Monday 25thNovember (Odyssey Day 17) Today we moved camp from Camping Pehoe, to Camping Torres, though I’m not sure if that is actually the name of the campsite or not as there weren’t really many signs around. On the way over to the other campsite, we stopped to take some pictures of a herd of guanacos. Quite a large group of them, and seeing them stand up and lay down, they really reminded me of camels (which I believe are part of the same family). When we arrived at the new campsite we set up our tents by a small stream and then relaxed for lunch. Unfortunately, when the manager of the camp said ‘set your tents up anywhere’ he didn’t actually mean ‘anywhere’… So we had to move. Since it was only a couple hundred ... read more

Tuesday 19thNovember (Odyssey Day 11) Our departure today from El Chalten was 0820 today and we had to make a quick stop for Eamon to pick up his washing since he forgot to go back to collect it last night. They did eventually open the door for him, even though they weren’t open yet. It was our free morning entertainment as we all watched the drama from the truck. And then we were on the road to our next camp. We headed south for just three hours to the town of El Calafate. It was a rather short but scenic trip today and we arrived at lunch time. Our campsite here in El Calafate is far more sheltered than the previous one and we are all relieved that we won’t be blown away tonight!! We had ... read more

Thursday 14thNovember (Odyssey Day 6) Sleepy drive day today. I just couldn’t keep my eyes open! Guess I didn’t sleep as well as I thought last night if I’m sleeping so much today. We were up at 0600 for departure at 0700. Our first pit stop today was at an old dilapidated road house. It was looking a little rustic and if you saw it in a movie, you would almost expect a serial killer to jump out at you… There was no water in the taps in the basins, but at least the toilets flushed. Though the fact that they had a few long mirrors around an empty room was a little odd… The landscape today was incredibly flat. There were no hills, and it was almost like the landscape had been inverted and instead ... read more

Saturday 9thNov (Odyssey Day 1) Today is the day we start the trip! At breakfast this morning, Ellie and I met Simon and Emma, our Odyssey crew for the trip. After a leisurely morning, I managed to repack my bags to fit everything in comfortably. We also gained a new roommate (since tonight is paid for as part of the trip), Ann from New York. AT 1700 we all met up in the breakfast room for an introduction to the group we will be spending the next six months with. There are 23 of us, plus Emma and Simon. Quite a sizable group really. A mix of people from England, Ireland, Australia, Canada, the USA, and one polish girl who actually lives in Ireland. A mix of ages and actually there are five couples on the ... read more

First day in Buenos Aires!! Wow it’s hard to believe that after so long, I am finally here in South America. It is a trip that has been long in the making! Unfortunately my body clock hasn’t quite caught up with the fact that I am on holiday now and I woke at 0600. Since Ellie was also up at that time, we decided to get ready early. And then we had to wait for breakfast anyway! Breakfast was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting much really since it’s a fairly basic hotel, but the breakfast buffet was good. There was fresh fruit salad, fruit yoghurts, juice, cereals, 4 types of bread, ham, cheese, cream cheese, croissants, sweet croissants, a sweet lemon cake and some other type of sweet slice that we just couldn’t quite place ... read more