Here we are sailing amongst the icebergs. Notice I am wearing a t shirt, the weather was beautiful and as you can see the water is calm. It was great.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Quick summary
- 3 years
- 2 employers
- 17 countries - worked in 9 of them. (OK maybe a little illegally!)
- 14 of these were in 2008 alone!
- 4 continents in 2008 too, Asia, Australia, South America and Antarctica
- 3 passports!
- 1 hardy backpack!
- 1 dead laptop
- loads and loads of new friends
The end
The final leg of our journey was a return trip to BA so we could get the flight home.
We had one final day exploring and eating our last Argentinian steak.
We arrived back in Sydney to a beautiful day, but our adventures didn't stop there. We gave our bags to Andrew to take home for us, and we took the train. We got to Sutherland and Jo called her car dealer to say we were on the train station and heading to get the car. He said it is at Sutherland, so we picked up her brand new Subaru there and drove it home.
So that is all, I hope you have enjoyed the blogs and the photos. Till next time...this is Rosemary signing off.
We had one final day exploring and eating our last Argentinian steak.
We arrived back in Sydney to a beautiful day, but our adventures didn't stop there. We gave our bags to Andrew to take home for us, and we took the train. We got to Sutherland and Jo called her car dealer to say we were on the train station and heading to get the car. He said it is at Sutherland, so we picked up her brand new Subaru there and drove it home.
So that is all, I hope you have enjoyed the blogs and the photos. Till next time...this is Rosemary signing off.
Christ the Redeemer & Sugarloaf
You are probably familiar with this statue, it is the one you see everytime they have pictures of Rio, the one of Christ with his arms extended looking over the city.
He is 38m tall and sits on a hill that is 750m high. He can be seen from many parts of the city. We got there on a cog railway, which was cool, and as he is so high the fog comes and goes, so it makes it a bit surreal looking.
We also went up Sugarloaf mountain that has a cable car that has been there 100 years! The view over the city from there too, is great.
The rest of the time we spent at the beach...as you do!
He is 38m tall and sits on a hill that is 750m high. He can be seen from many parts of the city. We got there on a cog railway, which was cool, and as he is so high the fog comes and goes, so it makes it a bit surreal looking.
We also went up Sugarloaf mountain that has a cable car that has been there 100 years! The view over the city from there too, is great.
The rest of the time we spent at the beach...as you do!
Hanggliding in Rio
Ever since we saw The Amazing Race episode where they went to Rio and hangglided we have wanted to do that.
It was awesome we soared down off the mountain, over the houses out to see for a bit, had a great view up and down the coast and finally landed on the beach. Sweet!
Percy even went, but he had to stay in the pocket of my flying suit.
It was awesome we soared down off the mountain, over the houses out to see for a bit, had a great view up and down the coast and finally landed on the beach. Sweet!
Percy even went, but he had to stay in the pocket of my flying suit.
Rio de Janerio - Brazil
We finally crossed into Brazil and got to Rio. We are staying at Copacabana beach. So now I have those 2 stupid songs stuck in my head...you know the ones
I go to Rio de Janerio....la la la ...dancing and romancing...
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl....
At the Copa, Copacabana, the hottest spot south of Havana...
So Rio is great, we love the beach, the weather is great and there is food that is not steak!
I go to Rio de Janerio....la la la ...dancing and romancing...
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl....
At the Copa, Copacabana, the hottest spot south of Havana...
So Rio is great, we love the beach, the weather is great and there is food that is not steak!
Tourist advice - what to wear on the beach
All the guide books in Rio tell you that it is a crime ridden city and how you have to be careful...but the best piece of advice we found in a pamphlet was how to dress for the beach.
This is as close as I can remember to what it said...
You must go to a swim wear shop and buy yourself a Brazilian style outfit.
Ladies - you need a bikini - a medium size triangle will be sufficient
Men - wide sided speedos (the ones you would never see in Australia)
If you do not dress like this you risk looking like a gringo, or worse still a tourist! (I am not making this up)
Not that we didn't stand out anyway as we were wearing hats...not a clothing item the Brazilians are familiar with!
This is as close as I can remember to what it said...
You must go to a swim wear shop and buy yourself a Brazilian style outfit.
Ladies - you need a bikini - a medium size triangle will be sufficient
Men - wide sided speedos (the ones you would never see in Australia)
If you do not dress like this you risk looking like a gringo, or worse still a tourist! (I am not making this up)
Not that we didn't stand out anyway as we were wearing hats...not a clothing item the Brazilians are familiar with!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
3 countries...one day
Most of you will know that I am keeping a country count of sorts, and on Jan 3 we added 2 more countries in just one day. I think I am up to about 57 now, but I met a man who told me he had over 80...long way to go.
So we started in Iguassu Falls, Argentina, crossed to Brazil, then straight to Paraguay. Here we saw a really big dam called Itaipu. It is the world's largest hydroelectric plant. Then they took us shopping in a market. Apparently the Argentines like to shop here as they have a 40% tax on electrical goods, so get stuff cheap in Paraguay.
A huge buffet lunch was provided...more steak...
Then finally back to Brazil, where we got to see Iguassu Falls from their angle. Then back to Argentina. Great day.
So we started in Iguassu Falls, Argentina, crossed to Brazil, then straight to Paraguay. Here we saw a really big dam called Itaipu. It is the world's largest hydroelectric plant. Then they took us shopping in a market. Apparently the Argentines like to shop here as they have a 40% tax on electrical goods, so get stuff cheap in Paraguay.
A huge buffet lunch was provided...more steak...
Then finally back to Brazil, where we got to see Iguassu Falls from their angle. Then back to Argentina. Great day.
Barely clothed
No not me, the local women. If you read my other post about fashion, you will recall that I said they wear impossibly tight jeans.
Well, having spent 2 days wandering around Iguassu Falls, I have also discovered that it is fine to walk around in your g string bikini or very tight, very short shorts. The men are no better, all their shorts appear to be 2 sizes too small.
I feel very overdressed in my longish shorts and a t shirt...but at least I am not sunburnt!
Well, having spent 2 days wandering around Iguassu Falls, I have also discovered that it is fine to walk around in your g string bikini or very tight, very short shorts. The men are no better, all their shorts appear to be 2 sizes too small.
I feel very overdressed in my longish shorts and a t shirt...but at least I am not sunburnt!
Photos
Don't forget you can check out the full range of photos at http://picasaweb.google.com.au/geeijo/ATour?authkey=WJNj10y4Cic#
I like Argentinian wine
Jo at a nice winery called Nanni. We got the best bottle here.I used to be a wine snob...only good Aussie stuff for me. Not that I am much of a wine judge!
I have been converted to Argentinian wine, they make a Malbec which is there signature wine, and it is really nice, and so so cheap. It is possible to get a good bottle for about $8 Aud. Lucky as red goes well with all the steak we are eating.
So we have done the rounds of a couple of wineries, they charge for tasting and a tour in most places, but I have found it interesting to learn about wine making, as the Australian wineries I have been to don't do tours. We went touring in 2 places, Cafayate and Mendoza. Though we didn't get to see much in Mendoza as it was NYE and most of the places were closed. The olive place was open though and they had some great oil, I even bought some to take home.
Desert trekking
Jo and Rosemary on the salt plain
Going over the pass at 4895m
Nico and Rosemary go exploring in a canyon
are we lost?
A big cactus.
When we were in Salta, northern Argentina, we hired a man called Nico and his 4WD and he took us off into the desert for an adventure.
We went up canyons, over a pass that was 4895m high, through the desert, past loads of cactus plants...did you know that they don't flower until they are 50 years old? We saw a 7 coloured mountain, which was kinda cool and lots of condors.
The highlight for me was the salt plain. Really interesting patterns that the salt makes, and it was really salty. No wonder Argentinians like salt on their food, they have plenty of it.
Iguassu Falls
Ok, they are big...really big!
We have been there 3 times, once on the Brazilian side and twice on Argentinian side.
There is so much to do, walks at all levels to see the falls from below, half way up and from the top and from an island. We also did a walk out to a small fall where we could go swimming. The water was freezing though, but I still got in.
The falls themselves are much bigger than I expected. There are 2 different big falls and we saw the small one first and were a bit sort of...is this it? Then we saw the big one and went ...oh wow, this is awesome!
There is a huge volume of water going over falls and really it is too spectacular to try and describe.
We decided on the get wet option which involved going in a boat under the smaller of the falls, the spray was awesome and we got totally drenched.
We have been there 3 times, once on the Brazilian side and twice on Argentinian side.
There is so much to do, walks at all levels to see the falls from below, half way up and from the top and from an island. We also did a walk out to a small fall where we could go swimming. The water was freezing though, but I still got in.
The falls themselves are much bigger than I expected. There are 2 different big falls and we saw the small one first and were a bit sort of...is this it? Then we saw the big one and went ...oh wow, this is awesome!
There is a huge volume of water going over falls and really it is too spectacular to try and describe.
We decided on the get wet option which involved going in a boat under the smaller of the falls, the spray was awesome and we got totally drenched.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hungry? Meat and potatoes for you
If you are a vegetarian I suggest you find somewhere else to have a holiday!
Argentinians LOOOOVE their meat, they eat huge slabs of it for lunch and dinner.
We ordered steamed vegetables and mash potatoes with our grill one night and the waiter laughed. I thought that was a bit odd until the people on the next table got their meal...a huge slab of pork each...nothing else...just pork!
You can get your potato as fries (like chips) , espanol (round fries) noisettes (fried balls) or mash! I saw mashed pumpkin once!
They also had loads of Italian immigrants back in the 1800s, so the menu choices are pasta, pizza, schnitzel or a slab of meat. If you order a salad it is usually lettuce and tomato.
They also have an obsession with ham and cheese. Every place has ham and cheese sandwiches, pizzas and tostadas.
Add to that the beer and wine and I am definitely putting on some weight!
Argentinians LOOOOVE their meat, they eat huge slabs of it for lunch and dinner.
We ordered steamed vegetables and mash potatoes with our grill one night and the waiter laughed. I thought that was a bit odd until the people on the next table got their meal...a huge slab of pork each...nothing else...just pork!
You can get your potato as fries (like chips) , espanol (round fries) noisettes (fried balls) or mash! I saw mashed pumpkin once!
They also had loads of Italian immigrants back in the 1800s, so the menu choices are pasta, pizza, schnitzel or a slab of meat. If you order a salad it is usually lettuce and tomato.
They also have an obsession with ham and cheese. Every place has ham and cheese sandwiches, pizzas and tostadas.
Add to that the beer and wine and I am definitely putting on some weight!
Argentinian fashion
I had this bizarre idea that I would buy some new jeans and clothes over here, thinking that these people are pretty fashion conscious and I could get something nice.
I didnt take into account that the majority of the beautiful people are tall and skinny...not short and ...well...with some padding.
The women wear their jeans incredibly tight, I think they are spray painted on. It doesnt matter what size you are really, they all do it. Not sure how they sit comfortably!
hee hee I just did a spell check, nearly every word is wrong...it is not in Spanish!
I didnt take into account that the majority of the beautiful people are tall and skinny...not short and ...well...with some padding.
The women wear their jeans incredibly tight, I think they are spray painted on. It doesnt matter what size you are really, they all do it. Not sure how they sit comfortably!
hee hee I just did a spell check, nearly every word is wrong...it is not in Spanish!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Gone Hiking
I joined a tour to go hiking in the mountains, not sure what I was thinking when I agreed to that! There was 10 other people and the oldest was 81 - what the hell was he thinking?
We went to Chile first to the Torres del Paine National Park and did an easy walk the first day, then the second day a much harder walk that was mostly uphill for the first 5 hours. The group has now renamed that walk the ´Towers of Pain´. It was quite hard towards the end as it involved scrambling over boulders, but the view was worth it.
Chile was wonderful, at least the bits that we saw. so I am keen to go back there and explore some more.
We jumped on a zodaic (inflatable boat) for a ride down the river and saw some more glaciers. Then it was a big boat for the journey to our next town called Peurto Natales.
Then it was into Argentina again for some more walking. Better this time, not so hard, but just long. All up we covered about 75km, not including the walking from the hotel to town, because apparently if you are on a walking trip you want your hotel to be on the outskirts!
Now we are off to BA for some culture, then to northern Argentina.
We went to Chile first to the Torres del Paine National Park and did an easy walk the first day, then the second day a much harder walk that was mostly uphill for the first 5 hours. The group has now renamed that walk the ´Towers of Pain´. It was quite hard towards the end as it involved scrambling over boulders, but the view was worth it.
Chile was wonderful, at least the bits that we saw. so I am keen to go back there and explore some more.
We jumped on a zodaic (inflatable boat) for a ride down the river and saw some more glaciers. Then it was a big boat for the journey to our next town called Peurto Natales.
Then it was into Argentina again for some more walking. Better this time, not so hard, but just long. All up we covered about 75km, not including the walking from the hotel to town, because apparently if you are on a walking trip you want your hotel to be on the outskirts!
Now we are off to BA for some culture, then to northern Argentina.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
It wasn’t me!
You may have heard that there was a ship that ran onto some rocks in Antarctica. It wasn’t me! I had nothing to do with it!
OK, we did see the ship the day before and they were battling the force 11 winds the same as we were, but we left the area and headed out to sea.
OK, we did see the ship the day before and they were battling the force 11 winds the same as we were, but we left the area and headed out to sea.
Force 11 winds – let’s hide behind an iceberg!
We were experiencing force 11 winds down on the Antarctica Peninsular. In layman’s terms, that means one off a cyclone. A cyclone is force 12 or winds above 117km hour.
Our ship was big and stable and had all sorts of gadgets that could make it stay in one place, so we were fine, especially when we went and hid behind an iceberg. We only moved when bits of the iceberg started falling off and were threatening to run into the ship.
We actually did get broadsided by a big piece of ice, that left us with a dent and some damage to our gangway.
Our ship was big and stable and had all sorts of gadgets that could make it stay in one place, so we were fine, especially when we went and hid behind an iceberg. We only moved when bits of the iceberg started falling off and were threatening to run into the ship.
We actually did get broadsided by a big piece of ice, that left us with a dent and some damage to our gangway.
The adventures of Percy the Penguin
I bought a stuffed king penguin in Ushuaia and he has proved a bit of a hit on the journey. He has been playing with some of the staff on the deck, driving the ship, hanging out in the engine room and he got second place in the fog photo competition when he sat outside our porthole and Jo took his photo in the fog.
He went ashore in the South Shetlands to visit his king penguin cousins and had a great time playing in the tussock grass. He had to be confined to cabin after he had a bit of a big happy hour in the bar!
He went ashore in the South Shetlands to visit his king penguin cousins and had a great time playing in the tussock grass. He had to be confined to cabin after he had a bit of a big happy hour in the bar!
Killer whales and Leopard seals
Just when we thought that we had had our whale show, we went for a Zodiac cruise in Wilhelmina Bay in the Antarctic Peninsula.
We had Andy as our driver who was really good. The call came out for killer whales and it was a zodiac race across the bay to where they were. To our absolute delight we almost immediately saw 3 orcas swimming around and 'skyhopping', which is where they come straight up out of the water and look on the ice floes to see if there are any seals there that they can have for breakfast. They were swimming around curiously and even came under the zodiac and showed us their beautiful colours and their size. They were surfacing just near zodiacs and checking us out and deciding that we were not seals and then moving on.
We cruised some more, looking at icebergs and eventually got the call for more whales, so headed in that direction. They are totally awesome. We found a lone gentoo penguin sitting atop an iceberg, well out of the reach of the whales, but he was wary of us as we went by.
Then someone found a mother leopard seal and cub sleeping on an ice floe. These probably wouldn't be bothered by the whales unless they tried to get the cub. Otherwise the mother is too big for the whale to wrestle with. The cub was trying to get a feed from mum and it took ages for her to bother turning over so it could get to the teat.
Cruised some more found more whales and icebergs and finally ended with a zodiac race with Graham's boat back to the ship.
As if that was not enough, in the afternoon we had walked up a hill and played in the snow...oh and looked at penguins. On the way back in the zodiac we went on a detour via a glacier and found 2 minke whales. They didn’t want to play like the orcas though.
We had Andy as our driver who was really good. The call came out for killer whales and it was a zodiac race across the bay to where they were. To our absolute delight we almost immediately saw 3 orcas swimming around and 'skyhopping', which is where they come straight up out of the water and look on the ice floes to see if there are any seals there that they can have for breakfast. They were swimming around curiously and even came under the zodiac and showed us their beautiful colours and their size. They were surfacing just near zodiacs and checking us out and deciding that we were not seals and then moving on.
We cruised some more, looking at icebergs and eventually got the call for more whales, so headed in that direction. They are totally awesome. We found a lone gentoo penguin sitting atop an iceberg, well out of the reach of the whales, but he was wary of us as we went by.
Then someone found a mother leopard seal and cub sleeping on an ice floe. These probably wouldn't be bothered by the whales unless they tried to get the cub. Otherwise the mother is too big for the whale to wrestle with. The cub was trying to get a feed from mum and it took ages for her to bother turning over so it could get to the teat.
Cruised some more found more whales and icebergs and finally ended with a zodiac race with Graham's boat back to the ship.
As if that was not enough, in the afternoon we had walked up a hill and played in the snow...oh and looked at penguins. On the way back in the zodiac we went on a detour via a glacier and found 2 minke whales. They didn’t want to play like the orcas though.
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