Death Road Adventures

Before I start this blog I'd like to apologize to each and every one of you (Todd) for the lack of blogging in the last few days. Internet in Bolivia has proven difficult. 

Now let me tell you about Sunday, for it was quite a day. 

Sunday morning we spontaneously awoke at 6 and decided it was about time to mountain bike down the Death Road. And so we set off for breakfast before loading up into a bus full of adventure seekers from around the world and two awesome guides. 

A little over an hour later, when the guide called my name first to get my gear and bike, I realized what I'd signed up for. As I test rode my bike around the parking area and remembered that I hadn't ridden a bike on anything but flat desert road in over two years, and mentally smacked myself. 

Once we were all set up with equipment, we set off in a single file line down a slightly wet road nearly entirely covered in fog and true to form Jeannie seemed cool while I reevaluated my life choices and tried not to scream. 

The first 22 km were paved and without many obstacles. We took several breaks to check in and rest and after about an hour, I was beginning to feel like perhaps I wouldn't hit my front breaks, flip over my bike and break my jaw on six places. I was nearly certain it would only be four places. 

Of course this was when we made it to the actual Death Road, entirely gravel and not entirely friendly looking. As the guide asked if we were ready to get going, Jeannie mounted her bike and declared she was. The guide then looked at me and I made a series of noises and mumbled to myself while getting on my bike. He looked worried for a moment but Jeannie explained,

"She's fine, just dramatic,"

We took the road in sections, stopping every twenty minutes to regroup. We encountered waterfalls and the constant reminder of a very steep edge that would likely bring...well, death...if we got too close. 

When we finally made it to the end, beer was waiting for us. We all enjoyed and shared our experiences and thoughts before being ferried to an animal reserve where we had lunch (not the animals) and hot showers before getting back on the bus and riding the three hours back to La Paz, tired but happy. 

Where self-aware and self-involved meet...

I'm not going to lie, I hate hostel people. Please tell me more about how you "don't travel to be a tourist" you "travel for the culture". Oh, you wrote a poem? Oh, you've been traveling for 9 months? Although I only asked where you we're from, I'm so glad you told me about how much pot you smoked in high school, because that's what I really wanted to know.

I suppose we've been spoiled by our own little apartment in Buenos Aires and only having to deal with each other. Sure, some days I want to punch Jenn in the throat for singing the same freaking song over and over for 15 days, but with her, at least I know what I'm getting myself into.

Sorry kids, we just really needed to get that off our chests.

So we've spent the last day in La Paz! We had a questionable night's sleep because of the incomprehensibly loud people in our dorm, but we woke up and faced the day anyways. We had some awesome juice and soup in the market for lunch, planned our stay in Bolivia (Death Road, here we come!), and wandered the plaza de arms, got really nervous around some pigeons (me this time, not Jenn) and ate a banana split. I'd say today was a success.

Stay tuned because tomorrow may be our last day on this earth (which will be awkward because we won't be around to blog about it)...intrigued, aren't you?

Things that go bump in the night

Kids, last night I was enjoying the peaceful slumber of one who has been in the sun and heat all day, when I was abruptly awoken by a series of noises. 

First I felt something crawl onto my bed, but just the edge. It reached up over me and I felt something fall sharply into my head. This was followed by a groggy, apologetic "I just...I'm so hot, I'm sorry, I'm just so hot."

When I heard the air conditioner click on above my head I understood that a heat-delirious Jeannie must have been lying awake, sweating her face off for hours before finally deciding to turn on the AC. 

Thankfully she didn't die of heat stroke and I had blankets at the ready. 

Jenn gets a case of the feels

Riding the bus back to the hotel from fancy fondue dinner tonight, I found myself looking out the window, watching the pretty lights as we passed nighttime storefronts when my eyes were suddenly filled with tears. Admittedly it was terrible timing as our friend's boyfriend was getting off the bus and it seemed that I was pretty broken up about it. 

I moved across the aisle into the loving embrace of my friends and tries to explain, 

"I was just looking out the windows and thinking that its over. We're leaving peru."

"What made you think of that?" someone asked. 

"I saw La Lucha and thought of the sandwiches..."

My emotions don't come out a lot but when they do its probably about sandwiches. 

That Slippery Bastard

You guys, everyone calm down, we found Waldo on the bus in Lima. 

Next up, the search for Narnia. 

Jenn Has Thoughts about Jeannie's Emotions

I would just like to note that I have done a lot in the planning of this trip, it's obviously just much more behind-the-scenes. For example, this morning Jeannie asked me if she should book us a room in Buenos Aires and I said yes.

Collaboration.

I refuse to be characterized as the lazy one when I am obviously the cool, classy, sexy one. Duh.

Secondly, Adam was trying to get into Bolivia and he followed up the story of his visa misadventures by telling us of his severe brain injury. Reliable source? I don't know.

Back when we were happy together

Jeannie Has Emotions

As we sit here, on the verge of COS, I find myself with a lot of emotions.  Let me tell you about them.

1) Frustrated that Jenn has done NOTHING to plan this trip.

I'm going to be honest, that's really the only emotion I have right now.  I'll tell you some more in the coming days.

At this point, we've (I'VE) planned everything for our upcoming adventure.  Except the minor detail of a visa to get into Argentina.  Oops.  About a month ago, we ran into this random guy in Lima (let's call him Adam) who told us a horror story about not having a visa and getting thrown in Argentinean prison.  Adam was also not... shall we say... completely "with it".  But we've taken Adam's advice to heart and gotten all our ducks in a row (you know, mostly).

Quote of the hour: "You literally do everything for me.  I'm like a hospice patient." --Jenn Hanson