Long Way Home
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.”Scraniel
The Long Way Home, blogging me and my little blonde buddies five month journey home after living abroad for over a year. For over a year now Forster and I have been living it up in sunny England. But as our time limit away from the homeland draws near we are embarking on a final journey across the world. Setting out from London we head for our first destination South America. Spending three months travelling through the continent with no firm plans on where or when. Once our time there comes to an end we will head back to London for one last bender. Then we will set our sights for home but not before a stop off in South East Asia for two months.
Travel Blog Posts
September 2nd 2010
Arriving after an absolutely freezing bus ride we first went about sorting out a bus for Manuela. This would be the morning that Manuela was parting ways with the group and heading back to Chile. So after sorting out a bus for her to the border town of Tacna we grabbed a cab with our new English mates from the trek and headed for our hostels. We had decided to stay in what they would refer to as a poshtel. Basically a hostel with a bar and wifi. We're not exactly talking hotel standard here but the boys are on a tight budget so went to one of the cheapest places they could find. They got out first as the cabby actually knew where their hostel was. After figuring out that the cabby was bullshitting us ... read more
August 28th 2010
So waking early we quickly planned out what we would need for our trek. Not really being told we asked the hostel staff what they thought and luckily received an answer. Basically you have to carry all of your gear for the four days. So packing light was essential. Somehow though my pack had room for a litre of rum that was left over from Bolivia. We were picked up at about 7:30 and piled in a minivan. It has to be said this van is probably the most uncomfortable I have been in a car on this trip. I think that they made it big enough for a very small midget. But hey all was good. Next we drove around town to grab our fellow travellers that we would be doing the trek with. First ... read more
August 24th 2010
After what was a pretty average bus ride from Puno to Cusco we quickly got a cab to our prearranged hostel. The first thing we did we head for the shower. Well needed after a long journey and the cold showers of Copacabana. Finally we had decent hot showers. This is very much a luxury in South America. After a quick bite to eat we went out to see Cusco and to see if we could arrange a tour. This is where we ran into a little bit of trouble. By we I really just mean Manuela. After booking her flight for the 26th she had now come to the realisation that she wanted to come with us to Machu Picchu and do the trek there. Turns out that she must be in love with us ... read more
Lake Titicaca
Published: September 3rd 2010South America » Bolivia » La Paz Department » Lake Titicaca
August 22nd 2010
After leaving La Paz we headed for Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The bus ride from La Paz to Copacabana in a great ride. After reading online that the road wasn't known for safety I have come to the assumption that this was outdated. For once in Bolivia the whole journey was on a paved road. We arrived in Copacabana late in to the afternoon. We headed for a hostel that Clinton's guidebook had recommended. Not sure of the name but it is a HI Hostel. Basically we got a three bed room on the top floor right on the 'beach' for about £4 a night. The reason to stay here isn't for the room or the showers which again were cold. But for the amazing sunset views from the balcony. An absolutely stunning ... read more
August 18th 2010
We woke in the morning early to get a bus back to La Quiaca and back to Argentina. A step we didn't want to take but were left with very little else we could do. Simon was going to have to take the bus east to a larger city with a small airport in which he could then fly to La Paz for his flight back to America. So we got up and went to fetch some last minute things while Clinton headed to the bus station to find us some tickets back to La Quiaca. We then met back up in the hostel where Clinton delievered the first positive news of our time in Bolivia. Finally after 24 days Potosi had ended it's blockade and we were free to travel through. Of course this took ... read more
Southern Bolivia
Published: August 24th 2010South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Salar de Uyuni
August 16th 2010
We woke early to make sure we would get through the border in good time, since picking up an American this was no guarantee. We had managed to pick up an Italian with us for the border crossing as he was heading into Bolivia to meet some friends. While it turned out to be a simple border crossing for the four of us from the hostel unfortunately for Simon getting a Bolivian visa can be a bit of a process. For any American that reads this here's a few things to note. Make sure you have the exact cash on you. But the important thing to note is the quality of the dollars in hands. Make sure they are the most perfect note you have ever handled. You see it turns out that they won't accept ... read more
August 12th 2010
Arriving into Salta late after our epic journey from Mendoza we were left little time to decide what to do and see while there. Not having read much about Salta beforehand we quickly consulted our guidebooks and asked our hostel owner what to do. After quickly checking into our hotels we headed for the main street with all the tourist agencies. After visiting several we finally decided on two day trips to Cachi and to Humauacha. With little time left in the day we decided to grab some food and head up to the look out over the city. Unfortunately we had arrived on Argentina's childrens day. So the place was full of kids running about and rides etc. Due to the massive queue at the cable car to the lookout we were left unable to ... read more
August 10th 2010
We got into wine country early with the trio intact. Due to the group only forming recently we were booked into separate hostels for our time in Mendoza. So after hopping off the bus and finding an all illusive tunnel we headed for our separate hostels. Clinton and I's hostel was a quiet charming little place. Quickly dropping our bags down we were informed our room wouldn't be ready for a few hours. So we had a quick seat in the living room and went about doing some emails. It only took a few minutes for us to make our first friend (believe it or not) and met her other friend who's birthday it happened to be. They were going on a half day wine tour for the day. Wanting to quickly hit up some wineries ... read more
August 4th 2010
We got off the bus and soon realised the dramatic difference in temperature from Iguazu. I guess that can happen when you drive seventeen hours to the south. We grabbed our bags and headed towards the metro station. This requires walking a cauldron of people trying to sell shit and one random person spraying some shit on our backpacks (which is apparently how they like to mug people). After finally getting to our hostel we checked in and Clinton spent about thirty seconds there. Turns out there was the final of the pre-season cup on and one of the local teams were into the final. So upon hearing this he quickly ran and grabbed some decent clothes, we had been wearing shorts up until this point, and headed off to the match. By all reports he ... read more
Puerto Iguazu & Iguazu Falls
Published: August 3rd 2010South America » Argentina » Misiones » Iguazú National Park
August 3rd 2010
After the epic bus rides over the border we were finally in Argentina. It was also the first stop on the five things we have to see in South America. We had arrived in Puerto Iguazu a bit of a nothing town but the base for access to Iguazu National Park. Arriving a bit too late to make a full day out at the park we set about killing the day. After sorting out details for the next day and booking a bus for the trip to Benos Aires we settled in to our new hostel for the night. Turns out that we picked a gem of a hostel. It was a great place to sit back relax have a few beers. We had arrived on the night that they usually have gnocchi so we had ... read more
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