Feliz Navidad!

Hey,

It's been awhile since I've written, due to some "hard travelin'" and sketchy internet connections. 

I think the last time I wrote I was in La Paz, Bolivia.  From there I crossed Peru to Lima, then back again to Lake Titicaca.  My plan was to cross back into Bolivia, but just before crossing the border I realized they changed the laws ONLY for Americans, to enter Bolivia.  The new requirements are vaccinations, $100, proof of intinerary, etc...   Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, is basically playing petty politics because these are the same requirments for Bolivians to come to the U.S.  The difference is that Bolivia is a poor country that needs everything it can get.  All the new law is doing is keeping tourism dollars out of the country, not just from Americans either because we often travel in International groups.  Is he worried Americans are going to take Bolivian jobs?   I've always wanted to sell peanuts and socks on the streets in Bolivia, but now that job will go to a Bolivian thanks to Evo's brilliant move.  Enough of my rant.

So now I'm back in Chile.  The price of everything more than doubles when you cross the border into Chile from Peru or Bolivia, but still less expensive than the U.S.  A bit of a shock after being in the other countries for awhile.   I plan to be back in Santiago before the New Year, from there I'm going to have a look around and decide what to do next.  I may go work the grape harvest in San Felipe.  I it could make wine taste better for the rest of my life.

I've uploaded a few new albums.  It's all your getting from me this year.  So imagine it's wrapped!  There are more descriptions online. 

1. The Floating Islands of the Uros are man/woman made entirely of reeds that grow around the shore of Lake Titicaca.  They originally chose this lifestyle to escape the imperialist Incas.  They make everything from the reeds and it provides food.  They also have great teeth from eating the reeds, unlike most other people from the mainland.  The other photos are from the islands of Amantani and Taquile.  We spent one night with a local woman and her daughter on Amantani.  It was interesting how each island has thier own style of dress, with the different colors meaning, for example, if they are married or single, etc...  Gladis, the woman we stayed with, cooked everything over an open fire, and all the electricity came from a single solar panel.  

2.  Machu Picchu  What can I say about Machu Picchu? 

3,  A huge canyon called Colca Canyon near Arequipa, Peru  

4.  A strange festival in La Paz, Bolivia. 


Merry Christmas from Iquique, Chile.  It's here.  It's time for me to go to the beach.   So, how are things on that side of the planet?


Jack