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South America » Brazil » Santa Catarina » Florianópolis February 15th 2006

Today we went to the federal police office to register ourselves. It was our second attempt to do so as the first time, we arrived half an hour too late. The office was already closed (Comment from a Brazilian colleague: See, in Brazil things work. It’s not like in Portugal or Germany where you always start and stop working too late or too soon). This time we were lucky. After taking a ticket for attendance we waited only half an hour before we could explain our situation. The employee was quite friendly although he almost didn't open his mouth while talking. I hardly understood a word but I got that he was joking a lot with us. So, whenever possible, I joked with him too (sometimes even by accident). My problems where soon resolved: I have ... read more

South America » Argentina » Buenos Aires February 15th 2006

Hi, I just stopped into an internet cafe to write a cheesy one month anniversary email, since I arrived on Jan 15. and also they have air-conditioning. This weather is something, let me tell you. It was not so hot when I got here, then it got unbearable with the humidity, then went down, and now it's climbing again. My lady Rosa tells me that the temp. will raise one degree each day for several days. Today was the first time a droplet of sweat actually rolled down my forehead on the way to school. Girls don't sweat!! I'm just getting over being sick since Sunday. I told my mom that it was from eating so much dead carcass in one week. Who knows. This weeks activities, you ask? Well since I went out both nights ... read more

South America » Argentina » Mendoza » Mendoza February 15th 2006

We're taking a tour into the Andes to try to glimpse Aconcagua - the tallest mountain in the world, after Mt. Everest, at 7021 meters. The bus picks us up at the hotel and we're off. The drive is a real lesson in geology and geography. The skies are fascinating as well. I even catch sight of a guanaco, related to the camel but without the hump. I thought it was a llama. Our group is international and the guide, Julio is off to Florida next week to work in tourism. The driver, Mario, is a professor in his real life (or so we are told).... read more
The new reservoir and the canyons
The new reservoir and the canyons
The winding road

South America » Argentina » Buenos Aires February 15th 2006

Well this is my final entry for BA. Im pretty sad cause i have to pack it up again and leave mum and the rest of the fam and set off on yet more adventures. But as the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained. So in my last few days in BA it has been great to have Michelle, one of my finest friends from Sydney over to spend 4 days with the fam. She is actually visiting her fam in Uraguay, and popped over on the ferry to visit. We have been round the city and seen many sights including the scene from my fav movie " The Motorcycle Diaries", just when che and alberto are leaving on the Mighty One to take on South America, which i took a picture of to add ... read more
Last Quilmes
Party time pool poker
Mum you sweet lady

South America » Brazil » Paraná » Foz do Iguaçu February 15th 2006

Hi all! Thanks for all your comments - we love seeing them, and well done Stu for winning yourself a postcard! It´ll be in the post soon but may take a couple of weeks :) Well, we´ve made it to the next major highlight of the tour - Iguassu Falls! Utterly, utterly amazing and breaktaking! Luckily for you we´re not boring you with all 110 photos of the 285 different waterfalls at all angles, but even so the photos we took don´t do them justice! We spent the first side on the Argentian side, where we basically took different walks above the different falls - Devil´s Throat (main bit), 3 Musketeers.. and then went on a boat ride which beats all Chessington Adventures! The boat ride was US$30 and unmissable for anyone heading that way (thanks ... read more
Iguassu
Boat ride
Iguassu

South America » Ecuador » West » Puerto López February 15th 2006

Executive Summary: After embracing my inner Peter Pan in Canoa, I finally traveled on down the coast to Puerto Lopez and Montañita for quick visits before heading on to the harrowing border into Tumbes, Peru. Couple observations on local marketing and the coffee quandary. Puerto Lopez Puerto Lopez has just lately become a bonafide destination, thanks to the clever local PR engine that has dubbed nearby Isla Plata 'the poor man's Galapagos'. How close that comes to the truth I'm not sure, being too poor to compare, but the real draw seems to be the humpback whales that put on a show from July to September. It's always a bit strange and melancholy to travel off-season through a destination known almost exclusively for an activity you'll have to miss. But in reality the nearby National Machalilla ... read more
nesting blue-footed boobies
nesting frigate birds
Coast at Machalilla national park

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Chiloé Island February 14th 2006

We've covered a lot of territory since the last blog. After leaving Bolivia and crossing the border into northern Argentina, we made our way south, then took a left turn back across the Andes into Chile, thus missing out the boring northern desert. We´ve now travelled down to the island of Chiloe. A note from the English version of the local guidebook may shed some light on this remote spot. The mythology section describes a fearsome creature called the Fiura: ´Repugnant women, horrible ogly of small size, foul-smelling breath live in the forests near to the "Hualdes", she is coquette, swim in the falls and she comb her hair with the crystal rack, wearing address with many colors, and after the bath she seat in the sea grass nud by hours. Is the female of evil, ... read more
Saddled up
At the rodeo
Valparaiso

South America » Brazil February 14th 2006

Well, after our extremely emotional departure in Campo Grande (including several boxes of Kleenex) I said goodbye to Jord and Ry, and headed northwest to the town of Cuiaba which, is basically just on the opposite side of the Pantanal. I took a night bus, and arrived there early Friday morning. Through hell and high water (well just Portuguese street names and drowsiness) I found my hostel. Actually I didn't find it at all, for the first time on this trip, someone noticed my Canadian flag (which I was about to rip off and declare completely pointless a week ago) and knew French. Thankfully I know French and he escorted me to the hostel. Once at the hostel I realized I was the only guest there, odd I thought but didn't think much of it. After ... read more
Chipada
Lookout
Bar

South America » Brazil » Bahia » Morro de São Paulo February 14th 2006

Hey everyone! it looks like the internet is too slow to check my travel blog on the ship, so when i have time in port i will check it. A quick update on Brazil: I didn't go to the Capoeira school because at the last minute, 2:00 in the morning, I decided to take a 6 hour bus ride to a place called Lencois for a couple of days with some people i barely knew.- turned out to be amazing! Lencois was beautiful! After the 6 hour hot and sweaty bus ride and several frustrations later, we arrived in Lencois. It's a small town, cobblestown streets. a river running through the town, though not very fast. A local took 5 of us to the local swimming hole and the next day we hiked for about 4 ... read more

South America » Argentina » Buenos Aires February 14th 2006

"In line with your salza stories apparently the tango singer Carlos Gardel (1890-1935) is still worshipped like a god. Every year thousands make a pilgrimage to his grave, climb up to the life-sized statue, and place a lit cigarette between its fingers. You know what to do billy and dont forget to post up the photo... that is if you can take on the Wogeo TM challenge" So as I mentioned, I completed the Wogeo Challenge TM in my final weekend. Straight from a night on the beers, without sleep, and with the greatly appreciated help of my lovely assistant Rachel, I made my way to Chacaritas Cemetery. On arrival, w realised that it´s one big-arsed cemetery, and we had no idea where Carlos Gardel had made his permanent home. So I asked a gardener at ... read more
With Rachel
Freshly lit cigarette
Just to prove...




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