We just wanted to let you know we are trying to get caught up on our blog, so you will be seeing posts from late April to present out of order. We will put dates on Post Topic. Hope you are having a great summer! Love to you all!!
Father’s Day in Cuenca, Ecuador 6-15-14
It is so hard to believe that we celebrated Father’s Day in Ecuador with our 2 kids! We waited and prayed for them for so many years before we were blessed with them. Kane actually arrived on our 10 year wedding anniversary. It is such a gift for us both to be able to celebrate Mother and Father’s Day as parents.
Scott is such a wonderful father. He loves our kids so much! When we were dating, I always thought whoever he marries, is getting a really awesome father for their kids. God sure blessed me!
We planned to go zip lining for Father’s Day. Unfortunately, Scott was not feeling well, but still wanted to go and watch. Our kids were SO excited about going! So we went…
After zip lining, we caught a ride to town, then caught a local bus back to Cuenca(only 25 cents per person). We had no idea where to get off, so I asked a lady who told me I should get off now by the bus terminal. So we did and ended up taking a taxi back to our hotel. Who would have known we were within walking distance to our hotel.
You definitely could tell this was a special day. Look what we bought before lunch and after the ice cream sandwiches.
After lunch, we walked around the main plaza in Cuenca. Kat was so sweet and bought Scott and I roses for Father’s Day!
Our hotel told us there was a Pizza Hut at the mall(a mall, wow!), and the pizza was better than the US. Not quite true, but it was fun to check it out.
Mas Bife, La Boca and Puerto Madryn – Day 3 5-16-14
You would think after 2 days of steaks, we would be ready for a change. Nope! Headed to our favorite lunch bargain, Parrilla al Carbon, followed by a visit to La Boca.
La Boca is right by the mouth of the river (Boca, in fact, means mouth) and the houses are vividly colored. Historically, the area has been a poorer pocket of BA, and the houses were colored with paint leftover from painting the hulls of the ships that docked here.
Kane was excited to buy a Argentine National Team Jersey in La Boca. We visited La Boca Futbol Stadium and grabbed a taxi to Puerto Madryn.
Walking along the river with the brick warehouse that have been converted into restaurants, stores and offices, made me feel like I was in another city. It is so beautiful!
That night we had dinner in Palermo at Siamo Forno after waiting outside for 15 minutes for it to open at 8pm(Our kids are used to going to bed at 8:30pm, so it is a little challenging having dinner at 8pm). Unfortunately, the pizza was not filling, so we ended up McDonalds for a snack on the way back to our B&B. 🙂
Hustling, Bustling La Paz, Bolivia 4-11-14
Yes, the scribble, that now clearly looks like 60, is how many days we were allowed in Peru. We just assumed we had 90 days, like most visitors. We started talking about going to Bolivia the week before Easter, since our kids would be off school for a couple days. Since we were thinking about this, we started checking out our visa and could not figure out when it expired. Thanks to our spanish school owner, Rik, who clearly noticed the 60, we realized that we had 5 days before it expired. After doing some research(as well as a trip to immigrations where the man at the desk gave me his personal cell phone number-kind of sleazy), we decided we would just be illegal in Peru for 5 days and pay the $1 per day fee at the airport.
After a thorough inspection of our $1 bills and disregarding about 10 of them(they have to be perfect with no tears), we were able to pay our fee at Peru Immigrations and head to security. Kat got stopped going through security, because she had Scott’s duct tape(or should I say “medical” duct tape, Scott broke his toe earlier in the week and this is what he was using to tape them together) in her backpack. They confiscated the tape even though I tried to tell them in spanish that my poor husband need it for his broken toe and that he wasn’t planning on tying anyone up on the plane. 🙂
After a short 45 minute plane ride, we landed in La Paz, Bolivia at the worlds highest airport at 13,323 feet. The airpot sits on the altiplano. La Paz is the highest capital in the world at 11, 975 feet above sea level.
The view of La Paz is striking, especially from El Alto (“The Heights”), and driving on the highway into the city. La Paz is nestled into a high valley of the Andes Mountains(much like Cusco), surrounded by the altiplano. The city has expanded onto the steep hillsides surrounding the valley.
We spent our first day in La Paz taking in the sights and sounds. Our favorite part was shopping in the Witch’s Market.
Wandering around the “witches market” is an experience to remember. On top of the usual fruit, vegetables, herbs and touristy merchandise of other South American markets, the La Paz Witches Market offers dried Llama fetuses that locals bury under their front porches for good luck. There are stalls selling spells and local remedies for illnesses.
It was wonderful being in La Paz on Palm Sunday. In front of the churches, ladies were selling palms, food, and Easter candy.
One of our favorite moments in La Paz was feeding the pigeons at Plaza Murillo! The joy in my families faces feeding the pigeons was priceless!! Who knew that 29 cents worth of pigeon feed could provide countless fun.
Pictures from Plaza Murillo:
Scott’s La Paz corner:
Well, after Lima, I was a bit skeptical of big cities in South America, but I have to say La Paz was great. At ~2 million, it struck me as “Cusco’s older cousin.” Very similar geography, perhaps more diverse in Architecture, a bit less touristy (the street vendors are not in your face). We had a great time there, and really just started to scratch the surface of this place. If you are traveling to Bolivia, and have 2 weeks, I’d spend at least 3 days in La Paz.
Kat at School by Kat
Spanish is going just great at school. I seem to be getting better on my Spanish every day. I seem to be getting better at my cursive as well. School is fantastic! I have so many friends. The names of my friends are Zadie, Aneel, Alexandra, Sophia, Angela and Melina. And I have lots of hard homework each night. Also at recess, my friends and me like to play tag and play with balls.
Today in Cusco, Peru-By Kat Crawford
Today in Cusco, Peru I went to a arts and crafts market after spanish school. I got a little sack that I can put my money in. Kane got two new instruments. One is a South American instrument and one is a wood flute. Also my mom bought me a new South American headband and a new ponytail holder. I had a great day. And the sack I bought cost 3 sols but i got it for two sols because I asked if I could buy it for two sols. It was such a fantastic day in Cusco,Peru.
Also a few days ago, out a Indian restaurants window, I saw a man peeing on a street.
Nawlins – Jean Lafitte, Old Hickory, and Cafe Dumond
There was some debate about whether it would be worthwhile to stop with the kids in New Orleans. I could see Kim’s point about it being an adult oriented place, one of excess and debauchery. That said, I really wanted them to experience some of it, partly because the sense of history there would be unique to the rest of our trip so far. I’m glad we did.
We camped at a campground NorthWest of town. As we rolled in, missed a turn and cruised through a neighborhood that had seen better days (nice way of saying it), I was certainly wondering about the decision, and about Kim’s choice of campground. It was a bit rough, but in the end, it worked out great.
We only had one day to hit this town, so we headed downtown after breakfast. First stop, the French Quarter and the Jean Lafitte visitor center for a Jr Ranger badge. It was really great to visit a National Historic Site within a thriving bustling city! They happened to have a band in there playing live music (a first!)… including a clarinet and an accordion! In the adjacent kitchen, we had demonstrations of praline making by the owner of “Grannies Pralines”. They were great, and I grabbed the recipe for (near) future use. Note to self, cut it in half next time, who needs 48 pralines!
After that, we made a beeline for Cafe Du Monde for the famous coffee! Just kidding, we went for the beignet, and I had a side of coffee. Service was horrible, but energy and food was high. Lots of football fans, ready for a bowl game at the superdome later in the day.
We had planned to do a boat trip at the Chalumette Battlefield National Site, so we scurred over there in the jeep. Unfortunately, we were a bit late, and once we arrived, we found out the program was cancelled! No matter, we explored the visitor center, watched the excellent movie, and got another Badge! I’m impressed by the volunteers who travelled to this place to defend the port of New Orleans from the British! Great to hear that we we’re not afraid to partner up with some questionable characters in that hour of need as well. Jean Lafitte was a local pirate who joined the battle, offering men and ammo, in return for pardons for his aquatic thieving ways.
After that we headed back to the RV for dinner, and called it a day. A short, but good visit to the bayou, gahwonteed!
Spanish school in Cusco-Kat
Today my whole family went to spanish school. Kane and I got our own private teacher, and so did my parents. It was very fun. I have a great teacher she is very nice. We have to study after school of what we learned. I think I can’t wait to go back. Also her name is Carina.
8 Posts coming….
Behold the power of Jade (and Cheese)!
After an epic visit to Astoria/Fort Stevens State Park, I wasn’t sure what more the coast of Oregon could offer. Tillamook/Cape Lookout did not disappoint!
Driving into Tillamook, I had strong tugs on the old heart-strings for multiple reasons. One, the last time Kim and I were in this area, we were with our dear friends Jeff Wilcox and Stephanie Russell. Jeff has since died of Brain Cancer, and we still miss him dearly. Two, the place has a similar feel to Vermont, where we’ve had several great trips over the last few years.
Tillamook County is on an alluvial plain, where no less than 5 rivers converge. It’s an interesting flat area in the midst of an otherwise hilly (mountainous?) region. It’s also a hotbed of dairy farming (much like Vermont). and it’s been alluring to talented cheese makers for almost two centuries.
Cape Lookout is a beautiful State Park just South of Tillamook, on a point jutting out into the Pacific. (interesting that Merriwether Lewis refused to call it the Pacific because he claimed it was never peaceful). Oregon State parks are sweet! I guess at this point I’m a sucker for Douglas Fir trees (and the mushrooms that grow under them!).
Here is a gallery of the highlights of our time in this area….. hiking cape lookout (6 miles total), exploring Oceanside beach (tide pooling, jade and agate hunting), and touring the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
