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Page 2 of SophieandChris Travel Blog Posts
Day 113 - Welcome to the Jungle!
Published: August 5th 2010South America » Brazil » Amazonas » Manaus
July 13th 2010
We managed to fit in breakfast at Pensao Sulista before we were picked up at 8o'clock. Unfortunately my not so good stomach from the day before continued and it was time for some Immodium to pull me through! Pedro from Amazon Gero tours drove us to the port, stopping along the way to explain the city and favela redevelopment. Whilst his English is non-existent, same as our Portuguese, another opportunity for Sophie to speak Spanish was appreciated. The road leading up to the port was lined with a fish market selling all manner of different fish from 3 metre pirarucu to the Amazon mud fish, always sold alive! We headed down to our little speed boat and met Otsun our guide for the journey, and Harry and Ghia, an Indian couple from Chicago. The tour really ... read more
July 12th 2010
Sure enough Thomas (the tour guide we met yesterday) found us at our hostel this morning. We didn't see him at breakfast, but he came knocking on our door (literally!) soon after. We tried to shake him off by saying we had some calls to make to book flights to Iguassu Falls, and also to bring our flights home forward. On the point of flying home early - a tough decision but one that had to be made as we are running out of money (no doubt due to splashing out on the Galapagos trip! Worth it.) We figured we needed two weeks to see the jungle, Iguassu Falls and Rio, and would fly two weeks early, only cutting Pantanel wetlands and some beach towns off the itinerary. Thomas, desperate for our custom, offered to let ... read more
Day 111 - The One With the Raw Chicken
Published: August 5th 2010South America » Brazil » Amazonas » Manaus
July 11th 2010
Sundays in South America are closedown days. After the language barrier reared its ugly head again and we were dropped off at the wrong hotel (so frustrating not being able to communicate) we explored the town to find nothing open whatsoever, aside from a small cafe where we had a dish I will soon be/am already bored of: chicken, rice and beans. When someone struck up a conversation with us in English I naively entered into it, but of course no-one speaks to you unless they want to sell you something - he was a jungle tour operator. At hearing what hostel we were staying at, he spun us a story about going there for breakfast every day (as if) and said he would meet us there tomorrow and take us to his office. We spent ... read more
July 10th 2010
After more meat filled deep fried rubbish for breakfast (this time, the traditional Venezuelan "arepa") everyone on the bus disembarked except for us and another couple, the only people destined for Brazil. We soon stopped for a "20 minute" bus clean, which of course turned into an hour. Chris and I were glad of the chance to elevate our swollen ankles on a street bench, after having been sitting down for 14 hours so far. The lunch stop was designated at 5 minutes which turned into 30, and then we drove once around the block and returned to the same spot, where we were told to switch to another bus. Five minutes later we were put back on the original bus and set off. No explanation. Not able to eat lunch yet as had no Brazilian ... read more
Day 109 - 19 Hour Bus Ride
Published: August 5th 2010South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park
July 9th 2010
Today I began to understand the term "prickly heat" - the sun was so strong it felt as if hundreds of hot needles were prickling my arms and back. We got in our 3rd six seater plan to travel back to Ciudad Bolivar, expecting our agency rep to be awaiting us at the airport. Naive. No-one was there to meet us and our luggage was locked up in one of the offices. So we sat ourselves on the floor outside the office until someone was called to let us in. We had a few hours spare time in the bus station before our first of two nights buses to Brazil. We were told the journey across the border to Boa Vista would take 15 hours, but of course it was longer - 19. It was somewhat ... read more
Day 108 - Angel Falls
Published: August 5th 2010South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park
July 8th 2010
A 5am wake up call saw us leave at 6o'clock on a 1.5 hour hike to Angel Falls. It was a 4 hour round trip in total, on empty stomachs and with no water provided until we reached the falls where we got a stingy one cup each after sweating buckets in our long trousers (tucked into our socks to avoid a bug whose name I don't know that ventures under clothes and leaves pussing reminders) and raincoats. Venezuela is not ready for tourists! Nonetheless it was a scenic walk through rainforest and rivers (the flow so strong it nearly toppled me!) and across pink sandy beaches. The falls themselves were magical, nearly 1km in height, the water reduced to a fine and far reaching spray near the bottom, with a rainbow affront. We arrived just ... read more
Day 107 - Into the Unknown
Published: August 5th 2010South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Canaima National Park
July 7th 2010
"South American time" was at play today - despite a 7am departure from our hotel and a five minute drive to the airport we didn't fly until 8:30-9am, and whilst landing at 10o'clock we didn't start our 4 hour canoe ride to the falls until 12:30pm! Angel Falls is not accessible by road, hence the 1-1.5 hour 6 seater Cessna flight (an activity in itself with beautiful views) followed by four hours in a motorized canoe, and finally a 1.5 hour hike. We got a taste of the Venezuelan tradition for all things deep fried - at breakfast of all things! A deep fried, corn (instead of short crust pastry) wrapped beef empanada at 8am! Greasy as you like, Chris couldn't even finish it! A bizarre coincidence awaited me when the Cessna landed - a friend ... read more
Day 106 - Orinoco Flow
Published: August 5th 2010South America » Venezuela » Guayana » Ciudad BolívarJuly 6th 2010
We woke at 6:30 in an attempt to begin our day of travel before the sun got too hot, but even at 7:30 our 1km walk with 20kg packs (plus a few kilograms on our fronts) was very uncomfortable. Two loaves of bread purchased, we hopped on the 45 minute bus to Puerto La Cruz from where we would catch a bus to Ciudad Bolivar, the jumping off point for Canaima National Park and Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world at 983m. Typical South America - when I asked two of the men from the bus company how long the journey would be, I got answers of 3 hours and 6 hours. I give up, I can't wait to be back to English reliability and access to information (relatively speaking that it). Anyway, an ... read more
Day 105 - Sunbathing Under a Palm Tree
Published: August 5th 2010South America » Venezuela » North-Eastern » Puerto la Cruz
July 5th 2010
Another sunny morning thank God. Pure bliss - Jason Mraz in one ear, the sound of the ocean in the other, sunbathing surrounded by palm trees. But sure enough, the clouds rolled in from the hills and whilst it didn't rain this afternoon it wasn't the best weather for the beach, not without the bat and ball I was pining for anyway! Our final dinner here (I should note that our "posada" seems to be the only guesthouse serving food!) was deep fried prawns and a mixed grill of fish and seafood, plus of course one last cocktail and beer.... read more
Day 104 - More Rain
Published: July 27th 2010South America » Venezuela » North-Eastern » Puerto la Cruz
July 4th 2010
We had intended to leave Santa Fe today or tomorrow, but were advised against it seeing as it was a public holiday and the buses and accommodation would be rammed. To our delight it was another sunny day, so we relaxed on the beach until lunch when Sonja and Fredrik left. Just as we had finished reapplying sun cream in our room I heard the noise I'd been dreading, sure enough, another tropical storm. The kids on the beach were undeterred but the parents retreated, all armed with cool boxes and bottles of rum. I've never seen rain so heavy; eventually driving away even the children. Upon trying to be productive and catch up on our blog in an internet cafe, we were plunged into darkness by the third power cut in as many days (there ... read more
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Our South American Adventure
Map Legend: 3%, 8 of 263 Territories
Maroon 
We land in Buenos Aires on 23rd March and spend a couple of nights in South America's Paris. We then begin a month long tour of Patagonia and the Argentine Lake District, including a visit to the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia. A number of long bus journeys take us through the Andes to the top of Chile, where we will hop across the border into Bolivia. We begin our exploration of Peru with the Inca Trail (if it's recovered from the recent flooding!) and then it's on to Ecuador. One of the certain highlights of the trip will be the Galapagos Islands, after which we will enjoy the beaches of Venezuela. Then it's down into the Amazon in Brazil (Chris has always aspired to be a jungle explorer.. maybe his next career move!?) followed by the magnificent Pantanel wetlands and Iguazu Falls. We finish up in Rio... from which we fly home on the 6th of August... or maybe the 7th.. I can never remember as we land the day after we take off!
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