Peru

I have neglected to update my blog for many months. I have been on a mild technology strike which caused me to stop using my phone (for the most part) and facebook. I put a temporary hold on my communication with the outside world. For those that don't know, I moved to Newport for four months and I worked at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, as a ranger, with Colby. After that we moved back into my parents house for about two months while we planned our trip to South America.

We are in Peru.

We arrived in Lima on Saturday, March 12, 2011 - about two days ago. Traveling is tiring, but anticipation and excitement will often master exhaustion. As our plane touched down, I ran over the plan in my head.

Find a phone
Call hostal
Find a safe taxi
Get to hostal
Eat
Sleep.

I didn't realize that we would be arriving after dark and therefore did not arrange a hostal stay ahead of time. This wasn't my best idea. We got off the plane and found a few places to change our money into Peruvian currency - Nuevo Sol (which means New Sun) or Soles. The exchange rate is roughly 1 American dollar to about 3 Soles which is quite favorable (obviously).

After we recieved our money, we walked into the main airport area (whatever it's called) and immediately people started asking us questions, in Spanish of course, so all I could say was, "no gracias". We found a phone easily enough, but using it was quite another story. Pay phones are easy enough, right? Pick up the phone, put in the money, dial the number. Well, after wasting 3 soles, Colby tried to ask a woman nearby if she could help us. She was so nice! We couldn't understand her, but she was trying so hard to assist us. In the end, we gave her our money and she dialed the number for us. Success. We spoke to the hostal owner (who thankfully spoke six languages, including english) and he told us his address and what Taxi is safe to take. Green Taxi.

Well, Mr. Green Taxi was standing a few paces away and had a tag hanging around his neck telling us who he was and his company. He agreed to take us to Miraflores, about 30 minutes away for 20 American Dollars (many people accept American currency). The Taxi ride was very interesting. The driver spoke english, but with a thick accent and it was difficult to understand him. He would also throw in the spanish words when he didn't know them in english. He asked us how long we would be traveling in Peru and we tried to tell him we weren't sure, but he didn't understand so we told him we were staying for a month. Well, as it turns out, this taxi driver is also somewhat of a travel agent. He started speaking very quickly because he only had 30 minutes to tell us all the things we should do in Peru. This is the best way I can convey my experience to you (keep the heavy accent in mind):

Driver: jfdk añjfdka Peru in one month jkfdl ñajfdkñajkd ajña down the coast jkdañ jfdka fjdklajfdjd ajdkñajfkdañ jfdka Pisco for 3 days fjdkañ ljfdkajfñj fkdjfjka kjdlajkjj dajk da Pisco for 3 days jfdka jfkjkfdj kakfjdk slañjkdñajk dajfkdaj ñdajdakñ
Emily: Uh huh yeah
Colby: (looking out the window and paying no attention)
Driver: jfk dsjkña jfkdñajfdlkñ ajfdajñ lkdsajlkd go to Nazca to see the lines jfkdsañ jfdkañ jdk ñajfdkajdklña for 70 Dollars jdkalñjfd kajfd kañjjkd añjfda 2 days jkfdl ñajkfdñajfkda jkfñdjakjf dkajfjkk lñdjkkjd lajfkd

He continued down the Peruvian coast, up through Cuzco and then up the North coast. I started to focus on picking up how much something cost and the town names, which I usually recognized because I studied the country a bit. While I am paid attention to what the driver was saying, I was able to look out the window at the scenery, the different cars, the road, etc. As far as I could tell, there don't appear to be rules for the drivers to follow. Stop is more like slow down, dividing lines are simply a suggestion, and the right of way is given to whoever gets there first (and everyone is pretty aggressive). When a light turns to red, there appears to be a few seconds of leeway, or maybe if you decide you want to go, you just do. Also, I haven't really seen many stop signs and cars will just drive into traffic and hope the oncoming flow will come to a halt. It is very strange.

Today is Monday and were staying in a hostal called Hitchikers, I think. We have met a number of different travellers and I believe we are going to leave Lima in the next few days in order to travel down the South coast and then over to Cuzco where there is a farm we are interested in working at. Our new friend, Sarah, might be coming with us.

We are doing very well. It's nice to see our plans and our nerves beginning to settle. Everyone here is very helpful.

I will try to update my blog frequently with my experiences and our travels.