Steve and El go Latino

Obscenely large steaks, the Tango and thoughts of home

reidy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:47:00 GMT

No more photos - technology won´t allow here....

Day after day on the beautiful beaches of Rio and Florianopolis in Brazil had to take its toll. We had far too many ´pay by the kilo´ icecream buffets (yes as amazing as they sound) and tables full of seafood at beach restaurants. We were starting to feel too relaxed following our tiring ´adventures´ and knew we had to move on before we wanted to stay for good.

We crossed the border south into Uruguay. We spent 3 days in a beach resort where it rained for almost the first time on our trip then went south to Montevideo and then Colonia del Sacramento.

Let me just say that Uruguays steaks are superb! We found this indoor market in an old train station where the restaurants cook on massive woodfired barbeques. We sat and watched it cook and then proceeded to have THE best steak of our lives. Never seen anything so thick. Daniel and Nathan would have been squealing like little girls - we almost were.

People didn´t eat till 10-11pm there either so we tried desperately to eat like the locals, holding on till 9 and sometimes 10. Smokey bbq meals were everywhere, offering an assortment of intestines and organs in the bbq for 2.

Uruguay was relatively clean and felt very safe. The people were friendly although nothing like the Brazilians.

Colonia del Sacramento is a world heritage village and was beautiful. We stayed there for 3 days eating good food and exploring the charming area. We hired a scooter and bounced through the cobbled 16th century streets.

Yesterday we took the ferry back to Buenos Aires where we first began our trip. Frenetic pace and stoney faces. Tomorrow night we go to dinner and a Tango Show before packing up and heading to our beloved home.

Hopefully we´ll leave our tourist ways behind, particularly the fashion ones like wearing running shoes with anything, going to a restaurant in running shoes, shorts and singlets, standing on corners and looking up while everyone else is walking normally and knows where they´re going, consulting a map at every turn, going everywhere with a backpack.

So grateful for the journey and all the learnings: about ourselves, the world and just how blessed we really are.

Looking forward to our country of abundance: yum milk and dairy products, clean streets, a front yard, home baking, fruit and vegetables, being able to relax and not worry about our safety or our stuff, and most of all our f & w (friends and whanau).

Thank God for the All Blacks

reidy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:22:00 GMT

In rio el and me were at the beach then left to watch the abs play wales. While we were away street kids with machine guns!!! yes machine guns raided the beach and stole everyones stuff that was left behind after they fled! Crazy true story. God bless RUGBY!

We are currently in Floriapolis and enjoying the islands beautiful beaches and surf.

In love with RIO

reidy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:14:00 GMT

Rio de Janerio. Love it. Temperatures between 34 and 40 degrees ahhhh. This is the beach we're staying at, Ipanema beach and we're one block back from it, swimming until 7pm at night, quite lovely.

We're absolutely loving Brazil. Pity about the Portugese, just when we were getting confident with Spanish...

We found Jesus as you can see in the photo's. Apparently he's been here for quite a while, the last hundred years or so...fancy that. From the top of Christ the Redeemer we could see the whole of Rio stretched before us, breathtaking.

On the beach, you rent an umbrella and chairs, then get served with ice cold beers, cocktails and coconuts... luxury.

Yesterday we went to a football game at Maracana stadium with about 95 thousand others. It was electric, we've never seen such passion in our lives. They crowd sung constantly throughout the game and everyone knew every word and every action to the songs in synch. It was absolutely amazing. The guys in front of us got so angry at times they'd turn around and punch and hit their seats!

Today we took a tour through a favella (slum) in Rio. 20 percent of Rio's population live in slums (1.5 million ppl) and this is the biggest in Brazil, 85 to 100 thousand people. Because there is no welfare system and inadequate housing in Brazil, people resort to building their own houses out of whatever materials they have, on top of each others etc.

They're run by the drug lords, who die before they're 24.

The most amazing thing was the contrast between abundance and poverty. Brazil has one of the biggest gaps between the rich and poor and is the country with the closest proximity between the two. Right opposite the favela we went to was the richest private school in Rio, with imported SUV's and private drivers waiting to pick the children up. This is where the police helicopter was shot down about 3 weeks ago. Police don't enter the favelas.

Just so bizarre to be right in the middle of so much wealth yet so much poverty. Our guide was quick to tell us that it is poverty but not misery.

Loving the multicultural-ness of Rio, so many colours, so fascinating, not to mention the swimwear.... Lots of men in speedos riding bicycles for some reason. Steve keeps taking photos of them is that normal

3200kms Later

reidy — Wed, 4 Nov 2009 01:40:00 GMT

Well what a ride we have just been on. It all started on Wednesday at Machu Picchu where we caught a train for 2 hours to Ollantaytambo. We then jumped in a cab for an hour and a half to Cusco. The cab only cost $5nz each but almost cost us our lives. At 10pm we caught a bus from Cusco to La Paz in Bolivia. Finally arrived in La Paz at 1pm that afternoon and left for a 20 hour bus ride to the south border that afternoon. On friday night we arrived at the border and walked across to Argentina. We bussed for 5 hours to Jujuy then waited until 2am on Saturday morning for our bus to Tucuman. We arrived in Tucuman at 7am then waited another 6 hours for our bus to leave for Iguazu Falls. This ride was our longest, taking 21hours 15mins.

After all this we had:

travelled 3200kms
been on a bus for 70 hours
slept a total of 20 hours in 5 days
waited in bus stops for 27 hours
worn 1 pair of undies
had 0 showers
been from cape reinga to the bluff and back again!

Here we are now at the mighty Iguazu Falls. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along 2.7 kilometers of the Iguazu River. It´s the worlds largest waterfall when measuring cubic metres of water per second.

We explored it with JP and Kylie from Australia and it was unbelievable - took a jet boat ride to the heart of the ´devils throat´ gargantum del diablo, getting saturated in the process. Loved it but something you have to be there to appreciate the sheer size and violence of it.

The temperatures in the mid 30´s here and got up to 39 so we´re in the pool most of the day except El can´t swim yet with her tummy cuts.

Off to Rio de Janerio tomorrow YAY! Will be even hotter

Magical Machu Picchu

reidy — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:20:00 GMT

We made it! We took a 1 1/2 hr taxi ride, then a night train ride to Aguas Calliente in preparation for the big event. Babadaba.

Usually you get accustomed to smells and tend not to notice them after a while, but we stayed in a hostel that smelt worse and worse as the night wore on. When we first arrived it smelt really musty and damp, the air was a bit thick, then we started to smell urine which got stronger and stronger to the point that we had to take sleeping pills to knock ourselves out phewwww.

We got up at 5am (actually the wees woke us up) and lined up with hundreds of other tourists to board the buses up to Machu Pichu. We weaved up the mountain in the dawn light wondering whether it would be overrated or worth its accolades.

When we arrived at the village, we were in the clouds and could not see a thing for 2 hours so Steve decided to sleep at Machu Picchu - I don´t know if that was the best use of our money, however the clouds slowly parted and we let out a little gasp as the Inca village appeared before us. It was magical and definately not overrated.

We spent about 7 hours exploring the village and its surroundings. It took our breath away, set so high up in the clouds with beautiful mountain hills all around it.

Glad we persevered...is something we will always remember.... good old MP

South American Surgery!

reidy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:49:00 GMT

Öther appropriate titles: 1. Machu Picchu Anti Climax 2. You have got to be kidding 3. No, you really have to be kidding 4. 3rd world slashing

Okay so here the story goes. The one place you have to go when visiting South America is Machu Pïcchu in Peru, its the rules, everyone knows it.

We were so excited and after our volunteering started our 5 day trek through the mountains at 4am. We were with a group of 14 other tourists from Germany, Ireland, Sweden etc, a real nice melting pot "what we need...".

We trekked through mountains, passes, under snow capped peaks and through the jungle. The scenery was amazing and so diverse from day to day. On our first night we camped under snow capped peaks and it was freezing. Woken up with a steaming hot coca tea in our tents at 5.30 am for the second leg, the hardest part of the journey. 4 gruelling hours of straight uphill climbing at sub zero temperatures, arriving triumphiantly at the peak of 4800 metres to celebrate with a very quick photo before moving to warmer ground.

We had a gorgeous team of donkeys faithfully carrying our packs and cooking equipment. It took all my decorum to not throw myself onto one of them as they trotted past with their clippety cloppety ease.

We walked between 6 and 9 hours a day at a pace that said we were serious about getting to that beautiful Machu Picchu on day 5. In the evenings we were so exhausted from the days excertion we´d have "happy hour" which was popcorn dotted with animal shaped biscuits, dinner, a quick game of cards then bed in those comfy tents. Feeling like true adventurers discovering the Inca valleys and villages for the first time.

I had an uncomfortable stomach since before we started the trek but thought it was just a remnant of 6 earlier days of diarrhoea, yes 6. My stomach started getting sorer and sorer but there were literally no options except to keet going, we were so far from civilisation or any sort of roads. Ön day 3 I had to walk holding my stomach at a snails pace (disappointing Steve as we really wanted to be leading that pack of foreigners). When we FINALLY got to our campsite 6 hours later I lay down in our tent and didn´t move for 17 hours. I don´t know what happened during that time except I had a super duper fever. The next morning we went to the town doctor who told me I had Selmonella food poisoning and a Urine infection and to drink lots of gatorade. The guides took steve and I on a bus then a train and we got to Aguas Calliente, the home of Machu Picchu later that evening, day 4.

The most exciting day loomed ahead of us. The plan was to get up at 4am, walk 1 1/2 hours up a hill, then tada.... Machu Picchu.

My naughty tummy had other plans though. The pains got a bit unbearable. Steve got another Doctor who told me in broken english not to move and that we had to return to Cusco immediately "for your life". It seemed like a cruel joke and we didn´t know whether to cry out of fear or because we were so close to Macchu Pichu and had to leave!!!!!!! Knew God was close though and that things would work out as they always do.

The Doctor took us for a 2 hour train ride, drip in hand, then an ambulance picked us up for a 1 1/2 hour drive to the clinic. When I say ambulance I mean 4 wheel drive with a little sticker on the windscreen. We arrived at 1.30am and I got surgery the next morning to remove my appendix.

Was quite hilarious because we had to communicate through limited language skills on both sides. Felt very far from home at that point! I couldn´t ask how long it would take, if I would be okay, how big they would cut etc, just had to trust! Praise God He was looking after me. Spent 6 days in Hospital and got out yesterday.

Steve took amazing care of me and slept of the tiny couch beside me for 5 nights.

The most gutting thing is that it took up a week of our precious time and we now have to pay a heck of a lot of money all over again to go back to Macchu Pichu as everything was prepaid and non refundable.

I felt quite bitter toward the mountain and Inka village, and didn´t want to return just to make a point but have since gotten over myself with Steve´s not so gentle prompting and we are going back tomorrow once my stitches are out. Will update with some hopefully splendid photos of it.....or else :)

Break a brick....

reidy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:40:00 GMT

Just finished the hardest work we have ever done! We volunteered through a local Peruvian agency for 2 weeks and now have our official 'no longer tourists' badges.

For the first week we worked on a farm for a family who made bricks as a living. They had just lost their son - a bank collapsed on him when he was excavating slate for the bricks. They earned $100 peruvian soles for every 1000 bricks they sold - $50 NZ dollars and their younger son had to stop going to school to help with production.

We stripped Eucalyptus trunks of their branches with a machete for 2 days straight in the searing heat then shoveled dirt and carried gallons of water in buckets to mix, making the dirt into clay ready for production. They fire the bricks on top of a clay oven, heated by the Eucalyptus branches. Such hard work, at the end of the day we'd be shaking and weak with nothing left! If it sounds dramatic its not an exaggeration.....

Just getting there in the mornings was work enough - public transport is mini vans with no safety rules or maximum capacity. We counted 56 people on it one day - standing room only, sandwiched with the locals. The door guy was hanging on the outside of the door trying to keep everyone inside while the van careers along veering from lane to lane, horn a honking. Kids were hanging out the windows. Little lambs, puppies and long metal pipes were par for the course as people's luggage. Still haven't seen a crash, have no idea how that works!

For the second week we worked in a local kindergarten with 3 and 4 year old children whose parents worked in the Market. The Kindy was located inside the market. They were the cutest kids - would come in the morning with dirt all over them and would get fed at the kindy - rice and beans or a sweet syrup for lunch.

We helped teach them letters, numbers, colours and body parts etc and they tried to teach us Spanish. Was so much fun. They loved Steve, especially when they learnt that he could swing and throw them. They were particularly taken with his hairy arms and face, patting him like an animal.

Their names were so awesome we were kinda jealous - Ronaldo, Gonzalez, Maria-Theresa, Christiano, Luiz, so so much cooler than western names. They called Steve Mr E-Steve and me Miss Eloisa except toward the end they started calling me Mr Joaquin which is the name of a volunteer who used to work with them...silly kids, gee

Peruvian Life

reidy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:41:00 GMT

We've just had the privilege of living with a Peruvian family for 2 weeks. Was such a great opportunity to experience the culture first hand rather than tourist styles.

They were the loveliest family who were so hospitable and told us we couldn't leave, and that their family now had 7 members, not 5.

We were told they were a middle class Peruvian family. They definitely gave us a new definition of middle class! The father Gustavo worked from 7am until 11pm in a bank. He had one day off a week but had to go into work for at least 5 hours on that day. They had no fridge, washing machine or hot water and they all slept in the same bedroom - mum, dad, 18yr old son and 13yr old daughter. Steve and I had a single bed to share and an american traveller had the other bed. They lived on a dirt road (every road is dirt and rubble except for the main road). The windows are barred on any houses at street level and each house has a high fence, jagged with broken bottles to invite any would be intruders.

Breakfast was white bread buns, with occasionally a fried egg, luncheon roll or rice with potatoes on top of an egg. Lunch was the main meal, with a soup to start then some kind of meat with rice and potatoes. Dinner was white bread buns again... Guinea Pig is a delicacy here - they fry it and serve it whole, teeth and all. Yum yum

They lived very humbly but were happy. Saturday was washing day and this literally took the whole day, scrubbing clothes by hand on a wooden board.

They celebrated 2 birthdays while we were there and the tradition is to have birthday cake for breakfast with hot chocolate. Chicken feet soup was on the menu and Steve braved it but of course I could not. Spend a lot of time controlling the mind to keep my food down!!!! A thick drink made of purple maize was the other treat. When their son Ronnie turned 18 he had to present to the Army and they have put him on hold to be called up at any time - he is a bit scared and they have no choice in the matter. His parents are worried that if he goes to a disco at night the Army will snatch him and keep him.

They also have no oven so if they ever want to bake anything they carry their food to the massive neighbourhood oven which is where the bakers make their bread. They pay a guy for the use of it and to make sure he gets it out on time.

People work very hard here, especially the women, a lot of whom do very physical work. A lot of them also work with their small children alongside them all day, pretty amazing. The children have obviously learnt to be very well behaved.

Beautiful hot weather here - no humidity at all so cold at night and in the shade.

We were told that men that abuse their wives in Peru don't go to jail if they manage to have a small financial gift for the Judge!

We're off to do a 5 day trek to Macchu Picchu, the lost Inca city tomorrow.....

Jungle Juice

reidy — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 06:41:00 GMT

The adventure started with a precarious light aircraft ride past snowy mountains and onto a small piece of grass they call the airport. Rurrenabaque is so warm and lush and green. Pigs, horses, chickens and of course dogs run wild. Alot of our time was spent in hammocks and cafe´s with straw thatched roofs. After 2 days we took a 3 hour 4x4 into the jungle with Robin from England, Chrissy and Desiree from USA, Johnis from France and our local guide Billy.

We journeyed down the amazon in a motorised canoe and before we even hopped in the boat we saw alligators and pink dolphins. It was amazing. We spent 3 days in the jungle and saw countless alligators, capycabara´s (looked like giant guinea pigs, largest rat in the worls but really cute), monkeys, dolphins, turtles and heaps of birds.

We did a night boat ride to find alligators and they were absolutely everywhere. They were hunting around our boat and it was really scarey. Oh the serenity.

We went for a 4 hour trek and hunted out a 2 metre Anaconda and each got a hold! Billy then found a deadly cobra which was chomping on a frog and regurgitated it, was really vicious. Got great footage of that.

Tried our skills at fishing for Pirahnas in the river. Steve got 5 and I only got 2 crabs.

Swam with the pink dolphins with alligators literally underneath and around us, was pretty surreal and we tried to make sure others were in a circle around us so they´d go first!

Absolutely loved our time in the jungle, best time so far. Travelled a fun 23 hours yesterday and today from Rurrenabaque to Copacabana on the craziest road known to man. It was unpaved the whole way, was a poor gravel and dirt road. People died on the road the day before. It took us 35 minutes to fly and 23 hours to bus, that tells you something. Countless near misses as we hugged the cliffs, unscheduled stops during which a box of puppies got on and people stood in the aisles for hours. Everyone just throws their rubbish out the window into the jungle which is crazy, anything goes. We certainly met the locals :)

Missing our tour group, had so much fun with them and now going it alone until the next great set of travellers we meet. Hard making friends then losing them so fast.

Have tried all sorts of interesting food, some really yum, some that doesn´t get near my palate, in places we would never have set foot in previously, good learning. We´ve learnt you can´t be picky in Bolivia when you´re starving.

Good to hear the All Blacks won!!!!!!!!!!!

The Wild Wild West

reidy — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:02:00 GMT

Bolivia is crazy. It´s the poorest country in South America and you can tell... Have learnt about Bolivia´s history etc and how it became poor which is quite interesting given it is one of the most resource rich countries in South America. Quite sad.

We crossed the border on foot in the early hours of Tuesday morning and somehow managed to get through customs without them finding you know what. We jumped on a bus to Tupiza, southern Bolivia and got the trip of a lifetime. We were the only foreigners on the bus and stuck out for being tall and white. Steve made the mistake of drinking a gallon of water before boarding and found himself having to try to go to the toilet in our drink bottle on the bus while I was trying to shield him from fellow passengers. It didn´t happen and he had to ask the bus driver to stop in stilted spanish. Hilarious. There were no paved roads and the bus literally made up its own path, driving through rivers, along gravel and dirt plains. It was so funny. We passed a bus that had tipped over and been abandoned.

We drove through the wilderness and then the bus would all of a sudden stop and someone would get out and just start walking in what was literally a desert - we couldn´t believe it and couldn´t see where they would possibly be walking to.

The surroundings here are so DRY. Nothing seems to grow here. If we ever see something green like a tree or grass (rare) we excitedly point it out (no it doesn´t take much). The schools have dirt or concrete playing fields.

Have seen lots of small villages and houses in the middle of nowhere with no water or vegetation. The houses look abandoned but they´re not.

We stayed in the quieter Tupiza for 2 nights and went horse riding through the desert with a guide Luiz. It was amazing. Unfortunately for Steve my horse was the leader and it wouldn´t let him pass me. Haha that exact thing happened when we went horseriding in Australia.

Most of the older ladies here wear very traditional clothes, with a colourful blanket wrapped around their shoulders in which they carry everything including children. They have long plaits and wear bowler hats too! Photo´s to come when we find another place to load them.

The people are different here - friendlier and much darker, with different facial features than Argentinian people.

There are lots of markets with fresh and rotten fruit and meat hanging in the head (you smell it before you see it) We found a restaurant that seemed safeish and ate there both nights.

We are really high up - about 3800km above sea level and this makes you feel a bit dizzy and headachy. We get breathless doing anything - Steve was even puffing after bending down to unplug the camera from the wall. Really weird and makes you feel a bit unfit! Tried Coca tea for the altitude but I couldn´t stomach it. Steve got through most of his.

Guns are really prevalent here - just walked past two guards outside a shop with machine guns, pointing them out at the crowd, not down.

Have just finished a 14hr train ride and 3 hr bus ride to arrive in La Paz, capital of Bolivia. Once again tooting and crazy driving abound.

Tomorrow we´re flying to the Amazon Jungle in Rurrenabaque for a 3 day tour, can´t wait. Saw pink flamingos today!

Traveling Salta with the USA

reidy — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:20:00 GMT

WE NOW have photos!

Well what started out as a planned trip on a gondalla turned into a 500km drive through the mountains of Salta. We arrived in Salta, far north of Argentina after a 16 hour bus ride through the night and had dinner at a crazy 10.40pm (thats what they do here). We then met Kent and Dee from San Francisco California and embarked on a great adventure. Hired a little Chrysler and drove for 12 hours through the Capayche valley and mountains. We got as high as 4080 metres above sea level and it was amazing. The views were different through every part of the journey and we just said WOW the whole day! Our american buddies were brilliant value - we laughed all day and night singing flight of the concords renditions. Stopped at a tiny town - San Rosario which was so quaint and tiny. Had a massive slab of unknown meat served over yellow rice for lunch. The meat is just referred to as Carne - not any specific meat so you never know what you´re eating. Yum fun fun. Saw herds of lamas and tiny settlements miles from nowhere along gravel roads, way up in the sky. Now appreciate the beauty and cleanliness of New Z like never before. Missing everyone.

Crossing the border to Bolivia tonight. Leaving at 12.45am!

Fellow Tourists

reidy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:12:00 GMT

Yay for fellow english speaking tourists! So nice to have conversations, about anything. Last night had dinner and watched Argentina lose to Paraguay in the soccer with Nilsk from Denmark and Martin from New Jersey. The night before had dinner with Lochie and Luke from Melbourne. Lochie was the classic story teller, kept us entertained all night with stories of running away from Police and superglueing his cuts back together (reminded us of Luke Lamborn)

Watched a group of girls having dinner last night (this is Eloise talking not Steve) and it made me miss my buddies.

Off on a 15 hour bus ride overnight to Salta tonight. Going to see the Museum today before we leave

Facts about Toilets

reidy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:05:00 GMT

1 Toilet seats are a priviledge not a right

2 They occasionally have locks on them

3 You put your used toilet paper in a little basket beside the toilet mmm

4 They often have a yummy cinnamon smell, bit of a worry sitting on the toilet enjoying the smell.....don´t think its okay but can´t help it

5 There may or may not be a woman sitting in there (eating her lunch) taking money in exchange for toilet paper

6 If there´s no 'flush' button, just put your hand into the cistern until you find something to pull

7 Even in flash restaurants there will be no lock and no toilet paper

8 There are no public toilets ANYWHERE

Good Times

City of Contradictions

reidy — Tue, 8 Sep 2009 03:59:00 GMT

Buenos Aires has the most beautiful architecture, majestic palaces and building yet right underneath it will be meat carcasses - yes saw another one yesterday haha-, stray dogs by the dozen, homeless people lined up on mattresses and people walking past in suits to fine restaurants. Taking a little while to get used to!

Just had our last night in a great hostel in BA and now stuck at the bus terminal for another 8 hours as we missed our bus to Rosario. Got given the wrong directions and next bus doesn´t leave till tonight at 8pm. Randomly found this man/angel who could speak broken english and spent an hour advocating on our behalf at the ticket outlets etc so we can get on the next bus for free. Somehow got us in the VIP lounge also... yay.

In BA we went on a bus tour around the city and stopped at different suburbs like La Boca (brightly painted streets and buildings, the home of the Tango) and San Telmo (cobbled streets with an amazing antiques fair that stretched for miles), Recoletta had an ancient cemetry full of vaults the size of small houses, beautiful and somewhat eerie. Evita is buried there and that was great to explore.

Bought Hamburguresas that day from the side of the road (dodgy) but we were so starving.

We took a tour to a local rugby game between CUBA and HINDU with some brazilians. Was hilarious and nice to see some rugby -felt like home. One of the guys we were with, Luiz, followed the team into the changing rooms afterward and came out with a pair of sweat stained socks as his prized possessions.

Have met a few english speaking tourists - germans, brittish etc which is always nice. The language barrier makes for hilarious conversations. A brazilian we met the other day was telling us he makes slippers, then said no, and that it was impossible to go to work in a pair of slippers. He also said his girlfriend/grandad (he got those 2 mixed up) was from the zoo. I was in fits of laughter of course.

Everything comes alive from about 8pm here and there are great cheap pizza places on every corner. Still negotiating the menu but have figured out you never go up to order or pay, you do everything from your table, even in an average cafe, which is nice.

Have learnt a few more phrases like 'where is the ladies toilet', very necessary. Today in the bus station there was a lady sitting in the toilet, eating food while taking money in exchange for letting me use toilet paper!

Can´t believe how many stray dogs there are EVERYWHERE, even in the malls and today in the bus station upstairs. Love it.

Off to Rosario once our bus arrives. Will get in at 1am then try to find the hostel.... Northwest of BA. Smaller. Will see what it is like and decide how long to stay before heading up north toward Bolivia.

Still haven´t found anywhere to download photos. Will find somewhere in Rosario.

5 days without makeup..... (Steve´s only wearing a bit of mascara)

Disaster at the Airport

reidy — Fri, 4 Sep 2009 02:07:00 GMT

Well not at all really but we were just about to board our first plane to Santiago, Chile when Steve went to take his sleeping pill to knock himself out because hes not the worlds best flyer, only to find they werent there! Emptied the whole bag out twice then just had to bite the bullet and hop on..... Flight went really well except for a crazy landing into Argentina on our second flight. That was one sleepless night.

The drive from the airport to our hostel was CRAZY. 14 lane highways, no indication and horns a blasting. Was apparantly one big merge - no sticking to your lane necessary.

Got picked up by a Hostel shuttle with a bunch of Brazilians and a Singaporean. Met some great people, everyones really friendly.

Staying in a beautiful old hostel full of character, even an old iron lift.

Sorry but we havent been able to dowload photos yet as the connections are different. Will keep trying. Took a walk through the city centre today. The funniest thing was a massive carcas of meat lying in the middle of the footpath with people just walking around it and ignoring it. Looked like the ribcage of a massive beast.

So big and busy and FOREIGN. Going for a walk to get some lunch now. Need to try out some spanish :-)

Lots of love

Get ready Buenos Aires, the Reids are in town

reidy — Tue, 1 Sep 2009 12:02:00 GMT

Hola! All packed and ready to go. Had room in our backpacks for about two changes of clothes :-( Oh dear I may have a few issues. Beginning to wonder whats more important; a sleeping bag or a couple more tops. Hmmm. Got the tent, sleeping bags and medical supplies for a small army. Arriving in Buenos Aires approx 8am 3 September NZ time or 5pm 2 September local time(13hours behind. Staying in at Hostel Suites Obelisco right in the city for our 1st 5 days while we figure out where the heck we are! YIPPEEEEEEEE

Gallery: Profile

reidy — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:14:00 GMT