#exploringnorth

[pir-ado]

x nature blog x

[pir-ado]

x nature blog x

[benhancockrocks]

Sunrise gets easier to wake up for as the days get shorter. Rolling out of bed around 7 am is so much easier than 5 am in the middle of summer. #sunrise #captureminnesota #stateparks #publiclands #exploremn #upnorth #adventureoften #minnstagram #sakatahlakestatepark #northcountryco #exploringnorth #justgoshoot #sunflares #lake #fishingpier #hikingclub #canont5i #sigma1750 (at Sakatah Lake State Park)

[swifty14]

The world is yours to explore #Exploringnorth 🐋🌊

[thewanderersnotes]

And I've returned

Apologies for my 3-week absence from the world of Tumblr. I’ve just returned from my vacation to the north of Chile and south of Peru. Safely back in rainy Santiago, I have a few days to catch up with friends and of course my blog. I experienced so much in the past month that I cannot possibly put it all in one post. So I’ve decided to break it up according to each city I visited…

…But first a few overall observations

Northern Chile: increíble, “la raja”

From the people, to the culture and food, Northern chile is completely different than the Middle region in which I live. For starters, the geology. There was a point on the bus where I fell asleep and it was still green and then I woke up a couple hours later I was surrounded by desert. Vegetation consists of cacti, palm trees and short desert shrubbery. Rocky cordilleras on all sides with varying shades of reds, browns and yellows. It was truly something different and beautiful. The people: simpatico. I hitch hiked more than 4 times with my friend Anna and it was so simple. I found the people in the North to be overwhelmingly friendly. We safely camped and never once felt threatened. I got food poisoning in Arica, forcing me to stay an extra night. The hostel owners took great care of me and didn’t charge me for that night ( but out of good conscience I paid anyways). The food was pretty similar to other parts of Chile I have visited. The exception: there was an abundance of Choclo, Marsicos y Aceitunas. I’m usually not a big fan of olives but OH MY GOD. The olives in northern Chile are out of this world. I also had delicious fish….but unfortunately ate bad street shrimp (hence the food poisoning: note…don’t eat street shellfish)

Northern-Coast of Chile: buenas olas, hermoso, tranquilo

No surprise here, but I absolutely fell in love with the northern coast of Chile. The rocky beaches in Iquique were breathtakingly beautiful. And although I didn’t get to spend too much time exploring Arica’s coast, from what I managed to see I loved. There’s something about the salty sea air that refreshes me every time and obviously being able to surf lifted my spirits. Comparatively speaking, the water was much warmer than Pichilemu and Viña del Mar, even in winter. But it is more than that. The coast gives off a certain vibe that you truly can’t find anywhere else. People are easy going, tranquillity is a way of life not a goal to be achieved. I also loved that, despite going to tourist destinations, I didn’t feel like I was getting fucked over in terms of prices. I met awesome travelers, went to local joints with local people and overall had an amazing experience. Total “buena onda”

Southern Peru: Arequipa y Cañón de Colca

Shifting gears, I made it to Arequipa during my 3 week journey north. And I, and my bank account, couldn’t have been happier. When I visited Peru in 2011 I fell in love. It’s an amazing country with so much history. And every city I have visited thus far in Peru has given me a different perspective of the country. Even when talking to Peruvians this time, I could see the cultural disparities in which they spoke about between Arequipa/Puno/Lima/Cusco. Arequipa, although still a bit too touristy for me, was beautiful. A lively town at the base of some of the most important volcanoes in Incan history: Misti, Pichu-Pichu, Chachani and a little to the north- Ampato. From the markets to the hide-away eateries, old churches and monasteries to ancient relics, Arequipa had so much to see, do and eat! Unlike Cusco, I never felt bombarded with street vendors, I could walk around safely after dark and a 3-course meal was less than $2. The Colca Canyon is a whole other post, but to say the least, it was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I cannot wait to return to Peru and explore more of what it has to offer.