Adventures in Latin America

San Telmo

2008-01-11T01:28:00.000Z

Rain

2008-01-11T01:23:00.000Z

Christmas on the beach at Pinamar

2008-01-11T01:19:00.000Z

Buenos Aires Part 2

2008-01-11T00:53:00.000Z

Lima Revisited

2008-01-11T00:44:00.000Z

The coast of Lima at Miraflores has mosaic gardens very similar to, but far inferior than that of the Goudi park in Barcelona

Lima is covered in cloud for 6 months of the year and is bathed in glorious sunshine the other 6 months. This was one day that defied the cloud. The sun burst through for about 10 mins. This was the only time the sun was clearly visable in the 2 weeks I spent there.

Equador Revisited

2008-01-11T00:39:00.001Z

Hands On Disaster Response, Pisco, Peru.

2007-10-01T23:34:00.001Z

On 15 August the southern coastal region of Peru was violently shaken by a two-minute, 8.0 magnitude earthquake. The epicenter being in Pisco. The event flattened homes, destroyed businesses, disrupted livelihoods, and interrupted schools. I (Steph) was very keen to get down to Pisco and help in some way and was delighted to find the Hands on Organisation.

Hands on disaster response is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to providing hands on relief to people to disaster stricken areas.The work that hands are are doing in Pisco at the moment is primarily rubble removal to allow for placement of emergency or transitional shelters.Rebuilding a local school. Safe space play therapy with children in relocation camps. Ludoteca programs with UNICEF. Food distribution, water and sanitation works with Terre Des Hommes. Beach Rehabilitation. Coordination and distribution of school supplies with UNICEF.

I was not sure what to expect before I arrived at Hands On but I found it to be an excellent organisation. My time there was a truly amazing experience, if not the most rewarding and fun of my whole travels! I got there in the first week when the operation started and there were 20 volunteers. By the time I had left there 40 of us. Most of the volunteers were travellers like my self and there was a great sense of community and unity with in the group. When I first arrived we all had to sleep on the floor in an area about the size of my living room. It was a bit like "10 in the bed and little one said." Very Cosy! We also had no showers and had to heat water on the fire and have bucket showers using water bottles as shower heads. This all worked remarkable well. By the time I left we had been donated bunk beds and Tim had built 3 proper showers!

I am hoping to return for a month or two before I come home.

the team when I arrived

the team when I left

The hands on house, one of the surving buildings on Jose Balta, Pisco Playa.

Job board

Our sleeping quarters!

The water pipes were destroyed in the earthquake so water was rationed and brought in twice a week.

Jose Balta, our street. As you can see the rest of the buildings were destroyed.

When the earthquake struck the floor moved like waves.

People are living in tents.

Clearing remains of peoples house to make space for temorary homes.

A temporary home

The biggest tragedy of the earthquake happened at the church in the main square, Plaza de Armes. There was a mass at the time and the building collapsed killing about 250.

On Saturdays we went to the refugie camp to play games with the children. The children really appreciated our presence and would always run up and hug us in the street. They have no school to go to at the moment and many of their friends were sent to Lima. When ever you were working there was always a little friend wanting to help.

Doing art work.

Sundays were our days off. Caroline who you can see stood on top of the buggie is a tour guide in Peru but was taking time out to work at Hands on. See Organised a day out at Huacachina where they have the giant sand dunes, about 1 hour from Pisco. I had been here before when I was in Peru the first time round but had not taken a buggie on the dunes or sand boarded so it was great to back and get to have a go.

Welcome to the Jungle!

2007-08-24T20:23:00.000Z

From Quito Sophs and myself (Steph) took a night bus to Lago Agrioup up near the border with Columbia. From here we drove for 3 hours through strange villages built on cleared forest that had been cut down for excavation of oil. Was pretty grim! Eventually we got to the Cuyabeno river and took a 3 hour ride deep into the forest in a motorized canoe to our lodge. We stayed in huts, there was no electricity, just candle light, it was fantastic. At night the stars were breath taking and the sound of the insects deafening!

My high light of the trip was meeting a real shaman. His names was Alberto and he was in his 70´s. He told us all about how he had trained for many years with his grandfather learning about the medicinal properties of the plants to become a shaman. (He spoke in the native language and Jaun translated.) After many years of studying there final test is to take an highly hallucinogenic drug which they extract from a tree. They become high for about 30 hours and in this time they believe that they are educated about astronomy (interesting!) If they manage to get through this test mentally they then become a true shaman. The shaman has a very interesting way of diagnosing patients also. They both take a hallucinogenic drug (different to the one just mentioned) called the ayahuasca which is extracted from vines in the jungle. They then both become high for about 3 hours in which time they believe they go through a journey together and can take on the power of their alter ego, which may be an eagle or a tiger for example. Once the effects have worn off the shaman knows what is wrong with the patient and can cure them with the plants. These Shamans are used to cure all ailments from headaches to cancer. Well its certainly a different way to how we practice medicine at home! They are so cut of from the world out there that every one uses the shaman, I expect they don't know any different any way.

Our guide Jaun had grown up in the jungle and it was amazing how he could find the creatures amongst all the undergrowth. We saw so much wildlife but it was difficult to get good photos as they moved fast and were well hidden in the leaves. Our best sighting was a Harpy Eagle which apparently is very rare. Jaun said he had not seen one for 2 years and they were as rare as seeing a jaguar or a tiger! There were millions of creepy insects also. Check out the tarantula pics! One of the girls found one in her shower! Arrrrgh! and another got stung by a scorpion!

Fishing in Porto Lopez

2007-08-22T22:43:00.000Z

Hitching a ride

Ecuadorian Archie

Porto Lopez. Whale watching.

2007-08-22T17:47:00.000Z

About 11 hours west of the Capital Quito is the coastal town of Porto Lopez. Between July and September Hump back whales come to this area to breed. We were so pleased to be in Ecuador at this time as the whales had been of the coast of Argentina just before we got there, so missed them the first time. We took a boat out to sea and you could actually see the whales breaching out of the water right up close. It was very difficult to get a good picture of this as it happens so quickly. We found these photos that other people had taken of the whales on a computer in an Internet cafe in the town but this is basically what we saw. The Hump back whales are between 13 and 18 meters in length.

clown fish

Just off Porto Lopez is an Island called The Isla del Plata, also known as the poor mans Galapagos (quite fitting as almost no money left by this stage). As on the Galapagos the animals are extremely tame as they have no predators, so you can go right up to the animals with out them getting scared off.

mocking bird

Nazca Boobie

Blue footed Boobie

Cormaront

Otavalo market, Ecuador.

2007-08-22T17:24:00.000Z

Ecuador! Quito.

2007-08-22T17:02:00.000Z

Playa Blanca

2007-08-08T00:41:00.000Z

Columbia has some of the best beaches in the world. Totally unspoilt by tourism. From Catagena, (a beautiful colonial walled city) we got a boat to a beach called Playa Blanca. You have to get a boat there as the beach is on the edge of the forest, (this one you could not trek through). Again we slept in Hammocks right on the beach. The tide did not go in our out here so our hammocks were only a few metes from the ocean. Was amazing going to sleep to the sound of the waves. It was a full moon when we were there, was very interesting as it never actually got dark. You don't realize this in cities as so much light pollution. There was just a strange blue light.

One night when we were sitting in our hammocks, sampling the fine Columbian rum and shooting the breeze a herd of cows appeared from no where surrounding our hammocks. Most odd. Then as we were drifting of to sleep to the sound of the waves a herd of donkeys came charging the other way being chased by the local dogs. Was hilarious. The local dogs were our friends. One night when there was a spectacular electrical storm four of them came and sat one under each hammock to protect us. The lightening came right over head, crashing into the sea and on the beach. There was always a rumble of thunder going on in the distance over the rain forest some where.

There was no infrastructure there at all. No running water or electricity. There were a few shacks along the beach where you could get food. All caught that day from the ocean. The best lobster for only 3 pounds!

The Caribbean games.

2007-08-06T01:37:00.001Z

As written by Sophs Jordan :

"Of course, after the first couple of days you kind of run out of things to do. The book I was reading at the time was set in Colombia and pretty rivetting, but I wasn`t keen to read all day. With this in mind ´The Caribbean Games´ were born...

In the Spirit of the Caribbean Coast, these games were compiled with little or no effort at all. Anything too physical was immediately frowned upon and buried in the sand. The Opening Ceremony started with the Cutting of the Watermelon, which I had cunninly soaked in white rum a few hours previously. The games were held in the early evening to avoid the heat of the day and was held over two days (again, nothing too strenuous). They consisted of...

1) The Coconut Shy (self explanatory, although with a slight difference; each participant must wear the Viking´s Helmet which was cunningly crafted from the Watermelon which had been polished off just before this game commenced).

2) Jandle throwing (a New Zealand inspired event of the English Welly Boot throw, except we used Flip-Flops)

3) The Baby Coconut n Spoon Race (I don't need to explain that one) over a very very short course.

4) The One Legged Stance (who can stand the longest in the waves on, yes, you guessed it, one leg (and after consuming the watermelon)!

5) The who can balance a pineapple on the head for the longest competition.
and

6) after a very hard day at the beach, The who can down a beer the quickest Contest (I am not proud to announce that I was the winner of this one within some very fierce, thirsty competition).

So Yes, a jolly good time was had by all!Other activities included, sleeping, eating, reading, eating, swimming, sleeping, oh and some snorkelling (damn, I wished I`d brought an underwater case for my camera, the tropical fish were stunning and plentiful on the coral reef.

It wasn´t all plain sailing though. I did have a couple of tough moments. Mainly when my Mojito (which was sitting on my hammock side table) wasn`t reachable. I had to ask Owen (my hammock neighbour) to give me a push every now and again, but I always got it on the 3rd swing. phew!

Steph had to be called out of the water on one ocassion to fetch us all a beer as she was the only one up (i.e. not in her hammock)!

A rooster woke us up a little early one morning, so I fed him the remains of the watermelon before I turned into my hammock the next night. He woke up in the morning, cockle-doodle-dooed once, realised he had an hangover and went back to bed - ah nice one! At least he had one good night out in his wretched life.
It was tough, but we all got through it!

Tayrona national park Columbia

2007-07-26T03:48:00.001Z

Stop........... Hammock time

After many months on the road a chill out time on the beach was well inorder. Columbia has some of the best beaches in the world and is unspoilt by tourism. Tayrona national park is protected. To get to the beaches here was a bit of a trek. A jeep ride into the jungle and then 2 hour hike through the jungle. (there are still indigenous tribes who live in the jungle in Tayrona. I only saw one, you cant take pictures of them.) Eventualy you come to a beautiful beach. There were 4 beaches in this area. Is so hot there you just hire a hammock for your sleeping quarters! Was amazing sleeping in the out doors to the sound of the waves. One night there was an amazing electrical storm. Was wonderful!

Our sleeping quarters

Big up the Cusco massif!

2007-07-12T15:46:00.000Z

ANOTHER fiesta!!!

2007-07-10T21:35:00.000Z

After another night out in Cusco, I wondered into the streets the following morning with a monster hangover to be presented with this!

I have no idea what this was all about. Make of it what you will. Just dont mess with the monkey!

Huaraz

2007-07-10T20:38:00.000Z

After 3 weeks in cusco, some extra time out with mother nature was definately much needed. Huaraz is set in the Cordillia Blanca in middle Peru. It is the second highest mountain range after the Himalayas with 22 peaks over 6000m. To get back to nature we took a 4 day trek with a guide and a couple of mules, camping out in the middle of winter, very cold! The route is known as the Santa Cruz trek. We started at 3200m and climbed to a highest point of just under 5000m which is about the same altitude as Everest base camp!

Inti Raymi

2007-06-28T22:52:00.000Z

Inti Raymi is Cusco´s biggest festival. It marks the cities birthday and as being the capital of the Inca world, its residents recreate the traditional Inti Raymi celebrations. This basically entails bearing gifts and paying homage to the sun gods. The procession walks up to some local ruins called Saqaywaman (sexy woman) and slaughter a llama (a black one, the racists!) and cut its heart out holding it up as a gift to the gods!

Machu Pichu

2007-06-28T22:19:00.000Z

Fiesta de los ninos, Cusco

2007-06-18T20:37:00.000Z

Huacachina Sand Dunes

2007-06-18T20:27:00.000Z

Burial Grounds

2007-06-18T20:17:00.001Z

The plains around Nasca are also home a number of inca burial grounds. This cemetary is about 500 years old and the bodies here are exceptionally well preserved by the minerals in the ground and also helped by the fact that these plains only recieve between 8 and 10 hours of rain a year! The hair of these bodies are real as are the clothes, the incas would rub pimento onto them so that insects would not attack them.

Nasca Lines

2007-06-18T20:01:00.000Z

The Nazca Lines are an engima. No one has proof who built them or why. Since their discovery, the Nazca Lines have inspired fantastic explanations from ancient gods, a landing strip for returning aliens, a celestial calendar created by the ancient Nazca civilization -- putting the creation of the lines between 200 BC and 600 AD, used for rituals probably related to astronomy, to confirm the ayllus or clans who made up the population and to determine through ritual their economic functions held up by reciprocity and redistribution, or a map of underground water supplies.

The images are soo big that it is necessary to hire a plane for a 30 minute trip.

To get a clearer image, click on the photos to get an enlargement.

The route taken

The Astranout

The Monkey

The Dog

Condor

The spider

The Hummingbird

Apparently this is a pelican

El Arbol (the tree)

The hands

Colca Canyon

2007-06-18T19:52:00.000Z

The worlds second deepest canyon at 3191m deep, twice as deep as the grand canyon and surrounded by swooping condors, some with a wingspan of over 3 metres.

Arequipa

2007-06-18T19:47:00.000Z

Perus second city Arequipa, wknown as the white city because of the salt rock used in the construction of many of the cities buildings. The city is set in a valley surrounded by many volcanoes.

Out and about in Puno

2007-06-18T19:43:00.001Z

Puno

2007-06-18T19:35:00.001Z

Every day in Peru is an excuse to have a fiesta, today was the day of the Police. The celebrations marked their anniversary and they parade the streets and put on demonstrations, basically an excuse to use their guns and show their muscle.

Taquile

2007-06-18T19:25:00.001Z

We visited the neighbouring Island of Taquile the next day, the town is reached by a painful 500 steps from the port.

The gateway to taquile

The ancient Inca god Ëric Cantona

The previous week was Taquiles annual fiesta where they celebrate by covering the town and themselves in white paint.

Amantani

2007-06-18T18:48:00.000Z

The Island of Amantani is the largest in Lake Titicaca, where ¨living off the land¨couldnt be more true, All meals are produced from crops theyve grown and meat they have reared. All of the houses are made from mud bricks which whole generations from the young children to the grandmothers have a hand in making. All of the textiles such as rugs and hats are produced by the local women, and of course we bought lots! We stayed with a family for the night, who dressed us in traditional clothes for the evenings fiesta! Definately one of the highlights of our trip.

Uros (The floating islands)

2007-06-16T18:23:00.000Z

The floating islands are man-made, created from cane, or cane-brake (totora), pulled away from the bottom of the lake by the movement of the waters. Walking on the 'ground' surface was very strange, essentially walking on reeds. Even the huts and most of the boats are made of cane. The boats are used for fishing as well as for collecting cane when it's needed for restoring the islands as the lower levels rot away in the salt water.

The people who live here are called the Uros and neither the Aymara Indians nor the Incans were ever able to control them. Obviously pretty independent, floating wherever they feel, they spend most of their lives in this strange, mobile world.

Lake Titicaca

2007-06-04T00:40:00.001Z

Lake Titicaca is the worlds highest navigable lake (3830m above sea level), over 170km in length and 60km in width. According to legend this is where the first Inca Manco Capac, son of the god Inti emerged.

Island of the Sun & of the Moon

The most famous Island on Lake Titicaca is Isla del Sol, the legendary birthplace of Manco Capac and his sister-wife Mama Huaca. Both Islands are very spiritual and it is said the Incas created both the sun and the moon there. Of course they did.

Isla del Sol

Isla del Luna

Tiwanaku

2007-06-04T00:24:00.000Z

Sometimes referred to as the “American Stonehenge”, Tiwanaku is recognized as one of 754 World Heritage Sites. The walls and temples are built with precisely cut stone blocks, one of which weighs over 130 tons. Archaeologists are still trying to understand how, exactly, many of the stones were transported from quarries up to 100 km away.

Freeride Singletrack

2007-06-04T00:23:00.000Z

Death Road

2007-06-04T00:18:00.000Z

We survived the death road on bikes.

The distance between Coroico and La Paz is only 70km, but the road to Coroico starts on a summit near La Paz, 4633 meters above sea level, and heads down to 1700 meters above sea level, A 3300 meters descent. Not only that the road is extremely steep, but it is also narrow, muddy, and has steep drops of over 1000 meters instead of margins. A recipe for disaster! And disasters indeed occurre - and that is why the road got its name - the Death Road. Due to its DANGER it has become a mecca for mountain bikers and is one of the scariest things we have ever done! (although the van ride back up in dark and fog was even more scary)

The Witches Market

2007-06-03T23:49:00.000Z

At first, La Paz may seems likes a modern city, but after a short walk through the narrow streets this impression vanishes. Different stands full of every item that a witch might need fill La Paz's little witch market. In case you are looking for dried llama's embryos, armadillo's bodies or frog powder, then you reached the right place.

What are those things used for? The llama's embryos are thrown into the foundations of every new house (99% of the houses!) in order to protect the house and those who lives in it. Burnt llama's embryos on a plate, together with herbs and sweets brings luck to business. Frog powder bring money and dry frog with a cigarette in its mouth brings even more.

Armadillo bodies are put on top of doors to prevent burglaries (won't a dog be more effective?

Corumba - Pantanal EXTRAS

2007-06-03T23:48:00.000Z

La Paz

2007-06-03T22:56:00.001Z

La Paz was established by the Spanish in 1548 in a high valley in the Andes. The city is surrounded by snowy peaks, and its houses cover the mountain slopes. The city's population is about 800,000.

La Paz is the biggest city in Bolivia, and is the administrative capital of the country. All the main governmental institutes of Bolivia are located here. A common mistake is to think that La Paz is the capital city of Bolivia. It is not - Sucre is the official capital.

The city of La Paz is located over 3600 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest big city in the world. Walking the streets of La Paz is hard work due to the altitude and regular breaks are needed. Its like eating with a blocked nose, constantly having to gasp for air.

The Pantanal

2007-05-20T21:37:00.001Z

Into the Swamp! Our journey into the Pantanal.

The Pantanal is a massive swampland on the Bolivian Brail border that covers an expanse the size of France. It is said to be a better place than the Amazon to view wildlife as you are able to get closer to the many animals in the wide open plains. The 3 of us (inc our fake kiwi mate, Sophs, who we have been travelling buds with for 3 weeks now) spent 5 days in the swamp teaming with animals such as monkeys, crocs, armadillos, coatis, anteaters, papyburras (massive guinea pigs), piranhas, catfish, macaws, toucans, malibous, giant gechos, otters , anacondas and loads of different types of birds.

Sloths

2007-05-20T21:26:00.001Z

Besides us there were a couple of guys hanging about in the main square, Santa Cruz.

Bolivian Life

2007-05-20T20:51:00.000Z

Translation at work!

Streets of Potosi

Women at the Street market

Happy shoppers

Across many parts of the central valleys of Bolivia live quaker decendents from the US who live in much the same way.

Train journey from Santa Cruz to the Brazialian Border.

The Salt Lakes Day 1

2007-05-10T02:42:00.000Z

The Salt Lakes Day 2

2007-05-10T02:27:00.000Z

The Salt Lakes Day 3

2007-05-10T02:02:00.000Z

The Salt Lakes Day 4

2007-05-10T01:23:00.000Z

The Salt Hotel

2007-05-10T01:14:00.000Z

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

2007-05-06T20:16:00.000Z

Entry into another dimension

2007-05-06T19:23:00.000Z

Crossing over the border from Argentina to Bolivia is like opening a gateway to another world. Everyting from the terrain, people, animals, transport and accomodation to the general way of life is completely different. Much like the image of South America I came to expect.

The border at La Quiaca. We have travelled the entire length of Argentina, 5121km...... mostly by bus!

Crossing over into Bolivia

Llamas

A couple of donks.

7 Lakes (reprise)

2007-05-06T19:00:00.000Z

As we had a few weeks to kill in Bariloche, we decided to give the beautiful 7 lakes tour another go. This time in the humble surroundings of a Fiat Uno! (Stephys 1st car) and our freinds from France, Johan and Anne. No camping or rain, just a fantastic hostal and sunny weather :)

The strangest cloud I ever seen, this cloud was long and thin, very much like the exhaust left by an aeroplane and covered the entire length of the lake.

The 7 lakes Team (Oly, Stephy, Anne & Johan)

Time to do the "Egyptian"

The team with the mighty Uno. Nothing can stop us now

Bariloche

2007-05-03T17:53:00.000Z

Many weeks ago, an act of quite stupendous stupidity took place. Somebody (ahem) left their brand new wallet in the back seat of a taxi cab in Buenos Aires, thus meaning we were down to a single bank card and much internet bank shuffling needed to take place. As we were staying in the Argentine Lake District for a week or so I had the cards sent out from the UK. My bro being on top form sent them out at the fastest and most expensive way that Royal Mail could deliver, namely their GUARANTEED 5 days delivery.

No problem you would think........ but almost 3 weeks later we finally recieved them after spending much of the previous time topping up on our social life in the many many pubs, restaurants and clubs that Bariloche offered. It wasnt all P A R T Y though, we did do the occasional walk and not to mention the 7 lakes tour....... twice.

Definately rabid

Our tour guide on the Cerro Something walk. From the very start this fury friend befriended us and led us the whole walk. Once over though, we were dispatched of and she found some new owners for the afternoon. Very ficle these SA dogs.

Another Parilla. This time with friends at the hostel.

The ONLY meal that Argentina offers, masses of fine meat barbequed and washed down with fine wine, Malbec, considered the best wine in the Mendoza region.

The Seven Lakes

2007-04-20T22:58:00.000Z

The bike ride expedition: We decided to go on a bike ride of the seven lakes. This takes four days involving camping on route.

Day one:
we have to cycle to Llao Llao where we have to catch a boat to Victoria Island. When the day did come we awoke early to a gale force 9 wind and lassings of rain. No backing out now as all paid up and don't want to be defeated at the first hurdle. Needless to say it took longer than the allotted 2 hours to get to the only ferry of the day as battling against a hurricane up hill in rain all way. Just made it in time for the crossing, which may I add was all biddys going on a day excursion to the Island, looking at us like we were total lunes for setting of on bikes with camping in mind.

When we got to off the ferry we had to go through a forest to get to the camp site. "oh its a beautiful ride through a beautiful forest"... the man in the bike shop told us. Well, the path in the extremely dense forest was only very narrow and was totally in passable by bikes as enormous routes sticking out of ground. We cycled and scrambled and heaved our bikes over many fallen trees and struggled and struggled. It kept going on and on and then I herd a massive blood curdling roar of a bull some where in the vicinity! Very frightening. I realise it is now 6.30 and about to get dark and we have no idea how close we are to the end of the forest. (All the time its lassing with rain still.) We get round the next corner to be confronted with the biggest bull you ever seen in you life with huge horns stood in our path. I hide behind a tree hoping it would go away but he did not budge. After some time we realise we have to get past this fucker or else we´re stuck there in the dark with it. So I took my bike prayed to the lord and barged passed it. It did nothing! We scurried on finding energy from the fear of god. We accounted other bulls along the way and eventually made it soaked to the skin covered in mud to the edge of the forest just as the light went all together. "The man in the bike shop`` also said there would be no hostels along the way, hence the tents. We luckily found a hotel and had to stay as we were both completely soaked including the contents of our bags. (A credit card moment if ever there was one) Was a strange older peoples style hotel with dears heads and leopard skins on wall, plus of course many an old person who were bemused at the bedraggled youngens turning up caked in mud with bikes in toe at posh hotel.

Day 2:
Spent the next day cycling frantically through a mixture of dirt track, sand and mud over hills and mountains with breath taking views to get to next camp site before night fall. Needles to say when we arrived there was no one else there. (No one would be that stupid surely!?) The weather here is like October in UK at the moment but doesn't get dark till 8. After many attempts to get a fire going I storm to the tent not be defeated to find something flammable. I got a deodorant can and an old Tshirt which I dowsed it deodorant ant got the fire ablaze.

Day 3:
Beautiful sun shine, missioned it to next camp site which we had to share with cows bulls and sheep. We could see all the stars like you have never seen before! No light pollutions from street lights. We think it might have been the milky way we could see as big band of stars all massed together across the sky.

Day 4: The home straight. We have to cycle 45k to San Martin to get to the other bike shop to get box's for bikes and get bus back to Bariloche. Have to cycle for about 30k up hill in rain which seems to last at eternity. Then cycle the last 15k all down hill, but nearly freeze to death in ice cold rain and wind. Get to San Martin at 5 mins past 1. The bike shop, as with every thing else, closes for siesta at 1! Why oh why, as not a hot part of world! We have to wait till 5 O´clock til shops open again to get box's so can put bikes on bus. Having wasted 5 hours soaking wet in San Martin we find out the bike shop doesn't have any box's so have to chuck bikes on under neath of bus any way hoping for the best, not really caring at this point. Got back half dead to Baroliche at about 12.30. at night.

Well, it was an experience, and certainly and adventure, lets put it that way!

Day 1: Started in the rain

Our saviour in a plight of despair!

Stephys moment of camping genius........ a lighter and an aerosol..... worked a treat!

A very eeery and misty morning on the lake

The burning towers of babel

The final push home.

Sealions

2007-04-20T22:46:00.000Z

Penguin Island

2007-04-20T22:29:00.000Z

Napolean Dynamite....... wow what a view from our new binoculars

Penguins running from big wave "aaaarrrgh!"

The End of the World

2007-04-19T22:41:00.000Z

Crazy old cars everywhere, they have loads of them everywhere in Argentina. If it breaks they fix it, if it breaks in the UK, we get a new one. Shame.

Fantastic meat! the best you will ever eat!

Urshuaia, the southern most city in the world, or as the loacls call it "The end of the world". Last stop before Antarctica. You can get last minute trips for apx $2000. Unfortunately we cant afford it. Boo

Old mans beard

Trekking through the national park

Easter picnic. High up on the cliff we could see seals in the sea using our binoculars.

Cerro Torre

2007-04-19T22:05:00.000Z

setting off for the regions 2nd biggest peak, Cerro Torre.

Cerro Torre

The town of El Chalten doubles in peak season to a whopping 700.

Experiment using my shades

The Cerro Torre Lake

The Egger Glacier

Fitz Roy Massif

2007-04-19T21:46:00.000Z

Surprising hot at the base, so with legs like these its time to don the shorts

The Fitzroy lake

A desert in the mountains!

A very foggy view from the top. Beyond the turquoise lake is a small glacier.

Every "pro" trekkers vital ingredient..... Whiskey

Vibrant colours of the shrubs

El Chalten

2007-04-19T21:22:00.000Z

On our way by coach to the climbing capital of the region, El Chalten.

You can travel on bus for 24 hours and only pass through desert like this.

The biggest mountain in the region and rock climbers heaven, Fitzroy Massif

A cheeky little catepillar we met on our way