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Argentina Map
Andrew Campling Our first stop in Argentina was Salta - the home of, arguably, the best steak in the world. So as soon as we arrived we headed for the best steak house in town and it was amazing! The Argentineans have a great theory that potatoes and veg just take up plate space that could be better used for more steak, so they don't bother with it. I had a tenderloin steak that was literally an entire plate full of meat that was oozing with blood. It was cooked to perfection and every mouthful melted in my mouth. There was so much steak that it became a battle (that I won) to finish it all. I also had a bottle of fine Argentinean red wine, all for a fiver! It was the best meal I have ever had and I would travel around the world again to taste such fine food. I really cant talk highly enough of the steak...I am dribbling as I write this.
The next day was both mine a Jimmy´s birthday and we had a great day planned. In the morning we headed to Salta Rafting, for some white-water rafting. As it was my birthday I
did the rafting in a pair of ´party pants' (Chubb, you might recognise them!). The rapids were very tame but we had 3 rafts so spent the morning racing and fighting each other. As it was my birthday the instructor decided to flip the raft and give me a birthday dunk. Everyone thought this was hilarious until they realised that I told the other instructors it was two of the girls birthdays so everyone ended up in the water as they didn´t have a clue who to dunk. The rapids really were very tame but it was nice 2 hour ride down the river. We then all dried off and had a massive BBQ which mainly consisted of yet more great steak and a few beers of course.
Next on the list was zip-wiring, which was absolutely awesome. There were 9 different wires that zigzagged there way down a valley and over a dam and eventually back to the camp. They were all varying lengths between a 100 metres and 500 metres but all with a drop of about 200 metres to the ground below. The views were amazing but I spent most of the time staring at the
thing that attached me to the wire, checking for any cracks or signs of weakness - not sure what I would have done if I found any?? They gave us each a pair of gardening gloves with leather hand patches to use as brakes because once you start heading across the wire you go seriously fast and the only way to stop is pull yourself up and use your weight to slow down. One time Ad didn´t bother to do this and nearly sent the instructor flying over the side of the cliff...very funny from where we watching, the instructor wasn´t so amused. Just as we thought it was all over the instructor gave me my present - and its what I have wanted for about 20 years - he strapped me to him, instead of the wire and for 500 metres I was flying like Superman! Although I did have to have my legs wrapped around another mans legs and take up a ´doggy-style'(Mum don´t ask) position to do it! It was so good!! Finally my dream came true, I was Superman - and Ghile don´t pretend your not jealous.
I am aware that every day I am
doing amazing things like that, in amazing countries like Argentina and that is a present in itself so I wasn´t disappointed that I didn't have any presents to open. Then Izzy and Belle surprised me with a great present! It was a bottle of special aftershave called Pausada from the Witches market in Bolivia and it quote ´Attracts the opposite sex to want more Sexual love' - I haven´t stopped wearing it since that day and I´m sure it will work soon...
So after white-water rafting and zip-wiring, I headed out for a few drinks and I smelt like a love God!? We got given a new pair of ´party pants' to wear over our jeans on the night out, I think this may have counteracted the aftershave, but they did get mine in the colours of Northampton Town which was a nice touch. The problem with travelling with such a big group is that everyone wants to get you a birthday drink...that's 21 drinks! After shot about 13 or 14 of Tequila my memory fails me but I'm told that not long later I was put in a taxi and sent home in a drunken disgrace - everyone else
had a great night - it was my birthday what did I expect?? Despite missing most of the night it was great birthday and it was one of the bets days on the trip.
Our next and final stop on our short stay in Argentina was Puerto Iguazu, the home of the Iguazu Falls. Luckily for me I visited the Falls when I went to Brasil 5 years ago because the weather was terrible and we didn't get to see Iguazu in its full glory. Despite the constant down pour the Falls were still amazing and we spent a whole day wondering around them, all of us finding it hard to believe how big they really are - wider than Niagara and taller than Victoria is there claim to fame! So after a day of getting wetter and wetter we headed home and prepared to head across the border to Brasil...where I first caught the travel bug 5 years ago and it still remains my favourite country.
Brasil is my final stop before my long flight back to Heathrow and 10 months away will hopefully end on a beach in Rio?? We will see! See you all very
soon.
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Chubby
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Pants
Loving the pants campo !!!!!!!!