I visited Chester for the first time. It reminded me of a handsome York or Canterbury, very medeival, but not really old. I think many structures have been preserved for tourists and consumers. Exclusive and popular chain stores exist on the bottom level of these historic buildings. Some frontages seem too slick to be authentic buildings. There are many tourists in the street with cameras. I spent the first few minutes trying to avoid ruining people's shots until I realized that I was standing beside a popular building. Overall I like Chester for what it is, a popular tourist site with [View Full Entry]

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I have been in the United Kingdom for nearly two weeks. The year completes a circle as I returned to Ray's house in Lincolnshire for a whistle-stop visit. There, I found clothes and maps of Eastern European cities and toiletries and other things deemed too heavy to bring back to Nova Scotia last December. I tucked some of them into my bulging luggage, then left the rest for another visit....someday when I pack a lighter bag. This has been an incredible year, in terms of travel and new experiences and connecting with family members. A fraction of my experiences have been [View Full Entry]

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It is embarassing how much time has passed since I started this blog. I didn't upload the missing photos from Argentina. Ooooops, maybe I will during winter? This blog was suppose to capture symbols of spring in Canada. There were more photos but I don't have them at this moment. The best part of visiting Ontario was catching up with cousins June, Tammy and Jim. [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday we visited Niagara Falls. It was interesting to compare these falls with Iquazu. Both are beautiful. Iquazu is three kilometres in jungle environment and heat, yesterday Niagara Falls still had glacial-type snow at bottom of falls. We took the Maid of the Mist boat to get up in front of the falls. This was fun; quite the experience. I was pleasantly surprised at the price,$14.95 each. When I think of the entry price to Iquazu and MachuPicchu and some museums in South America, the Niagara Falls boat trip is a bargain. Everyone in the boat laughed while getting soaked. Being [View Full Entry]

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Hi Folks, This travelblog site had technical problems for a week while they switched servers, and all the photos that I published during the week of 7-16th of April are lost (on the site, I still have them on flashdrive). This is my first day back in Canada, and I am visiting cousins in Toronto area. I posted final photos from Lima this morning, and repaired the ones for Purmamarca, the beautiful coloured mountains. When I get home, I will redo the other blog photos. [View Full Entry]

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O.K. This really is my last day in South America. I fly out at eleven,on the dreaded overnight flight to Toronto. I never sleep on planes so I know I will be useless for a day or so. Yesterday was a blast! With two Brits and Servas friend we explored downtown Lima and the Bohemian communities. At the Cathedral we arrived just at the end of the ordination of some Bishops. Riot police were on the streets; nuns and priests seem to outnumber the members of congregation as they poured out of the cathedral. We went in to take some photos, [View Full Entry]

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I am in my last destination for this South American trip. Picked up luggage in Montevideo and here, and now have the task of throwing out all the useless items that I packed, you know, the emergency blanket, mosquito hat, multiple package of wetwipes, oh, and the heaviest, the organic cotton hostel sheet that think I used only once. Maybe I should keep that heavy item.....might come in handy someday. About half of my clothing must go if I am going to fit in the wool ponch and Argentinian matte cups. Meanwhile, I had fun playing tourist in Lima yesterday. With [View Full Entry]

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The sun is shining brightly today but people on the streets are wearing jeans, coats and dark colours. I´m the only person bopping around in shorts and sandels. Luckily my tan gives me some kind of validation to be so colourful (I think). I am comfortable, so everybody else must be too warm. Last night when I arrived it was cold, about 18 Celcius. Earlier that day I was sweating in shorts and cotton shirt in Salta. Then going south to Uruguay the temperature dropped. I´ll be flying north to Lima tomorrow and it should be much warmer again. I´ll leave [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday I took the gondala up the hill to see the view. I found an amazaing human-made waterfalls that was an oasis of cool moisture during a hot day. Now that Easter holidays are over, Salta is bustling with busy people on the streets. The sidewalks are as crowded as streets in London and there are long line-ups at every bank ATM within a mile. I think people are cashing cheques from work. They all can´t be desparate for cash the day after Easter. Today I am flying from Salta to Buenos Aires, then have an hour to get plane to [View Full Entry]

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Well it has been an adventure going to Purmamarca to see the coloured mountains. When I arrived at Salta I asked the tourist office people if it would be a problem taking local buses to Purmamarca during Easter. ´No´I was reassured, there are many buses. Yesterday I set off on the journey: a bus (2 1/2 hours) to San Salvador de Jujuy, an hour stop-over, then a bus to Purmamarca, just over an hour going up the mountains. The best part of the bus rides was the company. When leaving Salta I sat beside a fellow from France who had traveled [View Full Entry]

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