Dear Obiwan,

The next 3 days were full of needed resting…and I also witnessed one of the most…interesting and disturbing performances I have ever seen.

Saturday and Sunday, January 26th and 27th I slept and relaxed, mostly at the hostel, which has everything you need! However, on Sunday, I slept passed their breakfast so I was forced to leave my haven and go out in the real world. I found a breakfast place called “Higher Ground.” It had wonderful reviews online and man, were the reviews accurate…this place was incredible! It is Australian run, and if I learned anything from Austrailain run places like Jack’s Cafe in Machu Picchu, I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. And it was perfect! Delicious breakfast food, they actually understand the portion of food I want and they also know how to make amazing coffee! Also, the servers were all very warm and friendly and it was…wonderful :). At the cafe I met 2 nice fellow travelers and just by chance- one of them was leaving tomorrow to go to Copacabana to work! I’m going there in 2 days Obi! This guy’s name was Eric, he’s from Canada and was warm and funny and it didn’t take much convincing, I will stay at the hostel he is volunteering at!

However, the hostel is called “Joshua Vegetarian Restaurant Hostel” so I immediately told him I love meat and kinda…despise vegatarian food? It’s always mixed mushy stuff together it seems? Blech. But he said I bring my own food and eat there or just not eat there, sounds good to me!

Some photos of my wondering around La Paz:

Love this!!! Yes!

Hehe

Penguin laundry?! Yes!

Yes, that is a cinnamon bun sandwich! At Higher Ground!

Just me and my pizza

Just walking down the street

Okay, now to the most bizarre performance act I have ever I have ever seen in my life. My roommate, Anish, told me that he was going to something called “Cholita Wrestling” today. I decided to join him. I didn’t know much about this beforehand, I had heard that there was an ‘all female WWF type show’ you could go too. So that was what I knew, it was similar to WWF, but with women in traditional Bolivian dresses.

The tour agency, RedCap tours provide either a full day tour of El Alto and the market and the wrestling…or you can just get a ride to the wrestling to and from your hostel. I chose the bus ride only option.

Cholita wrestling is location in El Alto, it is above La Paz looking down over the huge city. You can also get there by teleferico (the cool cable car system they have throughout the city)! El Alto is also famous for a huge outdoor market it has on the weekends…and maybe during the week too?

Once in El Alto, we walked through the entrance, which feels like, and I think is walking through the back or side entrance of this building.

The set up is…an old school gym or maybe even an active school gym? It is a basketball court or soccer field inside but on concrete. There are stands on one side and the court on the opposite. In the center was the stage, a huge boxing ring. Behind the ring was some simple but cute decorations creating a changing room and back room for the wrestlers.

The people running it, they are teenagers! Impressive!

When we walked in there were still seats in the front row…so I obviously went for those seats! Also, our tickets included 2 bathroom tickets, popcorn, soda, and a souvenir!

Then after hoards of tour groups arrived and some locals…it began.

What happened Obi was at first, a fun, hoke-y wrestling match. With an announcer…saying lots of things and I understood less than half? Then during each round there were referees, that I originally (oh how silly of me!) thought were just referees.

But before each match, the crowd votes, by yelling, for the referee. And learn QUICKLY that each referee has a favorite, and WILL CHEAT to have their favorite WIN. And it is all “fake” and an “act” but Obi, it felt VERY REAL. And some of it, WAS REAL. You would get so invested because one person somehow was always a bad guy and you want the good girl to win so badly! And they do it so well because you as an audience member are SO INVESTED. I truly cared for these characters and truly disliked the bad ones…and the local fans were the best…they were also BRUTAL. They would dump their popcorn and SODA on the characters they didn’t like when they would come out to the fans!

But…it went too far for me Obiwan. Yes there was lots of body slams on the stage that made loud sounds and lots of using the ropes to bounce and fly on top of one another…

But there was other stuff too, that wasn’t normal theatrics of wrestling…including…grabbing the audience’s popcorn and soda and dumping it on someone…one of the male referees SPIT ON ONE of the women…and the WORST was…this very large referee, who came out towards the end…same guy who spit on this woman…he…pulled his PANTS DOWN AND SHOVED HER FACE INTO HIS HUGE BARE ASS.

It was…awful. Truly awful. Like she had half a mask on but still, that was real, she will never forget the smell of his butt or the feeling of that man’s ginormous butt cheeks surrounding her face. AH. UGH. BLEH.

Also, the men had 2 battles themselves, and they were more just ‘fillers’ but…they would sometimes (both men and women) would fight outside of the ring, like in the crowd or something.

And when this would happen it was on the cold concrete floor of the gymnasium…and towards the end one of the wrestlers was slammed into the ground and slid fast and hard into one of the side rails and…got knocked out. It wasn’t fake. The crowd nearby were not cheering and looked upset and worried and then someone ran out with this tiny first aid kit and sat by looking worried but after about 20 seconds the guy woke up and they had to stop the fight. JESUS.

What an experience, I will never forget it, that is for sure.

Then on Monday, January 28th, I wanted to go on the famous teleferico!

Oh side note…there is trash everywhere right now in La Paz due to the town where the trash is taken had a landslide and the government hasn’t fixed it yet and as a result no one can take the trash there…so…the roads are covered in piles and piles of trash. It is awful that they haven’t helped the town yet. Earlier this week there was a rally at the capital about this issue, demanding the government to help this town! I don’t think it has worked yet.

But I took the yellow line, there a many lines throughout the whole city! But I heard this one goes to the top where you can look down at the city, so I chose the yellow line, and it was beautiful! It rained at first but cleared up…but the rain didn’t matter because the line goes so high…you get above the clouds! Wow!

Then today, walking in La Paz back from the teleferico there was a rally! I don’t know what about! But they were letting off firecrackers and yelling a lot and the main road was shut down!

Alright lamp chop, I need to get some sleep before Copacabana at Lake Titicaca tomorrow!

Love you, Tú Madre,

Carly

Day 115: Thursday, January 24th

Took 13 hour bus from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile —> Uyuni —> Oruro, Bolivia

Stayed at Hostel Graciela

Dear Obiwan,

Obi, I want to first say that I am so grateful to be traveling right now. That being said, traveling is not all incredible adventures and amazing people…traveling is also tiring, challenging, and sometimes not too kind people as well. And these next two days were a little on the tiring side and a glimpse of some of the not too kind people, but it’s all a part of the grander adventure and experience!

So, I left the beautiful, fun, and hot Atacama Desert for 3 loooong bus rides to La Paz, Bolivia.

Now, for any fellow South American travelers, you would be scratching your head at this moment thinking…wait…you went from San Pedro de Atacama…TO Oruro? Why didn’t you go straight to Uyuni Carly? Well, Obiwan, I would then tell them, I am stubborn! And I was just in the beautiful desert with a super moon, so I was not able to star gaze the way I had wished. And, I heard that the Salt Flats have some of the best star gazing in the world, SO, in conclusion, I wanted to be in Uyuni (where the Salt Flats are) in 2 weeks, when there is a NEW MOON (or no moon). And in 2 weeks…I will tell you if I was happy with this decision…

Anywho, I walked with my life 15 minutes to the bus stop in the desert and was already in a deep sweat. I frustratingly learned there that- they would not give me a refund for my other bus ticket (to Calama, Chile), you needed to return the ticket at least 4 hours before (I did come yesterday, but forgot my ticket 🤦)…but it was only 4,000 CLP or 6 bucks, it’s okay Obi!

Soon I was on the bus, and it was just me and an older couple!!! I felt so safe and I could spread out all over my seat!!!

Also, the bathroom sign says “solo uriano” or ‘only pee’, haha, this made me laugh, like, what if you gotta…go, Obi?

The bus stopped on a hill on the way to Calama for a good 15 minutes…then after stopping in Calama and getting a few people…it stopped again in the middle of the road…maybe they just do this to be safe? I don’t know 😬.

Leaving the desert

Status of delicious truffles from Santiago after the desert

But eventually, we were at the border of Bolivia! And in Chile it was a breeze…

Then we arrived to Bolivia, and I did NOT have my visa. Since I was with a bus they want to shove you through very fast, which is in your favor. They spoke very fast Spanish and I was tired and did not understand much. They asked for a copy of my passport, which I had😃👍👍👍!(Travel tip- make many copies and always have at least one copy of passport with you at all times!) Then they had me fill out some papers and asked ‘how long will you be staying?’ And “what is the address of where you will be?” (Which is a stupid question they always ask, they also know you’re traveling, so the address means NOTHING, whatever).

They then asked for a picture of just my face, like a school photo? What? I said I did not have one and they all talk quick Spanish shaking their heads and I started to panic.

BUT then he just charged me $170 USD and wrote some stuff on a paper, took my photo, then BOOM, I had my Bolivian visa!

Then he said something, I heard him say 10 DAYS, and I say (all in Spanish) ‘what?! But I will be here for 3 weeks! What do I do?” Then he says very slowly “10 anooooosss” (YEARS) and I broke out laughing then they all laughed at me.

Then as I was walking back on the bus, I looked down at the permanent marker written visa and read my last name “STATON”- THEY SPELLED MY NAME WRONG. HE HAD MY PASSPORT, HOW DO YOU MESS IT UP. I really hope this won’t be an issue OBI!🤦😖😖😖🤦

After this, I was back on the bus…first to Uyuni…then to Oruro.

And once we entered Bolivia, and BOOM, the roads were not paved. It was like a combination of dirt and gravel, VERY bumpy Obiwan…and everyone on the bus was soundly asleep. I would watch in amazement as we would go over huge pot holes and people’s entire bodies and heads would jump up and down and and bobble they were…still sound asleep! How Obi? I am so unlucky, I can’t sleep on busses.

Many, many hours later…with only pringles, chocolate, and Coca Cola in my belly, we were close to Ouro. One of the bus guys came and sat with me after we dropped nearly everyone off in Uyuni, he was very friendly and we had a funny conversation.

He goes, “you know Bolivia has the best coca! Way better than Colombia, you must have some, do you want some?”

And I go, “Coca?”

Him, “yeah!”

Me, I gesture the powder or leaves?

And he goes, “oh THE LEAVES! COCA LEAVES!” And then hands me some coca leaves. HAHAHA! 😂😬😬😬😂🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Anywho, they put on some old school Spanish movies that were a combination of musicals and westerns and were hilarious and fascinating and bizarre all at once.

Also, we picked up a hitch hiker! Which is very normal here, but still, my USA self always is a little AH about that.

Then finally, 18 hours later I was in Oruro! I stayed at Hostal Graciela and I was given a TV remote and a little later, a key.

I felt a little nervous walking past 3 older man who scowled at me like, “what are you doing here?”

Then I got to the room, it was similar to a motel room. It had 2 twin beds and one bed looked like it had a sink hole in it, so I chose the other bed. Then the shower was so tiny, it had a toilet, sink and shower and shower door but it was the size of…my body? So if I were to shower I would have to straddle the toilet and the sink would be punching me in the gut. I almost showered…but it was freezing so, NO WAY.

Also, the room didn’t lock and there was no window to the outside, but there was a window to the hallway. So my imagination went wild and I imagined someone crawling into the window or just…opening the unlocked door. So I put my bag under the door and other bag under the window with plastic bags on top. So if anyone came in, I would hear them. And I had all my vaulables with me under the covers.

But, I some how SLEPT SO WELL OBIWAN. I think my body was like, YES A BED, SLEEP!

Then on Friday, January 25th I had another bus to La Paz.

Before the bus I had a nice minimal breakfast at the Hostal, and in the daylight it actually seemed less murder motel and was super cute! And had a homey feeling. I am just a nervous one sometimes Obi…🤦😬😬😬

Also, the breakfast had amazing banana bread and- there was an ORANGE KITTY CAT YAY!!! That just, made my day!

This cat loved pets so much Obi that he almost FELL OFF MY LAP from my amazing petting skills. Me and another girl at the hostal moved a chair over to catch him from falling! Ah!

I had a very nice cab driver on the way to the bus station, but he kinda just threw all my stuff off and drove away at the bus station? It…was…fine?

Here are some photos of Oruro:

Then I was at this CRAZY bus station. It was…very different than Chile.

You walk in and you are overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. There are people yelling every city’s name in Bolivia, and each person yelling has a different musical tone to it, “Uyuni, Uyuni, Uyuni!” “Oruroooo, Oruroooo.” And the directions I was given were wrong, to find tickets to La Paz, but without fail, moments later there was a woman yelling or more singing in a nasal-y tone, “La Paz, La Paz, La Paz, La Paz,”

Here, this is what it was like:

I didn’t look any futher, I know there were a million busses to choose from but I was not trying to barter and it seemed cheap. She then points at the bus. And…it was outside, but looked like I couldn’t walk through the obvious door right behind her, and had to go outside?

So I walked around the whole bus station and there were some cop looking people and a guy wearing a crappy orange vest, this man comes up to me and charges me 2 BOB…to what…walk in a parking lot?!

And I had been warned so many times that people in Bolivia will try to scam you just because you’re gringa (non-Latina). I was walking with my guns ABLAZING Obi and angrily told him (in Spanish) “No! I have to pay to enter? My bus is right there!” And I pushed passed him and he yells after me and him nor the cops do nothing. So I thought, I did the right thing, it was a scam…

But…as I stood waiting to get on the bus…I saw everyone pay him…so maybe, he was legit? And I just was a jerk? 🤦😖

Ugh, oh well. Then I was on my next bus, and at first it was perfect. No one was next to me and a mother had her adorable little girl sit next to me.

But right before we left a man came on and sat next to me and angrily asked me to move the little girl.

Calm down dude, IT IS AN ADORABLE TODDLER.

BUT, THIS WAS NOT THE WORST OF THIS JERK OBI.

This experience I am about to write about was INFURIATING to me Obi, I was angry for hours about it. Okay, a few deep breaths…

The man sits down and is so angry when he sat down and sees the little girl, he then yells in my face (all Spanish of course)

“THIS IS MY SEAT.” Then the mother quickly and sweetly apologizes and grabs her daughter. He then sits down and sigh’s SO LOUDLY, like something HORRIBLE JUST HAPPENED, and NOTHING HORRIBLE HAD HAPPENED.

Then….moments later he passes me a clipboard, I had my headphones on and was in my own world and I accidently spoke in English and said, “what? Oh, what is this?”

And this man, reacts as if I just said something like, “go have sex with a pig and have a cow fart in your mouth!” Or something disgusting and awful because his reaction to me nicely saying in English, “what is it?” WHAT SO OFFENSIVE. He scrunched up his nose like he smelt something awful, rolled his eyes, TOOK THE CLIP BOARD OUT OF MY HANDS, starts to hand the clipboard behind him, and then SIGHS SO LOUDLY and with this disgusted and annoyed tone.

I lost my mind Obi, BUT THE WORST PART WAS- I COULDN’T SAY ANYTHING. I don’t have the vocabulary yet to tell him off!

All I wanted to say, was, ahem, “what the hell is your problem? I am not from here and you hand me a clip board and I accidently said, ‘what’ in a different language, you could have kindly explained what it is or at least handed it to me instead of wripping it out of my hands. You are mean to children, disrespectful towards women, and awful to an obvious foreigner who doesn’t know what is going on, instead of being helpful or kind to anyone, you are rude, mean, and ugly to people. You must have an ugly heart and I actually pity you, I feel sorry for anyone who knows you and anyone else you interact with. Go fix yourself and stop being such a massive piece of shit.”

But of course, I couldn’t say any of that, and all I got out was a whimper, kind of like, “mmerah!” and took the clipboard back.

And in the 30 seconds I had been sitting next to him, BEFORE this incident, he sat down and immediately pushed my arm off the arm rest (which I had only put half my arm on like A SANE AND POLITE HUMAN BEING). I didn’t say anything to him pushing my arm off the arm rest at first because I hoped he didn’t notice.

But now, I KNEW, I knew this was a sexist man-spreading schmuck, so for vengeance, I said, “excuse YOU,” (in Spanish) and pointed at his arm with the most sass I could muster, and then he sighed again this LOUD awfully rude sigh and rolled his eyes and then moved his arm. Small victories Obi, small victories.

Then I somehow slept for a little, and some hours later, I was in La Paz! And interacting with this jerk was OVER.

I hailed a cab and…he did not know my address, I showed him it on Maps.Me…like directions…and he shakes his head…and LOCKS HIS DOOR AND TELLS ME NO.

What…just…happened?!?!?!😕🤷🤷🤷😫😫😫

It’s okay Obi, the next cab also didn’t know but used his GPS and all was well.

Then finally, I reached my hostel, Selina La Paz.

It…was…beautiful Obi! Looked more like a nice hotel than a hostel. I couldn’t bare having a bottom bunk so I switched to a room for 3 dollars more that assured that I had a bottom bunk.

And then…finally, I had a bed, with a thick mattress, nice pillow, and big comfy and soft blankets! And a curtain! And outlets next to the bed!

I met my roommate, Ashwin, who’s from India and was so nice.

I then watched a few movies, and slept a blissful sleep.

Woah, that’s been a long 2 days Obi!

Love you so much my dear Jedi,

Tú Madre,

Carly

January 22nd and 23rd

Dear Obiwan,

The next two days were both relaxing and exhilarating.

On Tuesday, January 22nd, I rested and chilled in the desert. I went to Barrios Cafe for the second time for breakfast, the food is okay but, the place is beautiful…I didn’t realize till today that they have this gorgeous upstairs!!! Also, they ONLY play Beyoncé, I hope Bey visits this place one day and feels the love.

I also did a family tradition Obiwan, during our family trips to Sedona, Arizona(another beautiful desert!) we seem to start hiking at the hottest and hardest part of the day, at high noon! And today, I walked to get a bus ticket to get to Bolivia and successfully went at HIGH NOON. Legit, just like in ‘The Rugrats’ it was “no shadow time”…the sun was directly above me, melting my soul. I finallly gave in and bought a hat, I don’t like hats Obi…but…I had to get one. What do you think?

I returned to the hostel and my dorm room completely DEAD. As I collapsed I met my new roommates, these 2 women from Buenos Aires- Ely and Iris. And Obi, these women were incredible! They were so nice, warm, funny, and goofy! They had me laughing so hard in seconds.

A little later we were all relaxing in the hammocks and Jimmy joined as well. Ely and Iris made tea and we played Uno. Also, they taught Jimmy the Cumba dance- LOOK:

A few hours later I was ready for bed because I had to wake up at 4am tomorrow for my last tour- the geyers! Also, Francis was going on the same tour! Once we found out we were going on the same day, Francis made sure to ask them for us to be together, and not divide us like they did last time!

I slept HORRIBLY awaiting this early wake up.

Not too much later…it was Wednesday, January 23rd!

Time for the Tatio Geysers tour!

So today, I woke up around 4:00am for the Geysers tour…and Obi…NO ONE came for me and Francis.

Also, while we were sitting next to each other, and I am aware that sometimes I suck at whispering, but I was ACTUALLY whispering and this different hostel worker would tell us to shut up and would give us the STINK EYE if we would breathe too loudly. Calm down dude!

Anywho, after a half hour of waiting and watching many vans go by, I asked the hostel worker and he said he will text them, then told us “they said they are on their way.”

Then we waited…and waited…for another hour only to ask the hostel worker again…and he said he actually NEVER messaged them…honestly WHAT THE ACUTAL heck.

Then he proceeded to tell us that he was sorry and he will try to get us a refund and that we can try to go tomorrow…but I leave tomorrow!

Then a struck of good luck happened…a group of 3 people who rented their own car were leaving FOR THE GEYERS that moment! They overheard our upset and offered to take us! How lucky are we Obi!?

Moments later a van pulls up and boom, we were on our way! Our new crew was Jodi, Yan, and Simon. They were German and British. And this truck was so nice! It was a big Toyota pick-up truck with 5 seats!

Then…so oddly, at 6am…a whole 1.5 hours late, the tour company arrives. They go, “we always come this time,” which is a lie because I met so many people who went with this group and it was 4:30. Me and Francis looked at each other and both agreed non-verbally, NO WAY, refund and will go with these awesome people!

Finally, we were off. The road was dark and bumpy and fun and in about an hour we were there and we were able to watch the sunrise, it was beautiful Obi!

The group of friends we were with were obviously old friends and they were hilarious to be with.

We arrived at the Geysers and had to pay the 10,000 CLP (about 15 USD) fee and we saw the geysers! The first geysers of my life Obiwan, and they are so cool! There were so many and they were all different sizes! New ones, baby ones, big ones, and HUGE ONES. There was only one that was going super high.

Here are photos and videos!:

Sign telling you not to walk into or touch a geyser since they are boiling hot!

Also, I forget why but to see geyers at full awesomeness you need to get there at sunrise, something to do with the temperature changing from nighttime to sunrise makes them EXPLODE!

After this we chose to go to the hot springs here instead of the other ones because these were included in our fee and were also closer, they were hot, not too hot? But it was nice. But…getting out Obi…was FREEZING. We drove up super high to get here, so higher altitude means it is colder!

‘why so many people?’ or wait, might have been ‘it’s okay?’

Then on the ride back, we got to see the landscape that we couldn’t see on the ride over (due to it being dark) and man, it was gorgeous! We stopped a bunch for pictures and also, Simon had a DRONE! He filmed us driving around this crazy desert dirt road AND THEN SHOWED US AND IT WAS SO. COOL. Now…I want a drone? But, I need money and that eye that photographer’s and videographer’s have…and I just don’t have that. So nevermind, I will just continue getting excited and watching others play with drones.

Oh we also stopped at some beautiful marshes that had birds and the famous PINK FLAMINGOS! There were a million of them. And they FLY OBI. I didn’t know flamingos flew for some reason?…but now that I think about it…they fly away in Aladdin when Iago is pretending to be Jasmine and he goes “I’m in the menagerie.” I think that’s the scene.

OMG, a fox came up to our car! (Sadly, probably because tourists feed him) but he was so cute Obi!

Anywho. We got back to the hostel and we were relieved to get our refund from the agency. After eating lunch I was beyond exhausted since I pretty much didn’t sleep last night.

But, just my luck, right when I tried to nap in a hammock they started to construction with a chain saw, so, that was a fail. Also it was just on hot to nap mid day.

However, I still was able to relax and I got some good advice about Bolivia from a fellow traveler, they told me not to book Copacabana in advance and do it when I get there, they also told me I could sleep on the famous Isla del Sol if I wanted too!

Now it is finally quiet and cooled off enough for me to sleep Obiwan,

Love you! Miss you!

Tú Madre,

Carly

Monday, January 21st

San Pedro de Atacama Desert

Stayed at Rural- La Florida Hostal- night 3/5

Dear Obiwan,

Today was a late start due to falling asleep around 6:30am after the incredible lunar eclipse adventure last night.

But today was another tour, the Cejar Lagoon tour! This tour takes you to 4 lagoons, only one you can swim in. The tour also included watching the sunset!

I was on my own for this tour and my car ride was 3 couples and a mother and daughter from Germany.

About an hour or so later we were at the lagoons! There were 2, one was beautiful and just to look at and admire.

The second one was a salt lagoon that you can swim in! However, to get here you needed to walk over a bunch of shards of salt that were equal to small and huge shards of glass. Then once you were swimming it was lovely, it was warm-ish (not too hot) which was nice since it was incredibly hot outside. Also, the water was so clear you could see past your toes!

And, just like the Dead Sea, there was so much salt in this lagoon that you were FLOATING OBI. Weightless! It’s such an incredible feeling to just…float…with no effort. It was so relaxing you could easily fall asleep.

After this wonderful floating, we were heading to the 3rd lagoon, and due to Jimmy from the hostel telling me that you could swim at the 3rd one, I didn’t change. Unbeknownst to me, every single other person had changed back to their dry clothes in the van.

We arrived at the 3rd lagoon which was a man-made lagoon that someone had crated years ago to study the salt. This lake was not clear and our guide told us was cold…at this point it was getting colder and was windy, so no way Obi was I getting in that lagoon!

I captured someone jumping into the water hole!

Now dry, we drove to the last lagoon…for sunset! Our guide was the best, he always had us laughing and was very warm. He taught us a lot too, for instance, with this last lagoon, people were once able to walk closer to the lagoon, however, we can’t anymore due to researchers discover that here are 3 hundred MILLION year old microorganisms living here!

Look at my arm Obi! All salty!

Finally, we watched the sunset. Now I was lucky to see the sunset at the Moon Valley yesterday…but Obi, if you recall…there were no clouds and it was kinda anti-climatic. However, this sunset…woah. The clouds and the scenery were breath taking! Look!:

Also during the sunset I started talking with the German mother and daughter, and we chatted the whole time as the sunset. The daughter was a surfer who also is traveling solo, but she is going the opposite route I am taking. She started in Brazil, which before today-I was planning to end my trip in (but I have been very on the fence).

Her daughter answered my question, ‘is Brazil dangerous?’ Which I have been hearing polarizing answers about…and she proceeded to share that she was ATTACKED…at gun point…MID DAY…in Rio.

She is okay now, it was traumatizing and she said it took her some time to feel safe again, of course.

But that was it for me, decision made and no more wavering- I am not going to Brazil. I would end up being there during Carnival too, which so many people, especially Brazilians, have told me is very dangerous. I am dying to go to Brazil, it seems so incredible, but I will just go one day in the future- NOT alone. 🙂

Back to our breathtaking sunset. While watching sunset our guide surprised us with Pisco sours, cheese, nuts, and chips! He shared about his work week- he works in the mine 7 days in A ROW, then he gets 7 days off in a row…but he fills those days off with leading tours! So he works every day! And seems completely happy. Think about that Obi!

Once back at the hostel, I ate some of the truffles Dad and I bought in Santiago and they were divine, just so delicious… and then promptly went to bed, exhausted!

Miss you and love you lamb chop,

Love, Tú Madre,

Carly

January 17th and 18th

Santiago, Chile

Stayed at Air BnB with Dad

Dear Obiwan,

The next two days were relaxing and healing. On Thursday, January 17th we had a delicious breakfast a this small cafe and bakery that Jason discovered (the obvious best restaurant searcher of our group!). Josh and I chatted and had some nice sibling time before they left for Patagonia!

After they left my Dad and I walked around and did some errands, which included finding a chocolate store and bought some divinely delicious chocolates! We also ate Pizza Hut, which I know you know Obi is one of my favorite restaurants back in America, and it was okay here, but at least they have one! Unlike back at home where they shut down every restaurant and now only have delivery😭!

Then we explored some more and ended up having Italian food at one of the biggest malls I have ever seen in my life.

Then on Friday, January 18th we had breakfast at this beautiful restaurant but the food sucked. Today’s mission was to trace my steps and find my moon ring, we had done some investigating and looked at photos of where I last had my ring. Sadly, after a few hours, I had to give up Obi, it is gone.

We then went to the tall east observatory in LATIN AMERICA. Which is on top of the mall we went to yesterday. It had breathtaking views Obi!

Preztels(!!!!!!!) and Dad mid thought 😃

We then relaxed in Santiago and our apartment and had some wonderful conversations. One included some really exciting ideas I have about my career future, I will share with you later Obiwan.

Saturday, January 19th

Santiago —> Calama —> San Pedro de Atacama Desert

Stayed at Rural- La Florida Hostal- night 1/5

Look at the place we have been staying!

Loon at THE VIEW from my room!

On Saturday, January 19th my day began with saying bye to my Dad. He will return to you Obiwan, so please treat him well and know that I will be home soon! I had such an amazing time with my Dad. It was so nice to have family on this trip and have a piece of home for a week. I felt at home while being away, it was a such a treat.

After saying goodbyes a few hours later I was off to the airport myself. I had a really nice Uber driver and we chatted, all in Spanish, I am getting better Obiwan!

The plane ride was beautiful and a few hours later I was in San Pedro de Atacama! The Atacama is the driest desert in the WORLD Obiwan!

What IS THE BIG ROUND THING OBIWAN?!

Once I had my big backpack, it was a very easy transition to finding a colectivo (a van shared ride) to get to San Pedro de Atacama. It was on 12,000 CLP (18 USD) for an hour, not too bad?

The ride was beautiful Obiwan, we saw big windmills, volcanoes, mountains, and desert!

An hour later I was at my hostel, Rural- La Florida Hostel. Right before we arrived at my hostel we were driving through the town…and Obi, I thought this place was famous for the amazing mountains and sites you can see around here…and then I thought the town was going to be a small sleepy desert town. MAN WAS I WRONG. It was POPPIN’ OBI. The small dirt road with clay houses lining the street was filled with tons of colorful, smiling, excited, people! Hoards of people! So many people! The streets were packed the restaurants were over flowing as well as the bars!

Also while driving in I saw tons of tour agencies which caused me to be very excited for the tours I will do this week here!

I walked into my hostel and it was funky and beautiful. Bright, colorful walls and decorations. Hammocks in the center with people on each one. After a few minutes I immediately changed my reservation from 3 nights to 5 nights, I knew I was going to love it here!

Sadly, my mysterious bunk mate was a disaster. My room was a 10 person dorm room and the only bed left was a top bunk in the corner. Now, there is unsaid dorm etiquette Obiwan, at least I believe there is? One being, if you have a bottom bunk, DON’T BE A DICK TO THE TOP BUNK.

I believe it is MISERABLE being top bunk. I forget EVERYTHING and have to climb up and down at least 85 times before going to bed, I fall every time getting up or down, and you don’t have a bed right under you to put your things and easily access them (amongst other issues).

My bunk mate had no regards for others. Their stuff EVERYWHERE, under the entire bed, on the little table next to the bed and all over the floor and all over every railing of the fricken bed. Her clothes were on every fricken step of the ladder so I had no choice but to step and almost slip going up and down the ladder due to her stuff being all over it. And due her stuff taking over all the space, I legit, couldn’t put my bag or stuff anywhere. So, I had to find the only free space, the middle of the floor by the door. Oh, ALSO, her stuff was all over MY BED. Additionally, who ever designed the room did not think about the space well, my ladder went straight into a table. So I had to crawl onto a table to get onto the ladder to get to this bed.

I quickly went to reception and discovered for 0.15 USD more I could move to a 6 person dorm room that had an open bottom bunk starting tomorrow night- UM HELL YEAH. So I will switch rooms tomorrow!

I then took a shower, and Obi this shower was hilarious. It was SUPER SCOLDING HOT WATER. And when you try to adjust it you are left with either freezing cold water or scolding hot water…but by the end I figured out a happy…kinda medium?

In my dorm room I met this awesome guy, Jimmy, who’s from NYC. He’s one of those people that are so nice and funny and welcoming you feel like you’ve met sometime in your past.

I then searched for cheap dinner, which was a little tough but eventually found a cheap place and had some delicious pesto pasta!

My day ended with some hammock time and then sleeping in my slightly miserable top bunk situation.

Goodnight my dear lamb chop,

Love, Tú Madre,

Carly