Travel Blog Posts
March 13th 2008
I arrived exhausted into Santiago around 2am. I stayed in the 'burbs to the northeast of the city. The weather was scorching, late 30's most days. Santiago sits in a valley and the air is generally still and has a pleasant smell despite the hanging pollution. I took it easy my first day and walked around the area I was staying in and took my guitar to a park and sat under a big tree. My host and I took a few beers up the hill behind her house where we could watch the sunset over the whole city and the many lights of Santiago come on. We then went to her friend's house for some more drinks and then to a bar nearby where I got a good taste of the Chilean/Peruvian drink Pisco. We ... read more
February 7th 2008
My original plan was to spend Carnaval in Salvador, but after making such great friends in Rio I decided to spend it there. I met up with the gang at Ipanema beach on Friday afternoon. It was the only day I was back there that was sunny. I had forgotten how much it rains in Rio. We hung out there for a couple of hours and then went home to change for the night. My first two nights of Carnaval were spent at Lapa. I was a bit disappointed with this as I had been out in Lapa many times before and was expecting something different for Carnaval. They were good nights but I didn't feel like it was Carnaval. There were a lot more people than usual in Lapa. People party in the streets on ... read more
January 31st 2008
I was back in a hostel for the first time in a while in Natal. After checking in I wandered the few blocks to Ponta Negra beach. I was immediatley pleased that this would be my home for a week. I strolled along the shore down to the southern end of the beach taking in the mix of tourists at luxury hotels and locals enjoying the beach. Upon reaching the southern tip I was disappointed to find the giant sand dune that towered over the beach was fenced off and was sign posted as military property. I returned to the hostel and chilled out with a few other guests. I had a reasonably early night and went to bed about midnight. After lying down for 10 minutes I had an unexpected urge to spew my guts ... read more
January 12th 2008
After a few hours sleep I arose to see the Christmas day sunrise over the ocean in Copacabana. I was meeting Lara in her old home city of Recife in the northeast of Brazil. I arrived a few hours prior to her and her friend Eduardo was nice enough to pick me up from the airport. We did a drive-by tour of Recife's beach and it's Old Town before Lara arrived midafternoon. Christmas night we met up with Eduardo and a bunch of other friends - including Cynthia who attended my birthday bash in Rio - and went to a bar close to the beach to celebrate. Being my first Christmas away from home it was great to spend it with a lovely group of people. We went a couple of times to the beach in ... read more
Brazil Part 1 - When my baby smiles at me I go to Rio
Published: February 13th 2008South America » Brazil » Rio de Janeiro » Rio de Janeiro
December 25th 2007
My god the heat ! I had the luxury of having my first host in Rio meet me at the airport. The humidity of the place was the first thing I noticed as we waited for the bus into town. I had been in hot places recently but hadn't experienced humidity since Texas. I spent the weekend at his house in Botafogo in the South Zone. Later I was to stay in Copacabana, Flamengo, Lago do Machado, and also one night in the North Zone. My first night was reasonably relaxed. With his friend, we went out for pizza and a few beers. Another spot of luck was that he had the following day off work. We prayed for some good beach weather but the good Lord had other ideas. So my first day in one ... read more
December 6th 2007
I'm flying high over Argentina with the hottest new band Still Water, and we're all about to die ! Ok, maybe that's a bit dramatic but I had terrible turbulence coming into Buenos Aires. After 8 months of flights and many with bad turbulence, this was the first time I had any fear for my life. After we cleared the clouds and the lights of Buenos Aires were visible below, I looked out the window to try and see the source of the ruckus. Looking back I saw we had passed through a crazy lightning storm. Bolts shooting every which way. Exiting the airport I noticed the climate change straight away. The warm night air was a welcome change from Peru. I arrived safe and sound to my host's house in Belgrano, a nice neighbourhood of ... read more
October 26th 2007
I arrived at 6am into a cold, grey Lima. I was to learn that Lima was always in a constant state of grey. Being mid October I assumed it would be warmer in this southern hemisphere country. Despìte hearing horror stories of people being robbed and kidnapped at gun point in Peruvian taxi's I took one from the airport to my couch surfing destination. After my driver showed uncertainty of where the street was I feared I was being hustled. But after stopping to ask several police officers on the side of the road and going to a police station in the area of my host to ask for directions, and no one knowing where the street was my mind was changed to thinking they were just all idiots. To much relief we finally arrived to ... read more
October 13th 2007
I returned to Europe for a quick hit of fun. Five weeks this time. I couldn't resist a 1 cent flight to Dublin so I made that my first destination. Colin, an old mate from high school lives there now so I had somewhere to stay right in town. Most of my time in Dublin was spent drinking - it's Ireland ! It seems like every second shop is a cool little pub. Even though I'm not a fan of Guinnes I figured I had to try it in Ireland. Better than it is in Australia but still not my cup of tea. Besides the drinking I walked around the city and viewed the amazing old buildings and beautiful parks. I took a tour of Dublin Castle which was very impressive. My flight out of Dublin ... read more
U.S.A. Part 5 - New York
Published: September 19th 2007North America » United States » New York » New York
September 3rd 2007
I've got to be a part of it. Atleast for a few weeks. At the beginning of my New York experience I was staying in the very north of Manhattan in the Dominican ghetto. It was a very interesting experience and I think good to see the not so glamorous part of Manhattan. My first night in New York I went with my new friends to Times Square. There by chance we stumbled upon Ozzy Osbourne playing a free concert to the people in the street on top of the Hard Rock Cafe. Party. Bonus. My first week was pretty full on doing all the must do tourist things. I went to the Metropolitan Museum and saw some great art. I got the inside tip that the $20 entry is only a recommended price and you ... read more
U.S.A. Part 4 - Las Vegas and Texas
Published: September 3rd 2007North America » United States » Texas
August 13th 2007
With all the landmarks of Las Vegas it was easy to spot it through the plane window. Seeing this oasis of sin in the middle of the desert I couldn't help but be filled with excitement and anticipation. As soon as I stepped out of the air-conditioned airport I was hit by a wave of heat. It is disgustingly hot. I hit happy hour with my host before we did a lap of the main. I got dropped downtown which is the old section of Vegas. The casinos here are cheaper and less extravagant. After checking this area out I went to the more recent section of the strip and got a closer look at the all famous casinos. I spent saturday afternoon lazing in the pool. Saturday night I hit the town. I planned on ... read more
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