Essence – A la découverte de l'Amérique du sud

Cette section se veut dédiée aux personnes croisées sur mon passage, avec qui j’ai partagé quelque chose de spécial. Que ce soit pour quelques heures ou quelques jours, ces personnes ont marqué mon voyage de leur présence, le rendant encore plus unique et sympathique!

This section is in english since despite French´s supremacy around the world (joke!), most of the people I meet don´t speak french. And since this section is theirs…

Claire & Wilfried – Mes deux aventuriers globetrotteurs grenoblois! Rencontrés dans le bus à Potosi, nous nous embarquerons le 31 décembre pour 3 jours de rando dans les montagnes de Bolivie. Champions de course d’orientation le week-end, l’expérience sera épuisante mais grandiose! Sans compter un réveillon mémorable à la bougie et au feu de bois.




Megan, Nick & Caroline
Our companions in the amazing Uyuni tour, we share a passion for Pringles. Kuddos to Megan for treating me as a credible source of information (rightly so of course). We’ll have an incredible time, constantly entertained by funny Megan cracking jokes at unexpected moments.




Rob – Rob is a proud advocate of the queen in South America, and mosquitoes’ best friend. If you’ve a question (any will do), Rob’s got an answer for it, and it will be factual. For the actual response, please check Wikipedia . Rob will be amazing company in our pampa tour – and a big fan of Bruce Springsteen.




Nick & Beth – Our favorite Australian couple, always amazing company and surely a tour with them is an undeniable success (verified through repeated experience). Even though a bit difficult when it comes to food (yeah Nick, still stuck on the Mexican place! ), they’re a delight to spend time with – good laughs guaranteed!




Yaël – After meeting on a street corner, we’ll spend 3 weeks travelling together, first in the pampa and then to the salt flats. Thanks to her, meals are always a blast, punctuated by amazing stories of apples and other very interesting objects (she’s a doctor in France). Many good laughs and much adventure shared along the way.




Kylee – When Kylee is not guiding me around La Paz (logical, she’s from Boston), she shares her time between an environmental agency and an orphanage. We’ll have some great discussions around a a falafel or a beer, or simply exploring the over-crowded local market and shopping for purses (very exciting).




David – Met in Mollendo – Peru, David is originally from Lima. We’ll meet on the beach in the afternoon of my first day there – bored as hell, his friendship is more than welcome and he’ll be amazing the 2 days that we’ll spend together, inviting me at his brother’s and discussing of all things of life around a frozen beer




Lyan – Lyan and I will keep bumping into each other from Arequipa in Peru to Copacabana and Tupiza in Bolivia (I suspect she might have been following me). Finally we’ll celebrate our last meeting with an amazing Christmas dinner at the local pizzeria in Tupiza, followed by the Christmas mass (only 15mn of the 4hrs though).




Claudine & Blandine – My 2 french companions met in Vilcabamba. We’ll spend much time discussing of all things of life and share on our travel experience. They will be amazing company and a good taste from home in many ways, after almost 1 month of exploring South America. I’ll see you in Bretagne, hopefully in 2010!




Yvone & Alex - Amazing couple from Germany met during the LONG transfer from Vilcabamba (Ecuador) to Trujillo (Peru). We’ll spend a couple of days together on the coast and meet again in Cuzco for a great altitude diner. Alex and I will soon become amazed observer of Peru’s talent for safe driving and creative horning.

Prebben & Sofie - The other couple, from Denmark this time, who survived the 20hrs+ of bus to reach the small paradise of Huanchaco. We’ll spend a few days together with them, Alex and Yvonne, time of great happenings like the tasting of our first Inka Kola, visit of the Chan Chan city, etc. Another couple that also survived the Inca trail!

Salchicha – Even though our meeting was short, it was no less intense. Not very talkative but always on the go and aware, it distinctively lacks hair as do those of his race, believed to have survived the Inca takeover of the West coast. Unfortunately, they have a hard time procreating, as females tend to be turned off by their lack of pilosity – convenient in hot weather though!

Franziska – From Germany and travelling throughout South America, we’ll meet in Cuenca at the school, and then remember that we met already and briefly in Banos – small world! She’ll be my trekking partner for the national park of Cajas and a great friend during my time in Cuenca. Including a memorable birthday party!

Martha – My faboulous spanish teacher, that will bear my amazing… french accent for 4 hours everyday, and still talk to me after! Great person that will make me discover Ecuadorian traditions and culture, history, through endless discussions during our classes. Of many talents, Martha is also a great dancer.

Arnaud – Famous for his rafting talents, Arnaud is one of the rare French people I´ve met so far. Knowing no fear, he didn´t hesitate to go down the rio de Banos in those round pieces of plastic they call a raft with me, and biked the long road from Banos to Puyo (60km – 1,000m of descent) despite tropical conditions and scary drivers!

Katrin & Monika – Fearless snake hunters from beautiful Switzerland, two sisters I sympathized with in Quito on my second day before they went on exploring the jungle in the Oriente. We ended up later in Banos, unfortunately with no serpentes, but in vapors of long islands and swiss cheeses for a most exhilirating time. Also part of the mystical descent to Puyo… Yeah Katrin!

Joseph - An amazing character from Switzerland, a teacher of life whose breadth of experiences is only matched by the number the places he´s travelled to. A great companion during my stay in Cuenca, proud Victorinox advocate throughout the world, with countless amazing stories and endless philosophical discussions. Hope to see you again in Bolivia!

Elena & Sofia – Elena and her husband Eugenio demonstrated an amazing sense of hospitality for the whole time in Cuenca, welcoming us like their own family. Sofia proudly represented Belgica on Cuencan dance floors, also known as “la principessa”. Countless stories of “salir a baillar” happened with them, in this very kitchen. Also poor victims of my first steps in spanish!

The Bolivar team - Students from the spanish school Simon Bolivar, from literally all over the world, all in Cuenca to learn spanish (?) and party (!). Great folks that made those 2 weeks in Cuenca very colourful, whether at the school or in those bars where the group would simply take over the place!