Quito, Mindo and Otavalo Hi you two,
Ecuador looks interesting and sounds like you enjoyed it. Not a great deal going on back here. Just returned from a weeks holiday in a beautiful cottage in the wilds of Snowdonia. Peace and quiet, waterfalls, steam trains and mountains (although after your experiences I suspect you'd only think of them as small hills.) Back to bloody work tomorrow but a couple of dates to look forward to. The kids bought me a day of rallying and four wheel driving later in June and at the end of July I'm at the Womad festival with Ding and Lil. (Fingers crossed for the weather.)
Anyway take care. Enjoy Costa Rica and the States and it won't be long before your back to entertain us with ALL those photos.
John & Brenda
Le Casa Celia First question. Was Norman Bates the owner? I can imagine this place at night, in the dark, with a thunderstorm raging, Humming bird pictures look good. Guys at camera club love Costa Rica so get your camera ready for the wildlife. Missed you by half an hour yesterday. Was going to switch on the laptop but we had visitors coming. Had to hire some new friends as you've been away so long. Hanging a door on Tuesday - that brings back some memories.
all ok at Bate's motel Hi It was rougher on the inside ! Now in Costa Rica after nearly two days of traveling. I hope we don't disappoint you with the photos of the wild life. Good luck with the doors, and the new friends ! We are 7 hours behind you but will look out for you on Skype. Steve
glad to hear it's all going well it sounds like one of the highlights of the trip. All well here sunny yesterday-sunday but steady rain all day today. We went Windsor racing and had a good day. Keep enjoying won't be long before you're back, sorry to say. ed & helen
Lucky guys Hi Steve and Christine,
best regards from Austria. You guys were indeed quite lucky - we tried to at least see the Cotopaxi (from far away) three times, but each time it was surrounded by loads of clouds. It seems we were one week early :-) have a nice trip and be safe - be aware of Swords :-)
All the best, Michael (& Thekla)
Cotopaxi Hi Michael Nice to hear from you and that you're still reading about us.
We have had a great trip and seen some wonderful places, just lucky at Cotopaxi and a lovely place to stop. Best wishes S&C
Also sea-sick Hi both. Glad you weren't shot in Quito. Nice animal pics but we don't usually view porn. I particularly like the one of E.T. We went on our birwatching 'cruise' across Bridlington Bay on Sat. It was very rough and I was sea-sick for the first time in my life. Carol had taken tablets but I had to drive, so didn't. Won't live it down in a hurry. It was a gift experience from my daughter; next year she's getting me a bungee jumping course. No news here but Carol's started packing for our long holiday to San Fran (6 days). Couldn't go for longer as we miss the dog. He's had his op and is now lumpless. Otherwise no news. David and Carol X
Keep taking the tablets ! Hi Should have listened to Carol about the tablets. We've got 100's more pics of animals to show you, so don't worry if you haven't seen anything you like yet !Have a good trip to SF and let us know the best places to go
S&C
Rolls and more ! Hi Thanks for the message I was starting to think we were being forgotten as I´ve not heard from anyone for the last two blogs !Perhaps they´re getting too boring.
We´re off to the Galapagos Islands tomorrow for 10 days and then trouping around.
Thanks for wishing Christine a happy birthday we are surprised you knew !
Steve
Happy Birthday Still enjoying reading your adventures. Hope Christine has a good birthday and that Ecuador offers more than cheese and ham rolls by way of sustenance!
Adventure! Hi Could have done without the excitement of the robbery, thanks. Our photos are stored on memory sticks and sent home when full so don't worry we still have 1000's to show you !! we did lose our 7 months of videos though. We're now in the south of Chile and it's cold !
Chile. Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama and back Good to hear from you guys. Were beginning to think you'd been kidnapped by Chilean bandits or something!
Shame about the theft of your gear but I suppose that makes it feels like a real adventure now. So if the computer and Kindles went does that mean that you've lost all your photos and books or are they stored somewhere in the "cloud"?
As per Roger's comment it would have been an amazing site to see " flamenco" performed on the lake! That would have been a real show stopper and I would have loved to see the photos.
Good luck with the Spanish computer. Still perhaps you could study the language during those hours on the bus with nothing but desert/salt flats to look at.
Anyway take care, enjoy, keep those passports safe and think about us poor workers sometime.
Thanks ! Dear Mr Smith Your comments are noted and the editor will take it up with the typesetter for future editions. We feel that you comments arise from being envious and are meant to discredit the writer at a time of extreme stress in trying to deal with a computer that speaks Spanish
You say potato I say Pohtatoe Dear Mr Dormer. I feel it my duty to point out that these birds are flamingos. A flamenco is a Spanish dance. I only raise the point to save you further embarrassment and because I am exceedingly jealous sitting here at home.
Not long enough! It's civilised here in Santiago but much different out in the countryside. They say the break in is not a typical crime. Cost us a few pennies and stress ! Will be back on 12th August and at present not looking forward to it as now very used to just moving around all the time. Will need to plan another adventure on my return !
Change of scene Good to still you can still connect to the internet. Must be quite a contrast from the relatively civilised world of Australia and NZ to the less civilised Americas. Sorry to hear about the loss of equipment and stuff. Again, contrast with NZ and Aus. Not long to go. Only a couple of months isn't it?
Buller Gorge Hi Steve & Christine,
Just got back from golf in Turkey and caught up with your blogs. We remember Buller Gorge. Jean hated the swing bridge so much that we both came back by zip wire. At least that was quick. Glad you are having a good time.
Dave & Jean
Oh my back ! Hi I wouldn't dare try the zip wire for fear of putting my back out !
Pleased to hear that you're still checking up on us. Arrived in Chile on Tuesday just in time for the earthquake !
S&C
We are Steve & Chris. In 2013/2014 we travelled around the world and had a wonderful time. The nomadic existence suited us more than we could have imagined. So once back in the UK we soon got bored (well I did) and over the winter months planned another trip. Only 3 months this time to revisit Malaysia, the bits we missed last time and to explore the outback of Australia.
Only crocodiles, snakes and spiders to avoid !
... full info
John Rawlings
non-member comment
Quito, Mindo and Otavalo
Hi you two, Ecuador looks interesting and sounds like you enjoyed it. Not a great deal going on back here. Just returned from a weeks holiday in a beautiful cottage in the wilds of Snowdonia. Peace and quiet, waterfalls, steam trains and mountains (although after your experiences I suspect you'd only think of them as small hills.) Back to bloody work tomorrow but a couple of dates to look forward to. The kids bought me a day of rallying and four wheel driving later in June and at the end of July I'm at the Womad festival with Ding and Lil. (Fingers crossed for the weather.) Anyway take care. Enjoy Costa Rica and the States and it won't be long before your back to entertain us with ALL those photos. John & Brenda