traveltheworld

Rio City Rio is an amazing city with its great diversity from 37 white sand beaches, lush green peaks, skyscrapers and largest slums in the world. It is a city that buzzes day and night, it's energy puslating rhought the city streets and with carnaval around the corner, there was no let up!Our hotel was based in Lapa with its colonial buildings, bars and samba clubs. Lapa apparently had its best days before the 20th century but is now experiencing something of a cultural renaissance with its old buildings being restored and is now the centre of the Bohemian scene. At night, it boasts one of Rio's most vibrant street parties which I witnessed first hand as revellers mingle among the samba clubs. We spent the first day orienting ourselves, finding a laundry to deposit all ... read more

Weeks 13-14 We set off to see the Igazu Falls from the Argentinian side and they are truly awe-inspiring. The falls split Brazil and Argentina and are within 2100 sq km of national park. First viewed by Europeans in 1542, they are formed where a hard basaltic rock plateau ends with softer sedimentary terrain which was then eroded. The River Parana divides before reaching the falls with hidden rocks and islands separating the cascades that together form the cataratas which are 2km across. We were able to get some spectacular views walking along the various catwalks and trails at both an upper level (paseo superior) and lower level (paseo inferior). We took the speedboat which went directly under the falls and got completely soaked as waves of spray and water came over the side. We ... read more

Weeks 11-12 Ushuaia boasts an incredible location between the Beagle Channel and jagged glacial peaks and is the southernmost city in the world as well as the gateway to Antarctica. Between 1884 and 1947, argentina incarcerated many of its notorious criminals and political prisoners here and on nearby islands but its prisons are now converted into museums. As soon as we arrived, three of us (Russell, Sylvia - the intrepid Canadian couple on the trip, and myself) went tramping through the town visiting travel agencies to see if there were any last minute trips to Antarctica. As opportunists who would probably never get as close to the furthermost continent as we were at present, we were looking for last minute deals to secure a berth for US$4000 instead of the usual US$8000. However, due to the ... read more

Week 8 Santiago is the political, economic and financial capital of Chile set in a wide plain ringed by the Andes and is now the 6th largest city in S. America where nearly 40% of Chileans live. Our base for the next couple of days was La Casa Roja, an international backpackers hostal set in a large rambling mansion around several courtyards and boasting a car, swimming pool, Sky TV etc. That night we feasted on a BBQ prepared by the hostal as we bade farewell to several of our travellers (including my friend Catherine) as their journey on the truck ended in Santiago. I think most of the group went to bed around 4.00am (fairly early by Chilean standards!). The next day I set off to explore more of the city and, recognising that all ... read more

Week 6 La Paz is the highest capital city of the world at 3600m lying at the bottom of a steep canyon and ringed by snow peaked mountains. Our Hotel Continental was in the heart of the city along a road lined with bowler-hatted women selling a variety of clothes and food stuffs. In trying to get our bearings the first day we managed to get lost in the maze of bustling street markets. That night we visited a popular bar called Ram Jam - an energetic throbbing place clearly aimed at gringos with an oxygen bar upstairs where you could intoxicate yourself with O2! The following day, after a healthy breakfast in a cafe aptly named 100% Natural, we visited the coca museum to learn more about this famous plant that has shaped much of ... read more