I hadn't read up on anything for my start into America, so as I peered out of the window from Miami's airport shuttle I couldn't hide my pleasure at seeing the abundance of art deco buildings in South Beach. What little knowledge I knew of Miami started to flood in; Miami Vice, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine and CSI. Television and music really didn't sculpt my youth, but at least I have a bit of it to fall back on. I proceeded with checking in at the hostel, and began arguing with the receptionist when she charged me for multiple nights. I then had to face facts when I understood that $26 is the charge for one night. I have now well and truly hit the roof of the budgeting backpacking world as I ... read more

So a massive blog catch up time seems to be the only routine I've maintained over the last 9 months! But at least I eventually catch up. Procrastinating until the final deadline is a characteristic I've always had, so why change now? I signed up for a day trip to the surrounding sights of Oaxaca (pronounced Wah-hawk-a). It's definitely not possible to see everything without a car as there are markets, ruins and even a 2000 year old tree on the list of things to see. So, joining another clan of tourists it is. Our first stop was to Monte Alban, the abandoned ruins at the top of a flattened mountain reaching 7000 meters above sea level. It had originally been covered in morning glory resulting in the name 'albino mountain', which over years changed to ... read more

Had I learned of the definition of Peru´s world heritage site before completing the gruelling Inca Trail, perhaps it might have made me walk faster with curiosity! Macchu Picchu translated into the traditional Peruvian language of Quechua means "Old Penis". It's not exactly what I´ve been striving for, in fact completely opposite might be more appropriate! I met the gang that I would be walking with for four days, the night before the 6am pickup. We were a small group, and providing all personalities get on that can be a good thing. But who can really tell at the beginning? Karsten was the Dutch banker living in Switzerland, Liesbeth was the Belgian living on a boat in Italy, and Janes was the German student travelling South America. I was thankful I had another girl to gossip ... read more

I never thought I would be so excited about landing in an airport. Rio is the first place I´ve been in a while, where I didn't have to follow the normal route (cash machine, tourist office, transit sort, accommodation sort, food needs...) as I was met by my Aunt Jojo and Uncle Peter. We were accompanied by my newly adopted gran Pene, who sensibly left the grey skies of England for the joys of Brazil. We were then whisked a couple of hours north of Rio to Buzios and met up with my cousins Ross and Blaise. It´s a holiday for all of us, as life in New Jersey for the boys and Jojo is quite a contrast to Brazil. So the holiday from travelling begins... The first stop was to the house of Hilary, a ... read more

When I enquired about excursions from Buenos Aires, the last thing I expected to hear about was a trip over to Uruguay. An opportunity to tick another country off of the list, and see for myself how different the people are to the Argentinians? Well of course I went! Two days full of smiles. Except for the beginning. I took the ferry over to the capital city of Montevideo and stepped into the biggest rainstorm I´ve seen in a few months. I was lucky to not be carrying around my big pack as I stomped through the puddles. I muttered under my breath over and over a saying that a friend from Vancouver once told me, ¨It´s just rain, you´re not sugar, you won´t disintegrate¨. And yes this is true, but it can still make you ... read more