Like some of the other countries I’ve visited in South America…Ecuador and I had some unfinished business. The objective of this trip was to make it out to the Galapagos Islands. 

I had been back and forth with a “last minute” Galapagos travel agency for a couple of weeks now and I wasn’t really feeling their vibe so I took Danielle’s advice and decided to just show up and figure it out.

I wanted my time in Guayaquil to be quick. So I hurried to the airport and bought a next day plane ticket to the islands. Once I checked that off the list I made my way back to my hostel and surfed the net to find a bed for the next eight days. Double check!

I wanted to scream with excitement and hug everybody I saw and tell them what I was about to do! Out of all my adventures THIS was the one that I couldn’t believe was actually happening!

Our train ride back to Cusco gave me some time to take in the last few days. I want to do it all over again! There’s something so electric about Cusco, the history and the local traditions. Being able to visit Machu Picchu and it’s surrounding peaks was incredible.

I’m finding myself to be more comfortable asking why and being thankful to the locals for taking the time to explain. Being in a place where there’s meaning to a lot of things that are deeper than what the eye can see is something I’m attracted to…

Blake, Danielle and I took an early morning flight to Lima the next day. After dinner we said our goodbyes and went off in different directions: They to the States and I on a bus heading North…

Just a little over 24 hours later I say hello to Guayaquil, Ecuador!

I was sad to leave Bolivia. It was my second visit and I really want a third! Here are a few things I noticed in La Paz… 

• Shoe shiners cover their faces with ski masks. They do this to hide their identity and to avoid embarrassment to their families.
• Some homeless dogs wear clothes. Once having a master who fed them and dressed them…until they got loose and lost their way home.
• Colectivos are everywhere in and often full.
• Prices for things in Calle de las Brujas have gone up and negotiating has gotten tougher, even if buying in quantity.

My first night in Potosi was rough. The elevation hit me hard and the headaches weren’t going away. The coca matés didn’t work so on day two I went for the hard stuff…straight coca leaves. After that I was good as new.

My only other problem was my roommate. When I first met her I thought she reminder me of my mom, traveling to foreign places alone and being adventurous and what not…by day two I wanted to throw mama of the train. I didn’t know what was worse…the headaches from the altitude or the non-stop chatter that came from this woman’s mouth. Whether I was listening or not she was always talking. I was glad when it came time for both of us to go our separate ways. I was really looking forward to being alone.

My night bus to La Paz (8 hours) was going to be chilly so I bought a small blanket in the mercado before leaving Potosi. Since I had already acclimated to high elevation La Paz was going to be comfortable…only 3,660 meters (12,007 ft).

This is my second time in La Paz. She and I had some unfinished business…

I wanted to bike ride ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Road’ from La Cumbre to Coroico! Anything else I had time to do would be a bonus.

On route to Uyuni we made a stop in Tupiza. Here was where our wolf pack grew. We were five and then we became seven. Two more Argentinians joined the pack.

Once in Uyuni we found accommodations, ate and organized a tour of the Salt Flats. Seven backpackers is better than one…

From Salta I took a bus (7 hours) to the northern border town of La Quiaca and arrived early evening. My original plan was to stay the night and cross into Bolivia early the next day.

My guidebook recommended staying here, as the town on the Bolivian side was not one to be stuck in. I knew the last bus to Uyuni left at 7pm. With the time difference I had an hour and a half to cross and catch the last bus…so I called an audible and raced to the border.

Once there I saw a line…a very looooong line. As I joined the queue my packs slowly slide of my shoulders and I cursed myself out. As the line of backpackers inched along the weather took on a bit of a change. First came the strong winds, then the gray puffy clouds. I knew the rain would follow, it was just a matter of time. 

As I got closer to the exit and entry windows I put on more layers of clothes. A thin metal roof protected everyone at the windows…I prayed to make it there before the rain made it to me.

Just as I moved under the roof torrential downpour moved in. After getting stamped out of Argentina and into Bolivia the rain stopped…As if someone flipped a switch!