Hey,
we have returned to his native realm! On 15 January, almost a month ago, took off our journey from which some of you probably already knew. The first goal was Bolivia, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, because there we had to attend a seminar as part of our year abroad. Then we had planned a small tour of Bolivia and Peru. What we have experienced and seen, I will of course not deny and that is why I'm out of struggled through a small entry, at least about in what I can remember to write.
15:01 to 18:01 in the evening
Everything started the 15th January. Before us lay a 60-hour bus trip and a few kilometers. In order to yes in time for the seminar on Monday the 26th to be in Santa Cruz, we had planned all weekend for getting here. In fact, we came on Sunday afternoon, flattened by the way, but not injured, the Kolping Center in Santa Cruz. The trip was really a highlight. From Desert (Chile), on volcanic lakes (border with Bolivia) to tropical areas (to Santa Cruz), we have seen all landscapes. To come to Bolivia, we had to cross a high pass around 5000m, where we stayed easier dizziness and shortness of breath not spared.
19:01 - 26.01
the seminar itself, which lasted for a week, I can not tell much except that it has made mega pass. How pleasant it was at about 40 like-minded people finally speak again only in German, her you can imagine. The experience was really really interesting. We were a mixed bunch. There were people who perform in Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile, of course, their volunteer service. Now we also had time to listen in a relaxed atmosphere, the chance of the others as they would in their year to date was given, what a job they are doing what they had to experience it done before, whether good or bad, and what doubts plague them.
was really nice to see it again familiar faces from the preparatory seminar in Cologne, both workers and volunteers with whom they had already prepared almost a year together.
But besides the hard work the whole day we had of course just relaxing. One day we made such as a trip to Biocentro. A really nice place with swimming pools, butterfly farm, lakes, sports facilities and animals. At lunch time you could get enough to eat at a really extensive buffet. It was a really good day, where you could see, sorely needed as many of us had one such.
was a little clouded our seminar on the forthcoming elections, constitution, because we had a day more or less curfew and dengue fever that haunted this time straight.
All in all, I can draw only one positive conclusion from the seminar. It was really nice to meet so many new nice people who collect this year quite a similar experience as you own the obligatory pint in the evening has always been the whole a great degree.
But now our journey, we had looked forward stretched during the whole seminar full of expectation:
26.01 - 28.01
Our first stop was La Paz, which we fortunately reached easily by air. The one way to Santa Cruz had deterred us a little ride the bus again and perhaps because grad rainy season was to get stuck in the mud yet. So we came about after a half hour flight without any checks at check-in on one of the highest airports in the world in El Alto on the high plains of La Paz.
If I speak in the first person plural, I mean Daniel Benedict, Inés, whom we had met on the way to the seminar, and myself.
straight first of all we had to find a nice Hostal made, but we have exchanged due to its extremely shabby condition the next day, again against a more beautiful.
Now that we have not much done the night before, we caught a taxi the next day and are in the Valle de la Luna. As the name suggests, for a bit of English can, they describe a lunar-like landscape, which I unfortunately do not know how it was made.
Then we have a panoramic mountain climb in the city, from where we had a wonderful view in all directions of the city. Sorry, could not be in a photo approximately capture how the seemingly infinite number of houses wind up the mountain valleys.
The next day we met with Fidel, a volunteer from La Paz, we had already learned a few days earlier at a seminar in Santa Cruz. He lives in a 15er WG, our first goal of the evening. Together with some of his roommates, all volunteers, of which we also previously been allowed to meet some at the seminar, we ate dinner together. Then we are in a pub called Reynard the Fox, went around us to enjoy a German beer and top off the joint last day in La Paz.
29.01 - 30.01
For the next Day it should already go on to Copacabana on Lake Titicaca. After an approximately 3-hour drive and the translation of our bus to Lake Titicaca by raft, we arrived in the sleepy little tourist town.
Under pressure of time we have made directly on the way to the bar to even as possible to get the next boat to the Isla de Sol. Where should have been the origins of the Incas, we wanted to treat a small lounge to the beauty of Lake Titicaca to admire. But the afternoon trip was more of a letdown. 4-hour trip was 3 hours travel by boat and not even a whole hour stay on the island, where we just have done it 200m climb the mountain before we had to turn back again. On the way back we expected but a surprise. When we halted at the next island, Lenka suddenly stood before us. Lenka we know about our roommate Ben and she also works as a volunteer in Santiago. The world is flat but small. 
1.30
The next day we went without Inés, who had gone back to Santiago, and freshly strengthened by a really tasty pizza from NEM Rastafarian shed, on to Puno.
where we expected only a short stay of a few hours. But we used the time around the Islas Flotantes (floating islands) to Puno on Lake Titicaca to visit. As unbelievable as it sounds, it's true. Descendants of the Inca built using a special technique on the lake floating islands made of reeds and earth, where they pay independently in their own community, with presidents and mayors, schools and kindergartens in the rural population and no taxes, live. They were also the only people at the time of colonization (about) do not have to be conquered by the Spaniards. It was a really interesting visit. To see how people still live here without any progress. 
31.01 - 02:02
That evening we went with the usual transport medium bus to Cusco, the stronghold of the Incas. After an extremely exhausting and never-ending night ride, with screaming Peruvians and a drunken passenger, we arrived at some point early in the morning in Cusco. Fortunately we found a hostel, which we reckoned to have long Unopened night no more, so we could spend another few hours in a warm bed. Then it was already going straight to a city tour.
have together with a guide and a small tour group, we in 4 hours, the city and various Inca ruins scouted outside. In the evening we closed the busy day with an inexpensive but good meal and a beer overlooking the Plaza de Armas of Cusco. 
The next day was planned quite similar. As we mention Santa Cruz a train to Aguas Calientes, which is below Maccu Picchu, had reserved to avoid standing in front of sold-out trains, we had on Sunday evening (01.02) are at the train station in Ollantaytambo. Therefore we made on Sunday a tour that followed as where we left off the night before. So we continued our tour of Inca ruins of buildings and continued until we in the evening in Valle Sagrado (Sacred Valley) in Ollantaytambo arrived.
went after a small breather it from there straight to Maccu Picchu Pueblo or Aguas Calientes, where we went in search of our hostel. Before going to sleep, we met yet with our guide, gave us final instructions, and with which we wanted to explore the next day Maccu Picchu. After a rather short night, we jumped at 4 clock again from the springs. It was buy bus tickets and the highlight of our trip to drive up ...
spite of tourism and the whole rip-off, I must say it was a sublime moment of standing in this Inca city Maccu Picchu. We spent a few unforgettable hours in the ruins and tried to the hustle and bustle of the long-dead people who once lived here to keep before our mind's eye. But above all fascinated me was the environment in which the city was built. Maccu Picchu on a mountain surrounded by river valleys surrounded by mountains with other green vegetation. A truly unforgettable sight. It was worth it!
That same evening we were exhausted and worn back in Cusco. The next morning we went to our last stop in Peru, Arequipa.
3:02 a.m. to 7:02
In Arequipa we had to temporarily disconnect the first place. The reason was, among other things, that Benny wanted to meet with a friend in Mollendo, a neighboring town of Arequipa, and Daniel and I are health reasons for the time being remained in Arequipa. Once arrived in Arequipa, we had Daniel namely to bring because of his health very troubled and precarious state and due to a severe sunburn on his face as a result of too sunbathing on Wayna Picchu, first of all to the doctor. Fortunately, it turned out that the whole thing could be reversed with a bit of antibiotic within a few days. Somehow, however, was the air out with our travel fever. Benni was not only to stop and so he sits, as I write this entry, perhaps with friends in Lima, Peru. Daniel and I met in Arequipa, even with friends we had met at the seminar in Santa Cruz, before we took on Saturday, which was 07:02, early re-started the journey back to Santiago.
people, I'm really glad to be back "at home". On the journey it has been shocked me once again to see how poor Bolivia and Peru alone in contrast to Chile. I now have real respect for the people who make their year abroad in one of these two countries. For me, probably nothing. Without real food I had desöfteren really homesick for Germany. Do not get me wrong, of course, not only after eating, even after you, to the people. But you know me, and food is making me a major part of my own feelings. ;)
But now I'm going back to civilization and from next week to get rid of daily life.
Until next time!
un abrazo grande
Bruce
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