Kibbles and Bits

I am getting old.

Yes, at the tender age of 27 ... though I thought I´d be an "adult" at this age, true real world responsibilty and adult mindset still alludes me, for which I am very happy. But my body and mind are starting to slow down. The past month was quite a whirlwind for me, visiting so many places in Argentina and Peru (and Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil, for the record). Or really just a whirlbreeze, but backpacking for a month was not as easy this time around for me than it was in Europe in 2002! But what a great time I had seeing so many natural and human treasures in South America. I cannot even begin to describe...

Which is why God - or was it Al Gore? - created Picasa. Next time you use your employer´s time to surf the internet (you know you do), please feel free to glance over some of the photos I am posting from the last month. I heart captions, so you can follow along some of my rambling stories of mix ups and weather trying to interrupt my Japenese tourist in a past life prolific photo taking.

Some highlights

Iguazu Falls: Sneaking to the Brazil side (me being a girl scout and all worried at first does NOT come across in the photos), taking a crazy boat ride UNDER the falls on the Argentine side, and just experiencing the pure force and power of the massive amazing falls (nearly was swallowed by the Devil´s throat!) http://picasaweb.google.com/dcromp/IguazuFalls

Mendoza, Argentina: Any place that is wine country and has sun is my kind of place. Add cheap beef, and a little more sun and lot more heat, and I achieved my ultimate state, contentedness (um, until I got a little sunstroke and nearly passed out on Ming one day. But nothing a little cold beer couldnt fix). And shook things up a little with river rafting, weeeeeeeheeeee. http://picasaweb.google.com/dcromp/Mendoza

Chile: Okay, was not there for more than a few hours but the bus ride was fun for my feet and the curvy streets. http://picasaweb.google.com/dcromp/Chile

Lima, Peru: In a city dissed by all South Americans for being unsafe and gloomy, our couple days were actually quite lovely. It helped crashing the Christmas Party of some locals (and seeing Seattlite friends and co-opting their families, yay!). And that the neighborhood we stayed in, Miraflores, is near the beach (ahhhhhh). And our hostel´s owner gave us a map as soon as we arrived, ,with giant Xs marking where NOT to go, and took a photo of our taxi driver and his liscene to ensure our safety. Nice. http://picasaweb.google.com/dcromp/Lima

Next up: the rainy season. But my butt hurts from sitting so long, so more to come soon!