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.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
