Around the world and back again

2007-02-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Lima Peru
The last time i was here me and matt thought it was horiable. It rained and was foggy for the entier time. This time it is much much better. I decided to come here and meet up with my buddy that i studied with in Gutemala. Pretty cool to meet up with him 3 months later and share our trip stories. Lima is a really really cool city. Lots of parks and old cool looking churches and buildings and it is right beside the ocean. You know one thing i have really began to understand is how i like being in the mountains or a small town but i love being in a city. Its almost sub- concious but i can feel just how much more comfortable i am in a city. Ahh the things you learn with your alone. The next couple of days i am just going to hang by the beach and hang out with jimmi. Last night we went out me , jimmi, and his argentina girl friend(cant remember her name but she is super fun) so we were having drinks all day and none of us got even the littest bit drunk. I swear they were feeding us no alcholic beer all night. It was very very odd. The hostal i am staying at is the heven for all the travelers that want to be drunk 24 hours a day. So to say the least it has been very interesting!!!
Last night we were talking about all the jobs that they have here that they dont have at home. Such as they have people standing outside each resturant waiting for you to walk by so that they can try and sell you into coming into their resturant. There are alot of local fights about this! i swear they pull and fight over you and then fight about it after you have made your mind up. They also have security every where. Like super markets, on some popular streets, banks, electronic stores. These security guards are aloud to carry shot guns, ya littel bit different.
Guys that are dressed up in some kind of costume sitting in the park start telling all the kids stories. Like last night he pretty much told the story about the little mermaid but they loved it. You will be sitting at you tabel eating or talking and then a band will come up and play music for you but then you have to tip. It happens all the time and dont even try to say no because they will not listen. Matt once made me tell this little boy who was playing a gitar to go away and you should have seen it he was so pissed off!! Thanks matt! Break the littel kids heart!!!There are much more other examples but i bet you have the idea.
I also really enjoy how on every corner there is a fresh fruit stand and always really cheap.
Yesterday there was also a Food Fair. Yep so you go into the central park and there is everything to eat. Including pies after pies after pies. I think i gained back the three pounds i lost. Sad really.
These things are what makes traveling. This is what it all sums up to. The differences! Its so interesting!
Anyways got to go just thought i would write a littel note!
Love
karalynn

2007-02-14T07:05:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh Love day! Happy Valentines! Matty and everyone eles. Still here in Arequipa and not doing alot. Hanging out with all the different travelers and working out about sums it up! Last night we played giant Jinga. Its so fun, there are ofcourse rules and if you break them you ahve to take a shot. But when it falls you got to watch your head because it can hurt! I think i will have to make this when i get home because it is just such a great party game. So we were all feeling nice by the time we went out to the club. We danced and danced. It was alot of fun! One of the girls that work at the hostal came out and its either normal to dance with girls all the time and say no when guys come up or she had a thing for me. Very strange!
The weather has not been very nice here. Its actually quite cold. Raining almost every night. So that has kinda sucked for getting some sun. So i am going to be here for awheil i think. But i will have to come up with something alittle more productive with my time i think! Its a hard life doing nothing you know !!!!! WEll everyone enjoy our over rated consumer holiday of love!!!!
Love
Karalynn

2007-02-10T16:25:00.000-08:00

Since the last i wrote i have been to quite a few places and on even more bus rides. I left Puerto Varas and arrived in Santiago the next morning. I had the day there, the next morning i had to leave for Arica(Northern chile) I met some really nice people and we went out that night for some food and drinks. Now the restaurant we went to was saposed to be a nice place. We walk in and it is nice so we sit down. Now i ordered a steak. The waiter asked what kind of sauce i wanted so i went for the mushroom sause. He also asked me if i wanted the rice and salad on the side i said yes. Lots of places here put bread and salsa on the tabels before your meal. We get our bill and he has charged me for the mushroom sauce, he has charged me for the rice and the salad and he charged us for the bread. We didnt even order the bread. I was not the only one that had this done to me. What they do is make it sound like things are included like at home and there not.But at some restaurants it is. So needless to say we were not impressed, we are budget backpackers. Ouch! But then we went for drinks and forgot all the problems! What eles was funny was when we were sitting there having dinner this other guy walks in and it turns out to be this guy that matt and i hung out with for New Years in Bolivia. What a small world! The next day i start off early attempting my longest bus ride to date 31 hours. It was hell, but i arrived finally in Arica. It was in the middle of the desert but had the ocean right beside it. On the beach it was so windy you would get out of the the water and be black from the sand. So not very fun. I love sitting on the beach but i hate having sand on me! i know i am a strange one! The hostal by far was not the nicest but i had my own room wheil paying the dorm price and the old Kiwi (new zelander) ran the hostal. He was so nice and had a great breakfest. I also met alot of more Kiwis here along with some Auzzies. I realized as we had more and more to drink how much they are like Americans and Canadians. We get along but once we have some drinks we are bold enough to tell each other our country is better. Needless to say i went to bed before the argument was over!
I called mom and got the potato soup recipie and made it for the entire hostal. They loved it! I also did my first kick boxing class and felt like a total fool wheil i was doing it but hey whatever! So moving on i then left, crossed the border into peru and here i am in Arequipa where i think i am going to hang out for awheil. The hostal is great and well ya! They have programs to go and volenteer at a school or an orphanage. So i might do that mabey some more rafting or i dont know!
Matt driving in to the bus station all i could think about is us getting here the first time and you being so mad at the bus. Funny! Hey i will take some Alpaca pics for you i know how much you love them! I will also go to some ruins for you cuz i know you have only seen a couple!
Jenn you really should work harder at school! Just joking!Glad everything is good!
Kathy and bud very nice to hear from you! I am ok thanks for the concern. Matt should be there right now giving you your gifts i hope you like them. Keep reading!
Dad you never said anything about the truck! is that a no?
Sheila i have tried calling you so many times but it is just not working!
Anyways dinner is almost ready so i should go(they cook big good meals every night here at the hostal for only 3.50)
Love
Karalynn

2007-02-05T06:07:00.001-08:00

The support that i get from my family and friends is just amazing! You guys have no idea how much it means to me when i log on and see your messages. Uncle Darren and Auntie Marlean Thanks so much and i love you both very much! Interesting to hear about Kris. I didnt know that he was interested in the Military. Well thats an awsome thing to do for Canada. I just hope he does not get sent off into a war that shouldnt be happening in the first place nor is it our fight to fight but i geuss if you join you dont have much of a choice. Does he know what he will be doing? Mitchell is graduating this year right?Ya i am really really going to try to come up to Grand Prairie before i have to go back to work to see all my family!!! I really regreat that wheil i as growing up i didnt strive to have a deeper bond with everyone. Now that i am grown i regreat that all my little cousins dont really know me. Once all the aunts and uncles are gone we are all eack other have and that is really important to me. Mabey dad will let me use his new truck to go up there?? hey dad, i could show it off for you!!!!!!! I hope that the weather did not ruin your time with mom. To bad you didnt get to stay longer. I know that the phone connection has been bad latley i hope that it will get better when i leave here. SO i will traveling for the next three days. Hope and pray that everything goes smoothly and i have no problems. If you guys dont hear from me for a bit theres no cause for concern. Matt are you out there? I have not heard from you. Its not like you work or anything!
I am really ready to get going. I have been here for way to long doing nothing. Chile dose not have any culture what so ever. I really think that they lost who they were because of money. This is not part of the third world country. they are doing just fine over here. As i said it kinda feels like home. This is why i am excited to get back into peru where i can see something different. However i am not looking towards the food. Its not very good in peru. Small portions and nothing is really what your expecting. Like Fetteccini alfredo. No alfredo sauce it is like a white mushroom sauce with ham. Every where in south america they are crazy about ham. You get it on everything. Kinda sucks. Hey matt you remember that breakfest place we went to in Arequipa. I am going to go there again! hahha! Mabey buy my self a blanket!
Anyways again thanks you for the continued suport!
Love you all
Karalynn

2007-02-05T06:07:00.000-08:00

2007-02-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

Wow dont all talk at once now you hear. Nothing new here. Did mention how this places is like all germans. I am not joking there are like 11 different rooms and 9 of them had all germans. Yep last night there was one big german party. I did not attend. whats the point when you cant understand anyone? Today is a pir festivel. Yep in the center of town just a bunch of people selling/eating/buying pies. Really good for karalynns weight! All i have been doing is going to the beach, reading and working out. Its so boring on monday i leave here to go to santiago i have one night there and then i go north to a town near the chile/peru border called Arica. Its saposed to be nice there so i will hang out there for two days before i cross the border into peru. I think i am going to head back to the first place matt and i went to called Arequipa. Its cheap and nice.
sheila thanks for writting. Yep your going to be there once i get home, i know it. Darcey must be disappointed. Sorry that life is kinda boring but you know how it is during the winter. People hibernate.
Mom and dad i hope your having fun. I have tried to call but both of your phones are turned off. I hope everything is ok. Thanks if that was you guys!!!! I think it was!
Grandpa you havent answered my question about if i could come and see you guys for aweek after i get back. It would probley be as soon as i get back. Pls let me know!
cam are you out there? tell me whats going on.
Kathy and bud i hope everything is good havent heard from you in awheil.
Anyways i should get back to my buzy life over here dont want to miss anything! ya right
Karalynn

2007-01-31T17:16:00.000-08:00

Horesflies.
Now on the farm i have seem and even been bit by a horsefly or two but today was not normal. Matt be glad you left now because i just dont know if you could have handled this! I went rafting today. You know like white water rafting. I got out of the van and ATTACK. Hundresd even thousands of the things all over the place. They like black clothing, whats karalynn wearing all black! ya hahahaha. Even wheil we were going through rapids these things hung on to dear life ( thats you skin dont forget). So i geuss they come every year during January and Febuary. The thing is they are not in the town, just as soon as you get out of town they are every where.
I was the only person that spoke english in this group of fifteen. When you say you only speak alittle spanish it can go one of two ways. They think you understand everything or they dont think you speak any. So this group wheil half was telling all the saftey instructions in spanish because they think i speak spanish really well the other half was making fun of english because they think i didnt speak any ay all. so all i had to do was talk, and at the end i did and you see what this dose is clarify. To the people that thought i spoke good spanish now know that i only got half of the saftey instructions and the other half are realising that i knew what the were saying and dint say anything!!! Very interesting.
Tommorow i am doing nothing just hanging out on the beach that is horsefly free. I have also gotten back to the gym. I have had to replace the camara with a cheap $20 dollars disposable. Ouch.
Me and red wine have also been getting along very well latley soooo i look at it as education. wine education!!!! So thats it for now.
you guys all better write bacuase i am in need of company these days! so write! stop reading and write!
Karalynn

2007-01-29T11:56:00.000-08:00

Puerto Varas
This place feels like a mountain town in canada except the speak spanish! I would call it a town because it feels so small but it has like 3 million people so there goes that! I think i might hang out here for awheil. But i have no idea what i am doing. So heres a storey that sucks i lost all my pics some how. The camera just earased them all by its self when i tried to give matt the memorey card to take home. To top it off it also wont take any new pics and i dont know how to fix it because i left the mannuel at the marriott. Great hey. Ya i know. i dont know what eles i can say. Cam or dad you got any advice? all it says is ememorey card error when i put the card in.
Hey grandpa when i get back can i come up to see you guys for a week or so? Thanks you for writting! No i have not found john but i am looking. I did also look up that dieses and that was the grosses thing ever!!!!!
Sheil your are such a sweet heart! Hey what do you guys want?
Kathy i hope your doing better. You will be fine your a fighter and so is bud!!!! But bud dont forget i can beat you up!!!
I have a feeling that the next wheil will be boring! Matt was the one who got us in all the trouble! hahaha matt! LA CUENTA, POR FOVOR!
anyways i will write soon mabey
Karalynn

2007-01-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

I have been alone for three hours and i have no idea what to do. Its sad.I realized that when matt left it would be like a whole new trip but well what can i say i dont think i like it. Matt and i had spent the last 2 nights at the lovley marriott. Where everything is so easy and you get everything you want. For Matts 25 birthday yesterday he awoke with breakfest in bed. We went shopping were matt bought some birthday presents for himself!!! We had a very good but expensive dinner at Tony Romas and then we had some wine! For desert Matt got a surprise cake and it was beautiful! Now he is one his way to Buenas aires to get a connecting flight to lima to be home tommorow by 2 in the afternoon. Wheil karalynn will still be here waiting for him to walk in the door. Again sad.
Tommorw night at 10.30 i will head off to souther chile to see the glaciers. Then well then i have no idea. Looks like i have some serious choices to make but it just dosent seem right with out my partner in crime. I really have no idea what i am going to do.
By the way the person who corrected all my spelling mistakes is no gone so back to crappy spelling, sorry i blame the manitoba school education bored!!! well dont know what eels to say so wish me luck cuz i have a feeling i am going to need it.
mom if you read this before 11 am tommorow you should call me!!! Its to expensive for me!!! Marriott hotel santiago chile room 1607
Jason very nice to hear from you!! you shoudl read the adventures there are some that are really amuseing! Kisses and hugs to all the fam!
Matt i hope you had a great flight! Love you!
Love you all
Lonley Karalynn

2007-01-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

Bonnie and Clyde here!!! What we mean by that is we ran into a little trouble in Mendoza, Argentina! Let me start at the begining!
So we arrive in Mendoza and we go to the hotel, we have a little difficulty getting a room for two nights so we take the one night that they have. Later on they tell us that the two nights in the same room is fine! The next day we book a tour for 8.30 am for two wineries. As we are leaving the hotel the next day the hotel guy comes out and says that we have to switch rooms. We are a little upset because we are leaving right then to go on the tour. So we agree and start to walk back in and he says to get out. I try to talk to him but he keeps on saying to pack up our things and leave. So we did. With out paying him. Thats fair, he made us get out before the check out time. As we walk out he says he is going to call the cops. The cops HA! They dont give a crap about something this small. We walk to this nice hotel a block away and start to check in when the cops show up. Three of them with shotguns. We ask for help right away and this wonderful woman who speaks perfect english comes to our rescue! Pretty much we had to pay or we were going to jail. Ouch!!!!!! Cue Karalynns crying!!!!! So we pay and they all leave but holy........ close call! We went on our wine tour and it was pretty cool. There are 800 wineries surrounding Mendoza. We have a new found appreciation for a good wine now.
Country Number 7: Chile
So far so good. No jail yet. It is way more exspensive but the food is pretty good. There is ice cream everywhere. We have decided to take a break from all the running around and just spend the ast 6 days here in santiago. The hotel we are staying at is an apartment almost without a kitchen. But all in all it kinda feels like Buenas Aires. So we are just going around seeing the sites. Tommorow we are going to the zoo. Matt will finallybe able to see the condor. Something that he has been waiting for since peru.That should be fun. But this will probley be the last entry before matt goes home. In which i am not looking forward to. I will countinue to southern chile and then i dont know where i am going. I hope to not jump around as much though.
So i geuss thats it for now
Love you all
Matthew and Karalynn

2007-01-19T04:32:00.000-08:00

Country Number 6 : URUGUAY!
We went to Uruguay just for a couple of days to sit on the beach! Sit on the beach we did and Karalynn got a very bad burn but well what can you do? Add more sun screen ya i know!!!! Matt thinks he is so funny he came up with a little nickname for me white bum red tummy because of my burn. It was very hot but very touristy, which means expensive. We really did just go there to sit on the beach and then we came back to Buenas Aires. We really enjoy Buenas Aires, there is so much to do. Yesterday we went to some of the sites. We went to the Cemetary. I am sure that i have explained how cemetaries are here, but if i havent there are no bodies barried in the ground its like they all have little houses. This cemertary is just for the elite in and around Buenas Aires so the houses are outrageous. Its like they were all trying to show off their money even in death. All the tombs were made out of marbal and there was some amazing stone statues. The cemertary covers 4 city blocks and has over 6400 different families barried there. We then were trying to get to the botanical gardens but some how we went to this other chinese botanical garden. In the pond there were huge colorful fish that would follow you around the pond with their mouths open. We thought they were going to eat the pigeons! Last but no least we went to a tango musical called Tanguera. The story was same old same old boy loves a girl and girl loves the guy but there is some other dude causing a ruckus!!!! It was really good, kinda X rated! Matt really liked it as did I. This dosent seem like much but afterwards we went to dinner and found one of the first cesar salads since i left home. You people in the 1 st world countries should not take the good supermarkets for granted!!!
Today we are going to another part of the city that is known for how all the buildings are all bright colors because this crazy artist guy saw a work of art in the cityscape! There is also the stadium for the argentina national soccer team. So on game day it is wild. Then at 8 pm tonight we go on a 12 hour ride to Mendoza. This is supposed to be the most beautiful city in Argentina. there are wineries that surround the entire city, and beautiful landscape. We only have three more stops before the trip is over for Matt. We cant believe how fast time has flown by.
Mom (kathy) dont worry everything will work out.
Mom (barbara) could you call the city and find out when i will be called for orientation.
Sheila thanks for not forgetting
Heidi hello i hope the week wasent as bad as you thought it would be. Are you still taking care of the boys in the morning?
Dad the versacold search is not going very well. Sorry!
Dad thanks again for booking that hotel!!! We both really appriciate it! Did you find out about the 28?
Ok so until next time!!!!
Same bat time same bat channel
Logging off
K and M
PS love and miss you all! ahhh the cheezy shit!!!!!

2007-01-13T06:03:00.000-08:00

Buenas Aires Argentina!
It is a really nice city. The building are all old and cool looking! We are staying at another really nice hostal. It is 100 year old mansion that has been restored to look really funky on the main floor but all the rooms have the old mansion feel. High ceilings and wood floors! We are taking off to Uraguay tommorow. It only takes about three hours! No bus just a ferry! However the buses in Argentina are much better. All have lay down beds full meals and air conditioning! Matts happy! We will be coming back to Buenas aires before we head west to chile. Good thing because there is alot to see here thta we are not going to get to see before tommorow.
There is so much to do here! There are huge theaters, operas, Tango shows on every corner! The shopping is like being at home but cheaper!!! I love it! i think i am going to have to send a package home! So tonight we are going to go to a Tango show! That should be alot of fun!
I cant believe that matt only has 2 weeks from today left. It is making me quite sad. I have gotten used to him being here and i am afraid i am going to feel very lonley after he leaves. But this is what i chose to do and it is only two months. I cant believe i have been gone for almost 2 and a half months, time flys!
Mom (barbara) for the city you dont have to worry about calling them until the end of january. If the package hasent arrived. The other things was remember to put my G.S.T money in as soon as it comes pls. What would you like me to bring you back? Pls answer! Can you show mark how to use the blog.
Dad Check out on the 28 would be very helpfull but it is the marriott and i dont want....... well you know so i will understand if it would be the 27. Pls let me know!!!!! Thanks you soon much for doing this. I will get you back some how! you have no idea how much you have done for me besides this stuff. Just talking has been really great. Thanks
Cam heidi you guys havent said what you want me to pick up for you guys.
There is one story that must be shared. So We told you how we went on the adventure day that included canopying and wet reppelling. The wet reppelling was really cool. It was going down a waterfall. But then the canopying came and matt was the last one in the group to go. There were three lines so not very much. By the time matt was on the last line everyone including me are on the ground watching. We heard him coming and you could tell that he was coming fast and before you knew it matt body checked the guy standing on the platform into the tree!!!!! Matt had like 50 pounds on the guy! It was so funny! It made me day. Of course everyone on the ground was like ohhhhhhhhhhhh it was pricless!!!!! Hope the guy is ok!!!!
Anyways i should jet matt and i have some important things to do today!!! a surprise!!!! anyways love you all
M and K

2007-01-10T12:11:00.000-08:00

dad, you said in the blog Buenas Aires i hope you ment santiago, chile. It needs to be in Santiago chile. Buenas aires is in argentina. That will be fine, i thought we had included the 27?
K and M

2007-01-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hola yall!!! It has been a few days and there is a very good but long reason as for why, so how about we start at the begining!
JAN 3/2007 at 7 pm- we get on the bus for along journey! We were trying to go from La Paz, Bolivia to Cuidad de Este, Paraguay. The reason we were trying to go there is because there are world famous waterfalls that border on Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. You know how everyone likes to see some good waterfalls!!!!!!
Jan 4-2007 at 12 noon. We get off our first bus in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, yep thats 17 hours!However this bus had beds and was relitively nice. We managed to make it a fun bus ride! 8 hours till our next bus left so we got a room at a close hotel and got prepared! The next bus was the big one! 25 hours!
Jan4- 2007 at 8 pm we get on the bus. This bus however did not have beds like we paid for and was not nice at all. Matt and i were not so happy but well what are you going to do?
Jan 5 2007 5.30 am The emigration check stops begin! First one is for Bolivia, no problems here! Next stop they get everyone and there bags and get a crazy sniffer dog to go over eveything and then after that you have a police guy search your entire bag, this included Karalynns panty bag hehe.Were backpackers right! that means everything in your bag is placed there perfectly. Did we mention this is when it started to get really really hot and humid!!!!! LIke +40 HOT! Ok so we get through that!!! Now the next one was the imagration to Paraguay. There we are eating some shitty chicken dinners and its our turn to go in the office. No problem. Then the imigration guards start going off about how we Canadians need a visa to get into Paraguay. We had asked this question of many people not to mention going through all those previous stops, knowone said a thing. Ok so all it took was $100 dollars and we got 4 days to get through and then out of Paraguay. Back to the bus!!!!!!! +45 now!
Jan 5 2007 at 9.30 pm we get to Ascuncion, Paraguay. Now we had paid for a night at a hotel in this town, and the following day we were saposed to arrive at out final destination. Of course when we asked what hotel and where no one had an idea, so our only option was to get on another bus and get to Cuidad de Este that night. We are pissed right off now! Beacuse if you having been doing the math this will make it 45 hours on a bus in just over 2 days. What do we do, well we get on the stinking bus at least this one had air condtioning and pass out!
Jan 6-2007 5 am We arrive in Cuidad de Este YAHHHHHHHHH!!!! But nothing is open. We go to the best three hotels and they are not taking guests until 7 am. We end up going across the town to find the shittest hotel. There were beatles in the bed, and matt was freaking out. Not really though.
Jan 6-2007 1 pm project get us out of Paraguay starts and with every idea we get a big fat NO. We did need to eat during our mission, and lets just say everyone is skinny because they dont. When they do eat they memorize what the restaurant serves because restaurants dont have menus. Did we also mention that Karalynn could not understand anyones spanish nor could they understand hers so just one more problem! The day ends with no options out of Paraguay because nothing is open on the weekends.
Jan 7-2007 Another shitty start as we cant find anywhere to eat. We walk forever and finally the only thing we find is a sign that says Burger King 1 min. We give in!!!!! We walk way more then just 1 min probley a good 45 mins and all we can find is a MacDonalds. By the way the Mcdicks is way better here. Karalynn tries to use the internet and even though they are open and other people are using the computers the man simply wont let her use the computer. We finally find away to get to Buenas Aries, Argentina which is another 12 hour bus ride away and $120. We buy a ticket and all is good right? We have come all this way to see the waterfalls so lets go see the waterfalls. As we are driving to the falls happy as can be, the driver turns to us and says we are crossing into Brasil. Mucho problemo, no visa for Brasil Either. The driver explains that it will be fine. This gets us thinking so we ask him if we can do the same thing for Argentina. Yep we can. It wil cost $30 and 40 mins!!! Now we have to get our money back for our tickets to Buenas Aries but refunds really dont exist here! We go back to the bus station Karalynn turns on the waterworks and 1 hour later we are in Argentina at one of the nicest hotels in one of the nicest towns we have been in. Its hot and jungle like!!!! If your paying attention that means we crossed into 3 different countries in just about 40 minutes. Kinda cool we thought, plus we got to see Brasil with out having to buy a $100 visa.
Jan 8-2007 We went to see the Iguazzu Waterfalls. They were beautiful. We took a speed boat right underneith and got soaked! It was so much fun!!! Got some great pics dads! Tommorow we are going on a multi adventure! We are going on canopys, some wet repelling and we also get to do some trekking in the jungle!
Sorry Fernald we dont think we can make it to Cuba, but we would definetly love to. Aunty if your reading dont screen your phone calls all the time please! Grandpa i am going to do my best to find your friend John! I have already started! Say hi to grandma for me. Cam i always new that you liked to do naked snow angels but really your New Years sounded like something outa high school!!!! Kory and Jen if your reading and not writting you should write!!!
Bud thanks for all the info, cant believe Cowher retired. Dad I´ll do my best with the Argentina Versacold. Barbara we havent heard from you and you did not respond to my phone message. Gi, Tani, Amber thanks for writing. Love you guys. Gi sorry to hear about aunty Gloria, thats horrible news! Cant believe grandmas in the hospital, I´m so sorry. Give her my love and tell her I´m praying for her.
Well we are going to eat and there is no lack of good restaurants here! Awesome buffet last night. Karalynn liked the dessert. We hope you all have a good laugh or cry over our story and we will talk to you all soon!!!
Much Love
Karalynn and Matt

2007-01-02T06:33:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!!!!
Matt and i had a great time for new years. We are in La Paz Bolivia and well we are staying at the coolest hostal ever! Its a micro brewery so you get one free beer every night you stay here and you get a free breakfest. They have dvd rooms so you can rent movies. Anyways so for New Years the hostal through a huge party! it was cool. Lots of streamera and confetty! Matt and i got pretty drunk! The one thing that was really cool was that before the party really got underway they had a inca preist kinda come in to do this blessing. Kinda! what he does is burns these packages and he says prayers and really what the idea is that he is banishing the evil spirits from the new year. It was pretty cool! After the party everyone went to a bar here and danced the night away. La Paz is probley the most sketchy place i have been. It is really unsafe for girls, guys even big groups of ppl, so i kinda want to get out of here!
They have black markets and witch markets here too. So in the witch market you can get all kinds of stuff including a lama feitus. Ewww b ut it is still interesting.
We are trying to leave here tommorow and go to argentina but its a long way so we have to figure out how to break it up. I hope matt can handle more bus rides!!!!
Thanks for writting everyone it really means alot to us! Sheila i tried to call you last night it didnt work!! Thanks for all the love mom, bud,ryan mikey,dad, Gi, tanta and amber
My mom, dad, jen i havent heard from mark at all or cam and heidi in awhie?
Georgia hows school? I know being back is aways kinda funny at first!!!
I geuss thats all for now
Lo0ve you all
Karalynn and Matt

2006-12-30T06:09:00.000-08:00

Another long bus ride all the way to Copacabana, Bolivia. This time Matt had no problems sleeping, me however well lets just say warmed myself up with some rum at 5 am. Something i will never forget and no i do not have a problem!!! Copacabana is on Lake titicaca and it is so beautiful! However the hostal we are staying at is not so nice! When you have a shower you get the whole bathroom wet because there is no curtain. About 2 times a day it all of sudden smells like the toilet exploded with sewer. Anyways we can get out of that shit hole fast enough!!!! The first day here we just kinda hung around and walked around the town.We were shopping in this store and the old women and i were having communication problems. She was very irritated by this. So as we got into the barrgining prosses i misunderstood her again and she ripped the things out of matts hands. She kicked us out! Matt didnt really know what had happened and was sad that he wasnt able to buy an alpaca blanket. Just a side note in Bolivia they dont really bargain all that much! kinda interesting! Then yesterday we went to Isla de Sol (the island of the sun) This is one of the most sacred places in Bolivia. This is where they think that the Incas were born. So we Hiked for about 3 painfull hours. The reason i say painful is because of the hills and the elevation dont work so well together. But because matt and i have been lazy buggers (neither of us working out at all) i guess it was good! It was so hot out though matt and i both got burnt. Ouch!!!! On the boat ride back the weather turned and all of a sudden there is a hail storm!! We are of course sitting on the top of the boat. It Was scary matt was getting pelted hard with ice!! Kinda funny now, but we thought we were going to sink because of the crazy waves and thunder.
I think we mentioned an english dude that we had christmas with and as we were shopping there he was. It is pretty cool running into travelers that you hung out with in other countries.
Today we head off for a city called La Paz. This is where we will be for New Years. Whats everyone doing for New Years? It is only a 3 hour bus ride, thats nice!
Moms What do you want for a present!!! Mom(barbara) could you ask mark and reply! Cam and heidi what would you guys like? Sheila? Dad and Gi? Georgia and kristy?
We expect responses!!!
Well thats all for now talk to you all soon
Love,
Karalynn and Matt

2006-12-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

Finally we hit the lush green jungle part of peru. We are in Agua Calientes.We had to get up early and take the train.It was kinda fun!!! This is the small town you stay in that is close to Matchu Pichu. We went there yesterday. It was pretty amazing! Matt loved it!! It is really high up in the mountains and it is classifed as a cloud forest. Unlike Tikal it did not have alot of information. They know it was created in the 1400 hundreds and the people only stayed there for 100 years. It was founded in 1911. They have spent alot of time and money on reconstruction so it almost looks to perfect. It was breath taking looking at this lost city, the beauitful mountains surrounding all while being in the clouds. We got some good pics!
After we met up with this really cool englis dude and had dinner with him. We were right inthe cental park of town looking down on main square. It was a great place to be because all the kids in town were playing with fire crackers and fireworks. At midnight christmas mass just got out and then the entire city errupted in noise from all the firecrackers. For almost ten minutes they were going off! Everyone saying merry christmas. I think that is as christmas as it is going to get!!!!
So hear we are on christmas day!!! We are going to go get some food and then we are getting massages and then we are going to go to the hot springs. They have 7 pools, so we heard. It will be a very relaxing day! It will be needed because we think that tommorow with be a really long day! but here we come bolivia!
The next time we write we will be in copacabana, Bolivia!
Talk to you all soon and Merry Christmas!! Enjoy the turkey for us!
Love
Matt and Karalynn

2006-12-23T14:42:00.000-08:00

Hello from Cusco , Peru!!! We have been here for like 4 days, it is saposed to be one of the coolest cities in peru........Its ok!!! There is alot to see, way more then other cities. Lots of churches and museums and francy architecture. Tommorow we leave for Matchu Pichu at 6 am and we are there till the 26, then we come back and go right to bolivia. For me (karalynn) i really cant wait to get out of peru. Matt has liked peru much more then me. But its all in good fun right!! we will not be in bolivia for very long max a week and then we are off to Argentina/Uraguay. We have heard that the meat in Argentina is world famous so it will be interesting to see if it compares to Alberta Beef (thats right jen we are going to a country for the meat!!!)
Antie Marlene and Grandpa thanks so much for writting it means alot to me. I hope all my other aunts and uncles and family are reading this too. Grandpa dont worry i will watch out for those tricky lizards!!! Thanks for the advice!
Sheila get better!!!! i will call you soon!
Kevin stay out of trouble and say merry christmas to your sister and your dad for me
Dave did i mention you suck lately!

So FELIZ NAVIDAD!! (MERRY CHRISTMAS) to everyone. Happy New Year too!! We hope everyone has a great christmas and new years. Enjoy the turkey! Mom save me some short bread!We will try and call but we dont know what the phone situation in Matchu Pichu is like.
We love everyone and thanks so much for writting on the blog!!!
ok talk to you all soon
Merry Christmas
Love
Karalynn and Matthew

2006-12-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

wow everybody dont all talk at once now you hear!!!!!! wheres the love says matt! You know we asked some people questions last entry, where are the answers?
sooo in the last couple of days we have done quite a bit! We went to this really cool museum here in Arequipa. The main attraction was called JUANITA. She is one of the best perserved mummies in the world. The incas used to sacrifice people to the mountian gods.They usually did this when the volcanos started to act up. They would have to pick someone that would please the gods so this ment a young beautiful virgin. They were almost always kids, that were good kids and of a noble family. So far they have found 14 kids in South America that have been sacrificed. How it would all go down was, they would walk for days to the top of the volcanos or mountains. Once at the top they would dig a tomb and then the child would drink a sedative and go to sleep. The priest or whoever would then hit the child above the right temple with one blow it would kill them instantly. They would then place the child in a fetal position in the tomb, and surround it with offerings to the gods. The thing is that the incas thought that the person who was sacrificed would become almost god like themselves. so yes the child was scared but it was almost an honor. Juanita was in the musuem!!! She was kept in this temperature controlled see through container. She had her hair,teeth,finger nails, all of her brains and internal organs and skin intact. It was really cool!!!
The following day we started our two day tour of the Colca Canyon. It was about 4 hours away and we were 3633 meters above sea level. It was high, you had to drink this tea. It is called coca tea and it is made out of coca leaves it is really good for alltitude sickness. So we got to this town that we were staying in, had lunch and then went on a hike. It was really beautiful but because of the elevation i (karalynn) was having a really hard time breathing, but got through it. At the top of the mountain we were hiking we found out that the incas that used to live in the same town below would bury their dead in tombs at the top. In the tombs they would put everything that the person needed for the next life. Unfortunatly there have been tomb raiders that would steal the valuables.
The tombs that we saw were totally destroyed and all that remained was their skeletons.
Then we went to the hot springs that were about 85 degrees ferenheit. The surrounding colcanos warmed these hot springs. It was great!!!! very relaxing. We went out to dinner and there was mariachi band. They were pretty good but the fun part was when matt got up to dance with one of the girls!!!
The next day we climbed up to see the condors and see the valley. It was way to cold to see any condors which was really dissappointing, but we heard you can see them in Argentina so we will cross our fingers. The valley was ........... deep!!! Amazing and well good! That is about it for that little tour! it was fun
Tommorw we head to Puno to go see some really cool island and the famous lake titicaca(i like saying that). Lake titicaca is the highest largest body of water in the world. We do think that we will be in Matchu Pichu for christmas and be in boliva by new years! soo we are all good, no mud butt yet!
We will write when we can
Love
matt and karalynn

2006-12-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

Did i mention how great the marriott hotel is?!!!! Thanks again mom and dad, matt and i really appreciated it!!! Because dad is a gold member we got our asses kissed!!! we got free late cheak out and all of our meals for free. So after two glorious days at the hotel we had to leave. However we did not realize how hard traveling around peru was, the bus rides are really long. So we decided to come to Arequipa which is the 2nd biggest city in peru. It is 16 hours away. Yes that is right we had to sit on a bus for 18 and a half hours. Matt was not impressed!!!! We got on the bus at 4:30 pm on dec 12 and arrived here at 10:30 am dec 13. ouch!!! Tommorw we will be going on a tour to what is called the colca canyon, it is 2 times as deep as the grand canyon. Here we will see alot of different towns. One big attreaction is the condors. They are the biggest bird in the world with a wing span of 12 ft. They are saposed to be great!!! There are also volcanos with hot springs so we will be able to go into those too.
Arequipa is like antigua for me except there are no gringos really at all, so my spanish is being put to the test! i am doing ok but it is very hard. Here there is saposed to be 300 days of sunshine a year, i know its great!!! whats the weather like at home????
sheila what are your phone numbers again? How is work and the house selling?
Jen where are you i havent herd from you in awhiel
Mom pls make sure mark is watering my plants, matt thinks he is going to kill them!
Dad(matts dad) HAPPY BIRTHDAY i tried calling but no one picked up i will try calling again
Ryan HAPPY BIRTHDAY(kathy and bud if he dosent read this pls let him know)
Mom and bud thanks for writting, keep reading the blog we will keep everyone up to date on our crazy adventures!!!
antie sherry, fernald and the kids, and crystal and bryant hello, having a great time! keep in contact. Tanny, amber where are my messages?
Let me tell you guys, the drivers out here are crazy. Sharing lanes, no signaling, no speed limits. On the way here on the bus ride from hell we were on like a cliff right beside the ocean and i swear he was going to drive us right off the cliff. So it is going to take some getting use to!!!
From here we are going to go to the city of puno there are some really cool jungle like towns and national parks that we are going to go to. The lake is called Titicaca, yep titicaca anyways it is saposed to be great!!! We will probley be in peru for christmas, but we dont really know yet. From here we are going to go to chile or bolivia we dont know! we will let you guys know
WEll we are off to see the historical sites of the city
Bye
Love
Karalynn and Matt

2006-12-11T07:41:00.000-08:00

Matt has arrived!!!!!!! He arrived this morning at about 6.30 am. We are so excited!!!!! i feel like we are at home because i have never been with someone i know away from home, and matt feels like he is in a dream!!! i know it is going to be interesting if this is how he feels in a 5 star hotel.He has already mentioned how crazy the drivers are(one thing i forgot to mention opps) like they drive all over the lanes, no speed limits, and for someone like matt who dosent like being in the car whiel other ppl drive ahahahahahahaha I swear i never want to leave this hotel. I know it sounds bad because i am a backpacker after all but you are treated like royalty!! thanks again dad and mom!
We will be spending the day figuring out what is to happen tommorw so in a couple of days i will write with a plan, and i am sure a few stories!!!!
Love you all karalynn

2006-12-08T15:42:00.000-08:00

i love puerto veijo costa rica. There is something about this place that is just great!!! so on Wed morning i got up and got to the airport, and just managed to catch the last bus to P.V. I was really worried i would have to stay the night in san jose but nope i got here.
I walked in to Rocking jays (the hostle) and there was my friend jasons face! i was so happy that he was there. So we caught up and hung out.
I is so hot here so you can imagen, i have spent the last two days on the beach, swimming and sun tanning. I think i got burnt today. I forgot what it sounds like to fal asleep to the sound of the ocean. Its beautiful.!!!! The fist night in the hammock some how my right top of my arm got bitten like 15 times and my face!!! my face 4 times! that sucks. I have my net up now so they cant eat me alive anymore. Yesterday i just went to a close beach but today i rented a bike and peddled my way down the beach for about 45 mins. It was even more beautiful!!!! i love just sittting there reading. On the way back we saw a tucan. yep and it was really close, you have no idea how beautiful their beaks really are.I always think of fruit loops. you know tucan sam!!!!The hammocks are so great! i missed them
Oh ya and the adiction is back. What adiction you ask, oh it is the TRIT adiction. I have been good only 2 a day this time!!!!! i feel fat!
So a couple more days here and then off to see matty!!!! we are going to have so much fun!!!! i know it feels like forever since i saw you. I keep thinking about oh well if matt was here....... all good things!!!!! glad your having fun matt!
so i will probley write once more beforte i leave here, Its to hard to set up skype so i am not calling anyone here!
Anyways have to go to return my bike!!! i think i will be late, i hope he dosent charge me more. Anyways
Bye
Karalynn

2006-12-04T07:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry i havent written, its been along week!
so i climbed picaya(volcano) on sat and it sucked. It was cloudy and dark, the only really cool thing about it was the fact that at some point it was like sitting infront of a huge fire it was so hot. I could see the lava. Then as i was trying to take pics of this the camara decided it did not like the brandnew batteries i put in it and would not allow me to take anymore pics. Dont worry dad the camara is fine!!!!
Yesterday in the morning i was sleeping and i woke up because my bed was shaking and then the entire house was shaking, and then it stopped about 1 min after it started. Yes it was a trrimmer. Now i am not sure if it is because of the volcanos or and actual earthquake. The things was is i have had acouple of those here just way smaller and i just thought that i was imagening it. I know i am so dumb. Oh well now i know what it is (2 days before i leave)
Today is my last class yahahahahahaha. I cant wait to be done!!!
The next two days will be spent getting things ready to leave, laundy ect.....
By this time in 3 days i will be swinging in a hammock on the beach in costa rica yayaya
Matt left this morning for texsas so its really cool to think that his adventure has just begun!! hi baby i hope your flight was ok!

Last night i was thinking about family, and how important it really is to me. I am so happy that in this point in my life i am getting closer to my brothers and my sister. But what i was thinking is sad is how we are with our cousins. Most of us are not close to each other, and that makes me really sad. Some of them probley dont even know our names. Cousins: as we grow up and have families it will be about us getting together for the hoildays and such things and i dont know, i just think that if we are not close now then we might not do that. Like candise and kristopher you guys are in edmonton and i havent seen you in like forever.Jermey,justin and jordon you guys are also close and we never talk. Its not like we are kids anymore and our parents will bring us together every year. I am going to make more of an effort on that front and i hope you will all hold me to that!!! i love you all. Cam, mark and jenn i really really love you guys!!!!!!! well enough of this emotionl shit!!!!!

My cold is gone, it all cleared up, thanks goodness i was pretty worried. Thanks for the concern and prayers!!!
Anyways i dont know if i will write again before i leave antigua sooo if i dont i will talk to you all when i get to beautiful costa rica!!!
Love you all very much
Karalynn Tiffant Taves

2006-11-27T07:44:00.000-08:00

TIKAL

WOW, it was so cool! There is so much to tell about Tikal. Well first i had to wake up at at 3:15 in the morning and be ready for my bus pick up at 4 am. i know early!!! So i was picked up and brought into Guatemala city. I really hate Guatemala city, even the nice part of town is dirty, lots of homless and it just has a SIN CITY feel to it. Got the airport and go on what was then smallest plane i had ever been on it, seated about 30 ppl. It was a really fast flight, it was like just as soon as the seat belt light came off it was on again because we were decending. We got to flores which is about an hour away from tikal, our guide was already there to start weaving the story about these encredible mayans.
Tikal was around for about 1000 yrs, and then died off in 850 AD. They died off because of a huge drought and then war started after that, once the people realized that the kings,queens preists and doctors were not doing much to help them, they killed them all off. When the killed them, they killed off all of the people that were smart, to sum it up.
Some major things about these ppl are ONE : they played a game that was really really hard that was almost a cross between basketball and soccor. What would happen is the winner would be known as almost a god. I specimen of man that was powerfull and supierior. In the begining the winner would then be sacfificed to the gods, and usually they would have to do it them selves. The mayans thought that the gods would be happiest with a still beating heart if possible. I know isnt that crazy!!! So after this big game the winner would stand on this rounded stone that had beautiful carving on it and well kill himself. This was an honor, usually they would be then baried with the kings and such.
The ppl we brilliant, they set up this almost pyramid, and by watching the sky 24 hours a day for who knows how long they came up with a 365 day calender, the also new when all of the eclips and season changes would be. They had to because here the soil only gose down about 6 inches so in order to have enough from the crops they had to plant more then just 1 time a year.
they figured out ways to watch to planets which is a huge mystery still bacause they dont know exsactly how they did it, they think it was kinda like the egyptions.
All around tikal the are mathmatical formations in the buildings, every thing thatwas built was built where it was for a reason. Almost all the buildinds except one were built east to west. Its to hard to explain on here so if anyone would like more info you will have to look it up but it is simply amazing how smart they were.
All the buildings in tikal are made from lime stone, which is really soft, moss has no problem growing on it so then you have trees and bushes all growing on there buildings. The researchers think that that was how it was back then because the mayans thought to try and be one with the earth, you dont hurt trees because trees are apart of you. So in 1848 when a couple of explorers were walking by they did not seeing buildings, it was only when the looked up at what is know as temple 1 they saw a cave. This was the door at the top into the building, only when the went inside did the realize that there was carvings, gold, jade and here was how tikal was founded again 100 yrs after everyone was gone from it. Think about it though, if they had not seen the door or if the door was to covered by plants, we would have never ever even found out about tikal, amazing!

i had a really good time only to be wisked back to the hotel to have lunch then on the road back home.
So i got to the airport and i was lead to the smallest plan i have been on to this dat it seated 17 ppl and well i almost had a panick attack. I didnt and got home safe but what a jouney.

I have had ths really weird cough latley that i am kinda beging to worry about because some one said it sounds like broncitise and i have officaly lost my voice. I hope it comes back soon
I have another weekend and a bit here and well i know irt will go by fast, i really just want to be done my classes, like today how can i speak? oh well i will deal with it when it comes. Not doing much this week, but this weekend i will be climbing the mighty poikia volcano, whioch is saposed to be amazing.
Lots of pictures as always.
Anyways i geuss that is it for now
love you all
Karalynn

2006-11-22T08:40:00.000-08:00

ok
so you have no idea how much white bread ppl eat here, almost every meal there is white bread. Also the amount of salt that my house mom cooks with is almost unbeilevable. I think that if she dosent cut down she is going to die in the next 5 yrs. Plus the fact that she has been sick for the last 2 weeks and not getting better. I am not trying to sound harsh , it is just fact. There is a pretty bad flu going on here though, and i dont know if ppl get shots or not. I wonder
Here everyone has shinny shoes! i know it sounds funny but it is true. Therefore there are shoe shinners every where, and if you want your shoes shinned you find one sit down and they do it right then and there. It cost 2Q which is about 25 cents. Now they range from 5 yrs old to 50 yrs old. i know it is sad but if they cant afoord to got o school they have to work. I think it is also paassed down, so if your dad was a shoe shinner so are you.
It has been really quite cold here for the last three days, not as cold as home(i am not complaining) but because it is so humid it is bone chilling. But it is funny, cuz i still think it is quite warm so i am wearing a skirt and a tank top and every local is wearing jeans a sweater and a jacket, it is like they are freeziung. so they look at me like i am crazy
I am al alone here now. All my friends have left so i am not realloy talking to alot of people and spemnding alot of time alone. That is ok, it is good for ppl like me to learn to be alone. I was also thinking that even if i could talk spanish fluently i dont think i would be talking very much, i just dont have alot to say. But i may be wrong.
This sun my teacher is throwing here parents a big b-day party i think they rae both turning 65. Anyways so i am expecting not very mainy ppl cuz well i know that their poor. so i asked how many and she said 70 ppl. Their house isnt even big enough for 20 so they will end up on the street, isnt that crazy!!!! i am going to try to go but i dont think that i get back from tikal until later, but who knows.
So
jen i hope school is going well, i am glad that you get to get out of the city!! how is you know who!!!!
sheila glad to hear you havent sold the house, how is everything eles?
matty mi amor!
Well that is it for now,
Talk to you all soon
Karalynn

2006-11-19T08:43:00.000-08:00

Did i mention that i live on the same street as probley the most famous church in antigua. It is beautiful but there a couple of things that are really wierd. First well the bells ofcourse go off many times a day but that is usual isnt it. On sat and sun the have explosions like every hour and some times it is like 10-15 in a row. What i mean by explosions is mabey it is like shot guns being fired, but no matter almost every time i jump.It is really strange to being awaken by what sounds like a bomb being dropped outside your door. This is all sat and sun. Yeserday was this famous monks birthday. He is known for healing becasue when he was alive he took care of thousands of sick people, manily children. So at the church and all around town there were feistas. Lots of explosions and lots of fireworks. Unfotunatley i was a home sleeping, or trying to. I was not feeling very well yesterday due to the going away feista the night before.
Now on sundays right outside one of the churches door there is a m,an that sells goats. I have not figured it out yet but i think that they are for offering. That is so sad, then again he could just be selling them, it is not like these people to buy such an expensive animal that could provide alot for them just to killl them for god. But i dont know.

Christmas has started here, you can see trees dicerated and right now there is the christmas song in spanish playing in the back ground, it is famous we listen to it at home but i forget the name. I was talking to my teacher about our cultures around christmas time. Yiou only buy one gift for one person in the family if you can. But it unlike christmas at home it really is not about presents here. Only the rich people can get a turkey because they are really really expensive.
But in talking about christams and my familys tradtions i relized how many we really have. I think evenb for north american families we have an unusal amount of tradtions that just our family dose. That is pretty cool

So i only have 2 and a half more weeks here. All studying, Thats it. well no that is not true i will be going away on the up coming weekends.

I am going to go eat, then go home a study.
Love you all
Karalynn

2006-11-17T09:18:00.000-08:00

hello
First off dad Matts arrival date is Dec 11/06 @ 5.20 am flight number 2111. Mine is Arrive @ 8.05pm on Dec 10/06 flight number taca ta 0035. Mom , matt wants you to call him so pls do.
So I know i have said that i am getting into a normal routine but how is that possible when this morning i was working out looking at a volcano. There is nothing normal about that! i just need to realixe how lucky i am.

so tonight there is a huge fiesta for all the people that i met whiel i have been here. it is sad but it will be a good party.
Anyways i will write on sun to tell you how my weekend went.
Karalynn

2006-11-15T07:36:00.000-08:00

Sorry that i havent writen but when i feel like nothing is going on i have nothing to write!
But i geuss there is lots going on.
Spanish is spanish studying very hard, everyday. I have alot of spanish in my brain but i have not really started to use it in speaking, hopefully before the week ends it will be better.
Almost all of the students that i have met whiel i have been here are all leaving this weekend. So that means i will have to talk alot more and my life will get even more boring yah!!!!!!!!
I woke up early to do a pilates class this mrning, it was so hard. It is only a 45 min class and i am used to 1 hour so i thought it would be easy. Nopr not so much i was sweating up a storm in like 10 mins. It is a good thing i have done lots of pilates because like everything eles it is in spanish. So what i have noticed is that yes alot of ppl here work oput but unlike home there are not alot of jucie monkeys. I think i have seen one.

here in guatemala the water is clean, but every single person weather your a gringo or not drinks botteled water becasue as i found out the water is clean but there is a huge calcuim deposit in the water, i didnt know that. So you can see it in the shower and such. I still have not had a hot or even warm shower since i got here. I think the girl from montreal stopped showing like a week ago.

Have any of you heard of buenas vista social club? i might have mentioned them, i think i did. How there were this cuben group formed after world war 2. Anyways the members are like 70 yrs old and still jamming. The play in the club every wednesday night for free which is unuasl seeing is how they are world famous. I would suggest everyone to cheak it out(katie) You will seriously just love how you body just starts to move to the music. I think that is whjat we are all doing this weekend.

I cant wait to go to tikcl next weekend, finally see a little more of guetmala. For anyone who dosent know tikal is i think one of the biggest ruiens in the world. It is in gutemala but kinda close to belize.

Anyways i should go, im still sweaty from the class
Talk to yopu all soon
Love you,
Karalynn

2006-11-07T14:53:00.000-08:00

hola
Ok so I started my spanish lessons yesterday and they are going well so far. I think i forgot how hard learning spanish really was. My teacher besides teaching me spanish also tells me alot about guaemala. There is 3 active volcanos here and the most popular is called pikia. My teachers firts husband was killed by this volcano when it erupted when he was doing a tour. She has 8 kinds and she is only 30 yrs old! She was also teeling me how abortions are illegal here but at the same time your no saposed to use condoms or the pill. Her youngest daughter who is not married is 2 months pregnet and not married! to bad there wasent some condoms for her! I am studying 4 hours a day 7 days a week, i know it is alot.
Halloween here is a really big deal, so 2 nights ago there was the last fetival and it was a big parade. There was a huge stage that was about 30 feet by 10 made of wood and on the top there was a casket which had a fake body of christ. It took 90 ppl to carry this thing and not only that but it started at 3 and ended at 11.30. So they walked it around the entir ciyt. Everyone was out for it even the kids. It was crazy!
There are lots of women and kids that still dress in the traditional guatemalan cloths but you have to be a true indiginous person to do so. It is really cool to see them carry big things on there head around the city. Most of them are the ones selling stuff on the street.
Anyways thats all for now
Talk to you soon
K

2006-11-04T10:38:00.000-08:00

I think i am really going to like it here. There are lots of really cool buildings and i dont know if i mentioned it already but it is a city but seriously not bigger then threehills but it is not crowded or dirty or anything. The food has been really good so far and it is all cooked for me! it is usually a pasta and either veggies and meat or just veggies. I think i might turn veggie whiel i am here. It is kinda weird though cuz you have to be home a 1 pm and 7 pm for lunch and dinner, and when was the last time i had to be home for dinner regularly? not even that but just saying you have a home in another country is strange! but i really like the fact that i am going to be here for awhiel. i met a bunch of ppl and went out last night and that was well i would say that when you can buy a 40 pounder at a bar for 4 dollars it gets very interesting! but alot of them are here for awhiel to so we get the chance to really get to know eachother.
I am going to try and start school on mon so i am looking forward to that.
This morning looking forward to a nice hot shower in which i was promised i found out there was none! It is warm here but not that warm!
On my last trip i had really crazy dreams like every night and i think it is starting again because i have had some messed up dreams whiel i have been here(dont know why i am writting that)
anyways i should go do something right!!!!
Karalynn
ps C.C.T the last couple of words that we spoke on the phone the other day really ment the world to me!

2006-11-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

I got to antigua at about 9 am and after a nap i met the home stay ppl. Everyone in the house speaks really good spanish and your not saposed to talk english, ya right. my spanish is not that good. I will start lessons on mon or mabey tommorow. I have just spent the last 30 mins trying to by skype minutes but for some reason it is not working. i dont know what i am going to do.
It is warm here but it dose rain through out the day. Everything is very green and nice cobble stone streets. I will be taking some pics!! And hopefully i can figure out how to get skype working!
K

2006-10-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

The directions on how to comment on my posts:
For each and every post i have you will see on the bottom right hand of the post it says comments, and how many there are for that post.
Click on Comments
then it will bring you to the screen that on the left hand side says everyones comments and on the right hand side where it says "leave your comment"
Write your message make sure that you leave your name at the end of your message or make it clear as to who you are.
Then you need to choose an identity, pick anonymous and the press "login and publish"
It is very easy to use! if anyone has anymore questions let me know!
Only 6 more days till i leave
yahahahahahahahaha

2006-10-10T13:12:00.000-07:00

hello i am just trying it out to see if it works. I cant beleive that i leave in 23 days