I found myself on the beach in Chile today!

March 27, 2010

I had heard from a tourist that i could go to some office in Arequipa to renew my passport visa without having to go to the Bolivian or chile boarder. I talked to Pablo,my boss, and he called his brother who lives in Arequipa to find out. They told me yes, so on Friday I got on the 630am bus leaving Cabanaconde and arriving to Arequipa 6 hours later. Pablo met me at the bus station, and he called his brother to find out which office we needed to go to. This is when we found out, it was not possible. I had to go to the boarder. I was a bit upset and didnt know what to do now. Pablo had offered to take me to a place with traditional Peruvian food, so we decided just to go eat and have some cervezas. I thought the cervezas would calm me down, but they didnt. All i wanted to do it call home or hopefully talk to my mom on line. It has been almost 2 weeks since i talked to anyone live, and i really needed the comfort from home.

The Pervian food was amazing. No rice or pasta. I finally had a real rocoto relleno, stuffed spicy chile peper, a huge cake like square of potatoes and cheese, sweet potato chips, and a huge chunk of pork. I usually wouldnt order pork, but that is what came with the meal and it was good. It rememinded me of the meats in Germany, they all look a little scary but taste really good. This restaurant was a pretty fancy place. Pablos family usually comes here when they are in town. It was a large glass sun house, an open kitchen across the street with all the meats laying out to be cooked or served. A band stage was setting up and music started. Many celebrations were going on. A few birthdays were announced. And when the music started people got up to dance in the center floor. A few older couples, it was cute to watch them.

We talked about me going to Chile this weekend to get a new visa and how long the bus ride would be. We thought it was going to be another 10 hour bus ride, but when we got back to the bus station. They said it was 6 hours to Tacna, (boarder city) and another 40 minutes to get to the boarder. Ok, much better. The last bus to leave Arequipa was at 10pm.

We went back to Pablo´s families apartment to drop off my stuff. He gave me a set of keys and showed me where an internet place was. He had to go meet with his buisness partner about selling the potatoes he had brought to town the night before. I walked down the street to an internet place, and thankfully my mom was online and we could talk though Instant Messenger. (so handy that thing)

I told her my situtation about having to renew my passport visa, and after an hour or so talking to her, felt better. This probably was the best time to do it anyway, Ive already taken one 6 hour bus ride, this way i can break up the trip instead of trying to do it straight through. And i have a place to stay for free in Arequipa. Also, i found out some amazing news. I got my taxes return back and i am getting a good amount of money. More than ive ever got before. So i dont have to worry about traveling anymore. Im not going to go waste it, because i know i have a lot of bills to pay when i get back to the states. But at least i know i have some just incase. Its not a good feeling not having money.

After about 2 hours at the internet, i went back to the apartment, and Pablo wasnt there. I layed around and read for a while and figured by 9 i should get a taxi back to the bus station and go to Chile. I left pablo a note saying i was going to chile and ill be back early sunday. I realized i had no way of contacting him when i got back to i left him my email, and hopefully he will email me. He had told me his favorite futbol club was playing on sunday and that i should go see the game. So i was going to try and get back for that. When i lived in England, i never went to see a game, and i kind of regret it, so i think i will try to see one here in S. America.

So 915, and no Pablo, so i decided just to go. I walked outside the apartment just as a taxi was driving by. I waved him down and off to the bus station i went. Walked into the station, and I bus companies where yelling Tacna Tacna, and waving me over. They want to fill the bus before it leaves. So i got a good price and my ticket, and waited until 10 to leave. I was able to sleep the whole way, and arrived in Tacna at 4am. By 515, i was on another bus that takes me across the boarder and helps you get stamped out of Peru and stamped into Chile. Its pretty easy. Another 30 minutes and i was in Arica, Chile´s bus terminal.

On this bus, which was full, I sat in the back between a large Momasita woman, who seems to have a comment on everyting, or by the tone of her voice, a complaint. I watched as she pulled a hair that was tangled around her erring, and used it as floss. Sitting to my right, was a older, potbelly man, saw the same thing and just turned to look out the window. I laughed.

Within minutes, I am in another country, 2 hours time difference, they use pesos, and i find myself once again at the beach and out of the mountains. This transition was so fast and took me a while to get used to it. Also, Chilians speak so much faster spanish. It was about 8 Peru and 10 Chile time. I was so tired and didnt know what to do. I was too overwhelmed, and really didnt want to spend too much money since Chile is a lot more expencive. So i just started walking. A few blocks down, i found a mini mall with restaurants, internet, and a small bread shop that was the only thing open. So i bought some bread and a large water, asked how far it was to the beach, only 20 minute walk, and decided to spend the day at the beach.

I arrived at the beach and it was still quite and cloudy. Two guys were out on surfboards, but the new ones where you stand on the board and use a paddle to push you. I sat on some rocks, as slowly more cars showed up as more people pulled out surfboards. The waves were small, so not really surfing material. I sit watching, as i see fish jumping, birds floating, and a little seals head pops up to take a look around.

I moved down the beach to laydown in the sand. Slowly, more people began to fill the beach, but never got really crowded. I read, slept, and wished i had my swimsuit with. The sun was hot, and i had to keep reapplying sunscrean. After i while, it was too hot so i went for a walk to find some shade. I found a park and sat on the swings for a while. I really do think swings are my favorite! Then went back and walked along the shore line. The water felt so nice and cool. I walked further down the coast to where only a few people and kids were. After a while, i realized that the kids and 2 guys with them, where Americans. I never did talk to them to find out where they were from, but figured they were on holiday since there was a huge hotel right behing us.

Finally around 5pm, as the sun was starting to go down. I figured it would be best to head back to the little mall i first found. Get some food, use the internet and waste some time. One of the open shops was a betting place and horse races were on the tv. So i stood there with a large group of old men, who were all betting on the races. I got an email from Pablo and i was to call him when i got back to the bus station. The futbol game was at 130, so try to get there before then.

I ordered a hamburger con fritas, and when it came it was probably the biggest burger ive ever seen. The bun itself was wider than my hand. I had no problem eating the whole thing, since all i really had to eat all day was bread and an apple. Around 10, i walked back to the bus terminal. Asked what times the buses left and decided to wait until early morning before crossing over. I knew i had to wait a day before entering Peru again but i wasnt sure if it had to be exactly 24 hours.

Finding a bench, i layed and slept a few hours here and there. Most of the other people were on the other side of the building, so i felt safe where i was. Finally around 4am Peruvian time, some other backpackers arrived. They were going to take a taxi across the boarder, so i got in with them. It costs a little more, but i had to make sure to get back to Arequipa before 1. I met another California guy and a German girl. We made it through the boarders with no problems, and i got another 90 visa stamped in my passport. !!!!

Made it back to the Tacna bus terminal in time to catch the 630 bus. This would get me back to Arequipa by 1230, time for food and a cerveza before the game.

Ive never really cared how long the bus takes, but since this time i had to meet Pablo, i wanted it to be on time. Thats the thing with Peru and South America in general. They run on their own time. This bus inparticular had other problems. Finally leaving the station hour late, we stopped outside of the city and had to turn around and come back to switch buses. I have no idea whats going on, and hope this bus will just go and hurry up. It funny that all the people on the bus are stomping and yelling ´Vamos´, and ´Rapido´... Lets go and Faster!

Out of the city we stop at the same place as before and have another problem. People started to get off to find out whats going on, as they are all gathered around bickering, as it looks like. I really had to go to the bathroom and i didnt want to sit on the bus for 6 hours. So i got off and ran to the back side of the bus. No one saw me and i felt so much better. haha Ok, lets get this bus going and make up some time.

As i tried to sleep, I get woken up as the bus makes more stops. We were at custums and had to pull out my passport. This bus was taking forever and i was not going to make it back intime. Sitting next to me, was a nice older man and we tried to have a conversation. He ended up getting off a lot sooner than Arequipa and he shook my hand and said goodbye. I then curled up on the seat and went back to sleep.

Finally around 230, we get to Arequipa, and the guy sitting in front of me wakes me up and tells me we are in Arequipa. Finally. I found a phone to call Pablo, but his phone was turned off. ok now what. I dont have the address to the apartment and not sure what i should do. I ask where there is internet, and i go back into the bus terminal. I find some internet in a small restaurant and checked to see if Pablo emailed me at all. Nope. I check to see what times the next buses leave to go back to Cabanaconde, 4 and 430. So i had time to wait and decide what i was going to do. I sat down and ordered a cerveza!!! yes, relax and think. I figured the game would be over around 330, so 340 i tried to call again and if i wasnt able to get ahold of Pablo, i would get the 430 bus back to cabanconde. Well at 340, luckily and thankfully, i was able to get ahold of Pablo, and he came to meet me at the bus station. I really didnt want to get onto another 6 hour bus ride.

So we left the station, and went to get some food. We were only a couple of blocks away from the Plaza de Armas so we walked down there. There they have a huge amazingly, beautiful Cathedral and was having a huge ceremony outside as it is the beginning of their easter celebration. They have a week long celebration. So we walked into the church. I bought 2 purple candles for 1sole (30cents), one for me and my family, and one for PAblo and his family. The church was full of people inside, and they started to carry around a huge statue of jesus.

It was a nice early evening as we walked around a bit more and into another church. Here we were able to light the candles. So i light one for all my friends and family! Finally, we decided to head back to the apartment. I was going to take a nap and then we were going to see a movie. I wanted to see Alice in Wonderland, even if it was in spanish. But i was so tired, i only woke up at 1130. I figured Pablo was sleeping, so i went back to sleep and woke up at 6am, 7, and finally got up at 8. I was so tired.

We made a delicous breakfast of eggs, fruit salad, bread, yogart, leftover pork from the other day, and sweetpotatoes fried. So delicios. Im getting the 2pm bus back to Cabanaconde today. And as part of my job, meet any tourists and bring them with me back to my hostel.

Ill spend another week in Cabanaconde and witness all the festivites of the holiday, then go to the oasis for a week. And who knows after that!