Outdoor Lovers

To all my friends that love the outdoors.........you definitely need to come here!

There is so much to do and see.

Huge parks.

Huge mountains.

Huge lakes.

Paradise.

Crampons & Me

Crampons are outdoor footwear that are made from spikes and are worn on boots to provide traction on snow and ice.

Yes, I did it. The easy Glacier. Glacier Viedma. Not the crazy Cerro Toore. $275 Peso's ($82 USD). This included the 1 hour boat ride to get tot he glacier.

Viedma Glacier is second in size after Upsala Glacier, its moraine detached from continental ice, to the west of Mariano Moreno range in a glacier break valley between 2,677 m. high mount Huemul and 2,570 m. high mount Campana.

One of the highlights of the trip was a break midway while the 4 guides chipped off some ice in glasses and served us Baileys!

What a fantastic day.

I loved it!

Rata & Me

My new friend!

A 12 year old horse that I spent 3 hours with this morning on a trail ride to Chorrillo del Salto.

We stopped at the waterfall for some pictures and just had a laugh as all 7 of us held on tightly to the reins of our horse. $80 peso´s (aprx $28 USD)

I thought that the last time I was on a horse was when I was a teenager years and years ago, but it was when I was in Egypt only years ago. The Sahara desert, checking out the pyramids.

Camels and horses were the mode of transportation.

I much prefer horses.

Simple Things In Life

• Clean clothes
• A nice hot shower
• Great food & drinks
• A bed

We are at the hostel tonight and then 4 nights camping and one night bush camping.

I´m enjoying it while I can.

Steaks, Steaks & More Steaks

It´s true.

Argentina has some of the best beef I´ve ever eaten.

Close tie to Alberta beef.

Moreno Glacier

This is where I was today:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perito_Moreno_Glacier

I almost took the tour of ice climbing it, but decided against it when only one of our group was doing it. Cost was 250 Argentine Peso´s ( $80 USD). Tony later told us it was very easy and he was glad he did it.

My next opportunity to do this will be at another glacier we have coming up, only thing is it will take 3 hours to hike up to it.

This one would of been the one to do it at.

We drove up to this glacier, and then took a boat for a better view ( 38 Peso`s), with another 1 hour hike to another view point.

The amazing colors of blue glacier had quite a few chunks of it falling off when we were there.......very loud when falling.

Pretty awesome day!

Deserted Farm House

We bush camped en route from Ushuaia to Torres Del Paine in this really cool deserted farm house!

It was dark when we got there, so you got the feeling of something even more spooky.

The place was huge and super dark, especially when you went outside.

Michelle & I pitched our tent in the kitchen, where there was less of a gas smell.

I loved it there!

So so cool........... you can just let your imagine go wild in a place like that!

What I´m Up To

I found my itinerary.

Ushuaia, Torres Del Paine, El Calafate, El Chalten, Rio Pinturos, Bariloche, Pucon and Santiago.

In & out of Argentina and Chile.

21 nights. 3 are bush camping. 10 camping. 7 hostels. ONE night hotel.

I´m an expert in setting up a tent....taking down a tent.....in the light....in the dark....in the rain....you name it....I can do it!

I´ve even customized my shared tent.

Her name is Salta and she has curly hair....made from rolling up the awning.

I´m still creative, even when I rough it.

Never Enough Time

I have so much to update on this blog.

Never enough time.

I also need to bring my notes, as we´ve been doing so much.

I´m loving it.

Gong Show

Friday night : Most of us went out to Nautica Club.

Tony broke the zipper on his tent getting in.
Nick threw up all over the tent. He was rooming with Mark.
John broke his glasses once more on the dance floor.

Saturday night: St Patrick´s Day and our last night in Ushuai.

The truck was to leave at 6:30 am.
Most of us didn´t get in until 6:29 am.

What a gong show at the end of the world.

Extreme Me

I´ve just left Torres del Paine Park in Chile. A paradise for hikers.

http://www.patagonia-chile.com/macrozonas/macropaine-in.php?

I hiked all the way to the base of Ventisquero Torres. 4 hrs one way. The last hour being very challenging over super big rocks. Crazy. I was so proud of myself. We all were. It had some tough spots.

The next day I hiked part of the W to Glaciar Grey. 11 Kms one way. Almost made it to the actual view point, but missed it due to me having to head back for the boat ride back to camp. Lynne & I were told it was 45 minutes from check point, and it was actually only 20 minutes. We would of made our time. 4 hrs each way. We were a bit disappointed with that. Should of continued, but Lynne was making me a little nervous about getting back and missing the boat. I would of been fine in staying at the Refugio, as many of the others were staying to do the Valle del Frances the next day, but thought best to go with the flow. As it was, we picked up speed walking back as the winds were helping us along.

The weather here is insane. Very very windy.

Layering the clothes can get crazy. On and off and on and off.

If I continue with this crazy hiking, I will have to continue in my own country.

Yah, right.

I Hate People

That act like animals.

That´s our truck right now.

Picture 29 passengers on a truck that fits 24 people. We also have 2 drivers for the truck. Dave & Aimar.

The shuttle bus is taking the extra folks. They also have 2 drivers. Marcello & Pado.

Total 33 people that need to be fed. Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

It´s first come for the best.

Back to being animals.

It´s getting ugly!

Laundry Day

Yipee!

We are in El Calafate, at a hostel called Del Glaciar Pioneros. Four of us to a room. Bunk style beds.

I´ve brought all my clothing in to get washed, leaving me to look like one of the bike courier´s from downtown Calgary.

My green 3/4 length army pants over my thermal underwear. My black fleece and blue rain gear jacket. Cool socks and my hiking shoes. Red bandana in my hair.

I look like a freak.

A cute one.

I´m Irish Today

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Day

Celebrating at the end of the world.

Saint Paddy or Saint Patty...........

A trick question for the British.

My Own Tent

Yippee!!!

Poor Michelle is sick, so I got my own tent last night and for tonight.

We are in Puerto Madryn.

http://www.madryn.gov.ar/turismo/index_en.php

We leave bright and early tomorrow morning for Ushuaia. It´s a very long drive.

2 days. Over 2,000 Km´s.

Most people need their own space...which....you don´t get on passenger full truck.

It´s going to be a miracle that we remain friendly by the time we get there.

Alcohol helps.

Penquins, Sea Lions and Killer Whales

I saw them all today on the Valdes Peninsula. What an awesome day!

The day started out early like usual, all of us tired but excited to be doing something other than driving only.

Patagonia is very flat and large. You don´t see anything for miles and miles.

I had an opportunity to sit on the bench seats on the roof of Cameron and enjoy the view. It was super windy but felt great. I saw a few animals, but nothing too exciting.

I was told that riding up on the trucks/jeeps of an African Safari are super amazing as the animals come right up to the vehicle. That would be amazing!

We stopped at one spot to see the penquins. Took way too many pictures. This happens with a digital.

Our next stop was at Ponte Norte where we were so lucky to see 2 killer whales swim by. I managed to get a photo, but need to get the short film one of the guys on our trip took. I got so excited that I forgot how to record.

Some of us were hoping that a few of the sea lions on the beach were going to be lunch for them. That would of been so cool to see....though not to happen.

Supposedly this is the only place in the world that the whales will beach themselves.

There is a station at the look out spot that keeps track of the whales that come by. There are 19 of them that frequent the area, identified by their tails. They even have names for the whales. ...all on display on a poster that includes a picture of the whale and sex/name and what their tail looks like.

There were some serious whale watchers there. Some sit there for hours waiting and waiting. We saw them as soon as we got there. How lucky was that?

Some of the group also saw 2 others swim by about 30 minutes later, but they were a bit further away from shore.

We also saw elephant sea lions at another spot.

This is where I was:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdes_Peninsula

Twenty Six for Dinner

That´s 24 passengers and the 2 drivers. Dave & Aimar.

Josh got fired the other day, so Dan is on his own driving Carmen up to Cuzco where Dragoman has a garage. It´s going to take him 7 or 8 days to get there.

We will be in Cameron all the way to Ushuaia.

Once there, we have 5 passengers not continuing and we are picking up 10 new passengers to Santiago. 29 people on a truck that holds 24. Luggage, food, supplies you name it.

The plan as of today is to get a shuttle type bus/van and put about 10 folks in that one, alternating everyone between truck and van for the duration of the trip.

This could get interesting.

OR.......be a gong show!

Surprizes Along The Way

There have been a few.

It´s great when one doesn´t take too much for granted , that when surprizes do happen they really are surprizes!

Good or bad ones.

BOO!

Good Bye Buenos Aires

We are all waiting for Cameron to show up as she has been delayed a bit for our drive South.

I do think the drive will be a very quiet one, seeing that most of us are super tired.

It´s been non stop partying.

We had to to do it.

We´ll be bush camping now for the next 3 nights.

Mind you, that doesn´t stop the partying either!

No Pubs To Be Found

Last night, Michelle, Steve & I went out for dinner in the Cordoba area, ´Katmandu´, an East Indian Restaurant.

Seeing as we were going dancing afterwards, I only had a light dinner of pakora´s.........which unfortunately were not that great.

After dinner and before we could even get into the club we were going to (opens after 1 am), we decided to go for a few drinks at a local bar or pub.

We walk and walk and walk............no pub around & most places were closed. It was only 11ish.

We finally found one and just parked ourselves there with a few drinks.

Cordoba street sucks for pub crawls.

Tango Dinner Show

Wednesday night was our big evening out with everyone on our trip. We went to a tango dinner show at a cost of 160 peso´s.

The show started at about 10:15 pm and went until 11:30ish. A very interesting show with singing, live band and tango dancing. Not something you would want to see everyday, but definitely worth seeing at least once when in Argentina.

After the show we all went to this rock/goth bar next door to our Hotel.........¨The Dark Room¨ for drinks. It´s a small comfy place that most of us have been frequenting at some point during our stay here. We took up the whole downstairs.

The owner is an older lady dressed all in black with funky black chunky glasses.

We all like this place. You pay for your drinks when you leave, by simply going up to the bar and letting them know what you drank.

The other great thing about this bar is that it stays open until everyone decides to call it a night.

I think that was a little after 4:30 am.

You got to love that!

Tuesday Lapdances

Last night a few of us went out for dinner and then decided to go find a dance club.

We thought a very easy task, but this ended up being a very difficult one. This city doesn´t have much in the way of weekly entertainment. It looks like things only happen on weekends.

Desperate and not wanting to go back to the hotel, we thought we´d go to a strip club instead.

Not an easy thing to find.

We gave up and continue on walking down the road, when some guy pops out of nowhere and gives Steve a card for a ¨private¨ strip show.

Super...lets go!

Steve, Dauk, Lynne and myself venture in and make sure we negotiate well so we don´t get scammed in some way. Cost was 30 Peso´s for a drink each......which we had to pay, and then 60 peso´s for one girl......private room, dancing to 2 or 3 songs. You pick the girl.

I don´t know who picked ours, and I can´t remember her name, but Lynne got a bit more info when she sat down with us for a drink before she started to dance. All I remember is that she has 2 kids. We had to ask Lynne to stop interogating her on her private life.

The girl danced for about 1.5 songs......Britany Spears...........top off towards the end. G string on. She managed to take Steve´s shirt off and play a bit with Dauk. Lynne & I just laughed. After the girl stopped dancing I said that we were promised one more song, so she continued.

We also had options of free drinks while she danced, so we all ordered another one.

When the song ended, the first women that collected our money, a small non smiling Russian type women, comes to our group and demands more money.....¨to pay for the dancers drink¨. We are thinking maybe 30 Peso´s........NOPE.........she wanted 240 Peso´s ($80.00 US)! That´s when we all starting going a bit crazy, Dauk and Lynne saying no way, me screaming in Spanish that we asked beforehand on cost and that we were not going to pay.

Quiet Steve then says.."I´ll just pay it". That got me going even more. NO WAY were we going to be taken advantage of!

With everyone talking at once, we all put down our drinks and just start heading up the stairs to leave.......without paying of course.

Proof that this was a scam, as we had no bouncers chasing after us.

We were in this place for about 1 hour. Cost us 45 Peso´s each ($15.00 uSD).

Pure entertainment Buenos Aires style.

A Few Things Noticed in BA

• People actually stand in a single file line when waiting for the bus. Very organized.
• Grilled meat is very popular. Being a vegetarian in this country would be tough to do.
• Matte tea is very popular.
• Most people here would be considered attractive.

I´ll keep adding to this list as I think of things.

Clean Clothes

Yup......and the laundry place is super cheap as well.

12 Peso´s for what you drop off. $4.00 US.

Doesn´t go by weight, which I find unusual compared to all the other spots I´ve ever had my laundry done in these types of countries.

Actually, it´s really nice to get your laundry done while on vacation, but I must say that this is one task I don´t mind doing at home.

I just hate folding and putting the clothes away.

AND......ironing sucks.

I use mine about 3 times a year.

City Tour of Buenos Aires

Our tour kicked off at about 9:30 am until 12:30 pm. 45 Peso´s ($ 12.00 US)

The guide Florencia was great. She even sang a small section of a tango for us.

We hit all the major centers of this glamorous city. Which I can comment on later on when I return to blog with my map. Today is just a chill out day and this computer spot I found is very very slow. Cheap...but slow today.

The cemetary looked like a little city with all these cool little houses that store the families coffins. The most popular being Eva Peron´s which is buried with her family. There were all these cats roaming around the cemetary just hanging out.

We stopped in this one area where the Caminetti Tango was made popular. Pretty cool area with all the restaurants and shops.

There is a lot of history here. Tons of statutes and old old huge buildings.

One of the richer areas have all these ´dog walkers´ that walk and play with up to 10 dogs each every day. The dog walkers can make up to 1,000 peso´s a month...considered a great salary in a city that averages anywhere from 600 to 700 peso´s a month ( $200 US).

I was surprized to hear about such a low average salary in this great big city.

Another reminder on how great it is where we live.

I Love My Pillow

It´s great.

I also love my new bedsheet.

Sleeping on the ground can be 5 star if you have the right gear!

Camera & Batteries

My camera battery is holding out pretty good.

It just turned yellow the other day..........well after 200+ pictures, a few short films and numerous times of me reviewing what I had done.

Not bad. I´m supposed to get to 400 pictures with very few films and reviews.

Steve charged up my battery as I like it to be green.

I´m so lucky I found someone that could help me, seeing as I didn´t bring another battery or my charger.

I´m taking some great pictures!

Things To Do in BA

• Dinner and tango show on Wednesday night. 160 Peso´s ($ 54.00 USD).
• City Tour tomorrow morning. 45 Peso´s.
• Shop
• Massage
• Take an Argentine cooking class
• Tango lesson

The last two items are maybe´s.

I Like Very Much Buenos Aires

A great city! 13 Million people, in a country of 39 Million.

We arrived mid day. Our Hotel is called Astoria Hotel.

We are just a block away from the widest street in the world.........Avenida 9 de Julio.

http://www.art.com/asp/sp-asp/_/pd--11956645/sp--A/Worlds_Widest_Street_Buenos_Aires_Argentina.htm

First thing I did was bring in my laundry to get washed. All of it. 12 Peso´s. I get it back tomorrow morning.

Second thing I did was get my hair washed, cut and colored. I was starting to get dreadlocks.

The next thing I did was take a long long shower.

Even though I adapted well to camping, I still really really like hotel living.

Bad Bad Day

After Foz Do Iguacu, we crossed the border over to Argentina and spent the night at a bush camp... upgraded to a room for 4 people (extra 7.50 Peso´s per person).

Chantal & Clermont cooked a wonderful meal of lentils with ham & chocolate crepes that evening and then Steve & I walked into town to check out the night life. A few people mentioned that they wanted to do this, but then changed their minds.

The walk from camp was about 20 minutes. Not much of an exciting spot, although we did see the local police jeep drive up and down a few blocks with sirens on. Looked like they were entertaining themselves. We later saw them at another bar where they handcuffed some guy and it looked like they kicked him a few times in the back of the jeep before they sped away.

Drinks were super cheap. Two big beers and two whiskeys cost 14 Argentine Peso´s..... that´s less than $5.00 USD.

The next morning, Hugo, Tortuga (his truck) and the gang came by to say goodbye to us at our campsite. Crazy Hugo drove his truck right into the ditch and almost tipped his truck over. Cameron and Carmen had to pull him out after much discussion on how to go about doing this. We even had to have the police help control the traffic on the road.

After our goodbye´s and this big delay on our itinerary, all three of our trucks headed out on this one stretch of highway that was considered dangerous due to weather and road conditions to Carlos Pelligrini for 2 nights bush camping.

Not to be.

Tortuga was up ahead, with us in the middle and Carmen behind us. I was sleeping, when all of a sudden I got bolted from my seat. Luckily I was wearing my seatbelt. One more bang and another jolt. We were being rear ended! In the rain and sliding. Dave our driver controlled the truck okay and managed to stop it and quickly asked if we were all okay. We all yelled out that we were. Amar then asked us to stay in our seats while they checked out the damage. Our tail light was broken on the right side and this jammed up our storage locker that carries our backpacks. Nothing major.

Can´t say the same for Carmen, the truck that rear ended us. Josh was at the wheel wearing a seatbelt. His second trip. Dan the other driver was sitting on the cooler playing a game with the other 12 passengers. Not one of them was wearing a seatbelt. Everyone went flying. Luckily everyone was okay after the shock of it all. A few bruises and cuts. Carmen however is a mess. Cracked up windshield... tanks all totalled..........basically the centre was totally smashed up.

Result of all this...........another bush camp night along the highway while the drivers make Carmen driveable to the next town.

We then pack the 12 other passengers on to our truck.............seeing us we are all going to the same spot and then make our way to another camp.

24 seats. 24 passsengers.

Dave is driving. Josh is not and is co-pilot. Amar went with Dan and his truck Carmen to hopefully get it fixed as soon as possible.

It looks like the rest of this leg will have all 24 of us together. Now 5 nights hotel in Buenos Aires and then 6 more nights of camping.

We´ve all been downgraded from first class (having 2 seats each on the truck) to economy (sharing).

All of us.

Together.

Dirty Dirty Me

Now I know why a few people in my group laughed at me when I mentioned that I had a manicure & pedicure on one of my free afternoons.

My nails are a mess and so are my feet.

Camping is hard work.

Especially when bush camping...................which by the way I really really like.

It's really quiet and dark with stars all over. I can sleep!

Or..................maybe it´s the bottle of white wine I polish off just before bedtime.

At one spot yesterday, the bottle cost 3 Argentine Peso's..................that's about $1.50 Canadian.

AND..................the bottle was already chilled!

I love this country.

Group Four Dinner

Lloyd and Nick.

We are all hanging back to let them do their stuff.

Chicken & pineapple with fried rice.

This will be our fourth meal that we cooked so far without going out.

As well.........it's Aimar's birthday today so we are going to surprize him with a few things.

Might be a late night.

Prices in Brazil

Very misleading or very creative. You decide.

Quick example:

When you walk by one of the stores, you see all these great prices posted next the item. Could be a big TV, couch, shoes...whatever. The price is so great that you basically walk right up to the window display and then notice that the price is only 1/12th of the price. They post this price and in small print you see the real price....the posted price x 12.

Today I saw this super huge flat screen TV for 800 Reias ($400 USD). WOW! I can buy it and just pack it up on the truck. On closer inspection, I realize it ends up costing almost 9,000 Reais ($4,500 USD).

I think it's illegal to post prices like this in Canada.

Could create a few problems.

Boredom on the Truck

Never call the Dragoman truck a bus.

I have so far posted up a calendar with the meals we've had and by which cook group....rated by me the food critique. 5 stars is the best you can get.

I've also posted a shopping list that we can add on to along the way.

A notice is also posted on who has bought ice so far.

Boredom helps with organization skills.

Bye Bye Brazil

We are on the road again bright and early tomorrow morning to make our way to Argentina.

We will be stopping at San Ignacio and Carlos Pelligini if the roads are not full of mud as they usually are.

Our big destination stop in Argentina is Buenos Aires for 4 nights in a hotel. Yipee!!

I plan to take a tango dancing lesson.

Rain Rain Go Away

It started to rain right after my pedicure, so I had to run into this internet spot to stay dry.

Cost is 3 Reias per hour and it's a great way to catch up with no interuptions.

I don't hear the rain anymore, so I might venture out and make my way back to camp.

I wasn't at all worried about my tent.

Hopefully everything is still dry.

If not.............I may have to get a room as this campsite also operates as a hostel.

Like I've said numerous times.....camping rocks!

Camera's, Blog's & Journal's

The three most important things to hard core travellers.

The last two are one or the other.

Camera's though are numero uno.

I now fit in with a digital camera. Especially the one I have. It's commented on all the time. How small it is and on what it can do.

I must read that full manual when I get back.

Fear of Rapids

I did say that I was not going to do anymore water sports in my life, ever since the last almost deadly episode I had with the white water kayaking trip in Costa Rica.

STUPID ME did not listen to this, and ended up on a boat trip yesterday on the Brazilian side of Foz do Iguacu.

I was even DUMBER and sat up at front.

http://www.macucosafari.com.br/

Let me just say that we all got super wet and that I had a super fast heart beat happening when the driver of our speed boat stopped just below the falls so we would not all die.

The water was rapid level 5++++ for sure. I'm sure noone gets out of that one alive.

We were dangerously close to it, but of course still far enough to be safe.

My fear just intensifies when I see this.

I had to go though.

How could I not.

Crazy.

Camping Rocks

It sure does!

It's a free day, so I took the bus into the town of Foz do Iguacu with Lynne bright and early this morning.

We arrived at the centre of town around 11 am and shopped a bit, then went for a late lunch at McDonald's. I had a craving for something familiar...even though I haven't been to one in Canada for some time now....I have been to 2 McDonald's since being in Brazil. What is wrong with me? Must be the heat.

Lynne headed back with a few others we ran into and I just stayed back to be on my own.

I stopped for a pedicure and mainicure. 13 Reias for both ($6.50 USD). I even have dark red nail polish on. You can't go wrong with this color when you are camping and are in flip flops all the time because your feet are always dirty!

My shopping purchases today are, a real pillow, pillow cover and bed sheet for my new home. My tent needed some comforts of my brick & mortar home with certain upgrades. The stuff sack isn't cutting it for my pillow and my sleeping bag is way too hot to sleep in.

I've come to understand that you just buy what you need when you camp.

Tired of cooking? Just go to the buffet offered at the Campsite/Hostel. For 15 Reias you get an Italian meal with red wine. Food tastes like cafeteria crap but at least you have options.

Need supplies? Just go shopping or borrow from others. As long as you have money and are not shy about asking you will never need anything while camping.

No toilet paper? No problem. One of the toilets usually has some or better yet bring your own roll that can be easily purchased at one of the many grocery stores or gas stations we stop at.

Lack of entertainment? Not where we are. We have a pool. One pool table. One ping pong table. A Fuz ball table. Internet stations. Bar that plays great music. A restaurant. Toilets and showers. This place provides camping and rooms.

http://www.paudimar.com.br/

The tree next to my tent even has plugs for people to charge up stuff.

Like I said.....camping ROCKS so far!