anna david

by anna and david The last few weeks have been life "as usual" in Buenos Aires, if characterised by a consciousness that we could count on our fingers and toes how many days we had left here before going home to Sydney. I was back at school for most of the last month and, as there was no one else at the school at the same level as me for two of the three weeks, I had three hours a day one on one. Great to be able to focus on talking and working on my own weaknesses, but it was VERY intense and I came home mentally exhausted each day. It was good to get a classmate for my final week. I finished with a reasonable level of Spanish that means I can now usually ... read more

by anna and david Well, we finally made it to Buenos Aires. It's about a month after we originally intended, but that was always a plan in sand anyway. We have an apartment here in an area known as Palermo Hollywood, part of the trendy Palermo Viejo in northern Buenos Aires (not too old, not too pristine, with lots of restaurants and groovy shops). We've got down to the business of "living". The apartment is great, and we've enjoyed "moving in". We have joined a "gimnasio" around the corner that's very retro in itself: no air-conditioning, older style machines, people who wear full tracksuits to work out in the middle of summer - it's entertainment and a work out in one! I love it. And it's cheap! I have started spanish classes again. I am working ... read more

by anna and david Walking in a winter wonderland ... well, it wasn't Christmas, but this is how we spent NYE and the first week or so of January. We had spent a few days in NYC before heading to Peru, but were completely knackered, and spent all our waking hours shopping for kit: warm clothes, water bottles, boots, etc. The only NYC thing we squeezed in was an evening started with a drink with Mike, a mate of David's from uni, and continued with a great meal at Asia de Cuba, one of the few "fusion" restaurants I have ever been to that seemed to work. Really yum scallops. Almost ordered another plate! When we arrived back from South America, it was to a very cold New York City. It was however, to a very ... read more

by anna (and david) It was so exciting to head to a whole new continent! Having just been through India, I expected Peru to be somewhat similar, just south american, but it was a relief to find fewer people. This allowed the stunning landscape to really shine through. We spent a non-descript night in Lima, before heading straight to Cuzco on one of the most spectacular flights I have been on. Flying out of Lima, along the coast and then over the Andes on a brilliantly clear day, was nothing short of breathtaking. So, too was landing in Cuzco, a descent that required a sharp 180 degree turn before landing on a small strip between the mountains. Just sensational. We spent our first 24 hours in Cuzco feeling high, as you do at 3,400m above sea ... read more