Posting on a Whim

I am currently sitting in Arica, Chile eating a late hostel provided breakfast and slowly memories of posting to this blog started coming back to me.  I just finished 2 weeks in Lima, Peru of general chaos and now I am on my way to see a lady in Vina del Mar, Chile once again.

(ARICA is all the way on the top of the shaded in yellow.)

If you look back to my trip last year it should note that I rode for over 60 hours on a bus; this trip is being broken up.  A 20 hour bus from Lima to Tacna Peru, climbing into a group taxi for 5 dollars and crossing the border with strangers, and now staying overnight in the border town of Arica (I have been here before) before flying out at 3PM today for Santiago Chile to avoid another 40 hours on a bus.

I have photos of Peru I should post as well and should get back to that once I get to my new apartment and "procure" internet.  

(Here are some shots inside the hostel.  I would post pictures of my "gourmet" breakfast of a bologna-like sandwich but being as how I am a bit southern I used the sandwich maker to fry my bologna so it was delicious and long gone.)

Beach and Big Ass Sandwich

There isn't really a clever theme to this blog post as much as there is a take-no-prisoners title that has obviously drawn you in.  With the weather getting nicer here I am spending more and more time on the beach and out in the sun.  If I make it back to the States in late November I fully expect to look out of place this winter with my epic tan that is starting now.

 And to not disappoint I will show you an example of the late-night (drunk person) food that is readily available in Chile.  This sandwich is simple in construction but the size is what make is.  For about 4 dollars US you can get this sandwich which is larger than a human head.  I used a starburst to show size but you really don't understand until you buy one at 2 in the morning.

 It was delicious.... I think.

Peru Summary

Peru was a quality month of my life spent with great friends and some small sense of party mixed in.  I have now made my way down to Chile and will be settling into my new apartment down here tomorrow.  I have made contact with a school down here and have and interview coming up that still hasn't been scheduled.  If you want all the pics from Peru you can find me Jonny Walker on facebook.

Sadly I can't post them all on here.

While in Peru this time I did get the chance to try Cuy (AKA Guinea Pig) it was sort of like rabbit but not much meat.

I also got to spend some time outside of Lima with some ladies

and attend some great clubs/events

Watch Bob show off how Americans dance.

and then say goodbye as he left me as the only gringo still in Peru... I made sure that some of the TGIFridays sign was in the background seeing as how and American Flag could not be found.

Now after close to 60 hours on buses I am in Chile and getting ready to move.

PERU VIDEOS

50th Birthday in the Country

A 50th birthday is definitely a reason to celebrate and in Peru you might as well do it big.  An uncle of my friend Peke (who I am currently crashing on her couch) had a birthday party that I got to crash. 

The party had some traditional Peruvian dancing...

Then they have a time called crazy hor that involves hats and balloons that oddly enough centers around a partying clown that is mostly enjoyed by the adults who are all dancing by this time.

I got some new clothes from the deal and graciously thanked the host and Peke's mother for bringing me.

I will not show a photo of the food because it will just make me hungry again if I reread this post.

People in the casa

This is a shot after we prepared some food tonight.  From left to right is Sofia, Bob(owning the picture), Rocio, and Peke.  Tonight we made a bunch of food and stayed in(I think).  I only think this is the plan because it is only 12:30 and apparently we have people stopping by before going out on the town.  Lima never sleeps.

Livin It Up Down in Lima

Having rented an apartment here in Lima has kept me from taking up work in a hostel so I have had more to see the city.  Of course that has translated to sitting in the apartment a lot of the time and enjoying a few beverages but it has been fun. 

It is always odd to travel and not stay in hostels but I am considering this adventure a move so I guess I can change it up.

 Here is a picture of Bob on top of Sofia's house after a great meal with her family.  I only wish I could have ate more. (Sadly, the aforementioned beverages from the night before slowed me down a bit).

Lucky for me I checked facebook the other night and found out that a friend of mine that I had worked with in the Loki Hostel here in Lima over 2 years ago was celebrating his birthday so I got to go enjoy a drink with him to celebrate his birthday.  He never expected to see me again and especially not to celebrate his birthday.

In a recent development Bob and I decided that they need to make the show Jersey Shore here in Lima so we broke out our "Stunner" poses at a concert the other day.  Let's just say our Gringo essence was noticeable. 

Lima Update

Apparently, I have not been posting enough to appease my nephew so I will just let everyone know that I am in Lima safe and sound.  My flight left from DC at 7am and I was dropped off by friend of mine that live outside DC.  A definite thanks go out to Desiree and Brandon for all of their hospitality.

I then flew to Fort Lauderdale where I noticed a familiar girl sitting across from me in the terminal.  Turns out it was a friend of mine from Snowshoe Mountain who was on her way back to DC after spending some time in Lima.

I have taken a total of 5 pictures so far so here is pretty much everything.  I just snapped the last two from the window at the apartment that was rented for the 11 days that I will be in Lima before taking a short road trip.  I am staying in the Miraflores area of Lima and have been on a steady diet of street vendor sandwiches, ceviche, and cheap beverages.

Hopefully this update will keep my nephew happy for a day or so... 

VIDEO - Gameday in Morgantown

GO TO THE BLOG TO SEE THIS

More Nights in Brum

In the near future my life will start to pick up again in pursuit of stories from foreign land, but right now I am enjoying a little bit of time in one place both in the flat during the day and out on the town here in Birmingham during the nights.

First major event on the agenda is the 15th of March when I will be going to see a football (soccer) match between Aston Villa and Tottenham here in England... more to come

Birthday Round 1

The need of celebration and the lack of a weekend for my birthday (which is March 4) Amy decided we would celebrate it this past Friday (Feb 27).

Needless to say it has now been referred to as my not-birthday. First her Mother and Gramps came through and took me out for a couple of pints at the Fighting Cocks. Needless to say, Amy never informed them that my birthday was not actually until the 4th.

That night I also chose to start the night out at the dive bar Wetherspoon's because I was too lazy to leave Moseley.

Here are some shots.

Rob and Ben(on the right)

Amy and Dani were also there (as was Ben)

OK so let's just say there were a few people there and that Ben tried hard to be in every picture.

Needless to say it was a very loving occasion.... note that this pic did not have Ben in it.


Thanks to everyone for celebrating my not-birthday.

I don't want to pack - I want to ride

Now that my short trip to Snowshoe is over and I am packing and working on my thesis (yes I secretly go to school) all I really want to do is get one last day in on Sunday (and maybe a wild night on Saturday).

Bob on Lower Shea's

Me and Tanner in Bob's goggles.


Bob and I liftin it.

That being said I might shirk all responsibilities and go back tomorrow only to have to charge home late Sunday and do some heavy packing before flying out of DC on Tuesday en route to England.

Panama City nightlife short vid

I came, I saw, I took a ten second video.

Tis the Season, to Party

Last night I kicked off the holiday season by attending a holiday gathering with friends.

Sadly it was not here because I could have had a crazy night with all of the lights.


The party was here and the lights were substituted for food.

Steps to own the night:

Step one: A kitty Christmas sweater
Step two: A santa hat


Step 3: A game of power hour


Step 4: unnecessary trip to the bar


All in all a good, if not remembered night.

River Trail Detox

After a night that involve such things as this (Yes mine is apple juice) I needed a little detox of the system and Bob actually talked me into going for a jog.



I think most parties had a good time

and BOB unveiled his Zoolander Blue Steel look.

The trail was much needed. Yes I actually ran (a little bit)

Jason Homecoming

Packin for my trip

So the reason I haven't departed on my journey already is that I am waiting to see my little brother before he gets redeployed for another tour in Iraq. He is stationed in Alaska so I don't see him much. He recently got married and they are now expecting their first child. Nobody has met the girl yet due to the distance so most of my family is coming in for the week.

Here is a pic of the boy napping

Needless to say, I am not getting much of a bon voyage party for my trip.

Instead I get to find somewhere else to sleep the last week that I am in the country. With about 20 relatives staying at my house and the State Fair in town life is going to be a little crazy. So crazy in fact that I am packing my bag now. I have already started with all the basics and now just have the bathroom bag, electronics, and some travel books left to pack.

It is going to be one heavy bag.

Chincoteague 08

SO Bob invited me on vacation...



I packed



Since my family was busy I said goodbye to Bob's... ignore what his dad is doing






The days were good

The nights were better

Just ask Bob... yes there are two pwople underneath him

There were good times

and emotional ones

(OK totally off the topic but if you see this guy... run)

Bob learned that he couldn't buy love (yes he is holding a quarter)

And I continued my WV tradition of showering outside.

This picture is just funny

Brian and Bob got a little too close

and we almost ran head first into a tractor trailer

Bob was yelling to "Bring it on!"

Then I became "The Man"

and Bob got a job at Chippendale's

The food was good

I was elected King

King of the Beach that is

To celebrate we rocked out

Me and Chris rocked these sweet glow-stick shades out one night

He used them to catch moths

I used them to catch ladies

and in the end we all felt a little bit like this