Blogs from South America - page 5241

nothing can make you feel the ambiance of a jungle like a papier-mache museum. it was like i was really there, in the thick of it...me and the bug-eyed crinkly alligator snapping at my feet. i can only assume they have this museum at the entrance to the ruins of san ignacio mini to simulate what it must have been like for the native savages and their jesuit benefactors to live there. there was also, inexplicably, the front half of a pirate ship docked in the courtyard of the museum, but that was just silly. san ignacio mini was one of the many missions set up by the jesuits in the 15th-17th centuries in southern brazil and north argentina...they, predictably, were gung-ho on converting the natives, though they went about it in a slightly more humane ... read more

Hello folks! I´m back in Quito to sort out some bits and pieces and update my blog. Even though it´s only been a few days since I wrote, a lot has happened on the reserve. I´ve written a newsletter for the reserve to send to previous volunteers, another litter of piglets have been born, and I´ve also been preparing for the start of English classes I will be teaching to kids in the village next week. There will be about ten kids in the class, some of which I taught last year. The preparations are a challenge, especially to get the level right, but I´m looking forward to getting stuck in! As far as plans for the community nursery, school and education centre go, we have got the information from the people that we asked to ... read more

Some pics from Cuzco and the Inca Trail... What a great four days, very hard work but well worth it. An early rise on the first day at 4am to be collecte from our hostel was a rude awakening into the world of Inca Trekking. Tired and bleary eyed we headed towards the start of the trail, stopping off at a small town to buy essentials. These included a big walking stick, a water bottle carrier and coca leaves to help with the altitude. After a group picture at the starting point we were soon making our way uphill into the depths of the Andes. The first days walking was fairly easy, with only a few steep climbs though we were constantly told that day two would be a different story. We trekked high into the ... read more

Arrived in Salta, Northwest Argentina after a pretty horrific 36ish hour journey which began when we boarded the jeep on the last day of our S.W Bolivia Tour. After a 400+km jeep ride we caught an overnight train from Uyuni to the Arg / Bol border at Villazón. Walked across the border and did the usual queueing and stamping and finally got into Argentina. 8hours later we arrive 300kms south in the city of Salta. The first difference that struck us was the transport, as we stood transfixed in awe at the shiny big coach in front of us ready to take us on smooooooooth paved highways down to Salta. Upon arriving and getting the first shower in 3 days we headed out on the hunt for decent grub. Fortunately we didn´t have to look far ... read more

We've arrived safe and sound in the Hostel Malka in Lima - we're currently in hiding trying to roll our tongues around those Spanish 'R's with the Spanish phrase book. We'll add a more interesting diary update when we actually do something interesting..... Adios... read more