O sea...

3am Sunday was the last blog? I had forgotten that happened. Pues, bueno, todo esta bien.

My life is amazing. I am going to quote T.I. on Big Boi's most recent album (on the track Tangerine) and say, "Real talk: my reality is your fantasy" (T.I. 2010). (MLA citations? Daggers.) (THIS LINK IS GENIUS. Click on the yellow lyrics to get wonderful "translations.")

Enough of that madness.

This weekend was glorious. We drove six hours along the coast and into the southern deserts in the region of Ica. Our first real stop was at a restaurant in a small town that manufactures different types of Piscos. We got a tour of the facilities and an explanation of how the Pisco is made. This tour was followed by a "Pisco tasting session" aka shots on HC's dime. Thanks, Study Abroad, for the buzz! We then had lunch in the restaurant.

This lunch is going down in history because I am beyond convinced that is infected the majority of us with the Peruvian stomach virus that almost killed us. Okay, that is extreme hyperbole. But STILL there was a ton of nastiness that I just don't want to talk about so as to not disgust you classy ladies and gents. Just know that I would have rather died than spent another hour sick like that. This illness lasted the majority of the rest of the weekend.

But after the lunch, we embarked upon my favorite adventure of the weekend: DUNE BUGGIES and SAND BOARDING. We drove another 20 minutes to the edge of the dunes where we met up with our buggy driver, Ruben, con quien me enamore en una manera profundisima. Oh, Ruben. We got onto a badass buggy and drove into the dunes, aka the most gorgeous place I have ever been. The landscape was so stark and empty but the softness of the sand just made me feel like I was in heaven. I can't fully describe how or why it captivated me, but I was so taken by the dunes.

Ruben drove us up and down the mountains of sand like a pseudo-sexy madman with really bad teeth. We were bouncing around and screaming and flying down sheer drops and having the time of our lives when he stopped the buggy, gave us some sand boards and told me to get on my knees so I could ride it (just like my....nevermind.)

I can't get over how cool it was to be in this weird paradise flying headfirst down an incredibly steep hill of sand towards a small valley. We did this three or four times and I allowed myself to let go and fly a little faster each time. Obsessed. It was so worth the sand I continued to find for days in my hair, ears, lady bits, clothing, teeth etc.

Then we drove around a little more before my dearest Ruben (ahaha) brought us back to our van-ski. We drove another two hours to Nasca, where we then went to a museum about the Nasca lines (this is where the stomach illness from hell began.) Then hotel, then dinner. It was a very long day. I woke up super sick at 3:30am and kept it up until about 5am. It was miserable as fuhhh.

The next day we got up early and went on a really bouncy and unstable plane to see the Nasca lines. They were cool, but not my favorite thing. And I'm getting tired of blogging. Here's a picture of one of the designs.

That is an alien dude. I liked him best. The other ones were animals and I am ehhh about most animals.

Then we went to the Hilton in Paracas to spend the night. It was a legit resort with gorgeous rooms and a huge pool and the beach and we just got wasted in the pool, ate dinner, got more wasted, convinced the dudes working the bar who were getting off shift to come to a bar with us, went to the bar, drank more, danced, I got my treasure touched  inappropriately (ugh fist me), got a bus back to the hotel and passed out. All in all a deliciously ridiculous evening.

In the morning, we got on a boat in Paracas and took it to go see las Islas Ballestas. These are islands inhabited by billions of birds (there is science behind this but I do not feel like explaining). These islands are covered in tons of bird shit (called guano or something) that they "harvest" for use as a natural fuel. The different types of birds are astonishing and beautiful! Penguins! Like my roommate! And there were sea lions (lobo marinos? Si?) which were so PRECIOUS. Liked it. Artsy photo. I feel like Egan.

After that, we got in the car to drive the 5 hours back to Lima. It was miserable, driving through the poverty in the sweltering heat while feeling like we were going to poop our pants. It was the worst. But I had a couple key moments of self-realization and made some decisions and deciphered some of my feelings in a really healthy and moving-forwardy way. It was a good ride.

Sunday, we relaxed. I skyped with everyone and their mother. Except my mother since she is failing and I haven't yet talked to her. Or Bobby. These things need to change someday.

Yesterday, we had our placement test for the intensive spanish class. I was placed in Intensivo II aka the more challenging of the two classes which is both awesome and terrifying. Our first class was today. Our professor, Julio, is hilarious and really open and honest with us which is wonderful. Today we learned about Peruvian history and politics and the silly rules about masculine and feminine. Twas awesome.

This evening I went to a yoga class that bent me over in the least pleasurable way. It was the strangest strain of yoga ever. I didn't love it, but I did it. Here's to getting back in shape!

Class again tomorrow as well as a museum :)

Ciaoooo
KatySue