November's version of...

JC & KC's SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE PHOTO LOG v.10

month to month photo montages of our explorations in south 'merica

November´s theme: Greetings from Iguazu


This postcard themed collage is based on the beauty of pink flora and mystical fauna, showcased in the tremendous Iguazu Falls. The Iguazu Falls is a series of waterfalls found on the shared border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. It consists of 275 waterfalls that unfortunately cannot be captured within one photo, alas we show you only one in this month´s collage. On the left and right side of the collage you see a pineapple plant and other various hot pink leaves and buds from the Amazon of Ecuador (in Tena and Vilcabamba). The magastic bird you see, known as a King Vulture, perhaps comes from another part of Ecuador (or the world for that matter) but was seen by JCKC in a zoo in Vilcabamba, Ecuador. The butterfly was seen in Iguazu Falls (as were many other butterflies in a variety of colors and shapes that were not able to be captured in a photograph) and the unicorn hails from the magical island of Chiloe in Southern Chile.

What are JC and KC up to in the mean time?

Both JC and KC are homeward bound for XMAS time, but are returning to SA after seeing friends and family, and after seeing each other of course.
JC is finishing her first semester in graphic design at IPAD in Lima and will resume the 2nd semester in March. KC´s work visa expires at the end of December in Chile, but plans to return to Santiago in 2010 to begin a one year Gender Studies program at the University of Chile.

Until December,
KC and JC

kate crowley
jane claire remick

October's version of:
JC & KC's SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE PHOTO LOG v.10

Dear Everyone,

This month is mostly compliled of animalitos peruanos ( peruvian animals) from jc´s Peruvian vacation with her parents and sister. The collage includes the debut of a very special Peruvian (-american,-german) animal, Jane Claire, Jesus, and Lisa´s baby kitten, Teeja (also called michita). Due to shameless mom pride (from her various maternal and paternal figures), expect to see much more of her as she grows.

Jane Claire has a big new apartment with lots of light and a drawing table, and Kate has a new place too, which she seems pretty happy with. Time is going quickly and soon both will be back in the states for a visit, though neither plans on being there for any more of winter than absolutely neccessary since its finally getting sunny here. JC willo continue studying graphic design until June and Kate continues teaching and making new opportunities. from there . . who knows . . .maybe one of us will start a calendar publishing copmpany and the other will start working for national geographic as a llama photographer.

KC and JC
katie crowley
& jane claire remick

September's version of...

JC & KC's SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTUREPHOTO LOG v.8

month to month photo montages of our explorations in south 'merica

September's theme: Perplexing Pupils

Magical realism is a farce you say? It's a limiting way to classify South American literature and stereotype Latin America?

Well, you´ve never seen the animals here.

This month's collage demonstrates how strange animal pupils are in different South American countries. Instead of elliptical pupils, the pupils are the shapes of...llamas. The cat with an itchy ear dwells in a trendy bar in Baños Ecuador, and seems to take on its pupils from the strange picture that comes from the same bar (Big Brother?). The zebra head comes from Bolivia, and is worn as a disguise especially by crossing guards.

What are JC and KC up to in the mean time?

The weather is warming up here in South America, and old friends and parties are SPRINGing up.

Still in Santiago, KC is preparing for Chile's Independence Day celebration, "Las fiestas patrias." September 18 is the official day of independence, but the celebration is taken very seriously, so this means 4 days of non stop fun. Meat-eating, chicha drinking, cueca dancing (Chile's national dance, which is inspired by the mating ritual between chickens and roosters), and seeing family and friends are the primary ways to celebrate. JC on the other hand is in Lima, taking and giving classes (in design and English respectively). JC was also recently blessed with the visits of bff Joanna and her German sister Lisa. JC has been busy showing them a grand old time and catching up with these long loved and missed friends.

Until October,
KC and JC
kate crowley
& jane claire remick

August's version of...

JC & KC's SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE PHOTO LOG v.7

month to month photo montages of our explorations in south 'merica
August's theme: The Lonely Lion, Leo

In this collage, our August friend Leo (sad sad Leo from a zoo in Villcabamba, Ecuador) dreams about seeing some of his kin from the African continent, a crocodile residing in the upper pools of iguazu falls, and a baby Monkey from Pucallpa, Peru. The sign warning about the dangers of snakes to little yellow men is also from Iguazu. The Elephants used to live in Barranco, Peru, but they're gone now.

In other news, It's chilly below the equator. To keep warm, JC sports Cosby sweaters and gets her mind off the cold by going to the IPAD to take classes in graphic design and arts. KC on the other hand continues with her job that she's not loving and prepares chilean delicatessens in her kitchen to keep warm by the stove. Both dream of the moment when spring comes and when they will next see each other...and all of you

Until September, we will keep warm and may you keep cool por favor,
KC and JC
katie crowley
& jane claire remick

July's edition of...

JC & KC's SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE PHOTO LOG v.6

Helooouuu!
This month of July (or julio para los amigo spanish hablantes) brings you suspiciously U.S. patriotic cows(once jane claire's favorite animal) from Ecuador and Argentina. Argentina is known for its cattle and tasty steaks. Well, no exaggeration. Riding the bus 24 hours to Iguazu falls, we saw many vast expanses of roaming cattle. Doing the typical backpacking in Ecuador we also encountered many large bovine friends, who really are not at all scary in comparison to the snappy dogs.

The clouds are from Jane Claire's somewhat recent trip to Bolivia where she met many illustrators. Kate has been keeping on at Toyota and such . . .

Enjoy this July fourth. Eat some Cows because that is the American waaayy!!! Also drink beer and light some things on fire (ohhh sooo homesick for the local customs!).

And enjoy the lethargy of the heat. Its so cold in the southern parts

much love
xxxoooxxx
KC and JC

June's edition of....

JC & KC's SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE PHOTO LOG v.5

month to month photo montages of our explorations in south 'merica

JUNE'S THEME: HAUNTED KITTIES

This month brings us to the lovely Recoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This cemetery is filled with extravagant mausoleums. In general, mausoleums are typical in South American cemeteries, and especially if one's family is rich, his or her family mausoleum will be particularly big, elaborately decorated, and perhaps flashy. So yes, inside these mini buildings are multiple caskets filled with corpses that are (were) related to each other.

Starting on the left hand side, we see two kitties napping (or are they guarding what's beneath the stone?) on top on what I think is a tombstone in the Recoleta cemetery. Unusual for this cemetery, this single tomb stone lies flat and is built into the ground with nothing built on top, just one casket buried underneath (I think). Visiting our two kittie grave keepers is a friend from Machu Picchu, Peru. This is a scary centipede (or is it?) that JC and KC found on the ceiling of a cave called "El templo de la luna" close to the Machu Picchu. Not exaggerating, it was 8-9 inches (20.3-22.9cm) long and almost fell on top of our heads.
Moving to the center from top to bottom, you see two cats: one with crazy red eyes, and a cute orange one. The evil looking one was actually quite friendly, and was found lounging on a bar stool in a pool hall in Baños, Ecuador. The orange kitten also hails from Ecuador, but from the Quilotoa Crater, who will not have a lavish life of bar lounging, but that of a brutal mouse hunter for an Ecuadorian hostel. To the right of the orange kitten is a picture of two kittens smoking and dirtying up a bathroom. We found this picture in a hostel in Quito, Ecuador, and couldn't help but think it was pretty darn cute (and so maybe is not an effective warning for hostel guests to clean up after themselves).
On the right hand side from top to bottom, we find some friends (or rather, animal spirits) of the haunted kitties. These two animals come from the jungle: The monkey from Pullcalpa, Peru and the rooster from Tena, Ecuador. Their presence is due to a seance that was conducted by the kitties in order to extract necessary but hard to find exotic ingredients for the preparation of special hexes, potions and spells.


AS FOR KC AND JC...WHAT ARE THEY UP TO?

Although only 48 hours apart in bus, JC and KC are not currently in the same place. KC is sick in bed in Santiago with the flu (no, not that flu) and when is not sick, she is back and forth between Santiago and Valparaiso, Chile (she works in Santiago, and breathes fresh air in Valparaiso) JC, after an exciting trip last month to Bolivia, is now with her FAMILY :) in Peru, sightseeing in Arequipa and Cuzco, staying in much nicer hostels than when she and KC were traveling through the same cities.


Until next month,
KC and JC

May's edition of....

JC & KC's SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE PHOTO LOG v.4

month to month photo montages of our explorations in south 'merica

WHAT HAPPENED TO APRIL?¿?
Well, April was a difficult time for JC and KC because many technological and Internet connection problems came about, due to the distance and frustration that arises when JC and KC are in neighboring (but not in the same) country. However, to compensate, we promise a SPECIAL HOLIDAY SURPRISE collage for all of you when you least expect it (or when you most expect to receive holiday themed emails...)

Although only 48 hours apart in bus, JC and KC are not currently in the same place at the same time. KC is kicking it in Santiago, Chile´s capital, teaching English and preaching about the evils of cigarettes (btw May31 is World No Tobacco Day¡!) and JC is chilling in Lima, Perú`s capital, teaching, painting, and waiting for rock hard avocados to ripen so that they can be eaten.

MAY'S THEME: BEACH and LIL CRITTER LUV

The background of this month`s collage is a mixture of two very different places and two very different times. The beach is Las Minas beach in Paracas, Perú, and is a beautiful beach that was visited by JC and KC together this March. Believe it or not, the pipe and spiderweb are not part of the original landscape. They hail from Valdivia, in Southern Chile, when KC was alone traveling before meeting up with JC in Buenos Aires in December 2007.
The LIL CRITTERS: From top to bottom:
The butterfly sailboats that you see come from a picture that JC took from the rain forest of Tena, Ecuador. The crab carcass in the middle, however, is from the same Paracas beach where the background of the photo comes from. Thank God it was dead, because by the look of its size it easily could have cut JC´s bikini top/earrings/head right off. On the far left and in the right bottom corner, you see two different stages of a sand flea`s life: the one on the left, only 3 days dead...the one of the bottom right...100 days dead. These two sand fleas were found in Callao´s National Park on Chiloe Island in Southern Chile in December 2007 by KC. Lastly, the two fish that lay near JC´s plastic grocery bag are not from the ocean that you see, but from the Pucallpa jungle in mid-eastern Perú.

Until next month,
KC and JC
katie crowley
& jane claire remick

***special thanks to victor yeye for showing KC how to do photoshop shadow effects***