Ooops its been a while since we updated the blog. Not that we’ve been having too much fun to write, quite the opposite we’ve been working hard taking Spanish language lessons in Argentina. Anyway where were we? Oh yes, just about to set out on our expedition to Angel Falls. We were met at Caracas airport by Ben of Osprey Expeditions who whisked us to the bus terminal for our overnight bus to Cuidad Bolivar. This was to be Bonny and Steve´s first overnighter and we were really lucky with the bus company “Rodavia” as the bus though freeeeeeezing cold was mercifully quiet and comfortable. This fact was not lost on us when we pulled into a service station in the early hours closely followed by a bus full of kids that was rocking on its ... read more

There are allegedly many things to fear in South America; spiders, diseases, strange people, mugging, falling off mountains etc. But the only thing we have come to fear is the magic hammer; “el martillo magico”. Unlike Thors hammer, which I believe was used to protect the common good, the magic hammer is eeeeevvil. It is a time-tested fact that however comfortable your accommodation and cozy your bed, however tired you are from the night before, however far you are from civilization, the magic hammer will find you at 8am in the morning. Pucon was no exception. Day two and it found us - waking us with a jolt at 8am to the sound of a pneumatic drill outside the window. The move to Landhaus foxed it for a couple of days - ha we thought, but ... read more

Since arriving in Chile we have done nothing but eat, drink wine and do extreme things, long may it continue…. Santiago turned out to be the nicest of the South American capitals that we have been to. Very reminiscent of Paris in architecture we felt quite at home especially since the Best Western Hotel has an INDIAN RESTAURANT! Of course, we over ordered and bravado got the better of us as we told the waiter that we wanted it HOT. Seems our taste buds have gone all woosie on us! From Santiago we headed north to the port city of Valparaiso famed for its funicular railways running up the cliffs to the suburbs. Unfortunately our trip was blighted by lots of rain and it being a Sunday which means nothing is open. We stayed in a ... read more

Having become accomplished scuba divers in only a week - Jacques Cousteau look out, we (royal we this) felt it was time to got some extreme action. 'Go to merida' the guide books exclaimed; 'the extreme sport capital of Venezuela'. Fair enuff - so with no further ado off we went... The bus journey into Venezuela was fairly uneventful, even dull, except for crossing the border leaving Colombia. We had got through all the immigration bits and were safely on the road into venezuela, when the bus was pulled over and a couple of 'uniforms' got on. I swear it took them three seconds to scan the entire bus and then point at me (sitting right at the back) and signal me get off - using a big gun. For a moment I thought about questioning ... read more

Warning: although I have tempered the language as much as possible, some may consider the subject matter of this blog not to be suitable for tender young minds… I have a hangover. It was my 40th birthday yesterday, and Claire and I partied until far beyond our normal bedtime and are suffering as a result. Luckily this trip doesn’t have an early start and we have time to collect ourselves and find something to eat before meeting the rest of our would-be shamanic healers and head into the jungle. The restaurants in Iquitos are pretty good by most Peruvian standards, and despite the fact that we are in the middle of nowhere before we even start, we find an Italian place which apparently flies all its ingredients in from Lima. Trouble is, Lima wouldn’t know genuine ... read more