Blogs from South America - page 5246

South America » Bolivia » Chuquisaca Department » Sucre April 26th 2006

I arrived in Sucre, Bolivian capital, hoping to spend about ten days trying to improve my Spanish. 3 and a half weeks later - the last two of which has been spent living with a Bolivian family - I am finally packing up my bags and moving on. My time here has been fantastic. The language school has helped improve my Spanish immensely, and living with "mi familia Boliviana" has been a new and fascinating experience, as its allowed me to view a side of Bolivian life not normally accessible to tourists. I started off my time in Sucre in a backpackers, where I met a good bunch of Brits, Aussies and Kiwis who were all studying Spanish. We had a one cool night out when we went to see a Bolivian Nirvana tribute band. They ... read more

You just can't escape that Colonial architecture!!

Many Attempts, Some Successful, to Get Sick

South America » Peru » Ica » Nazca » Nazca Lines April 26th 2006

The Whale

mjtimber

Well, I have had a rather rough couple days since we left the trail and at times have wished for the comfort that only altitude sickness can bring. Currently, we are in Nazca to view the famous (or infamous?) Nazca Lines. Nobody really knows what they are or were for but everyone has a guess, from an astronomical calender to alien landing site. My opinion? It was just boring in Nazca, so they wanted something to do. That was our opinion last night, and it seems applicable if you assume the lines did not exist. So, Lima was little to no fun for me. We arrived at the bus station on time, full of food from our big lunch and ready for the long, curvy ride back to the big city. My food, unfortunately, would not ... read more

Monestario Santa Catalina

South America » Peru » Arequipa » Arequipa April 26th 2006

Monestario

Mischa

Hoy he visitado la Monestario Santa Catalina con mi Profesor y un guia. Todo conversacion fue en el Español. Disfruta! Mischa... read more

A real oasis

South America » Peru » Ica » Huacachina April 26th 2006

An Oasis

Hayley

Hello, I cannot believe that this place is real. It feels like a real secret. It is amazingly beautiful. We are heading to the north of Peru and have stopped in the middle of miles of sand dunes. In the middle of all these dunes, there is a lagoon, with healing mineral water.. a real oasis. It is really beautiful. And just what we need after the adventures of the last couple of weeks, some R & R. Swimming in a lagoon, drinking pisco sours, eating icecream. Felt like we were on holiday. We also did the most fun thing ever... razzing aroung the dunes in a sandbuggy. It was loads of fun, our driver speeding up hills and over the other side, was excellent. We also got off to sandboard, with proper boards - the ... read more

Peru

South America » Peru April 26th 2006

Streets of Cusco - Plaza de Armas

Jo Trouble

South America has been on my 'to do' list for years. I finally got around to organising a trip over that way - unfortunately due to time limitations I only went to Peru, but had a great time and I'll be back :-)... read more

Streets of Cusco - La Catedral and El Trifuno

Southern Peru-- jungles and ruins

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco April 26th 2006

Incan stonework, Cusco

oobi

Executive Summary (4/2 - 4/12): In Cusco we learned the Inca Trail was booked up for a month, so we spent 4 days in a jungle retreat near Puerto Moldonada where we enjoyed exotic birds and local shamanic traditions. We spent 2 days exploring Machu Picchu, amazed that it lives up to the hype. Cusco is not only bellybutton of the Incan world, but Gringo central. I survived the constant hassles and witnessed some of the typically South American pre-Easter excitement. Heading to the Jungle Although many travellers advised us not to pre-arrange the Inca Trail trek, when we tried to sign up for a trip once we arrived in Cusco we learned that the trail was booked up for a month! Recently, and wisely, the government has imposed limits to how many people can use ... read more

Thru Peru

South America » Peru » Cusco » Cusco April 26th 2006

Back in Cuzco

Doctor Tree

April 18th to 29th 2006 For the first time anywhere far flung in the world (you can't count my overdue visit to long lost cousins in Toronto), I have travelled a road I've been down before, albeit in the opposite direction. Crossing the border in to Peru seemed strangley familiar. Strange because I had only longed to do that crossing and hadn't actually made it those few years before. Still, it felt good and so did the fact that my moby started working again (sad I know). All through Brazil and Bolivia I either couldn't charge it or, when I could, I didn't get reception. So much for the global-roaming sim card! And so much for accepting your lot as a world traveller, living without all the comforts and conveniences of home- I was so happy ... read more

Back in the City

South America » Argentina » Buenos Aires April 26th 2006

Sunday Market in San Telmo

EmilyandAngus

One last marathon bus journey and lo and behold we're right back where we started nearly 3 months ago, Buenos Aires. After finding a hostel, a quick shower and shrugging off sleep deprivation we set off into the city with only one thing on our mind - curry. Argentinian food is generally good but a man (or woman) needs something spicey now and again and if anywhere in Argentina had a curry house, it would be Buenos Aires. Sadly the weeks of anticipation were not worth it as when my rogan josh finally arrived it was about as hot as Margaret Thatcher in a hajab. Our quest for spiciness was finally fulfilled the next day by some rather good spicy beef in a chinese just down the road from the hostel. Anyway, my food obsession out ... read more

I´m a Hairdresser, Get Me Outta Here

South America » Peru » Madre de Dios » Puerto Maldonado » Amazon Rainforest April 26th 2006

Gettin´ Down ´n´ Dirty in da Jungle

nate anna

Hey everyone, we hope you´re all well and enjoying our regular updates. Here´s the latest from Peru....... Day 50 of 180 and we arrived in Puerto Maldonaldo, the gateway to the Amazon Rainforest!!! Arriving at our lodgings we were pleasantly surprised - porchside hammocks, warm showers and mosquitos nets protecting us from the ever increasing termite nest and solitary cockraoch..... Anyway, to the jungle itself. There were many fascinating walks and long-boat rides throughout the 3 days that took us to within touching distance of birds (particularly parrots), butterflies, caymans, piranhas and lizards, but the highlight was watching hundreds of monkeys swinging from tree to tree a la Tarzan!! A real ´getting back to nature´experience with more David Attenborough moments.... After arriving back in Cusco we headed onto Arequipa, the stop-off town for the Colca canyon ... read more

Bariloche

South America » Argentina » Río Negro » San Carlos de Bariloche April 26th 2006

Lago Nahuel Huapi

sternkreuza

dudes. es ist wundervoll hier. d'natur isch soooo abartig schoen. do verrecksch. am mi. irgendwenn am nommi simmer endlich mol in san carlos de bariloche acho und denn hemmer ues gad uf de waeg zu de bolsa del deporte gmacht. ganz e geils hostel (www.labolsadeldeporte.com.ar). well dbusfahrt recht muehsam und ohni esse gsi isch (14h) hemmer ues denn suber gad mal uf de waeg gmacht is staedtli und doet oeppis ghaberet. chillig gsi. suess hemmer am erschte tag noed wuerkli vil gmacht ussert chli gspielt, gaesse und is internet gange. jojo. am 27. hemmer ues denn e velo gmietet und hend de 'circuito chico' gmacht, wobi de name noed wuerkli dem entspricht, wases wuerkli isch. schlussendlich hemmer fascht e 70km velotour gmacht und das als suber untrainierti habasche. aber easy. mir sind zwor zwuescheziitlich fascht verreckt, ... read more

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