GringoAnciano

To fill the gap after the grounding of the space shuttle fleet Uruguay has built a replacement quarried from special local heat-resistant stone. I was fortunate enough to get a picture of the completed spaceship on its launch pad; three of the booster rockets are clearly visible (see photo 1). As with most projects there has been a gross financial overrun and so they have had to cut some corners on the transport system for supplies and astronauts to the launch pad (see photo 2). However, the government are confident that the imminent launch will be successful and have commissioned a celebratory tango that is currently being extensively rehearsed in the streets (see photo 3) ahead of the main parade after the launch. ^ Para llenar el vacío después de la puesta a tierra de la ... read more

In Porto Alegre I managed to find quite cheap accommodation (see photo 1). However, the floors sloped slightly and one had to be careful about rolling out of the beds that would be set out at night. An unusual feature of Porto Alegre is the so called Haemorrhoid Monument, a giant futuristic representation of a group of haemorrhoids (see photo 2). It is not widely known that Porto Alegre is where the world's first successful human haemorrhoid transplant was carried out. The monument is a tribute to those pioneering but under-appreciated and misunderstood surgeons. * En Porto Alegre me las arreglé para encontrar un alojamiento bastante barato (ver foto 1). Sin embargo, los suelos con pendiente ligeramente y había que tener cuidado con el despliegue de las camas que se establecen en la noche. Una característica ... read more

My next trip was by narrow gauge railway through the rainforest (see photo 1) to Morretes. Near there I lived for a week in a cabin in the rainforest (see photo 2). I did go for walks in the rainforest (see photo 3). A nice relaxing time away from mobile signals and internet. Sending emails required getting a 15 minute lift to an internet café in Morretes. * Mi siguiente viaje fue por el ferrocarril de vía estrecha a través de la selva tropical (ver foto 1) a Morretes. Cerca de allí viví durante una semana en una cabaña en la selva (ver foto 2). Lo que ir a pasear por la selva (ver foto 3). Un buen momento de relax lejos de las señales de telefonía móvil y de Internet. Envío de correos ... read more

From Asuncion I wanted to go and visit the Iguaçu Falls. The only direct bus was to the Brazilian side of the falls (they are on the Brazilian-Argentinian border) so here I am in Brazil. I visited both sides of the falls and they are absolutely spectacular (see photos 1 and 2). I would urge anyone who gets the chance to go and visit them. However, I noticed just in time an attack by a vampire butterfly (see photo 3). I thinks I managed to discourage him before he could suck my blood and he flew off into the jungle where I think I noticed the early stages of a transmogrification into a Transylvanian count. *** Desde Asunción quería ir a visitar las Cataratas del Iguazú. El único autobús directo era al lado brasileño de las ... read more

In Resistencia I came across a plaque in one of the squares dedicated to a dog called Fernando (see photo 1). There was a campaign to vaccinate all the local dogs against rabies and all the owners formed a queue in the square with their pets. Fernando arrived by himself and joined the queue, and was himself vaccinated. In recognition of his public spirited action he was awarded vaccination disc number one. In contrast some workers were told to paint a local park bench. By the time they got round to doing so a tree had grown engulfing the bench and so they made the best of a bad job by cutting away most of the tree and also painting what was left of the tree as well as the bench (see photo 2). En Resistencia ... read more