Mancora, Peru

As i write this blog, i am sitting outside wearing only my bikini with a sarong drapped around my waist.There isnt a cloud in the sky but it isnt at all hot since there is a constant breeze from the ocean. i have sand all over my feet and legs, a kitten snoring by my computer and im drinking a large ice cold beer. I am in Mancora Peru......AKA paradise

Getting here however was hell. I took a bus from Cuenca *Ecuador* but there was a mud slide on the main road so we had to take a 'special' route through the Andes. It was down right the scariest bus ride. We were so high up that we were driving IN the clouds. There were no guard rails and the cliffs went straight down (which is the definition of a cliff, duh). If the bus fell off there would be nooooooo chance of survival! The road was gravel and people were PASSING! Two things that should not be allowed on a cliff -gravel and passing. I took pictures the entire time so I wouldnt be anxious and throw up. I chose not to go white water rafting for the fear of having to cross that part of Ecuador again. Im not too scared or worried about getting raped, robbed, kidnapped or killed. Im worried about the bus falling off a cliff. Since we took the special route I missed my connecting bus at the border. Out of all the 26 countries that I have been to this has been the dodgyist border thus far. I exchanged my money and got fake money in return. I didnt realize it until I tried to buy a bottle of water and the lady looked at me and said 'i dont take paper'. Some man laughed at my failure and it created a very frustrated and tearful Cassi. But some very nice man bought my water and the world was ok again. So I had to catch a different bus to my destination. It was a van fillled to the brim with people-no ac and no open window. I actually had a child sitting on my lap. However, I wasnt going to say anything since I paid for my seat with fake money so technically i should have been sitting on her lap.

Eventually,36 hours later, I arrived at my hostel......and then the fun began! This place is unreal. It is not the atypical hostel. It is more like a resort-summer camp for adults. Actually, I am staying at a place that is completely occupied with people just like me! During the day the pool and bar is filled with travelers and at night the bar turns into a outside night club. There is no point in not going out since the music blares until about three. You get to charge stuff to your room like a real hotel but it isnt your room you charge it to but your bed number. `please put that on my tab - room 211 bed D, thank you`. I have spent the past week or so surfing, taking long walks on the beach (cliche I know), eating ceviche, laying by the pool andor ocean, reading, swimming and being part of the activities at the hostel. When I first arrived they had a playboy bunny party. My feminist too cool part of me said `no way am i dressing up`.....then the fun side kicked in and...well when in rome. Since then I have participated in everything possible -pool volleyball, speed dating, texas holdém, bar quizes, beer pong, Loki Olympics. I even volunteered to be hypnotized. One of the nights a guy from Israel approached me and said that he noticed that I attempted all the activities. I nodded my head and waited. Then he looked at me and siad `you are not very good at a lot of things`. Oh so true. However, my team won the Loki Olympics which consisted of tug of war, water volleyball, dutch around the table, splash competition, musical chairs, spin and run, air guitar and chug your beer!!!!! I won the musical chairs competition.

When I first arrived I knew not a single person. I had to push myself like a mother does their child on their first day of school. ´Be nice Cassi and you`ll make friends´. After a couple of days I knew most of the workers and heaps of other travelers. I must say that Dutch people and Israelis are amoung my favorites. It was great to put myself out there and be out of my comfort zone. The entire 10 day stay in wonderfulville costed about 250 dollars - this includes food, drinks and accomodation. Dont get me wrong, though. It was still a hostel. I shared a room and bathroom with 5 other super fantastic girls and my bed with a skiddish family of roaches.

There is not really much adventure to write about. I would have liked to go to Cusco and other parts of Peru and Bolivia but I did not have enough time. Also when I do Machu Pichu I want to do the Inca Trail which you have to sign up for months in advance. I have been stagnant but I have done A LOT of personal reflection and I see things in my life a little bit differently. I am not really ready to go home but the absence of money in my bank account says that it is time. I have sucessfully filled every square in every page in my passport so I will have to get another one when I get home. Ill be home Wednesday the 28 at 10 am....if all goes well and the traveling goes smoothly.
Love you all!
Cassi