http://www.closkey.com/laura/ This is a log of my (Laura Closkey's) first South American adventure. I don't speak much Spanish, don't exactly know where I'm going and have no idea who I will be traveling with, but hey ... that's exactly what makes it an adventure! en-us 2004-11-15T03:54:25-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000357.html I've put away the back pack and the guide book. I'm back in the foggy city for good. I don't have a job just yet (why rush?). Old friends are great, new friends are exciting. There is plenty of fun... Laura 2004-11-15T03:54:25-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000358.html Traveling solo, carrying around and backpack for a year and a half can really tire a girl out. Once home, I needed a vacation from my vacation. I visited 7+ months pregnant Meg and her family in Nantucket. Made it... Laura 2004-10-29T04:08:29-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000356.html What is bliss? What does it look like, feel like, taste like? After 6 months of traveling around South America and a night in the air in economy class, bliss is coming home to your mom’s house where the sun... Laura 2004-07-20T02:58:44-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000317.html Buenos Aires is great city. It’s NYC meets Paris but at 1/3 the price. There is always another restaurant to try, a hip nightspot with good music, theater, opera, more and more. If you want leather boots, a coat, leather... Laura 2004-07-19T17:35:39-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000315.html Klaus dancing with the chickens in Huaraz In case you were wondering where all those yummy guinea pigs come from...We found this guinea pig slum on our roof in Huaraz. Through the miracle of email, Klaus (from the Solar... Laura 2004-06-22T17:33:37-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000308.html Greeting Machu Picchu at 7am Restoring walls at Wayna Picchu, looking down on Machu Picchu From the tippy top of Wayna Picchu Yes, Machu Picchu is one of the coolest places I've ever been in all the world. No,... Laura 2004-06-17T19:56:59-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000309.html Corpus Christi festival, Cuzco Just another day in the never ending Corpus Christi Festival. Here, St. John the Babtist and San Felipe somebody duke it out on the plaza in front of the Irish pub and Chinese restaurant. My... Laura 2004-06-16T20:09:28-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000307.html Ollantaytambo is a very pretty little town set next to more impressive terraces and temple ruins. The road to Machu Picchu ends here and you continue by train or hike it. Ollantaytambo has been around for some time. The... Laura 2004-06-15T19:49:04-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000306.html Inca ruins at Pisac The Sacred Valley around Cuzco is excellent. Don't miss it. The little town of Pisac is home to beautiful and puzzling Incan terraces, a good market, and at least one great restaurant. How did the... Laura 2004-06-13T19:44:48-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000314.html reed canoe, Lago Titicaca The floating islands in Lake Titicaca near Puno, Peru are a popular mochilero (backpacker) destination. Based on reports from travelers who visited the floating islands, spent the night with a floating family, and went to... Laura 2004-06-09T17:27:52-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000240.html Local lady on the plaza in Copacabana After a very nice time treking around Sorata, I set my sights on Lago Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and also the birthplace of the Inca civilization. The plan... Laura 2004-06-08T19:55:20-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000232.html I first heard of Sorata from this guy Bob who I met way down south in Puerto Natales, Chile about 3 months ago. Bob was from Jackson, Wyoming and knew South America quite well. For Bob, Sorata is tops,... Laura 2004-06-07T20:00:23-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000224.html Today I visited the pre Incan ruins of Tiahuanaco. This archeological site is pretty decimated. The Tiahuanaco civilization existed 1500 bc to 1200 ad. It was the Tiahuanacans who domesticated the llama, developed very successful irrigation techniques in the high... Laura 2004-06-01T22:09:04-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000223.html La Paz I recommend arriving to La Paz by air. There really is no capital like La Paz. Imagine flying over the Altiplano, eye to eye with the white caps topping Cordillera Real, when all of a sudden the... Laura 2004-05-30T22:04:24-05:00 http://www.closkey.com/laura/archives/000239.html Arriving Rurrenabaque Chalalan is a community owned rainforest resort. The project was sponsored by a NGO some years back (hmm, forget the NGO's name at this moment). The mission was to help one native community inside Madidi park develop... Laura 2004-05-29T14:57:06-05:00