Chilly Chile

The title says it all for the moment, though I do despise focusing on weather. Last night the waiter stated that it gets to negative 10 below zero (celcius) at night here, and I certainly believe it. I spotted ice in a shaded drainage spot this morning whilst searching for food. Mind you, I think I got sunburned this afternoon...this all speaks for the surrounding desert I suppose.

We are still in the desert. I somehow still have a hard time believing this is true, it begining with a sense of surprise Mid-Peru, and it just seems to continue into Chile through everything I have seen. We are in a dropped-in-the-center-of-the-desert town called San Pedro de Atacama currently, awaiting a morning bus to take Sam and myself into Salta, Argentina. I also have felt a sense of surprise by the bus prices doubling here in Chile. I just didn´t see it coming.

Chileans thus far are seemingly more helpful than my fellow Peruvians, and know a bit more English...maybe that is what we are paying for. These statements should not count against those to the North, it is simply my immediate comparison of personality coming out. An even larger and more siginificant noted change is the Westernization. There is far less ´traditional´feel here in Chile, the people in more modern dress, nary a baby wrapped around women´s backs, and certainly less street vendors...creating a much more formal environment to wander. It´s both odd and comforting. Lastly, I have to note that my Spanish skills in Peru were feeling ok, and my anxiety of communication was lessening by the day, but conversation number 1 in Arica, Chile cut me right back down. I have indeed figured out that they only say 2/3 of each word, but this makes it soo much more challenging for a basic speaker like myself. I has gone from Buenos Tardes, to Buenos, to Buen.....holy language shortage.

Since crossing the boarder into Northern Chile, both Sam and my health have improved, fortunately. I was getting such a negative feeling towards any food intake, and not I am back wanting to fill my stomach. yes!

Oh, did I tell you about Machu Picchu? It was immense and awesome to wander for 5 hours. Sam and I brought the train in from a town called Ollantaytambo, just over an hour to do such. 27th of July written in my journal about the day and what I learned:
It was a long, but lovely day. It was a great peak into the elaborate living of the Incan people. The ruins were endless to explore, relax on the grassy, wide steps, admire the stone laid by hand. There was sun, a little critter called Viscushe, and also 2 friendly French men. Many Americans scattered the grounds, as well as British, and Peruvians alike.
1911 it was ´discovered´ by a Yale-man, whom was being led by a local young boy. It was covered in green, overgrown foilage. This built spot in the Andean Mountains was by and for the 9th group of Incans (I don´t know much about the numbers of groups that existed). 25 years of Incan leadership, and the youthful leader of these people overtook all the mountain-land on the West-coast Peru, and into both the Northern Chilean desert and Southern Ecuadorian mountains. Civil wars and conquistadors did the entire civilization in.

Coca Tea is my favorite.