Medley Dude, Have had a good read through and you are certainly getting about!! Looks like you are having a great time. Life goes on here at a steady pace, no change really. Regimental dinner on Friday, which was a blast - wine running through my veins all weekend!! Well take care and I will check back in a few weeks.
Regards Jason
I really enjoyed your Mendoza/Salta post! Reminded me of my own time there, and how amazing it was! I wish I had been there for the wine festival though! My blog is looking for travel photos, stories, etc, to share. Plus, we're giving away a free night in Peru or Bolivia right now, if you're headed that way, or know anyone who is. If you have the time, check it out at dirty-hippies.blogspot.com, or email me at dirtyhippiesblog@gmail.com. Continued fun on your travels!
Heather :)
Awesome! Hey mate
Great work, that brought back seom good memories- Torres Del Paine was where Thorpey and I spent about 9 days hiking and kayaking (and then drinking in town after. Good times!!
Wait til you see the Galapagos photos.... Hi Dan
I'll admit that birds in general were a fave photograph for me. When I finally get around to posting my Galapagos photos you'll see the new creatures that replaced the cororants... Albatross and the comically-named Blue-fotted Boobie! Now I just need to thin out the 300 or so photos.
How's London going?
DC is definitely on the list Hi Jeep
Thanks for the invite - DC is a must as far as I am concerned, but I haven't quite worked out the dates yet. I fly out of NY on 09 or 10 Jun, so I'll probably aim to hit DC between 27 May and 03 Jun, then head up to NY for a few days before jetting it over to Europe.
Marc
Just catching up! Hey Marc - finally catching up on your journey! It looks amazing and you write so well it feels like I am there as well! (Mind you - did NOT want to be there when you saw the spiders!!!! Love, love the wildlife you are seeing and especially love the surfing penguins!! The earthquake does not sound like something I'd want to go through, nor the way you were treated by the tour company but I guess that is all part of the travel experience! Looking forward to reading more entries when you get the opportunity to post them but in the meantime, travel safely and we'll see you in December for that slideshow night!! xx
Enjoying Reading about your travels Hey Marc-
Really enjoying your writing, I look forward to each post. I can't wait until you get to our area. If you need it, we've got an extra room and an extra car. We're in Haymarket, VA, about an hour and a half outside Washington, DC, via car => rail.
Let me know when you have a set date asap, we may be able to get you a tour or two.
I'm insanely jealous Mr. Heggart You've done well for yourself, Marc. I really like this part of your journey. I can tell, though, that you have a special affection for cormorants. Actually, remind us when you get here and we'll pull up our Patagonia photos. Have some really good ones of JPaul and Mark nose to nose with some Magellans. All the best -
I was sure that you'd develop a taste for Malbec Howdy, Marc -
I think I gave you a heads-up that you'd find the Argentinian Malbec to be "very agreeable." Glad you enjoyed it. I had almost eight cases of it when we returned ... somehow I think that would be a bit unmanageable for you to trek around with. We'll need to get you up to the top of a 14'r or two when you're here in May/June. That way you'll be able to exceed the 4000 m and have a view to go with it (something other than tired horses).
I stopped in Tierra del Fuego on the way back from BA to Sydney to pick up Kath and the boys when we moved to Argentina. It was only a fuel stop for us before heading over the South Pole, but still pretty impressive in its starkness. Since you flew down, you may have found that the Argentinians still smoke on their home grown flights (although they will accommodate you with the "nonsmoking section.")
Hope things turned out for you in Jujuy and that you got your card in Salta. Sounds truly exasperating.
Stay safe; great postings.
Dan
You didnt get to Carnivale???? Maaate!!!!! Anyway, despite that, am still totally jealous that I am not over. Am completely reliving my trip through your emails!!!! Make sure you get to Rio and Salvador (dangerous in the centre of town but awesome beaches 30mins north). Lots of parties to be had in Rio... must do Friday night Lapa street party! must do all you can eat BBQ! AND have a caparinha for me!!! AWESOME!!!
Lo siento "I'm sorry" or "that's too bad." Good on ya, Marc. It's hard doing the immersion classes ... takes a lot out of you every day. I do like the way you did it though, with both group and individual lessons. My initial classes were eight hours per day of individual for five straight days and after a day of that much "attention" I couldn't get the first beer down fast enough.
Since you're now in Mendoza and learning that all life really requires is large quantities of excellent red meat and red wine (bread is good, but not absolutely necessary), you've no doubt come to appreciate that special varietal from Argentina ... Malbec. They do it better than anyone else in the world (even though it has French roots) ... similar to Oz and Shiraz. You'll also find a couple of libations that I've never run across elsewhere ... liqueurs of dulce de leche and egg creme. Amazingly smooth and guaranteed to produce a massive headache if overindulged (dramatic amounts of sugar to push the alcohol straight to the cerebral cortex).
Looking forward to the next episode, Marc. Be safe, Dan
Flying to LA Hey Dude
I flyinto LA in the first week of May... I had to book my destinations fro the RTW ticket back in December. San Dieo does appeal though!
I'll touch base with you closer to the time and see what you're up to; my plan was to drive out to Las Vegas to say g'day and then head (somehow) to Denver...
Happy to alter plans if you feel like a road trip.
Marc
Is Argentine the Spanish Sottish? Hey Dan
Seriously, totally agree with what you say about the Argentine way of speaking (Vos and 'll' or 'y' becoming a mix of 'j' and 'sh'.
Will check out San Isidro on my return to BA; I'm currently in Mendoza where they seem to believe that too much wine is not enough.
Like Old Home Week Marc -
Your posting brings back a lot of memories from when we lived in BA. And, believe it or not, you can learn to drive in that city .. I even ended up with an Argentine driver's license (more about that over a beer some time). Your observation on the people there is spot on ... some of the most handsome people in the world (and they know it). Since you took the time to do Spanish lessons in Argentina, you'll end up with a few pronouns and pronunciations that you won't use anywhere else in the Spanish-speaking world.
Your next stop in Tigre will put you right adjacent to where we used to live. We were just a bit further north in San Isidro. If you get the chance, check it out ... great area. You'll enjoy all your other visits in Argentina; they are great areas. Looking forward to those postings as well.
All the best -
Dan
lost sounds great so far, gringo!
You always have to get lost at least once per country. On the way from the airport is as good a time as any, get it out of the way nice and early!
looking forward to the next update
Ah Yes. Buenos Aires. It seems not all that long ago (though it was around 16years ago now) that your family drove me to the airport in Sydney and I flew out to Buenos Aires. Reading your blog definitely rekindled memories of dulce de leche, four way intersections (where the first car to honk has the right of way) and cobblestone roads. I remember visiting a number of the places you mentioned. Continue to enjoy yourself and stay safe. Let me know your US travel plans. I just may be up for running around a while. It looks like you'll be coming in via San Diego or Los Angeles (I'd suggest San Diego) before heading up to Vegas. I'd be happy to come pick you up down there, take you to Vegas and then on up to Denver (where my parents would be ecstatic I decided to visit). Let me know.
Bon Voyage! You have no idea how jealous I am. I'm looking forward to your visit in to Las Vegas in May. I'd be happy to set you up with somewhere to stay if needed.
Good Luck and Travel Safe Marc Marc -
This is a great site and an even better idea. I look forward to living this trip vicariously through this blog for the next year. Kath and I are looking forward to your stop in Denver in May ... it's been too long since we've seen you, friend.
Anticipating your next posting ...
All the best,
Dan
Jason
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Medley
Dude, Have had a good read through and you are certainly getting about!! Looks like you are having a great time. Life goes on here at a steady pace, no change really. Regimental dinner on Friday, which was a blast - wine running through my veins all weekend!! Well take care and I will check back in a few weeks. Regards Jason