mjongbloets

Another day, Yet another story. At about 630pm two nights ago I was preparing to set out to travel to Cusco. This being the last leg of my South American journey, I was to stop here, then travel onwards to Lima, where Im flying out of on Sunday. At this time I thought that I would search online to find out what time the buses were departing from Cusco to Lima..... As we all know the roads and the Inca trail leading up to Macchu Picchu have been closed due to heavy rainfall, but did anyone know that the road in between Cusco and Lima was also washed out? Well, it is. In a huge hurry I ran to the travel agency of which I bought my ticket to beg them to switch it to the ... read more

Another day, Another adventure, Another really great story. So I woke up this morning at 6am to catch a tour that would take me from the oasis town of Huacachina to the Isle de Ballestas, also known as the poor mans galapogus. Im not sure if its for the poor man becasue the smell is so atrocious that you could almost vomit and only those poor enough can bear the pain go, or that the birds and sea lions resemble the galapogus. Either way, I made the trek. Before I jumped on the bus I checked out of my hotel, well mini resort hotel, leaving my big backpack in the lobby while I jumped in the shower. I returned to find that a taxi driver had accidentaly packed it in to his car and taken it ... read more

From Rio Our 24 hour bus pulled up to the wild and crazy bus station and Sarah and I pulled ourselves out looking bright eyed watching our every move. The stories and the wishes of care from everyone to us we taken very seriously before arriving to Rio, but the impression that we have gotten since visiting has been something a little more soft hearted. We have had the most amazing opportunity to stay with a friend here in Rio Brazil, exploring Ipanema and Copacabana beach daily amongst ourselves and being shuttled between beautiful longboarding parks with the statue of open armed christ in near view. With Sand of white sugar, unlike anything I have ever seen, statues, beaches, people, and of course music, I have been blown away beyond words by this wonderful city. Sunday ... read more

Hola! Sad as it is, the first thing that Sarah and I did when we got into Campo Grande after our 5 hour dirt road return from the Pantanal was blog about it. Sad, but true. Watching the sun set into the silver lined clouds I came to the realization that in the short few days that I have spent in this foreign land, I have conquered fears and explored wonders that have left me knowing that if I had to go home tomorrow I would be satisfied just as well. The 300 or so mosquito bites that span the tip of my toes to just behind my right ear do not even faze the delightful memories of the one of a kind Brazillian Pantanal. A mysterious wet land area of Southern Brazil is home to ... read more

Yesterday: Hopped on a public bus heading for the boarder, jumped off and were catteled through a hallway, had our passports stamped, and then cluellesly waited for another bus to stop and pick us up. 1/2 hour in the blistering 36degree weather and we were brought into town... I think. The bus driver once again shuttled us off the bus on the side of the street somehow telling us that another bus would come to pick us up. Brazil has been a bit confusing, but we managed to just grab a taxi and head out into the countryside to our resort hostel. With full pool and gardens, we truley are in a bit of a resort, well maybe a 1 star where air conditioning is substitutable for a large noisy fan. None the less, we had ... read more

Mendoza Argentina, 32C Degrees outside and not a cloud in the sky. Started the day off with the picking up of our Brazillian Visas, and another wonderful luch with an old, and 2 new friends. Managed to meet up with an old friend from Whistler and his compadres and we all managed to stick together though the adventures of Wine Country. Next stop was the near by grocery store with wine isles larger than anything I have ever seen, stocked with some of the most amazing and exclusive wines of the world. I bought 8 bottles with itention of sending them home. Seemingly too easy, the post office was next to the grocery store, I couldn´t help but here that little voice saying that something has to make with a bit more dificult..... Siesta for the ... read more

From Buenos Aires, Argentina.... Without a doubt I had a small tear in my eye when I walked through the gates at the Buenos Aires Airport and Sarah was there, cute hippie braid and all to pick me up! My flights were wonderful and comfertable and the second of the two planes was full of American and Canadian retired cruise junkies. The new rage is Buenos Aires through Antarctica and up to Chile. Sounds like a wonderful trip! The begening of the vacation was a bit of a challange. My lovley and wonderful friends Dani and Kristi took me in for the last few nights in Canada and, after a day in rainy Vancouver we took to Granville island for fresh mussles and local wine. Unfortunatly the first mussle that tasted just a little too fishy ... read more

The needles from the Christmas tree are one by one drying up and falling off and I am coming to the realization that the anticipation and chaos of Christmas has passed as has the ring in of the New Year, and thus the date of departure of my newest of adventure is only days away. January 13th I will embark on an adventure that I hadn't thought that I wanted to do, but now am barley able to sleep at night because of the built up excitement and urge to land in the county of tango and fine red wine. Over the course of the year I have graduated from University, been lost amongst the drones of people applying for jobs in the working world without any real experience, packed up my life as I knew ... read more