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Published: August 5th 2007
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Well hello everyone,
We finally got round to updating our blog.... after 3 weeks.
our schedule is quite full considering we get only one week end off evry two weeks. But we will tell you more about it later.
So we flew to South America on the 1st of June from Birmingham after spending 2 days with Liesel and Keith ( our friends in Knowle, West Midlands) who we can't thank enough for everything they have done for us. Thanks guys.
Then we flew to Amsterdam to catch our plane leaving to Sao Paulo. We had to wait quite a while, 3 hours before we could take off as there was a problem with one of the engines. Very reassuring... Anyway we took off and the flight was very pleasant and we made it to Brasil. We then had to wait to catch our connection flight to Curitiba, our destination in Brasil where our friend Patricia was waiting for us. We had to wait another two hours after going around the terminal on bus waiting to board the plane, as there was no pilot available to fly our plane. By this time we were getting quite hacked off, having not
slept for 26 hours and extremely tired. Eventually they found another pilot and we were off again. Poor Patricia and Ausseo ( Antonio )was waiting for us, it was 1am when we arrived in Curitiba. Thanks a million Patricia.
Brasil is fantastic!!! But we were thee nly for the weekend but had a great time. She showed us around town, beautiful place, we've been to the local market, to the main park, we've eaten Feijoada, drank Caipirinha. Excellent! And we met Fabio ( crazy guy , another Antonio) , Adam ( Antonio ) and I am sorry I forgot the name of the last Antonio we met. Renata kept calling everyone Antonio!!! As she couldn't remember the names of all the guys.
Monday 4th of June we left Curitiba to Uruguaiana ( Brasil's border town with Argentina ) by bus . 20hour journey but quite comfortable and we met some nice people in there. Very warm and friendly. Renata got on well with the driver as he liked the way she kept saying " Obrigada, Obrigada". That's pretty much all we could say in Portuguese! There was also this guy who was coming back from Sao Paulo after doing the
Sao Paulo marathon and he offered us our first sip of Mate. A strong bitter drink made from plants, similar to green tea but much more bitter. Very nice! We also met a girl from Uruguaiana going back home, and she was the most helpful and kindest person. On arrival, she just got our luggage into her great parents car after a lot of greeting and kissing... It was like we were part of the family and that they hadn't seen us in ages! and then took us to our hotel . Lovely people.
We spent the night and in the morning we were off to Argentina through Paso de los Libres ( Argentina's border town with Brasil )
We were just hanging around the bus terminal and walked towards a square where there was a cemetary, when a guy came round and saw that we were not from around here and told us to get out quick as this isn't the safest neighbourhoods and we get spotted very quickly with our foreign looks. So it was back to the bus terminal. Very swiftly I've got to say! So we didn't get a good first impression of Argentina. But that
was going to change soon.
We were on our way to Mercedes, Corrientes where they were waiting for us at the ranch! El Altillo, here we come. It is a very impressive place, and huuuge! 2300ha.
We got to meet Domenic, the owner, a Swiss guy and explained the rules and working conditions.
Then we met the other volunteers: Geneva and Angela who are American, Esther who is Dutch, Lucinda who is English, Lisa who is German and Gaizkhane (Responsible for the volunters) who is Basque. We fitted in pretty well and slowly we were getting into the daily routine, learning about ranch life.
We are u by 6.15am everyay including weekends, we check our schedule for the day, we check in with Domenic at 7.00am
there are three main tasks:
1- Pista and Boxes which is preparing horses for Luis or Gaizkhane, getting the mares out in the fields and horse walker an cleaning their box. Litterally on your knees and mucking out all the pee and horse poo. that takes all morning and it stinks of ammonia and bowels- not the nicest jobs but the horse needs it and it has to be done.
2- Recorrida ( vet
duties ): going out in the surrounding fields and check all horses for any medical problems and treat horses for any wounds, mud fever and ultrasound treatments.
3- Riding with the Gauchos in the fields: The best part of the job: Again it depends if it is rounding up cows, separating young ones from old ones, treating any injured cows or counting. Its great fun. You spend all morning or afternoon out in the fields and they are huge.
By 11.15-11.30: we got to feed the mares and foals and by lunch time, we get to eat and have a siesta until 2.00pm.
Same scenario in the afternoon!
By the time you finish your day at 7.00pm, you are absolutely exhausted: you have your dinner, chat a little, have a shower and it's bedtime and it's only 9.00pm. Long working days.
And you do that for two weeks non stop. But I tell you what! It's really worth it, it's not easy but you get to spend time with horses and see their progress and you ride for free.
We can only go to town twice per week on evenings after work to do some shopping, and it's a race
to get everything done and go on internet, and eat, as we have to be back by 10.30pm as the main gate to the ranch closes because the watchman needs to go to sleep, if you miss the 10.30pm curfew , you can still go in but you have to walk the long long 6km to the ranch. No thank you!
Everyone at the ranch is brilliant, we get on very well with all the volunteers, local workers and the gauchos. The most rewarding is to be in deep nature, away from all worries in the world, no TV, no news headlines, completely switched off.
This week end, we just been to Corrientes, one of the oldest towns in Argentina and we had some quality time with Renata, and I can tell you, it's also nice to go away from th ranch and have some time for ourselves. Until next time, in two weeks.
Anyway guys, we have to go back to the ranch and we'll try to update this as often as possible, so you know what we are doing and where we are. Any comments on the blog would be most appreciated. We think of you guys, we
miss you a lot. Please think of us a little. Take care and speak to you soon. Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye!!!!! Enjoy the photos............
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alan smith
non-member comment
obrigado!
Thanks guys. So glad you're having a swell time. Miss you both so much. Look foward to seeing you again. Much love from Alan. Trio. Knowle. England. Those in the universe who love you...... which is everyone! Al. obrigado! obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!obrigado!