sitting on the floor and begging for money, spat at me. She shouted something I couldn't understand, her two only teeth were probably not helping her to have a good pronunciation... I then understood she saw me taking a photo and thought she was on it. She was obviously too far to be seen by my lens but never mind... I didn't even try to explain and started to insult her in french (that's my new technique in front of stupid bolivians...), it doesn't help anything, I know, but at least I relieves me... Then I continued my way avoiding any old lady sitting on the floor...<br />
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In La Paz, I also saw "White Snow" for the first time. I wanted to try once in South America although the action of sniffing didn't appeal much to me. Here, you can go to a bar, order a drink and 1g of this white powder for 8Eur... That easy. The sniffing wasn't that bad finally, I didn't feel anything bothering my nose. So after that we partied the whole night but I was feeling tired much before dawn. I don't know why, maybe I just didn't take enough... Just for people who are not familiar with that, it is supposed to keep you awake and full of energy for a few hours. And there is no physical dependence. <br />
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Another first time was to drink the powder of a strange cactus. It is called "Saint Peter". I don't know what is "Saint" about it, but... I tried with my french friend, Claire. The first step is to mix the magic powder with hot water and drink this awful potion. It tastes like very bitter powdery grass. Beurk. After that, comes a bit of stomach ache. 30min later, the first effect comes: vomiting. The second effect comes after 1 hour approx: laughing for nothing. Then you go through different phases: poor body control, heavy tiredness, and finally hallucinations. I was laying in a hammock during 5 hours and was seeing mosquitoes driving motos with bright shiny outfits... That bad... Finally, exhausted, I went to bed at 3am, my head still a bit in the mist... I had to try once, but maybe not twice...<br />
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Here, only taking a bus can be also an adventure by itself. I went to the jungle from La Paz, it was 18 hours, 450 km, and 60 Bolivianos (6Eur approx). The problem is that there are no roads to go there, only tracks scratched on big mountain slopes. The tracks are so bumpy and dusty that after 1 hour drive I was already more dusty than if I stayed on a shelf for 15 years.... There is also no room to cross another car but it's 2 ways anyway. The cliff was often very very close. To sum it all, bolivian drivers are fueled with... beer. Maybe to give them strength to drive their 50 years old bus like crazy on impossible roads. It's insane... I've met many tourists who have been involved in very serious bus accidents in Bolivia and many die each year also... But I survived thankfully!....Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-75452955836568476702010-09-17T01:15:00.001+02:002010-09-27T19:28:08.918+02:00Warm welcome in La PazCrossing a border is for me always a bit stressful, even if it's only a formality, even if it's straight forward. I don't know why...And this time, leaving Peru was a bit more stressful because my 60-days visa had expired, only one day but... I had to cross the bolivian border very quickly.<br />
<br />
So from Arequipa I went to Puno in the cheapest and most dirty bus ever. It was 8 hours I had to block my nose (the smell was unbearable, a mix of sheep, shit and poor body care smell), remove all the clothes I could, sweating and suffocating (no window would open anymore), and close my ears from the extremely loud and bad action movie showing in front of me. To sum it all, after 5 hours through the pampa, we heard an explosion, we were in the middle of nowhere, the tire had exploded. We stopped and the drivers put a "new" tire that was in such a bad shape (one third of the gum had been taken off...) I still wonder how we made it through the 3 remaining hours...<br />
<br />
From Puno,I took a three hours ride in an overloaded mini bus and I was there, near the border. In front of me, a dozen of rickshaws parked randomly, their drivers shouting at me, I was completely overwhelmed, tired, I couldn't hear anything and I couldn't answer to all this noise. But they were extremely pressing around me, I was the only white around and I guess they smelt the good deal. It took me a few long minutes to wake up and listen to one of them. "To the border! To Bolivia! 1 Sol! 5 Soles! Me, me, me!". They were all shouting the same and fighting to get me on their vehicle. I had no idea which one to choose, no idea if I should bargain. I chose arbitrarily one that looked "good" to me (the most humble and nice looking..) and I didn't bargain. I'm overloaded with my luggage, a big bag of 18kg, a small one (of at least 7kg), a plastic bag containing my lunch/dinner (fruits and bread), my sweater, and a big bottle of water. Too many things...as usual... And while trying to climb on the rickshaw, everything fall on the floor, I'm pressed by the crowd still hopeful that I will change my mind, I rush to get everything back into my randomly chosen rickshaw, I hope nobody had time to get any bag before me... I give a quick look around, ok, I'm fine, let's go.<br />
<br />
We arrive at the first checkpoint. It's the general pushing and shoving everywhere, rickshaws cross each others in a seemingly complex but elaborated dance, sellers shout, passengers weave through. It makes me dizzy. My driver shows me the hut where I will receive my exit stamp from Peru. I get down trying to take all my bags with only 2 arms, and 2 shoulders. It's a disaster. The driver is nice, he doesn't laugh... but reassures me and tells me to leave everything on the rickshaw, he will wait for me. One second I hesitate, thinking he could very easily go away with everything I have, but it would be so troublesome to carry it all... I accept. No risk no gain...<br />
I enter in the small and dirty hut. The silence that reign here surprises me. Everything is grey and calm inside, everything is colorful and loud outside. At the end of the small room, two bored officers look down behind their sort of crumbling kiosk. I queue up, there are a dozen people in front of me, all seem locals beside a russian girl who looks more lost than me. In my head, stress, "Will he bother me for over passing the date?", stress, "Where is my bag, still there with the driver?"... I look out, he's still here, waiting. It's my turn. The officer couldn't care less about me, he eats a biscuit. Then, without even glancing at me, he takes my passport, does a few moves, stamps it loudly with a large gesture and hands it back to me. Like that? So simple? Cool!<br />
I run to my rickshaw (in case he decides to flee last minute...) and my driver, I will call him Roberto, informs me that, if I want to change money, I have to do it now. I start to like Roberto, he's the clear head I’m missing... The change "offices" are ahead, a line of small boxes basically furnished with a table and a large calculator. Once again I have to leave all my belongings on the rickshaw. I hand my 400Soles to the first change officer. How much for one Sol? 2.48 (Bolivianos) he shows me on his big calculator. Ok, change it all. Thanks. Bye. Speaking looks like too much of an effort for him, he didn't say a word...<br />
<br />
Hop, I jump into my vehicle and off we go to Bolivia. We cross an overcrowded bridge, the people jostle each others, Titicaca lake is here underneath our wheels. Roberto does strange noise to make his way thru "Trang trang", "Boum boum", "Beep beep", "Pasa!", it makes me laugh, but it works pretty well. I have a bit of time to relax and watch around me. I'm the only gringa around it seems, I watch the colorful crowd of passers-by and sellers, the women are wearing their traditional outfit: a large, fluorescent and shining skirt, their hat, too small, laid on their ebony hair, two long black plaits joined and thickened by black wool. They remind me of russian dolls, I feel like I'm arriving in a new world.<br />
<br />
Roberto wakes me from my day dreaming, we are at the bolivian border. He shows me the window where I should get the paper to fill up. Everything has to be fast. I fill up and hand my passport to the office number 24. I'm the first one in line, a stamp, here it is, done. But I take some time to ask how many days I can stay in the country. It seems to annoy the officer who didn't intend to speak that day either... He answers a "30 days" very dry and stretch out his hand to the next in line to send me away. Ok, I understand: "Welcome to Bolivia!", I leave and join my friend Roberto...<br />
<br />
Last step. He brings me to the bus "terminal" from where I will leave to La Paz. Files of taxis and buses clog the road up, it's an organized mess, the bus terminal is in fact...the road. Roberto asks me "Taxi or bus?", I mumble without thinking: "Well, bus...". He directs me to the next bus in "line", everything goes very fast again, I don't have time to realize that my bag is in the bus. We take off 3 min later after I made sure I paid Roberto very well.<br />
<br />
I'm in La Paz after 4 hours of a beautiful mountain road and 30min of dirty crowded streets.<br />
<br />
La Paz is an interesting city, already very high (it’s the world highest capital) the houses made of brick are spread over its mountain slopes. And from the city center, if you look up at night, you don’t see stars but colored city lights.<br />
The buses of another age, wearing pastel colors and Christian or revolutionary messages, and the chollitas (indigenous women) with their shining dresses, give beautiful character to this city.<br />
The problem of La Paz is its people. I’ve never experienced so much racism and aggressive attitude than here. Indigenous people are very tough and almost every day, trying to buy at the market, the chollitas either don’t want to sell to me or refuse to give my change or just ignore me, and all that with a disdainful look and harsh voice. It really pisses me off. Am I responsible for all what has been done to them by the colons?<br />
I understand now why Evo Morales has been elected, people here have a very strong identity and are very much involved politically. And many of them hate gringos...<br />
<table><tbody>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiP2RTqlI/AAAAAAAACFc/ZEOh7YR-fCI/s800/IMG_5542.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Change of tire"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiP2RTqlI/AAAAAAAACFc/ZEOh7YR-fCI/s144/IMG_5542.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiQsJO2iI/AAAAAAAACFg/rp_XUBD-8f8/s800/IMG_5545.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="in the middle of nowhere"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiQsJO2iI/AAAAAAAACFg/rp_XUBD-8f8/s144/IMG_5545.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiUEocA4I/AAAAAAAACFs/EwBRUj9gCrQ/s800/IMG_5557.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Crossing the border"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiUEocA4I/AAAAAAAACFs/EwBRUj9gCrQ/s144/IMG_5557.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiS88_xXI/AAAAAAAACFo/Rb2at_h89zs/s800/IMG_5556.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Chollita"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiS88_xXI/AAAAAAAACFo/Rb2at_h89zs/s144/IMG_5556.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiNGHLPcI/AAAAAAAACFU/ZN9qh_raork/s800/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="La Paz"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiNGHLPcI/AAAAAAAACFU/ZN9qh_raork/s144/220.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiOtiFsWI/AAAAAAAACFY/dw40rYA_h8g/s800/295.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiOtiFsWI/AAAAAAAACFY/dw40rYA_h8g/s144/295.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiVMEktUI/AAAAAAAACFw/bJa1z8kmo2Y/s800/IMG_5560.JPGG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Bad eye"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiVMEktUI/AAAAAAAACFw/bJa1z8kmo2Y/s144/IMG_5560.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiWMnU9hI/AAAAAAAACF0/urLb0cm8QRk/s800/IMG_5595.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiWMnU9hI/AAAAAAAACF0/urLb0cm8QRk/s144/IMG_5595.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiYLArW9I/AAAAAAAACF4/XWq3nlYha6o/s800/IMG_5597.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TJKiYLArW9I/AAAAAAAACF4/XWq3nlYha6o/s144/IMG_5597.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-14735492953840468522010-09-01T22:07:00.003+02:002010-09-04T19:07:01.135+02:00Oasis in Colca CanyonAfter thinking very hard, I decided to sign for a 3-days trek at the Canyon del Colca, my previous trek in Huaraz was so painful I didn’t know if I wanted to suffer again… but the curiosity was stronger.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cEgcRVSI/AAAAAAAACDw/z6iB6vurbWA/s1600/IMG_5205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cEgcRVSI/AAAAAAAACDw/z6iB6vurbWA/s200/IMG_5205.JPG" width="200" /></a>First we stop to admire the Condors, birds symbols of the upper-world in Inca tradition. There are much more tourists than birds, we wait and wait, our eyes fixed on the canyon, but nothing moves around… And then a humming bird come to visit us, light and elegant, most of the people don’t even see it, too obsessed by spotting a condor.<br />
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But finally, after one hour of patience, at 9:20am exactly, the condors come up from the cliff, where they have their nest, a dozen of these magnificent birds, measuring up to 3m, fly above our heads. They seem to ignore us despite the “oohh, aahh, click, click” of the crowd and their cameras. The touristic bus is waiting for us and the guide wouldn’t let us enjoy the beauty of the moment, we have to go, run, run… I could have stayed for hours watching this “show”, but we have to obey to the despotic touristic schedule.<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cGzl7odI/AAAAAAAACD0/QufMYCVSJS4/s800/IMG_5214.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cGzl7odI/AAAAAAAACD0/QufMYCVSJS4/s144/IMG_5214.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cKdvyRDI/AAAAAAAACD8/SW5zcA3nt8M/s800/IMG_5252.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cKdvyRDI/AAAAAAAACD8/SW5zcA3nt8M/s144/IMG_5252.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
After driving 15min more, we arrive at the start point of our trek. We start the down hill walk, it will be 2 days of going down and the last one of hiking all up back to our start point. Landscapes are breathtaking and we can already see where we will sleep the 2nd day, the Oasis.<br />
<br />
I meet my group, we are 6 french people and 2 germans (the poor german spoke english but won’t participate much in the discussions, speaking english being, as everyone knows, not the best skill of french people…). Our guide is good and fun. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cSUgxI7I/AAAAAAAACEA/CFVgDCw6YTQ/s800/IMG_5265.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cSUgxI7I/AAAAAAAACEA/CFVgDCw6YTQ/s144/IMG_5265.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cWwRdxgI/AAAAAAAACEE/Qlf-xbBCT_I/s800/IMG_5270.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cWwRdxgI/AAAAAAAACEE/Qlf-xbBCT_I/s144/IMG_5270.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1ca9fh2wI/AAAAAAAACEI/dW-TtB2C5-s/s800/IMG_5273.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1ca9fh2wI/AAAAAAAACEI/dW-TtB2C5-s/s144/IMG_5273.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
The down hill last for 2 hours, we stop at the river to freshen up a bit, for fresh, it is fresh, I can’t even leave my feet into the water… We finally arrive at our first stop, it’s 2pm, we’re starving. We will be rewarded from our efforts by some grilled llama meat. If there would have been a bit of cheese and a dessert it would have been a perfect meal… ;-)<br />
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cd0RgZkI/AAAAAAAACEM/CZN_b2IGgy4/s1600/IMG_5314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cd0RgZkI/AAAAAAAACEM/CZN_b2IGgy4/s200/IMG_5314.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>The afternoon is reserved for resting, chatting, playing cards, we take it easy.<br />
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The next day, we continue our hike to the Oasis, up, down, straight, we stop to see the cochenille (very appreciated and demanded for it’s coloring red pigment). After 4 hours of walk we finally arrive at the Oasis, it is paradise on earth. A swimming pool warmed up by a rock standing in the sun will make our happiness.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cgMYPTLI/AAAAAAAACEQ/P0_ypb3sjaM/s800/IMG_5345.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cochenille"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cgMYPTLI/AAAAAAAACEQ/P0_ypb3sjaM/s144/IMG_5345.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1chmwCeGI/AAAAAAAACEU/6LWmO9G5IHU/s800/IMG_5347.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Cochenille crashed"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1chmwCeGI/AAAAAAAACEU/6LWmO9G5IHU/s144/IMG_5347.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cqsdJWEI/AAAAAAAACEg/kHeXryyDEU4/s800/IMG_5449.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[3]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cqsdJWEI/AAAAAAAACEg/kHeXryyDEU4/s144/IMG_5449.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>The afternoon is reserved for swimming, sun bath, volley, eating and chatting, we relax before the big day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1pnoSRUpI/AAAAAAAACEw/lVamf1IcMDo/s1600/IMG_5423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1pnoSRUpI/AAAAAAAACEw/lVamf1IcMDo/s200/IMG_5423.JPG" width="133" /></a></div><br />
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Third day, killing day. We wake up and start walking at 5am, no time for breakfast. The hike goes straight up, 1200m of height in one go, it takes us a bit less than 3 hours. (see pic with path in the mountain on the left)<br />
I’m dying for a coffee and bread when we arrive at the top at 8am. We eat as if we had been fasting for 3 days and take the bus back to Arequipa.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cwKyXUqI/AAAAAAAACEo/7Be_lqMG69M/s1600/IMG_5531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1cwKyXUqI/AAAAAAAACEo/7Be_lqMG69M/s200/IMG_5531.JPG" width="200" /></a>A stop is planned on the way to reward us with natural hot springs, our aching muscles thank us… but our heart cannot take it too long... the water is at 38deg C.<br />
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We have 6 hours driving through the mountain to reach the white city, the road and the amazing landscapes go past at the sound of dance music of the 80’s. To keep awake we sing in chorus the lyrics of our adolescence, it’s surreal...<br />
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We cross the highest point of the valley, more than 5000m, the road slash the mountains or embrace them, but the view is always incredible.Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-9091233036908612182010-08-31T21:30:00.000+02:002010-08-31T21:30:40.793+02:00Dancers in ArequipaOn 15th of August was the anniversary of Arequipa, I would not have missed it for anything, so I stayed for a few days in the city to wait for this event. <br />
It consisted in a procession of dancers coming from local regions and from every latin country. Groups of dancers paraded for 7 hours continuously, a mix of colors, embroideries, elegance, flying dresses and distinctive hats.<br />
My head is still full of this fanfare music and these colors.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SSyEN37I/AAAAAAAACDQ/j78TmhXTeAU/s800/16-Arequipa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Multicolor"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SSyEN37I/AAAAAAAACDQ/j78TmhXTeAU/s144/16-Arequipa1.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SXVmgRlI/AAAAAAAACDU/hHcTF-g2kTc/s800/16-Arequipa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Rose"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SXVmgRlI/AAAAAAAACDU/hHcTF-g2kTc/s144/16-Arequipa2.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SZg5GddI/AAAAAAAACDc/XQNUxnGLwJ0/s800/16-Arequipa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Black and white"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SZg5GddI/AAAAAAAACDc/XQNUxnGLwJ0/s144/16-Arequipa3.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1ScRIqBeI/AAAAAAAACDg/o-CPSvFTKs8/s800/16-Arequipa4.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Red"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1ScRIqBeI/AAAAAAAACDg/o-CPSvFTKs8/s144/16-Arequipa4.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SgUQ5GII/AAAAAAAACDk/IEkZ5Q_tjWE/s800/16-Arequipa5.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Blue"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SgUQ5GII/AAAAAAAACDk/IEkZ5Q_tjWE/s144/16-Arequipa5.jpg" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SkKVgwdI/AAAAAAAACDo/mX0W3qD2K38/s800/16-Arequipa6.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Orange"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TH1SkKVgwdI/AAAAAAAACDo/mX0W3qD2K38/s144/16-Arequipa6.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-5737653792866163782010-08-16T02:46:00.001+02:002010-08-16T02:46:00.224+02:00Astronaut in NascaHave you ever heard about the Nasca lines? No? <br />
They are hundreds of enigmatic designs spread over the Nasca dry pampa, they were created by the Nazca culture between 400 and 650 AD.<br />
The origin and signification of these lines is today still a big question. Various theories are developed, from aliens landing strips, to messages to God, passing by astronomical calendar. <br />
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It's true that a few facts are strange. First the depth of the lines, a few centimeters, make us wonder how they have been able to pass through 2500 years of wind and rain without being erased. Then, the length and perfection of straight lines, up to kilometers long, they couldn't be more straight and without flying, how men could have achieved such perfection?<br />
So many questions and enigmas attract hundreds of tourists every day, a plane take off every 5min full of gringos to fly over the geometric figures.<br />
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As said before, I went to Nasca to visit the family of my friend. And I had the incredible chance to meet her brother, well known in Nasca and good friend of the archeologist in charge of the site. He took care of me, introduced me to his friend and I did something NO tourist has ever done before: <br />
I WALKED BETWEEN THE LINES.<br />
It is obviously strictly forbidden considering the fragility of the figures. <br />
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Here is how we achieved this exploit. Urbano, the archeologist, organized everything, he booked a taxi he knew and off we went to the site which is a few kilometers off Nasca along the panamericana. He then explained to the driver how things would unfold: "You will drop us along the highway and then go hiding in a corner, behind the mountain, if someone asks you what you're doing, you say your car is broken and you're waiting for help." Then he made a call, he called the control tower: "I will bring a journalist on site, don't report to the police if plane pilots signal people are stepping in the protected area". Of course a plane every 5min fly over the site so in a few minutes we could have been caught by the police. I guess I've spoilt a bit the photos of hundreds of tourists but who cares...hihihi<br />
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While the car waited, we walked through this lunar landscape, burnt by the late afternoon sun, it took 30min to reach the lines. And suddenly, here it was, the gigantic figure, 32m height occupy the whole mountain and look at us. It's called the Astronaut! I'm amazed!!<br />
We make funny pictures, play around, and I get all the detailed explanations from my archeologist friend. <br />
So for once I had to make the stupid touristic photo, this one is a one-million-dollars one... ;-)<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceJyMomnI/AAAAAAAACCY/fIA3rqFifp0/s800/437.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceJyMomnI/AAAAAAAACCY/fIA3rqFifp0/s144/437.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceKzgonHI/AAAAAAAACCc/u2Q6hUD7XUA/s800/464.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceKzgonHI/AAAAAAAACCc/u2Q6hUD7XUA/s144/464.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceIEc56pI/AAAAAAAACCQ/XCJhDwU44MM/s800/448.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceIEc56pI/AAAAAAAACCQ/XCJhDwU44MM/s144/448.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceIz_edqI/AAAAAAAACC0/57hdXbbzT9Y/s800/445.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGceIz_edqI/AAAAAAAACC0/57hdXbbzT9Y/s144/445.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGcgb218gBI/AAAAAAAACCw/OPZX6wbAcbk/s800/nazca.human.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[2]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGcgb218gBI/AAAAAAAACCw/OPZX6wbAcbk/s144/nazca.human.jpg" /></a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-84637748055096529442010-08-09T19:37:00.001+02:002010-08-09T19:47:32.045+02:00Happy birthday in NascaI celebrated my birthday in Nasca, wow, 15 years old already!...;-)<br />
<br />
I'm so famous in Peru that they have decided to choose 28th of July as the national day. Isn't it nice?...:-) So for my birthday, were organized parties with music, fireworks and cheers with a lot of beer..<br />
<br />
As it was school holidays, Rossillo, my friend from Chincha, brought me with her to visit her family in Nasca. So we celebrated and cut the cake together. <br />
It was the opportunity for me to discover a few strange traditions. First, after blowing the candle, they ask you to bite the cake and, of course, they push the cake on your face until your nose is full of cream... Very nice for the one who will eat this piece with "nose print"...<br />
Then, for drinking, only one glass is used. At first I thought that it was because of lack of glasses, but it's more an excess of conviviality...<br />
And it's like a ritual: <br />
1. Take the bottle of beer and fill up the glass, <br />
2. Pass the bottle to the next one, <br />
3. Drink rapidly your glass, <br />
4. Very important: Empty the few remaining drops and foam on the floor,<br />
5. Pass the glass to your neighbor. <br />
What a conviviality, they share beer and germs!<br />
<br />
After following all the traditions, we went dancing salsa and cumbia at the firemen party next door. Until very late in the night...<br />
<br />
That's it, I'm older now!<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGAnMB8HpdI/AAAAAAAACBY/qEBVoqOcg-Y/s800/IMG_3758.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGAnMB8HpdI/AAAAAAAACBY/qEBVoqOcg-Y/s144/IMG_3758.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGAnNujS8HI/AAAAAAAACBc/Zaas2ARFUsA/s800/IMG_3764.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGAnNujS8HI/AAAAAAAACBc/Zaas2ARFUsA/s144/IMG_3764.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGAnPOTfWNI/AAAAAAAACBg/OeHwAvUBxJk/s800/IMG_3768.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox[1]" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TGAnPOTfWNI/AAAAAAAACBg/OeHwAvUBxJk/s144/IMG_3768.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-92190923831677946212010-08-09T03:00:00.001+02:002010-08-09T03:00:00.312+02:00English teacher in ChinchaEnough of <i>seeing</i>, already 10 months on the road, I felt like <i>DOING</i>! One can get tired of being in vacation I can assure you... So I took this opportunity to help in Peru, in Chincha.<br />
<br />
Chincha is a small city, south of Lima, a town lacking of development that was hit in 2007 by a terrible earthquake (8.0 on Richter scale). It has condemned the poor population of this provincial city to even more poverty. After the catastrophe, help has come from everywhere in the world and ended, for the biggest part, in the pockets of corrupted politicians. Still today tents offered by UN are used as shelter by entire families and many schools are closed.<br />
This school has been re-built by "Happy Hearts Fund", a non-profit organization founded by Petra Nemcova, a world renown top model (never heard from her but she seems to be rich and famous...).<br />
<br />
So, it's in Chincha, in this environment, that I became a volunteer, teaching english to unprivileged children. I had to teach 5h daily to children from 5 to 12 years old, 2 different classes each day.<br />
It felt strange to go to work every morning at 7am, it was a long time... :-) <br />
I don't have much knowledge in teaching, and had to improvise my course without any book, I don't think I was a good teacher but anyway the kids were very good with me, responsive and eager to learn. These children had only one change of cloth, were coming to school with empty stomach, and many of them missed classes because they had to work for their parents (weaving mats). It was very difficult for me to witness so much deprivation, especially that these kids were so attaching!<br />
<br />
The 3 teachers of the school were as attaching and welcoming. One of them invited me to her house to live with her family. She was quite poor but offered me all she had, with open heart. I then lived with them for the 2 weeks of my short teaching career. To give you an idea, they had no shower, water only 3 days a week, no hot water of course, "manual" toilet (flush with a bucket of water) and no washing machine obviously (we spent the whole saturday afternoon washing cloths and bed sheets by hand). The weather was quite cold, around 10deg and getting a bath with a bucket of cold water in the garden was quite an experience for me! In the house the floor was of dusty soil, no heating system, no fridge, in summary, not much of anything.<br />
Rossillo, my teacher friend and host, explained me that she earns 200US$ per month as a teacher, no wonder why she can't afford any luxury in her life. Peru is not that expensive but still.<br />
The city itself is very poor, there are no roads but dusty tracks, no bus system but improvised collective taxis, trashes are everywhere along the road, or in the fields. The conditions of life are very difficult. No touristic attraction, nothing to see but dust and poverty, so I was most probably the only tourist around.<br />
<br />
Despite..or because of this poverty, the warmth of the population was incredible, people were paying the taxi for me ignoring my protestations, offered me lunch, and most of all took care of me as a member of their family. <br />
It was such a lesson of generosity, I learned much more than I taught in the end...<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDtAUHbzI/AAAAAAAAB_0/_CQCd2tVGEY/s800/IMG_3569.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDtAUHbzI/AAAAAAAAB_0/_CQCd2tVGEY/s144/IMG_3569.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDuT4_kEI/AAAAAAAAB_4/gA5jiuipnww/s800/IMG_3593.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDuT4_kEI/AAAAAAAAB_4/gA5jiuipnww/s144/IMG_3593.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDwcx7dOI/AAAAAAAAB_8/qAy2u3_ZwvM/s800/IMG_3614.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDwcx7dOI/AAAAAAAAB_8/qAy2u3_ZwvM/s144/IMG_3614.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDyJGB1FI/AAAAAAAACAA/7e8XrRvuU1c/s800/IMG_3646.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzDyJGB1FI/AAAAAAAACAA/7e8XrRvuU1c/s144/IMG_3646.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzE4g2cXMI/AAAAAAAACAE/rMlpFxfEO0k/s800/IMG_3555.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzE4g2cXMI/AAAAAAAACAE/rMlpFxfEO0k/s144/IMG_3555.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzE5rVarkI/AAAAAAAACAI/ZAAEy1y4nMc/s800/IMG_3520.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzE5rVarkI/AAAAAAAACAI/ZAAEy1y4nMc/s144/IMG_3520.JPG" /></a> </td></tr>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TF3abxEloJI/AAAAAAAACA4/0NvIiiV_fcY/s800/IMG_3647.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="The bathroom"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TF3abxEloJI/AAAAAAAACA4/0NvIiiV_fcY/s144/IMG_3647.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TF3aaUylROI/AAAAAAAACA0/qynUqOscSjA/s800/IMG_3601.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Work for the children"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TF3aaUylROI/AAAAAAAACA0/qynUqOscSjA/s144/IMG_3601.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TF3aYZhDg_I/AAAAAAAACAw/1nN971w8NjE/s800/IMG_3575.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TF3aYZhDg_I/AAAAAAAACAw/1nN971w8NjE/s144/IMG_3575.JPG" /></a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-55104119437035906992010-08-08T03:00:00.002+02:002010-08-08T03:00:00.586+02:00Animal in a zoo in LimaMany people told me Lima is a dirty city, not worth the visit, and so on. Well, I think that Lima is a city that is not afraid of its poverty.<br />
Ok, the traffic is horrible, ok, the sky is rarely blue in winter, ok, the streets are a bit dirty. But... I could feel this city has a soul, a character and I liked it. The center of Lima with its colonial buildings and pastel colors has nothing to envy to other Latin America capitals.<br />
<br />
The most bothering here are men... I could not explain why but they are very interested by white girls. Walking in the streets was a bit like going to a zoo where you are the curious animal. Constantly getting phone numbers, proposals, strange looks, invitations, I got a bit tired and felt uncomfortable after a while.<br />
<br />
The funniest one was when I tried to get a taxi at the bus terminal to reach my hostel. I asked 2, 3, 4, 5 taxis to bring me there but none of them would agree because of the heavy traffic on this friday evening. The 6th one told me yes and ask me 20 Soles, I knew it should not be more than 6-7 Soles so I told him: "Noooo, I give you 7 Soles!"...And then he answered with a tender look: "Ok, 7 Soles and a cuddle!"... "What?!" I could not believe it.... "No? Then a big kiss!?"...<br />
Incredible these Limenos!<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy38jp0gLI/AAAAAAAAB_c/YBC2wN9Xvb0/s800/IMG_3429.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy38jp0gLI/AAAAAAAAB_c/YBC2wN9Xvb0/s144/IMG_3429.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy3-S6QRHI/AAAAAAAAB_g/G9ZaGhultkg/s800/IMG_3443.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy3-S6QRHI/AAAAAAAAB_g/G9ZaGhultkg/s144/IMG_3443.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy3_v099KI/AAAAAAAAB_k/k8lV-I6a7NU/s800/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy3_v099KI/AAAAAAAAB_k/k8lV-I6a7NU/s144/IMG_3460.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy4A6IrZPI/AAAAAAAAB_o/aoZ_my1YaUw/s800/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy4A6IrZPI/AAAAAAAAB_o/aoZ_my1YaUw/s144/IMG_3476.JPG" /></a> </td>
<td><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy_mcFCMYI/AAAAAAAAB_s/cGjAwHR0Pio/s800/IMG_3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFy_mcFCMYI/AAAAAAAAB_s/cGjAwHR0Pio/s144/IMG_3714.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzAmv-7MpI/AAAAAAAAB_w/q3CfF9gj9wg/s800/IMG_3736.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFzAmv-7MpI/AAAAAAAAB_w/q3CfF9gj9wg/s144/IMG_3736.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-28501209294166114042010-08-07T03:24:00.001+02:002010-08-07T03:26:13.719+02:00Lack of air in HuarazIn Huaraz I did the most beautiful hike of my life. <br />
<br />
It was a hike to "Laguna 69", departing from an altitude of 4000m, we walked until 4500m. It seems not much but at this altitude, the lack of air made every step a big effort for me. <br />
After 4 hours of bus and car on bad tracks, full of holes, we walked 3 hours ascending and a bit more than 2 hours descending. It seemed more than 10h to me...<br />
Anyway it was worth the pain! See for yourself the pics.<br />
<br />
On the way to the lagoon we met a group of french people who told us that 2 spanish boys had been taken by an avalanche the night before, just on the side of the lagoon. They went alone and were reported missing the next morning. The peruvian authorities didn't even bother going to have a look, pretending that they were dead anyway... <br />
It seems very inhuman to me. One never know if by chance they survived or were protected by a hole or any other miracle? Am I very naive? How would it be in France? At least we would look for the bodies, isn't it?<br />
It then was an horrible feeling to look at the mountain in front of us thinking 2 bodies were here, eaten by this big white mouth..<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFne1pm2uJI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/YRNkmPnx_Ec/s800/IMG_3075.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFne1pm2uJI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/YRNkmPnx_Ec/s144/IMG_3075.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFne2XTclgI/AAAAAAAAB-U/xAlyqkzcvMw/s800/IMG_3097.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFne2XTclgI/AAAAAAAAB-U/xAlyqkzcvMw/s144/IMG_3097.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFne3587QOI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/dVu_Cfeh4TE/s800/IMG_3104.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFne3587QOI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/dVu_Cfeh4TE/s144/IMG_3104.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnigRptWDI/AAAAAAAAB-c/NWsIRnLRX3k/s800/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnigRptWDI/AAAAAAAAB-c/NWsIRnLRX3k/s144/IMG_3348.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnihsJl7pI/AAAAAAAAB-g/t2x_y5dgsGM/s800/IMG_3352.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnihsJl7pI/AAAAAAAAB-g/t2x_y5dgsGM/s144/IMG_3352.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnijMoXrlI/AAAAAAAAB-k/U5PVH-ia_ks/s800/IMG_3379.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnijMoXrlI/AAAAAAAAB-k/U5PVH-ia_ks/s144/IMG_3379.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnikIUHusI/AAAAAAAAB-o/H0Ctg-xzfBc/s800/IMG_3386.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnikIUHusI/AAAAAAAAB-o/H0Ctg-xzfBc/s144/IMG_3386.JPG" /></a></td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnila2eLEI/AAAAAAAAB-s/M3gA_fLV-Ek/s800/P1010259.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnila2eLEI/AAAAAAAAB-s/M3gA_fLV-Ek/s144/P1010259.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnim-HgKrI/AAAAAAAAB-w/FQ8tKThg3yk/s800/IMG_3218.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnim-HgKrI/AAAAAAAAB-w/FQ8tKThg3yk/s144/IMG_3218.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TEXmVXrEJpI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/fA9_qa-DzC8/s800/12-Laguna695.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TEXmVXrEJpI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/fA9_qa-DzC8/s144/12-Laguna695.jpg" /></a></td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnipNsJj7I/AAAAAAAAB-4/9ge9IUNUJFA/s800/IMG_3357.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnipNsJj7I/AAAAAAAAB-4/9ge9IUNUJFA/s144/IMG_3357.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFniqQiCC7I/AAAAAAAAB-8/E16u93OGm68/s800/IMG_3355.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFniqQiCC7I/AAAAAAAAB-8/E16u93OGm68/s144/IMG_3355.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-89811651988616371602010-08-06T06:00:00.001+02:002010-08-06T06:00:03.689+02:00Colours of TrujilloTrujillo is a small city situated north of Peru, it is out of the "Gringo trail" and we can feel it, much more authentic than Cusco for example.<br />
A lot of cultural attractions bring mostly peruvian tourists here.<br />
<br />
I liked the colonial atmosphere of the city center, yellow and blue, the beautiful archeological sites of the Moche and the Chan Chan, the fishing village of Huanchaco with its reed boats. The Gringos don't know what they miss!<br />
<br />
Below you can see a collage of walls sculptures from the <b>Huaca del Sol y de la Luna.</b> <br />
It is located at 8 kilometers from Trujillo. The pyramid of the sun (Huaca del Sol) is approximately 20 meters high. According to the tradition it was built in only 3 days by 250.000 men and 70 million adobes. <b style="font-weight: normal;">The Pyramid of the Moon (huaca de la Luna)</b> is made of incredibly decorated temples which are superposed according to the different periods of the Mochicas. Archeologists have found a tomb with more than 40 sacrificed warriors.<br />
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These 2 sites have been discovered very recently (1991) and new discoveries are made constantly. Not mentioning that archeologists still don't know how to access to the superposed temples of the Pyramid of the Moon without damaging the top ones. This superposition has permitted the conservation of colorful wall decorations from the previous temples.<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBTN0ox5I/AAAAAAAAB80/hERpsYYWcsM/s800/IMG_2721.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBTN0ox5I/AAAAAAAAB80/hERpsYYWcsM/s144/IMG_2721.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBT8bcA8I/AAAAAAAAB84/t5PUeOvSkvc/s800/IMG_2791.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBT8bcA8I/AAAAAAAAB84/t5PUeOvSkvc/s144/IMG_2791.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBUwu_s6I/AAAAAAAAB88/UhCn0jkdLdA/s800/IMG_2816.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBUwu_s6I/AAAAAAAAB88/UhCn0jkdLdA/s144/IMG_2816.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBVwg4OLI/AAAAAAAAB9A/0bA4xPZyKkI/s800/IMG_2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBVwg4OLI/AAAAAAAAB9A/0bA4xPZyKkI/s144/IMG_2819.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBXGn2i-I/AAAAAAAAB9E/PDU3PnteJtE/s800/IMG_3026.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBXGn2i-I/AAAAAAAAB9E/PDU3PnteJtE/s144/IMG_3026.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBYNdUtTI/AAAAAAAAB9I/OxMgS2cquYE/s800/IMG_2801.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBYNdUtTI/AAAAAAAAB9I/OxMgS2cquYE/s144/IMG_2801.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBY16MAdI/AAAAAAAAB9M/e4SYyIsX0lU/s800/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBY16MAdI/AAAAAAAAB9M/e4SYyIsX0lU/s144/IMG_2823.JPG" /></a></td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBZ3jtqfI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/rGHpdbL5jBg/s800/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFEBZ3jtqfI/AAAAAAAAB9Q/rGHpdbL5jBg/s144/IMG_2912.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnXRiLZvoI/AAAAAAAAB-M/DKebwmGNsYE/s800/10-Trujillo.jpg" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnXRiLZvoI/AAAAAAAAB-M/DKebwmGNsYE/s144/10-Trujillo.jpg" /></a> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-33873976716168315322010-08-04T22:59:00.001+02:002010-08-04T23:36:03.175+02:00Meditation in Machu PicchuWhat to say about Machu Picchu.. Almost everybody knows it, like it and consider it as one of the most beautiful world wonder.<br />
Well, my feeling is a bit different... <br />
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I hated to pay a local month salary to reach there, couldn't understand how one can build an expensive restaurant at the entrance of such a site, felt more than reluctant waking up at 3am to reach the top at 6am and run before all the tourists in order to be first to sign on a list, all that to be authorized to climb the mountain overlooking the site...And so on, and so on...<br />
This place can be beautiful, the pure mercantile usage Peru is making of it, wastes it all to me. <br />
Not saying that UNESCO is considering that more than 500 visitors per day would cause irremediable damages to this Inca sanctuary, but every day around 2500 persons enter the premise according to the government and up to 5000 persons according to the ticket seller...<br />
The government fills up his pocket, why restricting the access?<br />
And what about the indigenous communities, natural heirs of this incredible construction? Do they benefit from it? Not a penny. <br />
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Should we close our eyes and participate to this waste because it flatters our ego to show a picture of ourselves in front of Machu Picchu to family and friends?....<br />
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I hesitated a lot before going there and finally I told myself I should see it and make my own opinion. I saw it, my opinion is done...I should not have gone.<br />
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Anyway besides all these aspects, the site is beautiful and I decided to avoid the tourist crowd doing a bit of meditation in an isolated corner to enjoy the energy of this sanctuary. And of course I did a photo of me like every "respectable" tourist in front of THE famous Machu Picchu... <br />
See below. ;-)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnPw3QDQzI/AAAAAAAAB-E/pqGEetYuvuA/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFnPw3QDQzI/AAAAAAAAB-E/pqGEetYuvuA/s320/IMG_2072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-61720732937213037132010-07-30T22:57:00.001+02:002010-08-07T03:31:50.028+02:00Traditional lifestyle in OllantaytamboOllantaytambo is a little town strategically situated between Cusco and Machu Picchu. In the times of the Incas, it was a place for travelers to get rest and food. Today most of the infrastructure built by the incas remains, like the complicated system of canals or the stoned walls of the houses.<br />
A traditional community, the Willoc can be easily recognized in the streets of Ollantaytambo for its unique red outfit and colorful hats. With the arrival of the Spaniards and the consolidation of the system of country properties, this indigenous community has retired to higher lands, but comes back to the city to buy food at the local market. <br />
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We, like many other tourists, ended up here to take the train to Agua Calientes (the city from where to access Machu Picchu). There is no other access to this national wonder besides walking of course. A guide explained me that it's meant to protect the site from "tourist invasion".. but already we are not far from that.. 2500 tourists daily according to the authorities, up to 5000 according to the ticket seller...<br />
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In Ollantaytambo I found a husband. I met the sister of our hostel owner and we chatted for some time, joking about our life and so on, and I, stupidly, told her I was single. Then she jumped on the occasion and offered me to meet her brother, the hostel owner himself. I said "no thanks", and that was it. But the next day, just waking up and going to the bathroom, I cross the route of the famous brother. He smiles at me euphorically and tells me "You have beautiful hair!"... And here, I say to myself "Noooo, the sister told him!! I'm in trouble!".... Indeed, the guy was waiting for me each time I would go out of the room, smiling like an idiot and showing his beautiful golden teethes... He offered me to stay for free in the room, to get married, and many other things.... Thankfully we left the same day, back to Cusco and when saying goodbye to him he assured me he will look for me over there... Crazy! Conclusion: never say you're single, even to a girl!!!<br />
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD9-D-18mI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/y_ZvWXdOKP4/s800/IMG_1964.JPGG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD9-D-18mI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/y_ZvWXdOKP4/s144/IMG_1964.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD9_b-VxgI/AAAAAAAAB8U/DMNsNjLro4g/s800/IMG_1965.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD9_b-VxgI/AAAAAAAAB8U/DMNsNjLro4g/s144/IMG_1965.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-BscE1uI/AAAAAAAAB8c/AMM5dTvZ3Ao/s800/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-BscE1uI/AAAAAAAAB8c/AMM5dTvZ3Ao/s144/IMG_2172.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-D5t9IiI/AAAAAAAAB8k/LgsvhL12EJU/s800/IMG_2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-D5t9IiI/AAAAAAAAB8k/LgsvhL12EJU/s144/IMG_2197.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-FNSRZUI/AAAAAAAAB8o/uq3vpB54yBY/s800/IMG_2202.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-FNSRZUI/AAAAAAAAB8o/uq3vpB54yBY/s144/IMG_2202.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-GB7-ZGI/AAAAAAAAB8s/KHvjDgyfGso/s800/IMG_2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-GB7-ZGI/AAAAAAAAB8s/KHvjDgyfGso/s144/IMG_2217.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-IB0qB7I/AAAAAAAAB8w/NOXC5Nvb0Z8/s800/IMG_2221.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFD-IB0qB7I/AAAAAAAAB8w/NOXC5Nvb0Z8/s144/IMG_2221.JPG" /></a></td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFM6trYxddI/AAAAAAAAB9o/IAy13y_THtY/s800/IMG_2140.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFM6trYxddI/AAAAAAAAB9o/IAy13y_THtY/s144/IMG_2140.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFM6uzwFrhI/AAAAAAAAB9s/9YUY_tll6oM/s800/IMG_2212.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TFM6uzwFrhI/AAAAAAAAB9s/9YUY_tll6oM/s144/IMG_2212.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084922296842930070.post-65302480490584036152010-07-20T20:45:00.000+02:002010-07-20T20:45:03.121+02:00Inty Raimy in CuscoWhen I landed in Cusco everybody was telling me: "Ahah, you're coming for Inty Raimy!", "Well, yes, for sure!" and I was thinking "What is Inty Raimy?".<br />
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I was mostly coming to join Cecile, my friend from Grenoble who came for one month holidays in Peru. She told me a bit about this festival but it was pure coincidence that we were here at the right time. It was kind of great because this is the biggest celebration of the year in Cusco, and it's really beautiful.<br />
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The ceremony honors the God Sun. The Inca and all his followers march through the city to a temple situated at the top of Cusco and offer Chicha to their god and their visitors. Many symbols of the Inca culture are presents, the costumes, the acting are as real. But it seems to be ceremony introduced only in the early 20th century.<br />
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeH8o7DQI/AAAAAAAAB38/LZEpFqQkwXc/s800/293.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeH8o7DQI/AAAAAAAAB38/LZEpFqQkwXc/s144/293.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeIfJ6yDI/AAAAAAAAB4A/PwAJkjw3uTI/s800/298.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeIfJ6yDI/AAAAAAAAB4A/PwAJkjw3uTI/s144/298.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeJYuw2YI/AAAAAAAAB4E/6nOzEBKY9dE/s800/306.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeJYuw2YI/AAAAAAAAB4E/6nOzEBKY9dE/s144/306.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeMboAP4I/AAAAAAAAB4M/udozIyck-to/s800/326.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeMboAP4I/AAAAAAAAB4M/udozIyck-to/s144/326.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeNhOwdOI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/BtN-lNTe1n8/s800/338.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeNhOwdOI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/BtN-lNTe1n8/s144/338.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeO8KhVTI/AAAAAAAAB4U/q2u6hB3-wHA/s800/344.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeO8KhVTI/AAAAAAAAB4U/q2u6hB3-wHA/s144/344.JPG" /></a> </td> </tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeRIEPI8I/AAAAAAAAB4c/OAGKG43KWQs/s800/391.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeRIEPI8I/AAAAAAAAB4c/OAGKG43KWQs/s144/391.JPG" /></a></td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeSGWZShI/AAAAAAAAB4g/xVvujlJJTd0/s800/395.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeSGWZShI/AAAAAAAAB4g/xVvujlJJTd0/s144/395.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeThDH_AI/AAAAAAAAB4k/0pFl4UNipgs/s800/399.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeThDH_AI/AAAAAAAAB4k/0pFl4UNipgs/s144/399.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeUQkUL1I/AAAAAAAAB4o/ZkZc5CraS0g/s800/402.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeUQkUL1I/AAAAAAAAB4o/ZkZc5CraS0g/s144/402.JPG" /></a></td> <td><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeWEVn4RI/AAAAAAAAB4s/AvYvA0P1SNY/s800/429.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeYDlSmeI/AAAAAAAAB4w/O6RgJFDExPU/s144/438.JPG" /></a> </td> <td><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeaBnIHHI/AAAAAAAAB40/OUUKtrRxLro/s800/441.JPG" imageanchor="1" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_JD0LQ7aNW6I/TECeaBnIHHI/AAAAAAAAB40/OUUKtrRxLro/s144/441.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lydiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10768626398499874527noreply@blogger.com0