barrygahan's Guestbook

helpful
I'm trying to get a feel of Buenos Aires for a story.. your blog very helpful thankyou.. very good to see general views of city

thanks
Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to write your blog. I'm planning a trip there in December but was having second thoughts but reading your blog makes me feel loads better about going.

choquequirao trek
Barry, I read your blog talking about your choquequirao trek and I was fascinated!! I'm planning on going there on January. It seemed to me you had a very good experience with the tour guide and the company who took you there. Do you remember the name by any chance? I'd love to hire to go to the choquequirao trek. Do you know with how many days in advance I would have to book it? thanks a lot!! xoxoxoxo belen.

Looks like great fun, thanks for sharing this.

Casa De Frutas: Overpriced, Rude Service, Lousy Food
I am writing to express my dissapointment in one of your reviewed and suggested cafes in Otavalo, Ecuador. My parter and I recently dined at Casa De Frutas for lunch. In this American run establishment, it seems to me that the owner has forgotten what the prices are everywhere else in Ecuador. The amount of food is very small and of much poorer quality than any of the many street food stands we have eaten at during our visit. It consisted of a very small quesadilla, and a bowl of watery bean soup, a hot chocalate and stale coffee - this cost us $10.45. This is what we fork out for at least 2 days food normally. For the price, I was hoping for a nice meal. Heck, even a decent one. I did mention to the owner that I found the quality poor and the prices high. She did not appologize, but rather exlaimed, ¨You´re the first person to say that in three years!¨ and proceeded to lower our change down from the balcony in a basket on the far side of the court yard rudely stating, ¨There´s your change!¨

congratulations
Thanks for the info, very useful. What the Spanish empire did in Latin America was most definately shocking. However unlike British colonies, there are still natives around to tell the tale. The Brits didn´t only exploit the natives, they simply wiped them out. Genocide that carried on until the 1970´s, Aboriginal Australia.

Awesome Blog!
My wife and I are in South America (Peru) and love your blog. Thanks for all the info and pictures. We hope to have as good a time as you two.

So Thats it?
You are done? Terminado? No More?!? I speak for others when i say we want you to keep going. Jus turn around and follow the Atlantic coast through Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil and work your way down to BA again. Dont forget to stop in Chile too.

rotten core but colorful on the outside- how true
"There's something rotten in the heart of Guatemala" rings so true for me. I was there ...oh...almost 10 year ago the first time. Back then the all-around depressed feel of the place was blamed on the (then) recent violence of the civil war. The taste of sadness hung so heavy in the air that I couldn't stand it and cut my trip short by a few weeks to return to where I came from- joyous and cheerful Mexico. But, Guatemala did have it's memorable places. TIKAL- still one of my favorite places ever. (In fact, when I meditate I imagine myself on top of one of those glorious temples that peek through the canopy) And Antigua was lovely- much less touristy than it is now I guess. Panajachel...lovely. I enjoy hearing your stories because they bring back my memories, plus you add on more stuff that I didn't get a chance to see. So Nicaragua still wins the Central American contest, right? :-) Nica has the same violent past as Guatemala yet somehow has remained a much friendlier and peaceful place...at least from a tourist's perspective. Mine, anyway. I'm glad to hear you came out of there safely, and with some good to take away with the bad. The lava hike...whoa...you are kind of nuts! And I love the picture of the woman on the cell phone. Great one.

Another great blog! I'm still in Guatemala (you've overtaken me, and you were still in South America by the time I was in Costa Rica!) and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who pays double for being a gringa! I tried to argue too, but to no avail- I ended up going to less visited places, and was delighted to see I wasn't treated as a walking bank! My favourite's been Todos Santos Muchupan, I don't think I've ever seen such breathtaking scenery! Enjoy your next country!

Another fascinating read, Barry. I'm going to miss these blogs now you're coming home

wonderful blog, antigua rocks, me off to Tena, EC. happy travels you really should write professionally