After spending a few days in Lake Tahoe, driving all the way around and enjoying the beautiful scenery, i headed for Yosemite National Park. Very fun drive seeing all the Harley Davidsons and driving througt the Pine Forest. The smell was absolutly Divine.
I finally arrived after taking a detour via Mono Lake. The lake was very pretty, but more a stagnant pool, full of flies and seagulls. Nice as long as you kept your distance. The reflection of the surrounding mountains was pretty cool though.
I panicked when entered the NP asmost of the tent sites were full.. and also the park was much bigger than i had expected, so it took much longer to get around.
I managed to find myself a spot in a campsite in the north of the park, and also just driving in had already seen some rock climbers. The camping here was pretty scary, and similar to the camping in Tahoe, lots of active bears in the area, and therangers told me they came into the campsite everyday!
Day 1 in Yosemite i decided to hike up to Upper Yosemite Falls... on the drive into the Valley you come across the moast amazing cliff.. called EL CaPITAN. It is a sheer cliff which comes out of the flat ground.. over a 1000ft. absolutly stunning. I then eaded fot the falls. Unfortunatly the weather was way too hot, and the waterfall was nothing more than a trickle which was a shame. I tried findin the trail, found myself scrambling up the rocks, and realised i might kill myself, so came down and did the Valley Loop Trail. I walked all the way to mirror lake, looking forward to a nice dip... only to find out when i got there that it was a DRY LAKE... literally NO water at all! How Ridiculous.
I then walked back to the car after what turned out to be a full day hike and spent the evening avoiding bears and planning the next day hike to Glacier Point.
DAY2 i hiked up the 4 mile trail to Glacier point. It is actually longer than 4 miles, with an assent of over 1300ft. It was hard work but definitly worth it! the view from the top of the valley was just STUNNING> unfortunatly i managed to break my photo camera, so have no decent photo of the valley. Also, from up there there were amazing views of the half Dome. it is a mountain made of granite in the shape of a dome, but cut in half... hence the name. The views in Yosemite are in general beautiful, and so bizzare. It is a valley of Granite walls and somehow trees grow straight out of this stuff... bit crazy! After the hike i went to May Lake, which turned out to be another ile hike uphill!!! and i was hoping to fianlly bathe... but the water was so cold i didnt dear jump in. Just paddled.. plus didnt want to disturb all the fisherman down there.
DAY 3 - i hiked up the John Muir trail towards the half dome, but justwent to see 2 waterfalls(which actually had water) Nevada falls was at the top and offered beautiful views. Then walking down to Vernal falls you walk past the emerald pools... which is basically granit rock which is almost flat, and kids use it as a giant water slide to slide into the pool before the second waterfall! Then you have vernal falls which is stunning. the fall is a smallish stream of water which crashes onto the rocks below, but is small enough that evrytime the wind blows it moves the entire waterfall... its mezmerizing to watch, and there is always water there!
After this strenuous climb i drove down to the Merced river for a much needed bath!!! - i hate that campsites have no showers, and my bloody solar shower was always gone cold by the time i finish y hike and got back to the campsite.
Unfortunatly had to leave Yosemite without conquering the Half dome.. but being alone, and it being a 2 day hike, or a very long 1 day, i didnt want to risk it... so i have to leave, and hope i return with company another day to summit it.... and onwards i go to pick up Ness and head for the Burning Man.
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Thursday, 23 August 2007
CALIFORNIA - Driving.
Arrived in Oakland and got a lot of funny looks from people as why i was going there... later found out it is well known for all the drive-by shootings!
The plan had originally been to go and buy a car in Oakland, but i heard on the plane that there was a chance for me to rent despite being underage. So i have rented a car for an extortionate price under the table. Although i hoped i would get a car that wouldnt break down and be fairly new.. this car would have to do.. despite the fact it has the worst gear shifts.. i could do a much better job myself ( its an automatic), it has bumps and scratches all over it.. its WHITE- disgusting!-but seems to be a popular colour out here, and also the lights inside the car dont work.. so i cant see what i am doing with the radio, aircon, etc at night.. luckily the seepdometer does work. Also the headlights never switch off while the engine is runnning, which is making me paranoid, that even when the engine is off i am draining the battery, and will wake up in the middle of nowhere and the car wont start!
Anyway... hotels even in oakland were minimum $100 so i decided to start making my way over to lake Tahoe. I think its do-able in about 3hours, but i decided to take the smaller roads and do the scenic route, whilst getting used to my car. Stopped in a place called Jackson to get a motel recommendation.. once the girl realised i was alone.. told me NOT to go there.. and invited me in and phoned round all the motels in the area, and even the dodgy one was $100. Cheapest i found was $87 in a next door town called sutters Creek. The town was BEAUTIFUL. It was all old like in a western movie.. very very cool!
I loved it, and the next morning took a walk around before heading off for Lake Tahoe. \
The most annoying thing about driving out here is the speed limits.. the highest one i have seen is 65mph,. but round lake Tahoe is 45.. they also change every few hundred meters! Very annoying!!
The scenery upto lake Tahoe was pretty cool.. loads of guys on their harleys,. and I drove through the pine forests, could see lakes down in the valleys. I cant believe the scenery is so different just 200miles away from San Fran. Also in San Fran the temperature doesnt really vary between 60-85F all year.. whereas here in Tahoe.. its about 90 now, and in winter its cold enough that this is a ski resort!
Right now here in Tahoe it is so busy.. all the familys are here.. ppl water skiing, cycling etc.. ahving their family holidays. I didnt even bother asking how much a motel would be.. so i bought a tent(for 4 ppl which felt way too big for me when i slept last night) for $50 and now am camping for $10 a night on the beach!! Perfect!! - A minor problem though is the bears around here.. There have been a mother and her cub spotted at my campsite.. and so I have to keep all my food and shampoos and stuff in there.. so that at night when the bears raid the camp they dont attack my car.. or worse.. MY TENT!
The only other problem is lack of showers, and internet.. and general communication with the world.. but the secret is... LIBRARY! Free internet for all.. so that is where I am now.. and whenever i manage to find one i will update on goings on! Tomorrow i am off to Mono Lake.. where i hear it is amazing for photography, and then probably off to Yosemite National Park till Vanessa comes on Tuesday, and we go off to BURNING MAN! xxxx
The plan had originally been to go and buy a car in Oakland, but i heard on the plane that there was a chance for me to rent despite being underage. So i have rented a car for an extortionate price under the table. Although i hoped i would get a car that wouldnt break down and be fairly new.. this car would have to do.. despite the fact it has the worst gear shifts.. i could do a much better job myself ( its an automatic), it has bumps and scratches all over it.. its WHITE- disgusting!-but seems to be a popular colour out here, and also the lights inside the car dont work.. so i cant see what i am doing with the radio, aircon, etc at night.. luckily the seepdometer does work. Also the headlights never switch off while the engine is runnning, which is making me paranoid, that even when the engine is off i am draining the battery, and will wake up in the middle of nowhere and the car wont start!
Anyway... hotels even in oakland were minimum $100 so i decided to start making my way over to lake Tahoe. I think its do-able in about 3hours, but i decided to take the smaller roads and do the scenic route, whilst getting used to my car. Stopped in a place called Jackson to get a motel recommendation.. once the girl realised i was alone.. told me NOT to go there.. and invited me in and phoned round all the motels in the area, and even the dodgy one was $100. Cheapest i found was $87 in a next door town called sutters Creek. The town was BEAUTIFUL. It was all old like in a western movie.. very very cool!
I loved it, and the next morning took a walk around before heading off for Lake Tahoe. \
The most annoying thing about driving out here is the speed limits.. the highest one i have seen is 65mph,. but round lake Tahoe is 45.. they also change every few hundred meters! Very annoying!!
The scenery upto lake Tahoe was pretty cool.. loads of guys on their harleys,. and I drove through the pine forests, could see lakes down in the valleys. I cant believe the scenery is so different just 200miles away from San Fran. Also in San Fran the temperature doesnt really vary between 60-85F all year.. whereas here in Tahoe.. its about 90 now, and in winter its cold enough that this is a ski resort!
Right now here in Tahoe it is so busy.. all the familys are here.. ppl water skiing, cycling etc.. ahving their family holidays. I didnt even bother asking how much a motel would be.. so i bought a tent(for 4 ppl which felt way too big for me when i slept last night) for $50 and now am camping for $10 a night on the beach!! Perfect!! - A minor problem though is the bears around here.. There have been a mother and her cub spotted at my campsite.. and so I have to keep all my food and shampoos and stuff in there.. so that at night when the bears raid the camp they dont attack my car.. or worse.. MY TENT!
The only other problem is lack of showers, and internet.. and general communication with the world.. but the secret is... LIBRARY! Free internet for all.. so that is where I am now.. and whenever i manage to find one i will update on goings on! Tomorrow i am off to Mono Lake.. where i hear it is amazing for photography, and then probably off to Yosemite National Park till Vanessa comes on Tuesday, and we go off to BURNING MAN! xxxx
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Chicago
I must appologise yet again for the lack of communication, but i have been so busy i havent really had time to write, and in the next feew weeks will have very limited access to the internet, so again will bewriting much less frequently.
Arriving in Chicago was as scary as hell.. the prospect of meeting and living with my family who i had only met a couple of times before in my life was terrifying!
My aunt met me at the airport, and only knew who i was thanks to the pics my dad had sent her. she was so open and wam and welcoming i straight away relaxed. In the car park, straight away i knew i was in the USA, all huge new and beautiful cars!!
Driving to their house in the suburbs was like our counntryside, lots of space, greenery, and the house iself just like in the movies. Large, spacious and modern. Meeting m cousins was pretty wierd too, but they were so friendly and so willing to take me out and show me around it was great.
In my days here they took me for severaal drives around the town, to some museums and parks.. and of course to the MALL! Unfortunatly there has been no going out for me at all, as you have to be 21 to even go into a bar here in Illinois, which sucks! I did however experience the chicago deep pan pizza, which was delicious, apart ffrom the fact they put the tomato sauce on the cheese, instead of the normal way... i also visited and got a tour of the biggest McDonalds, and my cousin go us into loads of places using the line - my cousin is here rom england- worked every time!
Also in shops people always stop and just stare and tell me how CUTE my accent is and they could listen to it all day! Ha ha ha.. has got me some discounts in some stores!
THis country is also totally crazy. You have to take the car everywhere.. and they even have drive thru ATM's and pharmacys!!! NUTS!
Also the other night a van came round sprayingMOSQUITO REPPELANT on everyones gardens.. thats wild!
Unfortunatly i came here at just the wrong time... my cousins have been workinng all day everyday, and the weather has been bad.. rain rain rain.. apparently its normally sunny and hot!
Anyway... i should shoot off, but i feel i should highlight one thing i hate about out here.... people i feel are more prejudiced and racist than anwhere else i have been. I dont know if mabe its just the teens and my experience, but the kids honk and laugh at the homeless and call them bums, and really look down on them.,... and also the same with black people, despite there actually being more black people here than in the UK. I would have expected much better intergration, but have een disappointed... but maybe it will be different in California...
Bye,... wish me luck in California! - tomorrow flying there and buying a car... ahhhh!!! petrified!
Arriving in Chicago was as scary as hell.. the prospect of meeting and living with my family who i had only met a couple of times before in my life was terrifying!
My aunt met me at the airport, and only knew who i was thanks to the pics my dad had sent her. she was so open and wam and welcoming i straight away relaxed. In the car park, straight away i knew i was in the USA, all huge new and beautiful cars!!
Driving to their house in the suburbs was like our counntryside, lots of space, greenery, and the house iself just like in the movies. Large, spacious and modern. Meeting m cousins was pretty wierd too, but they were so friendly and so willing to take me out and show me around it was great.
In my days here they took me for severaal drives around the town, to some museums and parks.. and of course to the MALL! Unfortunatly there has been no going out for me at all, as you have to be 21 to even go into a bar here in Illinois, which sucks! I did however experience the chicago deep pan pizza, which was delicious, apart ffrom the fact they put the tomato sauce on the cheese, instead of the normal way... i also visited and got a tour of the biggest McDonalds, and my cousin go us into loads of places using the line - my cousin is here rom england- worked every time!
Also in shops people always stop and just stare and tell me how CUTE my accent is and they could listen to it all day! Ha ha ha.. has got me some discounts in some stores!
THis country is also totally crazy. You have to take the car everywhere.. and they even have drive thru ATM's and pharmacys!!! NUTS!
Also the other night a van came round sprayingMOSQUITO REPPELANT on everyones gardens.. thats wild!
Unfortunatly i came here at just the wrong time... my cousins have been workinng all day everyday, and the weather has been bad.. rain rain rain.. apparently its normally sunny and hot!
Anyway... i should shoot off, but i feel i should highlight one thing i hate about out here.... people i feel are more prejudiced and racist than anwhere else i have been. I dont know if mabe its just the teens and my experience, but the kids honk and laugh at the homeless and call them bums, and really look down on them.,... and also the same with black people, despite there actually being more black people here than in the UK. I would have expected much better intergration, but have een disappointed... but maybe it will be different in California...
Bye,... wish me luck in California! - tomorrow flying there and buying a car... ahhhh!!! petrified!
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Miami
Despite oversleeping my 4am start to get to the airport and wait for a plane, i woke at 7, got to the airport at 7.30, and was let onto the plane leaving at 8.30. Business class of course.. so was a great flight! Have no idea how i am going to get used to travelling economy again!!!
Landed safely in Miami, and despite pressure from the family to move straight to chicago and not stay the night in Miami, i decided to stay. I might as well see the place now that i am here.
What a difference to South America. Apart from the language. Everyone there was Latino, it was like i had never left Ecuador!!I was pretty happy.... it meant that at least i could still pratise my spanish for a day longer!
Also, by americans, i felt more out of plae than in SA. They seemed to always look at me blankly when i spoke to them or asked them a question. I think it was because of my accent!!
Arriving in Souh Beach... wow it was BAKING and it was a relativly cold day... according to the locals. The first thing i did was try and call home... that was bloody expensive... $1 per 10mins.. i had been on $1 per hour!! This was ridiculous... so i then i headed down to the beach!
What a disapointment. It was nice white sand, but it was large grains, which hurt your feet, also there were hundreds of people for miles around! NASTY! But i think i am just spoilt after having been on isabela, where it was just me.. and 3 km of empty beach... my own little paradise. Crossing roads was also pretty scary,... all the cas were so big and scary.. with lots of ferraris, and other top cars around. Also the men around were absolutly beauiful, all very hot, tanned and toned with lots of tattoos! Mmmmmm.... Also very wierd, because at 6:30pm the sun was still shining, and i was used to the sun being set by that time.
That evening went out with some gils to a sushi bar... because there isnt much else in Miami, and had a few glases of wine and chatted.. was ery pleasant evening.. shame i wasnt staying, but the heat was pretty unbareable for me, so glad to be moving! Ver nervous about meeting my family.
Landed safely in Miami, and despite pressure from the family to move straight to chicago and not stay the night in Miami, i decided to stay. I might as well see the place now that i am here.
What a difference to South America. Apart from the language. Everyone there was Latino, it was like i had never left Ecuador!!I was pretty happy.... it meant that at least i could still pratise my spanish for a day longer!
Also, by americans, i felt more out of plae than in SA. They seemed to always look at me blankly when i spoke to them or asked them a question. I think it was because of my accent!!
Arriving in Souh Beach... wow it was BAKING and it was a relativly cold day... according to the locals. The first thing i did was try and call home... that was bloody expensive... $1 per 10mins.. i had been on $1 per hour!! This was ridiculous... so i then i headed down to the beach!
What a disapointment. It was nice white sand, but it was large grains, which hurt your feet, also there were hundreds of people for miles around! NASTY! But i think i am just spoilt after having been on isabela, where it was just me.. and 3 km of empty beach... my own little paradise. Crossing roads was also pretty scary,... all the cas were so big and scary.. with lots of ferraris, and other top cars around. Also the men around were absolutly beauiful, all very hot, tanned and toned with lots of tattoos! Mmmmmm.... Also very wierd, because at 6:30pm the sun was still shining, and i was used to the sun being set by that time.
That evening went out with some gils to a sushi bar... because there isnt much else in Miami, and had a few glases of wine and chatted.. was ery pleasant evening.. shame i wasnt staying, but the heat was pretty unbareable for me, so glad to be moving! Ver nervous about meeting my family.
Sunday, 12 August 2007
Update before departing SA :o(
Well... i am writing probably my last bit of blog from South America. - as you may know my flights getting me out of here are a bit dodgy, leaving me camping at the airport, hoping someone else also doesnt want to leave Quito, and doesnt show up at the airport!
But i know i will be back!
I have had such good times and there isnt much i can fault about this place. I have made so many friends and good memories, which will leave me with hundreds of stories to tell for many years to come...
I am now back in Quito.. and GOD I LOVE IT! I dont know what it is about this city, but i really like it. Most people come here, and cant wait to leave, its so dirty, noisy, dangerous(saw someone get mugged today) and yet i still adore it. One of the best things here, is that sunday is still Gods day, and everything shuts, and they also close off most of the roads, and only bicycles are allowed on the streets. Then the parks are packed with people, getting pony rides, families picnicing,and always some kind of music festival. Also, its always warm!
AHhh!! I am gonna miss all the randomness of out here, the random horse and cart down the road.. beause they dont have a car, and the cholitas, and men whistling and psst psst-ing at me... and the CHEAP food and cheap everything.
Tomorrow, hopefully i will be arriving in Miami, where i will be staying for a few nights, before hitting Chicago to see family for another couple of days, and then SAN FRANCISCO... scary!
Am absolutly petrified of the Big City... and the US! driving around alone before and after the Burning man is freaking me out a bit... especially if i break down in the middle of nowhere.. or get abducted in a motel like in Dusk till dawn, then get taken to a evil temple and eaten by vampires! ha ha ha!
Anyway.. i will write soon if and when i reach the US and let you know how i am coping!
xxxx
But i know i will be back!
I have had such good times and there isnt much i can fault about this place. I have made so many friends and good memories, which will leave me with hundreds of stories to tell for many years to come...
I am now back in Quito.. and GOD I LOVE IT! I dont know what it is about this city, but i really like it. Most people come here, and cant wait to leave, its so dirty, noisy, dangerous(saw someone get mugged today) and yet i still adore it. One of the best things here, is that sunday is still Gods day, and everything shuts, and they also close off most of the roads, and only bicycles are allowed on the streets. Then the parks are packed with people, getting pony rides, families picnicing,and always some kind of music festival. Also, its always warm!
AHhh!! I am gonna miss all the randomness of out here, the random horse and cart down the road.. beause they dont have a car, and the cholitas, and men whistling and psst psst-ing at me... and the CHEAP food and cheap everything.
Tomorrow, hopefully i will be arriving in Miami, where i will be staying for a few nights, before hitting Chicago to see family for another couple of days, and then SAN FRANCISCO... scary!
Am absolutly petrified of the Big City... and the US! driving around alone before and after the Burning man is freaking me out a bit... especially if i break down in the middle of nowhere.. or get abducted in a motel like in Dusk till dawn, then get taken to a evil temple and eaten by vampires! ha ha ha!
Anyway.. i will write soon if and when i reach the US and let you know how i am coping!
xxxx
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Buenos Aires - Iguazu - Montvideo
hey,
I am so sorry for not writting for so long, but the reason has been that there isnt really much to write about.
Arriving in Buenos Aires was scary as hell. A city double the size of London was a very frightening prospect. Also all the stories i had heard about people getting robbed at bus stations, on the streets.. i was petrified.
In fact it wasnt so bad. Not at all like London. It is muchmore organised. The streets are organised in the usual quadratic structure as everywhere else in SA, there is a fantastic one waysystem, and a 9lane each way main road, meaning that i never saw any traffic in my week that i stayed there.
Argentina is generally quite european and civilised, so there isnt much that happens 'out of the ordinary' so i feel i have nothing to say about it. It is also well know for its night life, but i only went out twice and didnt really think it was anything special. Went to Pacha... a veryfamous club, which was along the motorway somewhere in the middle of nowhere, justfull of pill heads, and completely lacked atmospfere. I also attended a drum and bass night at another club.. and what a disappointment... very liquid, completely undancable.
However... there wierdest thing was that loads of people at night justwent round the streets collecting paper.. tearing apart rubbish bins to collect it for money. kind of made the town look poorer than it actually was.
I attended a Boca match on sunday... absolutly froze myarse off.. but soon warmed up singing along with the locals, and chanting... but bit of a disappointing game, coz no one scored.
On monday headed up to iguazu. bloody17hour bus journey. I then stupidly got talked into staying at the Hostel International.. apparentlythe best hostal in the world. I have to admit it was beautiful. Huge. had a nice outdoor pool, pool tables, table tennis tables, the works... but justtoo big.. and miles out of town... eneded up spoending a fortune on traveling to town and back. Myfirst day there i headed to the brazilian side to see the falls. AMAZING!! But had to put up a fight to get there, because the woman working at the hostal insisted that it wanst possible to do... it was too late (12pm).. really, she justwanted me to pay for the hostal transport the next day.
he next day went to the Argentinian side. very different. you stand more on top of the falls and see them all close up. Even took a boatride almost under one of the falls, and got lovely and wet.
Glad i say both sides, because from the brazilian side you could see all the falls.. but in Arg, ony one at a time. that evening i went back to BA on the bus. Very tiring journey.. and as soon as i arrived there, jumped on the boat to Montevideo in Uruguay. here is very cool, but verysimilar to Argentina.
Overall haveloved Argentina... the land full of cows, whichare cheaper than chips, yet in mywhole time here i havenever seen a live cow.
steak has been fabulous... and verycheap... all their leather products also fantastic, and verycheap.. and so is their Dulce de Leche..mmmmmmm
the one other thing they are obsessive about is drinking MATE... a wierd herby tea... and here in uruguay they take it a step furthur... they have pocket sized thermos flasks.. and they all walk down the street with thermoses tucked under their arms, and drinking Mate..
anyway... flying to Quito tomorrow... so best go to bed... ciao. x
I am so sorry for not writting for so long, but the reason has been that there isnt really much to write about.
Arriving in Buenos Aires was scary as hell. A city double the size of London was a very frightening prospect. Also all the stories i had heard about people getting robbed at bus stations, on the streets.. i was petrified.
In fact it wasnt so bad. Not at all like London. It is muchmore organised. The streets are organised in the usual quadratic structure as everywhere else in SA, there is a fantastic one waysystem, and a 9lane each way main road, meaning that i never saw any traffic in my week that i stayed there.
Argentina is generally quite european and civilised, so there isnt much that happens 'out of the ordinary' so i feel i have nothing to say about it. It is also well know for its night life, but i only went out twice and didnt really think it was anything special. Went to Pacha... a veryfamous club, which was along the motorway somewhere in the middle of nowhere, justfull of pill heads, and completely lacked atmospfere. I also attended a drum and bass night at another club.. and what a disappointment... very liquid, completely undancable.
However... there wierdest thing was that loads of people at night justwent round the streets collecting paper.. tearing apart rubbish bins to collect it for money. kind of made the town look poorer than it actually was.
I attended a Boca match on sunday... absolutly froze myarse off.. but soon warmed up singing along with the locals, and chanting... but bit of a disappointing game, coz no one scored.
On monday headed up to iguazu. bloody17hour bus journey. I then stupidly got talked into staying at the Hostel International.. apparentlythe best hostal in the world. I have to admit it was beautiful. Huge. had a nice outdoor pool, pool tables, table tennis tables, the works... but justtoo big.. and miles out of town... eneded up spoending a fortune on traveling to town and back. Myfirst day there i headed to the brazilian side to see the falls. AMAZING!! But had to put up a fight to get there, because the woman working at the hostal insisted that it wanst possible to do... it was too late (12pm).. really, she justwanted me to pay for the hostal transport the next day.
he next day went to the Argentinian side. very different. you stand more on top of the falls and see them all close up. Even took a boatride almost under one of the falls, and got lovely and wet.
Glad i say both sides, because from the brazilian side you could see all the falls.. but in Arg, ony one at a time. that evening i went back to BA on the bus. Very tiring journey.. and as soon as i arrived there, jumped on the boat to Montevideo in Uruguay. here is very cool, but verysimilar to Argentina.
Overall haveloved Argentina... the land full of cows, whichare cheaper than chips, yet in mywhole time here i havenever seen a live cow.
steak has been fabulous... and verycheap... all their leather products also fantastic, and verycheap.. and so is their Dulce de Leche..mmmmmmm
the one other thing they are obsessive about is drinking MATE... a wierd herby tea... and here in uruguay they take it a step furthur... they have pocket sized thermos flasks.. and they all walk down the street with thermoses tucked under their arms, and drinking Mate..
anyway... flying to Quito tomorrow... so best go to bed... ciao. x
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