Our heroes spend a long time on a bus in order to go walking. Lots, and lots of walking. Lukcily this walking brings them into contact with some of nature's greatest spectacles and not just tiredness! Hurrah for nature! El Calafate is quite a long way from Puerto Madryn. Actually, "quite a long way" is completely the wrong phrase here, "a soul destroying bus ride" or "one and a quarter days of my life that I'll never see again" would better describe how far apart these two places are. The first leg of our journey began at 8pm on a Tuesday in Madryn, it should have been 7pm but timetables are essentially decoration in Argentina I've come to realise. We stopped in Trelew for 90 minutes for no reason that I could descern, and then pushed ... read more

We break up our journey south in a pretty isolated spot but get by through making friends with the local canine population, drinking a lot of red wine and climbing a big hill...we managed not to stalk anyone or do anything particularly tupid for a change. Sierra de la Ventana The thought of a 17 hour bus trip to Puerto Madryn was not in the slightest bit attractive to Ellie or I. We had been looking at potential options to break up the journey but with winter only having just receded the options of beaches at Bahia Blanca and other resorts did not really fit the bill and so were ruled out. The only feasible option this left us with was Tornquist Parque Nacional in the south of Buenos Aires Province. Our reason for coming here ... read more

The show must go on, despite the fact one of our heroes bites the dust for 5 days with a most unfortunate eye injury! As a result of this incapacitation, some of this blog will be skimmed over and only vague second hand accounts of events be given. However, much fun was had post injury, much fun indeed (and no references to LOST this time). In trying to escape the island (or in reality leave of our own free will via boat) a series of unfortunate events did befall me. It was another glorious day, as does befit such a place, and then I go and scratch my eye inadvertently while adjusting my cap. Cue, pain and temporary, monocular vision! One the rather choopy boat crossing back to the mainland the vision began to clear up. ... read more

Rio De Janeiro Our heros try to negotiate a new country and a new language whilst battling sleep deprivation, disorientation and dodgy shower systems...will they survive? Yes, yes they will, obviously... The first port of call on this adventure is Rio De Janeiro, probably one of the more glamorous cities on the planet, with a reputation of a dangerous underbelly. We arrived at 5am after very long overnight flight from London via Rome and I was woefully short of sleep. It's hard to be impressed by much when you've been in a haze for the previous 12 hours watching a couple of terrible films (Inglorious Basterds and Safe House in case you were wondering). That said I was awake enough to know that my first impression of Rio wasn't too great. Coming through the arrival gates ... read more