What being on the road has taught us (III)

1. Learning is indeed a life long process, and the first thing we should teach our children at the start of their journey on Earth is to learn how to learn. Every experience, every person, every challenge. “What can I learn from this?” should become the question we carry with us at every moment.
2. Studying and learning are two different things. The first one happens in school, the second one in life. Do not be fooled with respect to which one is the more important one. School is over after 20 years. Life… usually takes a bit longer.
3. We’ve been focusing on the “what” to study for too long. Even the “how” and “why” are obsolete. Time to start looking at “who” it is we’re trying to teach. “One size fits all” is so last millennium it makes me wanna cry…
4. Those you consider freaks will most times be the ones with most to teach you. Suspend judgment.
5. Suspend judgment.
6. Suspend judgment.
7. Sometimes our most meaningful and unexpected life lessons will come from old unschooled ladies selling dodgy looking food by the road side.
8. And our greatest teachers will sometimes be those we thought were our students. As long as we put our pride aside and allow ourselves to be taught.
9. When we think we’re teaching is when we learn the most. Let’s put down our arrogance and stay open.
10. Kids are so much smarter than we think. The kids of today more than ever.
11. We can’t teach someone who is not willing to learn. What we can do is make the person see why learning is important. If that fails too, maybe we’re not meant to be the teacher. Or maybe the time has not yet come.
12. When we say “I never thought I would…” almost every day, it means we’re on an accelerated journey of learning and growing.
13. Learning from books, movies and stories is great. It’s all intellectual learning though, and it only becomes life changing when the heart learns it too. That happens by experiencing.
14. When you sell a product or service, give something for free first. People will be so much more inclined to buy from you after that
15. If you’ve been inspired at least once in a day, it was a day well spent. If you inspired someone at least once in a day, it was a week well spent.
16. No matter how many sunrises and sunsets you have seen in your life, you will still find ones that will simply take your breath away
17. After 10 months on the road with nothing but a backpack, even 9kg will sometimes prove to be “too much stuff”
18. Indeed, happiness has nothing to do with the amount of stuff we own. It’s not directly proportional with our things, but with our attitude
19. You can’t go to a different part of the world with the beliefs and habits from your own and expect to fit in and be just fine. You won’t be just fine, and then you’ll end up blaming it one the part of the world you’re visiting (because obviously you’re not going to blame it on your own rigidity). The smart thing to do is either embrace “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, or just stay home. The world is not ready for your judgments. And you’re not ready for the world.
20. When you go up a mountain for a day, make sure you have enough food for two. Even if you make it back down in time, there will always be someone starving up there
21. Talking with locals in a market somewhere in the middle of the mountains can sometimes be the most special moment you’ve had in a country
22. Some of the best teas don’t come from fancy tea bags, but rather from orange, pineapple or apple peals, cinnamon or eucalyptus leaves.
23. If you think having freshly made pop-corn in front of your tent by a lagoon 4200m high is wishful thinking… think again ;).
24. When you find yourself excitedly exclaiming upon seeing a hostel room: “Wow, we have a lamp! This is a posh place!” it means you’ve been backpacking long enough.
25. One can not only survive for a year, but actually be truly happy with nothing but 3 changes of clothes and an old pair of shoes. In fact, that’s all one needs.
26. If you think that people who dance like no one’s looking are a myth, go to Brazil and see the damage you’re causing to yourself by being so stiff. Relax a little. Live a little.
27. When traveling, do things you’ve never done before. That’s where most of the learning and excitement lie. Make and sell sweets in the street, work in a hostel, build a house, work in the field, pick fruits in the jungle, take care of animals, teach someone. So many incredible things out there we’d never be able to learn and experience sitting in an office.
28. You can’t be too fancy when traveling, you’d be missing out on way too many things. No one has ever died from eating in a local market, drinking hot chocolate from an auntie in the street or squeezing in an old bus that looks like it’s gonna break down after 5km. Yet so many special experiences are being lived doing exactly these things.
29. There is a major difference between a tourist and a traveler. The first one experiences things mainly mentally and certainly superficially, while a true traveler finds his heart transformed.
30. Use your common sense and you’ll be fine. If a place looks dodgy, don’t go there. If you’re alone, take care at night. If someone’s face makes you think he’s trying to cheat you, go to someone else.
31. Wake up early and go out, especially when in a small town. The daily coming to life of such a place is simply delightful!
32. When you find a “favorite place”, remember there are many other places out there you don’t know about yet, but they could be your “even more favorite place”. Don’t settle for “good”, because “great” might be just around the corner. And never stop exploring.
33. If you don’t speak the language of the place you’re going to, learn at least the basics. It’s the least you can do to show your respect towards the people whose lands you’re crossing.
34. Be prepared to say good bye to “I never” and “I always”. There will be many first times, and that’s what it’s all about.
35. You’ll also do many things you never thought you would. That’s when you’ll really experience the truth of “never say never”.
36. When things don’t go as planned, which will very likely be all the time, just smile. Enjoy anyway and take it as an opportunity to learn about patience and flexibility.
37. The first cold shower is the worst. Every subsequent one gets better and better. After a while, you will even start enjoying it (nah, sorry, that’s a lie).
38. The local markets, that’s where all the goodies are – from the incredible food to the best information and conversations. Also the nicest people around.
39. Do not sit under the sun at 4000m high with no sunscreen on. You’re not made of plastic (yet). You will burn.
40. The skill and speed of hand washing your socks does become better with time.
41. When you exclaim “The thing I liked most on this plate was the onion” at the end of a dinner, that’s a sign to never step into that restaurant again.
42. Your hair will go through changes according to location, climate, altitude. You’re not in a Schwarzkopf commercial, you will have bad hair days. It’s best to just accept them and smile to the world anyway.
43. When traveling, trust, believe, but always triple check your information. And sometimes, quadruple check it.
44. If you’re in the mountains and ask for the time to reach a certain place, multiply whatever you’re being told by 3 in order to get the accurate time.
45. DO NOT go into the jungle without a repellent, and if you did it anyway, DO NOT scratch! I know it’s the equivalent of telling a dog not to chew on a meat covered bone, but you have to be strong, put your human quality of control and will power to good use.
46. Being a vegetarian saves you money. In some countries in South America it might mean you’ll be eating the same thing 4 times a week, but hey…:)
47. When traveling by plane, have always your toothbrush and an extra T-shirt in your cabin luggage. Cause you really never know…
48. If you’re adamant about sticking to your original plans, chances are you’ll end up stressed and unfulfilled. If you feel the calling of a place you’ve just heard of, go there. If you feel you need to stay more in a certain place, do it. If you feel you must move on, move on now!
49. By being inflexible about your plans you’ll also be missing out on so much, as the best moments of a trip turn out to be those you really couldn’t have planned.
50. There’s no such thing as „I’ve seen it all”. Even if you think you have, you haven’t. There’s also no such thing as „I’ve tried it all”. When you think you have, know there are still things to be tried.
51. Have more faith in yourself. Those around you need you to
52. “No need to run, and hide, it’s a wonderful wonderful world”… indeed 🙂

What being on the road has taught us (II)

1. It’s not what you’ve done that matters, not when, how or with whom. It’s who you have become as a result of that experience. That’s what CVs should be about: the who, not the what.
2. If something “embarrassi” happened and you’re worried about what others think of you, you’re giving yourself too much importance. Nobody goes to bed at night thinking about other people’s humiliation or mistakes. They go to bed thinking of their own humiliation and mistakes. There’s a reason why “I” is the word most often used by humans, while “you” is not even on the list.
3. If what others think means more to you than what you think, you’re trapped in a cage built by society. The good news is the key to get out is with you. Also the decision when to set yourself free
4. Having the courage to choose heart (your soul’s desire) over mind (societal programming) will bring you more gifts you could have ever imagined. Not having the courage to do so will bring you more regrets and guilt than you can bear.
5. If something feels wrong, it probably is wrong. For you. So get out of there!
6. If you find that your religion makes you judge and condemn others, you’re practicing the wrong thing. Find another religion. Or create one for yourself, one that has “Love and accept other beings, starting with yourself” as it’s first and only commandment.
7. We start to appreciate the magic of nature, music and poetry more as our heart and mind gain purity and authenticity.
8. When bees sting us, they act out of fear. Immediately after that they die. We look at them, feel sorry and say “Aren’t you silly? Why did you do that, I was not going to hurt you”. Then we go out there in the world and do the same: we sting another being. When a part of our relationship and of ourselves dies, who’s there to see it from a higher perspective and ask us “Aren’t you silly?”
9. When flies in their greediness fall in our cup of chocolate milk and die, we look at them and ask “Aren’t you silly, killing yourself over some milk?”. When we in our greediness do the same, except over something bigger and shinier, who’s there to see the bigger perspective and ask us “Darling… aren’t you silly?”
10. It’s true that the people we love the most are the ones we hurt the most. It’s good to become aware of that and see what we can do to cause less harm.
11. Others can make you feel bad only once. The tyrant after that is you, playing old and painful scenes in your mind over and over again. The other is not to blame anymore.
12. Similarly, you’ve made a mistake once. Give yourself the gift of learning from it and then move on. You’ve got no reason to keep punishing yourself for it over and over again.
13. We’re our own greatest torturers.
14. Things are almost never as bad as they seem. Don’t make them even worse by giving yourself too much importance or taking yourself too seriously. Live a little lighter, live a little more.
15. Next time you catch yourself thinking “Why me?”, as in “Why should I do it?”, it’s so much more constructive to replace that with “Why not me?”. Because if you don’t do it, no one will. We are indeed the ones we’ve been waiting for. Time to wake up to that.
16. Next time you catch yourself thinking “Why me?”, as in “Why is this happening to me?”, think of it as life’s way of saying “Have you learned nothing?” and teaching you to step out of victim mode. If we see things from a higher perspective we realise we’re not special at  all. Life IS, with its good and bad, for everyone, and we think it’s “me” only because we’re selfish. What keeps us in “poor me” mode is the needing of the sympathy of others. Well, they might be sympathetic, but we’re the one being pathetic – is that the best we can do for ourselves in this life?
17. If you feel alone, you alone have made that choice.
18. If you think you can’t, you won’t. It’s really that simple.
19. When you find yourself taking too long to make a decision, go back to your first instinct. It really works.
20. Don’t be too quick in expressing opinions about something you’ve not yourself experienced, but only read or heard about. Borrowing the opinions and knowledge of others can be a dangerous thing.
21. Work smart, but work hard. Waiting for things to fall from the sky straight on your plate is not fair. Why would they? What’s so special about you for them to?
22. If your work now has nothing to do with what you have studied, you’re not the only one. And if you love what you do, congratulate yourself for your courage!
23. Put the whip down and be kinder to yourself. You’re really not as bad as you think :).
24. When you find you have no choice, just relax and enjoy. It’s better than stressing out and feeling scared – the end result will be the same, the only difference is how you’ll feel about it. Might as well choose the good feelings.
25. If your today looks the same as your yesterday and you think your tomorrow will look the same as your today… you have got to make a run for it, get out now and save yourself!
26. They speak the truth when they say when we think we can no more, we find hidden strength within us that will keep us going. Have more faith in yourself. Those around you need you to.
27. Wherever you are, never give up on your rights, especially when you know you’re not in the wrong.
28. Reward yourself on a regular basis. You deserve it and someone has to do it. If not you… then who?
29. When we find ourselves in a hole it’s only up to us how long we choose to stay there and when we decide it’s enough, we’ve learned our lesson and it’s time to get back up
30. We are baffled when people whom we think should be sad are actually happy, and the other way around. Maybe it’s best to then stop looking at others’ happiness, and just focus on living our own.
31. Making someone’s day is so much more rewarding than someone making your day. And the great part is, you have more control over it too :).
32. The story of the frog turning into a prince is true. Have you ever seen a person blooming after getting into a relationship in which she receives true love from her partner? “What have you done, you look fantastic!”. What happened was… love. The “ugly” people are those so deprived of love they don’t dare to know how beautiful they are. If this were not true, then all those shows of “Before and after” would not exist. If the right clothes, make-up and care for oneself can make that difference, then let’s take our frogs shopping… and be ready to meet our princes or princesses! Or better yet, let’s give them the love and encouragement that will make them want to take themselves shopping. That way it will be permanent too:).
33. When you have 1 dollar and give 10 cents of it to someone who has nothing, your feeling of abundance knows no limits. Your abundance is not relative to how much you have, but to how much you give.
34. Too many people are uncomfortable with saying and hearing “I love you”. Yet not many people have issues splurting out a “screw you” every 5 minutes. Are we missing something here?
35. Bad days exist, and that’s a fact. Be patient and kind to yourself when they come, and help them pass with grace.
36. Learning to let go (of things and people) is one of the things that sets us free.
37. Generalisations are called that way for a reason. Don’t make them personal.
38. A genuine smile will not take us a long way. It will take us the way. It’s worth more than … No, in fact a smile is simply priceless! We should use it more often. Might end up changing our life.
39. Being grateful is one of the most wonderful feelings!
40. Pick your fights and don’t get emotionally involved in fights which are not yours to fight
41. It’s not what we say, but how we say it. That’s why written messages can fup a relationship. It’s happened before and it will happen again. If we’re aware, not to us.
42. Aggressiveness is not a sign of strength, but of great weakness
43. Sometimes giving in doesn’t mean you’re weak, but on the contrary, that you are the strong one.
44. “I’d rather be right than happy” is a choice – but is it the best choice?
45. Instead of judging people’s actions, look at their intentions. It will help understand the other more and be more tolerant too.
46. ”Coincidence” was a word probably invented by someone who didn’t know how to notice and analyze all the things that have to go right (or wrong) for that “coincidence” to happen. Be aware. Pay attention
47. The secret of the 80 year olds holding hands while strolling in the park, as well as of life long friendships, lies in continuous and conscious learning and growth. If today we’re a different person than yesterday and tomorrow we’ll be different than today, we can never get bored of our partner and he can never get bored of us… because we’re living with a new person each day. And we have to rediscover each other each moment.
48. The same applies to 3 friends traveling together for 7 months, seeing each other 24 hours a day, every day, except for toilet breaks 🙂
49. Best learning comes with genuine listening, with all our senses. There’s a reason why silence is the one associated with wisdom, not talking.
50. The fantastic person you meet who inspires you greatly… that could be you. Don’t be afraid to watch and learn. That’s how we all better ourselves.
51. We’re all good people in the end. We should really love each other more.

What being on the road has taught us (I)

1. The most memorable experiences from the many countries we’ve been to are all to do with the people we were with or met, not with the places we’ve seen, no matter how incredible they were. Life is all about the people. Not about the “where”, but the “who”.
2. The public opinion might be “public”, but it’s still just an opinion. Don’t let it rule your feelings and life.
3. Envy is a great thing! It’s a sign that we want to better our own life and our own self. It turns into venom when it’s being kept at the level of gossip and blame. Up to us to take it to the level of action and turn it into fulfillment and happiness.
4. When people around you are happy for something that to you looks stupid, be happy with them. There’s no right or wrong reason for happiness. In fact, there’s no need for a reason at all. Happiness is the one thing always worth celebrating!
5. You can’t go to a different part of the world with the beliefs and habits from your own and expect to fit in and be just fine. You won’t be just fine, and then you’ll end up blaming it one the part of the world you’re visiting (because obviously you’re not going to blame it on your own rigidity). The smart thing to do is either embrace “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, or just stay home. The world is not ready for your judgments. And you’re not ready for the world.
6. If you’re not open to other people’s opinions, resume to talking about the weather when in the company of other humans.
7. We can’t expect others to act as we would or as we do because they just aren’t us – they were brought up with a different set of beliefs, experiences, way of life. So next time you catch yourself saying “I would never do that”, suspend that judgment and remember … that’s not you!
8. In fact, you’d have conflicts with the world even it were made of 7 billion exact copies of you, because so many times you don’t even agree with your own actions.
9. People talk because they have a mouth, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are using their brain (properly). Don’t take it personally, you’re only hurting yourself.
10. People do change, and that’s a fact. They might not change in the direction we want them to, or in the respects we want them to, but they change. Even you do. Do you think and behave the same as you did when you were 5? 10? 15? I hope not! (Most of us don’t, at least). That means you have changed. You’re not even the same as yesterday… If we were to stop and analyze our change at the end of each day, we’d be fascinated.
11. We’ve been programmed by nature to function best in pairs/groups. Even those of us who want to consider ourselves anti social. Even those of us who are anti social. Proof: the way we perpetuate as a species. If procreation could happen within one individual, we’d then know we don’t need others to make others.
12. Yet, with all this knowledge and natural programming, we are so worried about our bank accounts that we are ignoring our relationship accounts. Are humans insane then, I ask? When have we gone insane, I ask?
13. A wise friend, who is now in Heaven, once told me “Iunia, nobody likes the smart kid in class”. If we think we know everything, we don’t. If we get to the point when we start choosing being right over having happy relationships… boy, we’re in trouble!
14. Just because someone says “No” doesn’t mean everyone will. It also does not mean it’s about you. It also does not mean they will not say “yes” tomorrow. Don’t take “No”s personally.
15. People’s anger makes them do horrible things which have nothing to do with you. Don’t take it personally.
16. Don’t take it personally.
17. Have I mentioned not to take it personally?
18. We all influence each other’s lives all the time. Someone making a T-shirt in China impacts your life because you wear it and feel a certain way about it too. Someone’s life in Africa is impacted by the grain of rice you donate. The smile the shop assistant gives you brightens your day. The smile you give to the shop assistant creates ripples, as she’ll be passing it on to other customers. We make a difference all around, all the time!
19. When going in a new relationship, no matter the nature, the other person is as scared as you are.
20. Thinking is a very complex process. Don’t expect everyone to be proficient at it, and have compassion towards those who are not. Help out.
21. Releasing the people you hate from your mind will give you back the energy to live your own life. Think about it, when you’re so busy hating, blaming and thinking of others… who’s living your own life?
22. We have family all over the world. We just don’t know it yet.
23. The best way to make a problem or misunderstanding dissolve is to discuss it with the person we think is causing it. If we put the stinky cheese under the table it will stink up the whole place, but if we put in on the table next to a couple of biscuits and a quality red wine, we get ourselves a heavenly snack. If there’s only one thing you remember from this whole list, please let it be this!
24. If the people around you are spoiling your mood or making you feel a certain way, you’re giving them too much power. Take it back and create your own mood and feeling.
25. Life is so exciting and interesting… yet there are so many people out there suffering from a very heavy disease: that of seeing only the sh.t in life. These people are very, very dangerous… they will try to smear some of that stuff on your life too, so they’re not alone in their misery. You must have none of that! If you can’t help them, run for your life!
26. Accept all compliments you receive with a smile. Otherwise they will stop coming. And offer genuine compliments to others, with a smile. Otherwise you will become bitter.
27. Sometimes a discussion we dread or a person we dislike can give us the most powerful ideas, insights and realisations. Suspend judgment. Pay attention.
28. Some people will be disappointed with the decisions you make. If that’s the case, they should start focusing more on living their own lives instead of living yours. At the end of the day you’re the one who has to live with the decision taken… and who do you live for?As Oriah so beautifully said in her poem The Invitation, “I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself”.
29. Can you?
30. Many times, what we think other think of us is not what they think of us at all. But our acting as a result of that belief might actually make them think that way later.
31. When we find ourselves upset or irritated by something or someone, it’s time to remember life is a mirror and take it as a sign to look inside – something needs to be brought to our awareness and healed. If we’re irritated by someone’s selfishness, we’re given a powerful message that we need to work on our own. And even if we think we’re altruistic, we should think of it as a scale: if we’re at 7 on a scale with the ends “0 =selfish” and “10 = altruistic”, this is our chance to push ourselves up to 10.
32. Trusting in another can be such a scary endeavor… but the more we practice it, the better we get at it. And we’ll discover it’s…oh, so worth it!
33. Sometimes a sentence or even a word at the right time from the right person can change a perspective forever. And a new perspective can change a life. Might even be yours.
34. You being a victim only causes those around you to suffer. Nobody owes you anything, so why make others pay for your inability to deal with your own life? Don’t be selfish, take responsibility for your own life and let others live theirs. It’s only fair.
35. We are all attracted to balanced and wholesome people, they are the ones whose company we seek and enjoy. Nobody likes victims, except other victims and new aggressors. So don’t be one. You deserve better.
36. Being an adult doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing. It just means you’re now allowed to pretend you do
37. Flexibility is not an option anymore. It’s the one thing that will keep you sane in times of great change.
38. Choose “living” over “thinking about living”. It’s much more exciting!
39. Rules and customs are made by people. Use your common sense before following or breaking them and before judging others for doing so.
40. The world is how it is today because we keep telling our children to be a “good girl” and a “good boy”. And then give them stupid definitions of what that means. If we were to tell them to be “themselves” instead, the world might be a completely different place. It’s not too late!
41. When we think there’s no more hope, hope will come knocking dressed up as a stranger’s smile. That stranger might even be you. Smile more, it’s really worth it!
42. Having a vision is a must. Making plans is obsolete. As the word goes, “How do you make God laugh? Tell him your plans”. Now more than ever.
43. Confidence does not come with age, but with wisdom. And unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) wisdom doesn’t come with age either, but with the development of the ability to learn from life.
44. The receiving always comes after/with giving. If we don’t see it is because we choose not to notice it.
45. Dreams really do come true. If you don’t believe in that, you don’t believe in your dreams enough.
46. Sometimes, the people who don’t seem are the ones who are.
47. Aniche – the law of impermanence. Whatever situation you find yourself in, remember that this too shall pass, be it good or bad. That way you can keep your objectivity, realism, balance. Sanity. Aniche.
48. Whatever our beliefs about the universe, life and death… we only choose them because we want to make ourselves feel a certain way. No point in disagreeing with another then, because we all choose to believe what makes us feel good. In reality nobody cares what you think, just as, honestly, you don’t really care what others think. Unless you’re looking for a confirmation or an answer that will make you feel better.
49. Fear of the unknown and judgment of others are the most common things keeping us from experiencing life and people to their fullest. Fear of judgment is another. In all cases we’re the ones who lose. Majorly.
50. Sometimes the best experiences are those that did not happen as planned. We could learn to appreciate surprises more.

100 things we did in the past 10 months. In 7 countries

1. Climbed an active volcano in Chile
2. Swam with the pink dolphins in the jungles of Bolivia
3. Went in search of anacondas
4. Looked a piranha in the face and told it “bite me!” (which it almost did btw…)
5. Slept in a salt hotel. Meaning a hotel made of salt. For real.
6. Spent 36 hours on a ferry to the “End of the world”. Gained a whole new perspective on sea sickness.
7. Flew over Patagonia in a 20 people plane and managed not to cry or throw up
8. Had a chat with the sea wolves in Chile
9. Sand boarded in the most arid desert in the world
10. Climbed Wayna Picchu, the peak seen in most Machu Picchu pictures
11. Meditated inside the sacred Inka Monastery, the Machu Picchu
12. Ate a dish of pasta and potatoes, with rice on a side – Peru
13. Picked cocoa fruit, oranges and mangoes straight from the respective trees
14. Built Eco houses in an Eco Yoga Park in Argentina
15. Spend special days with an outstanding Inca Priest
16. Rode a horse through hundreds of years old forests in Argentina
17. Almost got robbed in Montevideo
18. Walked the streets of Uruguay with a mate cup in one hand and a thermos in the other – the real Uruguayan way
19. Spend 10 days in silent meditation in the Sacred Valley of Peru (Buddhist meditation retreat)
20. Gained a complete perspective change on the favelas in Rio de Janeiro
21. Numbed our legs while samba-ing at the rehearsals of one of the best samba schools in Rio de Janeiro
22. Ate too much street food
23. Ate more pizza in two months that in our entire life up to that point – Argentina
24. Drank more great wine in two months than in our entire life up to that point – Argentina
25. Made friends with a monkey in Bolivia – well, at least until she managed to steal all the food we had brought her
26. Petted our first baby llama and baby sloth. The sloth winked at us. I swear it did.
27. Had Inka Cola and Chicha (Peruvian corn “beer”)
28. Visited the most famous silver mine in South America
29. By the Lake Titikaka I set and wept
30. Marveled at the graciousness of pink flamingos in Chile and Bolivia
31. Had a bath in a hot pool in the largest geyser field in South America. 8am, -7 degrees.
32. Patagonia, we were invited by the ferry captain up in his cabin, then given a personal tour of Puerto Toro, the Southern most inhabited point on planet Earth
33. Stared and stared at Perrito Moreno, Argentina’s gorgeous blue glacier
34. Finally experienced being served wine and champagne for dinner on a bus – Argentina
35. Saw the unbelievable: 1kg bread 37 pesos, 1L wine 30 pesos in Uruguay
36. While staring at Casa Rosa in Buenos Aires, saw Evita in my mind’s eye giving her famous speech from the famous balcony
37. Went to the circus in the capital of Paraguay
38. Walked through beautiful Jesuit ruins in Paraguay
39. Got drenched in the Iguazu Falls
40. Got a close look at the huge Jesus hugging Rio de Janeiro from up the hill
41. Fell in love with Brazilian feijao, acai and caipirinha
42. Paid 1USD to enter the public toilet on Ipanema beach in Rio
43. Became addicted to beach volleyball on Copacabana beach
44. Were escorted by fire flies out of the largest urban forest in the world
45. Partied and samba-ed the nights away, Brazilian style
46. Attended our first ever bull fight
47. First ever Andean baptism
48. Made and sold truffles on the streets of Peru
49. Took part in a Temazcal (sweat lodge) and fire ceremonies in a Tipi
50. Bathed in waterfalls
51. Managed an impressive 93 mosquito bites in 3 days. With repellent constantly covering our skin, that was.
52. Visited the people living on the floating islands on Lake Titikaka
53. Had a picnic on an island full of cacti, in the middle of a salt desert
54. Said “hi” to the largest rodent in the world. Then “bye”. Quickly.
55. Sat next to people who were savoring a guinea pig in Peru. Fought hard to keep our own food in.
56. Spent 60 hours straight on a bus crossing Brazil from East to West. Yes, we did shower during that trip.
57. Spent 28 hours on a bus that was supposed to take 16. No, we didn’t shower during that one. We also managed not to kill ourselves either.
58. Found pink flamingos feathers by colorful lagoons
59. Drank Tsunamis in Chile and Submarinos in Argentina
60. Exchanged stories with the papacho selling churros by the road side in the Sacred Valley of Peru
61. Entered 2012 around a fire with beautiful people and a crazy dog, under the fabulous star filled sky and in the sweet sounds of accordion, guitar, drums and divine voices
62. Woke up at 4 am for 10 consecutive days… and meditated
63. Had the greatest conversations… with ourselves
64. Slided on slides made of rocks, in the middle of Incan ruins
65. Had lunch on the floor of the bus station in Sao Paolo…
66. … and caught a guy red handed slowly walking away with my small backpack
67. Wore the most non matching outfits and colors and did not care about it for one second
68. Had a band rehearsal on Christmas night
69. Ate raw fish soaked in lemon, with crispy corn and sweet potato
70. Bowed in front of the birth place of the Sun God, on the Sun Island in Lake Titikaka
71. Barbecued vegetables and burnt them beyond recognition. Three times.
72. Danced our socks away with some hundreds of Brazilians at a concert of the famous Celebrare
73. Out of the 10 months on the road, we spent 4 as guests
74. Mountain biked on an actual mountain
75. Ran after a donkey down a mountain for 2 hours, on a trail that normally takes 4
76. Bought flowers from an old lady and shared them with a whole train going to Machu Picchu.
77. Got one of our bags stolen on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro
78. Experienced 2 earthquakes in Chile
79. Petted a dog, cat, cow, pig, donkey, horse, llama… and a sloth 😀
80. Became fans of the “poor’s food” in Chile – the best salmon we ever had was “a la pobre”
81. Haven’t combed our hair for… lets say, a very long time
82. Managed to not buy anything except for food for 8 full months (well, except for socks to keep our toes from freezing in Patagonia)
83. Traveled on a bus together with mosquitoes, a dragonfly and a grasshopper – all at the same time
84. Spent 5 days in the world’s highest capital – LaPaz, 3650m
85. Swam in the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titikaka
86. Managed to wear the same 6 T-shirts for 10 months
87. And realized you don’t really need more than 6 T-shirts, 1 pullover, 2 pants, 4 socks and one pair of old shoes to wander the world and be happier than ever
88. Slept in almost 100 different beds… couches, floors, tents, buses, planes, ferries.
89. Showered in almost 100 showers (many cold ones, mostly at winter time), and we had a bathtub once. Once!
90. Packed our backpacks at least 150 times
91. Slept in our sleeping bags almost 100 times
92. Ate avocado for breakfast, lunch and dinner and in between meals, with cheese, or cheese spread, or tomatoes or fruit salad or just by itself
93. Made life long friends
94. Met incredible teachers every step of the way
95. Recognised that the 3 of us have been sisters and brother for a long time
96. Fell in love, multiple times
97. Ate fresh popcorn with butter and drank tea with rum in front of our tent, near a lagoon at 4200 meters high
98. Visited 7 Countries and over 50 cities
99. Had the time of our lives…
100. Smiled, laughed, cried, ate, prayed, loved, learned, danced, jumped, marveled, glowed, wrote,  enjoyed, understood, accepted, thanked. Lived.

100 dolog, amit az elmult 10 hónapban csináltunk 7 országban

1. Megmásztunk egy még mindig aktív vulkánt Chilében
2. Rózsaszín delfinekkel úsztunk a bolíviai dzsungelben
3. Anakonda után kutattunk
4. Egy piranha szemeibe néztünk, s azt mondtuk „most harapj meg” (amit az majdnem meg is tett)
5. Só hotelban aludtunk, ami egy hotelt jelent sóból. De most tényleg.
6. 36 órát töltöttünk egy kompon, hogy eljussunk a „világ végére”. Ahol új értelmet nyert a tengeri betegség.
7. Elszálltunk Patagónia felett egy 20 személyes géppel, és sikerült nem sírni, vagy hányni
8. Elbeszélgettünk a rozmárokkal Chilében
9. Homok bordoztunk a világ legszárazabb sivatagában
10. Megmásztuk Wayna Picchu-t, a hegycsúcsot a Machu Picchu képek hátterében
11. Meditáltunk a szent Inka kolostor falai között, Machu Picchu
12. Ettünk egy ételt, ami krumpliból, tésztából és rizsből állt – Peru
13. Szedtünk kakaó-t, narancsot és mangót a fájukról
14. ECO házat építettünk az ECO Yoga Parkban Argentínában
15. Különleges napokat töltöttünk el egy kiemelkedő Inka pappal
16. Lovagoltunk többszáz éves erdőben Argentínában
17. Majdnem ki lettünk rabolva Montevideóban
18. Uruguay utcáin sétálltunk egy mate pohárral az egyik kezünkben és egy termosszal a másikban – igazi uruguay-i módra
19. 10 napot töltöttünk Peru Szent völgyében egy néma meditációs programon (Buddhista meditációs program)
20. Teljes világképet válltoztattunk a riói favellák látogatása után
21. Zsibbadásig táncoltuk a lábunkat az egyik leghíresebb samba iskola próbáján Rióban
22. Túl sok utcai kaját ettünk
23. Több pizzát ettünk 2 hónap alatt, mint egész életünkben addig a pontig – Argentína
24. Több isteni bort ittunk 2 hónap alatt, mint egész életünkben addig a pontig – Argentína
25. Barátságot kötöttünk egy majommal Bolíviában – legalábbis addig, míg meg nem ette az összes neki hozott ennivalót
26. Babusgattuk életünk első bébi llámáját és bébi lajhárját. A lajhár még kacsintott is ránk. De tényleg kacsintott.
27. Ittunk Inka Kólát és Chicha-t (perui kukorica sör)
28. Meglátogattuk Dél-Amerika leghíresebb ezüst bányáját
29. A Titikaka Tó partján ültünk és könnyeztünk
30. Ámultunk a rózsaszin flamingók kecsességén Bolíviában és Chilében
31. Megmártóztunk egy medencében Dél-Amerika legnagyobb gejzír mezőjén – reggel 8kor, -7fok
32. Patagóniában a komp kapitány felhívott minket a kabinba aztán egy személyesen vezetett minket körbe Puerto Toro-n, a világ legdélebben lakott településén
33. Bámultuk és bámultuk perrito Moreno-ra, Argentína híres kék gleccserére
34. Végre megtapasztalhattuk ahogy bort és pezsgőt szolgálnak fel egy távolsági buszon Argentínában
35. Láttuk a hihetetlent: 1kg kenyér 37 Peso, 1L bor 30 Peso Uruguayban
36. Amíg a Casa Rosára bámultunk Buenos Airesben, lelki szemeink előtt láttuk, ahogy Evita a híres balkoniról, a híres beszédjét mondja
37. Paraguay fővárosában cirkuszba mentünk
38. Gyönyörű Jezsuita romok között sátéllgattunk Paraguayban
39. Eláztunk az Iguazu Vízesés alatt
40. Közelről megnéztük, ahogy a hatalmas Jézus öleli Rió de Janeirót
41. Beleszerettünk a Brazíliai feijao-ba, acai-ba és caipiranha-ba
42. 1USD-t fizettünk a WC használatért a riói Ipanema tengerparton
43. Strandröplabda függővé válltunk Copacabana-n Rióban
44. Szentjános bogarak kisértek ki minket a világ legnagyobb városi erdejéből, Rio
45. Partiztunk és sambáztunk reggelig Brazil módra
46. Résztvettünk életünk első bika viadalán
47. Első andoki keresztelésén
48. Kekszgolyókat készítettünk és árultunk a perui utcákon
49. Résztvettünk egy Temazcalon (izzadó sátor) és tűz szertartásokon Tipiben
50. Vízesések alatt fürödtünk
51. Sikerült 93 szúnyogcsípést szerezni 3 nap alatt, állandó szúnyogriasztó használata mellett a bolíviai dzsungelben
52. Meglátogattuk a Titikak Tón élő, úszó sziget lakóit
53. Piknikeztünk egy kaktuszokkal teli szigeten a bolíviai sósivatag közepén
54. Köszöntünk a világ legnagyobb rágcsálójának, aztán gyorsal el is köszöntünk
55. Olyanok mellett ültünk egy étteremben, akik épp tengeri malacot falatoztak. Hát, nehéz volt a mi ennivalónkat lent tartani…
56. 60 órát töltöttünk egy buszon Brazília Keleti részéről Nyugatra. Igen, zuhanyoztunk útközben.
57. Eltöltöttünk 28 órát egy buszon, ami csak 16 kellett volna, hogy legyen. Nem, eközben nem zuhanyoztunk.
58. Rózsaszín flamingó tollat találtunk színes tavak mellett
59. Ittunk Tsunamit Chilében és Tengeralatjárót Argentínában
60. Sztorizgattunk egy papachóval aki az út szélén churrost árult a Szent Völgyben Peruban
61. 2012őt a csodálatos csillaggal teli égbolt alatt, tűz körül egy csapat gyönyőrű emberrel és egy őrült kutyával köszöntöttük, míg gitár, dobok és isteni hangok édes dallamát hallgattuk
62. 4kor keltünk 10 egymás követő napon… és meditáltunk
63. A legjobb beszélgetéseket ejtettük meg… magunkkal
64. Kőcsúzdákon csúzdáztunk Inka romok között
65. A Sao Paulói buszmegálló földjén ülve ebédeltünk…
66. … s közben rajtakaptunk egy fickót, aki ép Iunia kis hátizsákját emeli el.
67. A leg össze nem illő ruhákat és színeket hordtuk, s le se sz…tuk
68. Kis rögtönzött zenekarunkkal próbáltunk karácsonykor
69. Nyers halat ettünk, 5 percig citrom lében áztatva, ropogós kukoricával és édes krumplival
70. A Nap Isten szülőhelye előtt tisztelegtünk a Nap Szigeten a Titikaka Tónál
71.  Zöldségeket grilleztünk és felismeretlenségig égettük őket…  háromszor.
72. Letáncoltuk a lábunkat többszáz Brazillal a híres Celebrare koncertjén
73. 10 hónapból 4et vendégként töltöttünk
74. Mountainbikeoztunk egy igazi mountain-en, hegyen
75. Egy csacsi után rohantunk lefelé a hegyről 2 órán keresztül olyan úton, ami normálisan 4et vesz igénybe
76. Virágot vettünk egy öreg nénitől, majd megosztottuk őket az egész vonattal a Machu Picchura menet
77. Ellopták egyik táskánkat az Ipanema tnegerparton Rio De Janeiroban
78. Átéltünk 2 földrengést Chilében
79. Szeretgettünk macskát, kutyát, tehenet, csacssit, lovat, llámát és lajhárt is
80. Rajongói lettünk a ’szegényel ételének’ Chilében – a legjobb lazac, amit valaha ettünk ’szegényes’ módra készült
81. Nem fésülködtünk …. hát mondjuk azt… sokáig
82. Kibirtuk, hogy ne vegyünk semmit 8 egész hónapig kivéve ennivalót (na jó meg zoknit Patagóniában)
83. Együtt utaztunk egy buszon szúnyogokkal, egy szitakötővel és egy szöcskével – mind egy időben
84. 5 napot töltöttünk a világ legmagasabb fővárosában, La Pazban 3650m – 4000m
85. Úsztunk a világ legmagasabb hajózható tavában, Lake Titikaka 3300m
86. Kibírtuk, hogy ugyanazt az 6 pólót hordjuk 10 hónapig
87. S rájöttünk, hogy nem igazán van szükséged többre, na meg 1 pulcsira, 2 nadrágra, 4 zoknira és egy öreg cipőre, amiben boldogan flangálhatod körbe a világot
88. Majdnem 100 különböző helyen aludtunk… ágyban, heverőn, matracon, sátorban, buszon, hajón, repülőn és a földön
89. Közel 100 különböző zuhanyzóban zuhanyoztunk (közülük sok hideg vízzel és télen) s még egyszer kádunk is volt. Egyszer!
90. Közel 150szer pakoltuk ki és be a táskánkat
91. Közel 100szor aludtunk a hálózsákunkban
92. Avokádót ettünk, regglire, ebédre, vacsorára és eközben, sajttal vagy sajtkrémmel vagy paradicsommal vagy gyümölcssalátával vagy csak magában
93. Életre szóló barátságokat kötöttünk
94.  Különleges tanárokkal találkoztunk akármerre is mentünk
95.  Felismertük, hogy hárman már nővérek és bátyok vagyunk már nagyon rég óta
96. Szerelembe estünk… többször is
97. Friss popcornt ettünk vajjal mellé rumos teát, mindez 4200m magason egy hegyi tónál a sátrunk előtt
98. Meglátogattunk 7 országot és több, mint 50 várost
99. Életünk legboldogabb idejét töltöttük
100. Nevettünk, mosolyogtunk, sírtunk, ettünk, imátkoztunk, szerettünk, tanultunk, táncoltunk, ugrottunk, bámultunk, ragyogtunk, írtunk, megértettünk, elfogadtunk, gondolkodtunk és élveztük. Éltünk…

Peru in a nutshell

(Disclaimer: the following is relevant mainly for the Sacred Valley and Lake Titikaka, as we spent the four months only in these two regions, so things are probably different in other places)

Daily budget: USD27 – 73 Soles

Actual daily expenditure: USD13

Cities visited

• Puno – Lake Titikaka
• Cusco
• Pisac – Sacred Valley
• Calca – Sacred Valley
• Urubamba – Szent Völgy
• Ollantaytambo – Sacred Valley
• Quillabamba – the high jungle
• Lima

Most expensive city: Quillabamba, Ollantaytambo, Lima

Cheapest city: Calca, Urubamba

Favorite city: Calca, Ollantaytambo, Cusco (although we wouldn’t mind if there were less tourists in the last 2)

What to do in the Sacred Valley of Peru

• Meditate among the walls of the sacred Inca monastery, the Machu Picchu
• Climb Wayna Picchu (behind Machu Picchu)
• Visit Lake Titikaka and the Taquile and Uros Islands
• Clean your soul with a dip in the lake
• Walk around Cusco’s traditional streets
• Visit the Coca Museum – Cusco, San Blas Square
• Discover the Incan ruins in the Sacred Valley: Tambomaquay, Sacsayhuaman, Quorichanca, Moray, Pisac, Ollantaytambo
• Visit the salt pools near Urubamba – Moran
• Rest for a few days in the peaceful Full Moon Lodge – Ollantaytambo
• Visit the high jungle cities and the waterfall on the way to Echarate – Quillabamba
• Take a few Network Spinal Analysis sessions with Howard Levine in Cusco – Heart Nectar Healing Centre , San Blas Square
• Rest in the Paz y Luz Lodge, Pisac, also a spiritual and healing center
• Learn about Munay-Ki (the Reiki of the Incas) from Diane Dunn at Paz y Luz (or in Hungary on 1-3 June 2012 – for more information on tha please drop us an email at threebackpacks@gmail.com)

Most challenging thing: leaving the Sacred Valley… 🙂

ACCOMMODATION

Most expensive accommodation: 15 Soles person/night in Quillabamba, no internet and no breakfast

Cheapest accommodation: 7.5 Soles person/night n Cusco, San Blas, Casa de la Abuela without breakfast but with Internet

Favorite accommodation: Our favorite places were the ones we stayed in for weeks as guests, in places such as Calca, Cusco or Lima

FOOD

In Peru we mostly had the traditional Peruvian food, and our lunch was most often the Menu of the Day. Although it almost always contained meat, there was no problem for the nice people there to change the meat for egg or salad, or prepare an Arroz ala Cubana instead. Unlike in other countries, in Peru we cooked a lot at home, mainly because we stayed for long periods of time in the same location, and had access to a kitchen.

 

Favorite food: ceviche, pink trout from Lake Titikaka, fruit salad from the market, Churros, rice pudding, Arroz ala Cubana
 

What we didn’t like very much: the soup with the famous frozen potato

For a comprehensive description of Peruvian food, please visit the following articles:

https://threebackpacks.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/peruvian-delicacies-what-to-eat-and-where/

https://threebackpacks.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/peruvian-delicacies-ii/

TRANSPORT


Our experience with long distance transport varied a lot – from Puerto Maldonado, a town at the border with Brazil, to Cusco and from Puno to Tacna, at the border with Chile, we contemplated suicide on the night bus. The bus from Cusco to Lima was more than decent though, although not very cheap (the quality of the buses and the prices of the trips from Cusco to Lima are extremely varied, ranging from 130-185 Soles, and from normal bus seats to presidential seats with a recline of 160 degrees. From what we understood, the best company is Cruz del Sur, 180 Soles, and the second best is Tespa, 140 Soles. We chose Tespa, and we definitely recommend it). In Peru it’s worth buying “cama” tickets, as the seats are much wider and more comfortable, and the prices aren’t much higher. Between cities people usually travel in minivans, and the system is “we pick you up from anywhere on the road and you just scream when you want to get down.”There are big buses connecting cities as well, but you can only take them from the bus terminal and they’re not as frequent as the minivans. Within cities the most common means of transport are “autos”, as they call them here, a 2 people vehicle similar to the Thai tuk-tuk or Indian rickshaw.

The best thing in the country: the indescribably soothing environment, the wonderful people, the harmonious combination of mountains, lakes, rivers, blue sky and clouds that God painted so incredibly beautiful over there. Lake Titikaka, the traditions in the Sacred Valley, the Inca ruins … and, of course, the one and only magical Machu Picchu

Peru dióhéjban

(Vagyis csak a Szent Völgy környéke és a Titikaka Tó)

 

Napi budget: USD27 – 73 Soles

Tényleges napi költekezés: 13USD

Meglátogatott városok:

• Puno – Titikaka Tó
• Cuzco
• Pisac – Szent Völgy
• Calca – Szent Völgy
• Urubamba – Szent Völgy
• Ollantaytambo – Szent Völgy
• Quillabamba – dzsungel
• Lima

 

Legdrágább város: Lima, Quillabamba, Ollantaytambo

Legolcsóbb város: Calca, Urubamba

Kedvenc város: Calca, Ollantaytambo, Cusco (habár nem bánnánk kevesebb turistát az utobbi kettőben)

 

Mit is csináljunk a Szent Völgy környékén Peruban

• Meditáljunk a Machu Picchu falai között
• Másszuk meg Vayna Picchut (Machu Picchu)
• Látogassunk el a Titikak Tóhoz, s azon Taquile szigetre
• Tisztítsuk meg lelkünket egy mártózással a Titikaka Tóban
• Sétálljunk körbe Cusco tradícionális utcáin
• Menjünk el a Coca Múzeumba – Cusco, San Blas tér
• Fedezzük fel a szent völgy inka romjait: Tambomaquay, Sacsayhuaman, Quorichanca, Moray, Pisac, Ollantaytambo
• Látogassunk el a só tavakhoz Urubamba közelében – Moran
• Pihenjünk meg a Full moon Lodgeban pár napra – Ollantaytambo
• Nézzünk el a dzsungel városba, s a közelben lévő vízeséshez Echarati felé – Quillabamba
• Vegyünk részt egy-két Network kiropraktika energia gyógyító órán Howard Levine-nnel Cuscóban – San Blas tér
• Pihenjünk meg a Paz y Luz szállóban, ami egyben energia gyógyító központ is
• Tanujunk Munay-kit (Inka reiki) Diane-től a Paz y Luzban (avagy Magyarországon 2012 Junius 1 és 3 között – ez érdeklődök küldjenek egy emailt a threebackpacs@gmail.com címre)

Legkihívóbb dolog: itthagyni a Szent Völgyet… L

 

SZÁLLÁS

 

Legdrágább szállás (amit mi fizettünk): 15 Soles fő/éjj Quillabambában reggeli és internet nélkül

Legolcsóbb szállás (amit mi fizettünk): 7.5 Soles fő/éjj Cusco, San Blas, Casa de la Abuela Hostel reggeli nélkül de internettel

A reggeli itt is kenyér, lekvárral, dulce de leche-vel/manjarral, kávéval és teával.

 

Kedvenc szállásaink

Kedvenc szállásaink azok a házak voltak, ahol vendégként éltünk hetekig, mint pl Calca avagy Cusco

 

GASZTRONÓMIA

Peruban a legtöbb ebéd, amit elfogyasztottunk tradícionális helyi étel volt. Ezek legtöbbször húst is tartalmaztak, de nekünk kicserélték azt tojásra vagy zöldségekre, avagy főztek nekünk Aroz ala Cubanat. Néha a válltozatosság kedvéért főztünk otthon tésztát vagy főzeléket, s reggelit és vacsorát szinte mindig otthon ettünk.

Kedvenc étel: ceviche, trucha, azaz keszeg a Titikaka tóból és a piaci gyümölcs saláta

Ami nem igazán ízlett: azok a levesek, amibe a híres fagyott krumplit rakják 

A további étel különlegességek leírásához kérlek látogass el a következő posztokhoz:

https://threebackpacks.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/a-perui-finomsagok-azaz-mit-es-hol-egyunk-errefele/

https://threebackpacks.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/perui-finomsagok-2/

 

KÖZLEKEDÉS

Nagyon sok távolsági buszon nem utaztunk Peruban, de amiken igen, azok tiszták, kényelmesek és bár olcsónak nem mondhatók (Cuscóból Limába mi 140 Solest fizettünk a második legjobb busztársaságért – Tepsa. A legjobb társaságnak a Cruz del Surt tartják, ennek jegye Limába 180 Soles.). Megérte a cama osztályra jegyet venni, mert az ülések sokkal tágasabbak voltak, s árilag nem voltak sokkal drágábbak. A városok közötti közlekedésre itt a minibuszokat használják, boliviával egyetemben, amire akárhol fel lehet szállni, ahol leintik. Persze nagy buszok is mennek, de azokra a pályaudvaron kell felszállni, s egy kicsit többet kell rájuk várni. Helyi közlekedési eszköz még a helyi nevén motor, Tájföldön tuk-tuk és Indiában motor rickshaw névre hallgató jármű.

Legjobb dolog az országban (szerintünk): a szavakba nem önthető gyönyörő környezet, a hegyek, a növények, a tavak, a folyók, s a felhők csodálatos harmóniája amit Isten művészien festett meg errefelé. Emellett a helyiek kedvessége, segítőkészsége és persze a Machu Picchu varázslatos romjai.

Bolivia in a nutshell

Planned daily budget: USD27 – 187 Bolivianos

Actual daily expenditure: USD19

 

Cities visited:

• La Paz
• Uyuni – salt desert
• Potosi
• Rurrenabaque – jungle
• Copacabana
• Isla del Sol – on Lake Titikaka

Most expensive city: the South part of Isla del Sol

Cheapest city: the other cities had pretty much same prices

Favourite city: Isla del Sol (North), Rurrenabaque, Potosi

To do in Bolivia

• Shop in La Paz
• Visit the Coca Museum – La Paz
• Have loads of 30 cents fresh orange juices in the street
• Travel to the Salt Desert – Uyuni
• Visit the famous silver mine – Potosi
• Admire the nature and animals in the jungle – Rurrenabaque
• Spend a few quiet days in Isla del Sol
• Take a dip in Lake Titikaka
• Have some pink trout from the world’s highest navigable lake, the Titikaka

 

Most challenging thing: finding vegetarian food and walking through streets that the locals treat as outdoor toilets

 

ACCOMMODATION

Most expensive accommodation: 75 Bolivianos per person/night in Rurrenabaque (Hotel Orient), with breakfast, without internet

Cheapest accommodation: 15 Bolivianos per person/night in the North of Isla del Sol (Refugio Wiracocha), no breakfast and no internet

Favorite Accomodation

• Potosi – Koala Hostel
• Rurrenabaque – Hotel Orient

 

FOOD

Finding vegetarian food is not easy in Bolivia. The dishes served for “Menu de Dia” contain meat most of the times, and while in Peru it’s easy to have them replace the meat with salad or eggs, here we didn’t find it as easy. The good news is food is pretty cheap eveywhere, including in the fancier restaurants, so most of the times we paid the 20Bolivianos (USD3) for a vegetarian meal instead of the 7 Bolivianos for a regular “Menu de Dia”. Which is not the best when traveling on a budget, but we ended up having some pretty good food around.

Favourite Food: The lentils burger we had in Potosi, in a place called something like Tour de Pizza. Divine! And the freshly squized juices on the street.

What we didn’t realy like: the vegetarian potatoe empanada with surprise meat inside

A very popular dish you might want to try is theSalchipapa: slices of sausage with french fries.

 

TRANSPORTATION

Besides the bus to Rurrenabaque, the rest of the buses we travelled with were basic but clean. Of course they didn’t reach the standards of the Argentinian buses, but we didn’t have any problems with them either.

If you plan to go to the jungle in the North,brace yourself as the roads are absolutely terrible, and many times instead of the 16 hours ride you might end up being on the bus for 24.

The best thing in the country: Shopping (bhahaha) and the fresh and cheap fruit juices on the street. And of course the salt flats and jungle :).

Bolívia dióhéjban

Napi budget: USD27 – 187 Boliviánó

Tényleges napi költekezés: USD19

Meglátogatott városok:

• La Paz
• Uyuni – só sivatag
• Potosi
• Rurrenabaquine – dzsungel
• Copacabana
• Isla del Sol

Legdrágább város: Isla del Sol déli része

Legolcsóbb város: a többi városban nagyából hasonló árakkal találkoztunk

Kedvenc város: Isla del Sol, Rurrenabaquine

Mit is csináljunk Bolíviában

• Vásároljunk La Pazban
• Látogassunk el a Coca Múzeumba – La Paz
• Nézzünk el a Só sivatagba – Uyuni
• Igyunk olcsó és friss narancslevet az utcán
• Látogasuunk el a híres ezüst bányába – Potosi
• Csodáljuk meg a természetet és az állatokat a dzsungelben – Rurrenabaquine
• Töltsünk el egy pár csendes napot Isla del Sol-on
• Mártózzunk meg a Titikaka Tóban

 

Legkihívóbb dolog: vegetáriánus ételt találni és átsétállni olyna utcákon, amit a helyiek toalettnek hisznek…

 

SZÁLLÁS

Legdrágább szállás (amit mi fizettünk): 75 Boliviánó fő/éjj Rurrenabaquine reggelivel de internet nélkül

Legolcsóbb szállás (amit mi fizettünk): 20 Boliviánó fő/éjj Isla del Sol-on reggeli és internet nélkül

A reggeli itt is kenyér, lekvárral, dulce de leche-vel/manjarral, kávéval és teával, néhol palacsintával.

Kedvenc szállásaink

• Potosi – Koala hostel
• Rurrenabaquine – Orient hotel

 

GASZTRONÓMIA

Vegetáriánus étel után kutatni nem volt egyszerű Bolíviában, mert minden hely csak hús ételt tálalt föl, s amíg Peruban a húst szivesen kicserélték nekünk tojásra vagy zöldségekre, itt nem voltak erre hajlandóak.

Így nem volt más megoldás, minthogy a puccosabb helyekre ellátogassunk, s ebéd menüt együnk 7 boliviánó helyett 20-30 boliviánóért. Persze maga a 20 Boliviánó (USD3) nem drága, de a mi üres pénz tárcánknak nem esett olyan jól J

Kedvenc étel: ööö… hmm… palacsinta (ja, hogy ez nem bolívia étel? J). Amit igazán szerettünk az az utcai frissen csavart gümölcslevek és turmixok voltak. Ami még nagyon finom volt az a lencse-burger, amit Potosiban ettünk.

Ami nem igazán ízlett: Zöldség empanada, meglepetés hús darabokkal

Új étel, amivel itt ismerkedtünk meg, s amit minden sarkon árulnak, az a:

Salchipapa: Sült virsli sült krumplival

 

KÖZLEKEDÉS

A rurrenabaquine-i buszt leszámítva a többi busz, amin utaztunk egyszerű, de tiszta volt. Persze színvonaluk nem közelíti meg az Argentínában megszokottat, de nem volt velük semmi gond.

Legjobb dolog az országban (szerintünk): Vásárlás, dzsungek J J s az olcsó utcai gyümölcslevek

Eljött az idő, viszlát Rió

A TERV

A riói felhőtlen napok mellett az  idő közben közelgett a Vipassana meditációhoz, ígyhát itt volt az ideje valami tömegközlekedési opció után nézni, hogy eljussunk Cuzcóba, Peruba. Először repülővel szemezgettünk, de az USD500-800 között volt, amit igen csak sokaltunk. Volt egy opció, ahol át kellett volna szállni Bolíviában és várni 12 órát, ami nem is lett volna akkora probléma, de még a transithoz is vízumot igényeltek, s mivel a románoknak a vízum még mindig nem volt járható út ezt is kizártuk.

Ezután a buszokat néztük és sikerült találni egyet ami Sao Pauloból Limába ment 5 nap alatt és útközben megállt Cuzcóban 4 nap után s az ára is elfogadható volt, olyan 400 Reias körül. Boldogan hívtuk fel a jegyirodát, ahol sajnos közölték, hogy csak 15 naponta megy a busz és a következő csak Aug 31én indul, ami nekünk ugye már késő.

Szerencsére ráakadtunk egy másik buszra, ami Sao Pauloból ment Rio Brancoba (perui határhoz közeli város) 3 nap alatt. Onna tudtuk, hogy megy egy másik busz pont aznap mikor megérkezünk a perui határvárosba (3 óra), s onna egy mások busz Puerto Moldonádóba (Peru, 3 óra), így a negyedik nap estéjére már Porto Moldonádóban leszünk, ahol megszállunk és másnap reggel tovább megyünk Cuzcóba (10 óra), ahol ismét megszállunk éjjszakára a 31én újult erővel érkezünk meg a meditációs központba.

 

ELHAGYTUK RIÓT

Szóval emellett döntöttünk. Csürötökön még buliztunk egy utolsót a riói barátainkkal a Casa de Matriz parkettjén, ahol nagy ölelések után búcsút vettünk pajtásainktól remélve, hogy nem most látjuk egymást utóljára, s péntek reggel (Aug 26) már úton is voltunk Sao Pauloba (6 óra, 75 Reias). Ott a csatlakozó buszra várva pont annyi időnk volt, hogy elmenjünk Feijaót venni, amit aztán a buszpályudvaron fogyasztottunk el. Azt hozzá kell tenni, hogy a buszpályaudvaron mi voltunk az egyetlen turisták (amit máig sem értünk hogyan lehetett egy többmilliós városban) így már magunkban is feltünést keltettünk, nem is beszélve a funky backpackkelős nadrágunkról. S mikro a feijaot elvitelre megvettük, s nem találtunk szabad ülőhelyet, így letelepedtünk a földre az egyik sarokba, s ott fogyasztotuk a tipikus brazil ételt, nem volt olyan arrajáró, aki ne bámult volna meg minket.

 

MAJDNEM MÉGEGY TÁSKÁNKNAK LÁBA KELT

Ekkor történt, hogy egy fiatal ember leejtette a szeművegét Silviu táskája mellé, amire persze mind a 3an odakaptuk a fejünket, mert elég gyanus volt, de nem próbált meg semmit ellopni, mikor is Iunia maga mellé nézett s látta, hogy egy másik srác a saját táskájával szépen lassan emelei Iunia kis hátizsákját is (persze benne minden értékkel). Iunia reakciója csak egy OJ! Volt, mire a srác lassan elengedte Iunia táskáját és udvariasan csak annyit mondott: Sorry sorry!

A fickó egy jól öltözött fiatal srác volt, aki olyan udvariasan kért bocsánatot és olyan megbánó szemmel nézett, hogy majdnem mi éreztünk bűntudatot és majdnem azt mondtuk: Á semmi baj! 🙂

Szóval a két srác valószínű össze dolgozott, így szokták állt csinálni, az egyik eltereli a figyelmedet, míg a másik ellop tőled valamit. Lehet az én kistáskámnak is így kelt lába… 🙂

 

3 NAP ÉS 3 ÉJSZAKA A BUSZON…

Szóval ezt is megélve felszálltunk a buszra, amin 3 éjjszakát és 3 napot töltünk majd (minez összesen 313 Reiasért). Persze semmi sem jöhetett volna jobban, mint egy öreg alapfelszereléseiben is hiányos busz, s már előre örültünk az elkövetkező napoknak. Reméltük, hogy a busz nem fog minden nagyfánál megállni, így remélhetőleg nem lesz teli, így lesz 2 széke mindannyiunknak aludni. Ebben is csalódnunk kellett sajnos, mert szinte minden 2-3 órában megálltunk valahol és emberek le-föl szálltak. Így nem hogy nem volt dupla székünk aludni, de még sok nyugalmunk sem. Mindenesetre én az első este jól aludtam. Másnap olvasással és írással szórakoztattuk magunkat, mert persze TV nem volt a buszon (minek is egy 3 napos útra?! J). A busz megállt reggelire, ebédre és vacsorára is különböző helyeken, de az első 2 napon az előre csomagolt szendvicsünket ettük, s csak vacsorára fizettünk be mert nem akartunk 40 Reiast fizetni 1 kg ennivalóért napi 3szor. 2 tányér feijaot veettünk, amiért 8 Reiast fizettünk darabonkánt. A büfé ára idő közben nagy örömünkre lecsökkent 35 majd 30 Reiasre.

Második este is eltelt valahogy, s reggel 6kor már a buszmegállóban várakoztunk, mert buszt kellett cserélni, ami tökéletes volt arra, hogy mind a 3an lezuhanyozzunk a buszmegálló zuhanyzójában, ami nem is volt annyira gázos, mint gondoltam 🙂 Napközben csak bámultuk a kietlen tájat, ami nem változott mióta elhagytuk Sao Paulót. Mi vártuk, hogy nagy városokon keresztül haladunk majd el, de nem. Az egész Brazília már 3 napja csak kis faluk egymás utánja volt a kietlen, néhol pálmafákkal tarkított tájon. Vacsorára ismét feijao büfé volt, ami itt csak 25 Reiasbe került. Éjfélkor, mikor már álomra hajtottuka  fejünket, szóltak, hogy le kell szállni a buszról, mert csere lesz, így 1 órát várakoztunk a buszmegállóban. De ez sem volt elég, mert hajnalban ismét jött az ébresztő, hogy megint busz csere lesz, merthogy ez a busz meg most elromlott. Szerencsére a másik busz már ott volt, s átcuccolni se kellett, azt mindig megoldották helyettünk. Nagy örömünkre ez a busz már jobb állapotban volt, mint a többi és kényelmesebb is.

Örömünk csak reggel 7ig tartott, mikor is megint le kellett szállni, mert egy folyón kellett átkelni, s a kompra fel kellet sétállni. Miután ez is megvolt, megálltunk egy kávéra és egy sütire reggelire, mikor is már tudtuk, hogy 3 órás késében vagyunk, így már tuti nem érjük el a csatlakozó buszt (mondjuk egy 3 napos busz úton csak 3 órás késésben lenni nem is olyan rossz J). Úgy döntöttünk ezzel majd akkor foglalkozunk, ha megérkezünk, s nyugodtan „meditáltuk” végig a maradék pár órát.

A leggyötrelmesebb éjszakai buszozás a következőkben…

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