Saturday, September 1, 2012
We are getting to the end!
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Chiclayo
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Trujillo and the ruins
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Huanchaco
Sunday, August 26, 2012
The Atacama Desert
Saturday, August 25, 2012
The long trip
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The River
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Ollantayambo and the Sacred Valley
Cusco and around
Lake Titikaka
The surprising La Paz
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Salar de Uyuni
It is the kind a place where everybody should see before they die...amazing, surreal desert of salt where the blue of the sky and the white of the salt makes you feel in a different planet. We got lucky we had a beautiful sunny day, we had lunch in a cactus island in the middle of the salar. Rarely life gets better than that.
We have a three days tour with an overnight stay in a hotel made of salt and the second night made of desert rock. The view from both hotels in the middle of nowhere is breathtaking. We explore deserts, caves, geysers and lagoons. The red lagoon (litterally tomato sauce red) being the most amazing and the green having the greatets surronding with volcano on the back. Bolivia amazes me by its beauty, the richness of the land and in a way the fact that people knows that all that wealth goes really in a hand of few or abroad. We see the train that crosses the desert 3 times a week to reach Chile...a train only of minerals. Half jockingly they say that the only thing Bolivians make is baby!!!
Potosì, the top of the world
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We felt the thin air, going up the stairs can be a little challenging, an occasional morning headache but over all the altitude is not as bad as we had anticipated. It's chilly but the sun is warm. We tour the little town and the mint house that tell you all about the history of this land. Silver, colonization, slavery, greed and the decadence of empires.
Next day we are not sure about visiting the mine and in the afternoon we decide to go with a very fun group and our miner guide Pedro. It is really a lifetime experience, as Matthias put it (considering his already long life), we walk 3 km in the tunnel, saw Tio the protector of the underworld, and the miners of course. It is a Friday afternoon at the end of a long week of work, the miners hang out, for their happy hour in the mine with coca leaves, strong alcohol and good companionship. The most incredible that they don't feel the need to get out !!!! They serve alcohol also to their little Tio.
Sucre, the little jewel
The stroll in Sucre is sweet, and the name does not come from sugar but from the name of the second president of Bolivia. The main square is full of life, the temperature ideal and the hotel really charming. We see foot print of dinousaurs and the kids are in heaven. La casa de la libertad is the pride of town. We discover a little homeopatic pharmacy with incredile good cookies made of quinoa and all kind of medicine for the altitude...we are ready for 4000 meters!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Santa Cruz
After a layover in Paraguay we get in Bolivia. We really need a relax and we have the perfect hotel for it! We take a dip in the pool, a little freezing but the sun is out there. Later in the afternoon, we walk to the cathedral square that seems the only interesting part of town. There is a medium town size atmosphere, with people strolling and paying only attention not to get any pigeon poop on their head. We climb up the clock tower to get a view of the city. Next we are ready for another lazy morning, even if not completely with homework at the pool, then we visit the zoo, we see some never seen animals such as giant ant eater...I thought after 10 years of zoo I had seen them all!!!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
The Amazing Falls
This is nothing like Niagara Falls, Iguaçu is an experience not to be missed. It is a natural wonder that totally deserves it's title. On both Brazilian side and Argentian side we enjoy every view, every trail. It is the power of the water and the beauty of nature. It is violent and harmonious...can't stop looking at it. Of course Oscar being Oscar is fascinated by the coatis all around. We spot also some very friendly monkeys and what we call capibara but there are actually not.
Drive around Sao Paolo
We have few hours to kill so we decide to take the recommended walking tour of Lonely Planet by car. We don't feel like leaving our car parked with all our luggages. The city is congested, actually terribly congested. Some spots and monument are interesting but overall in a side of Brazil that it is not the most appealing. Well it was good to have an idea but I don't regreat to have spend more time there.
Ilhabela
It is raining in Ilhabela, the chalet do Lala in the middle of the jungle is great, confortable and with good internet connection. Oscar has a stomach bug, good day to recover and stay cozy at home. Next day the rain is over, we explore up and down the island. Cute but I expected more. Mainly there are summer houses, little towns and not much charm, I guess comparing to the rest we have seen so far...We leave next day in the late morning to drive to Sao Paolo and take our plane to Iguaçu Falls at night.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Paraty
Let's mention that on the way to Ilha Grande, once we step on the boat I realized that we left all our passports in Petropolis!!!! Just great...However, if you really have to loose your passport once in your life just choose the guest house in Petropolis where the nicest man run the place. We call him and the passports are secure, however on the way back from Ilha grande we will have to drive back to Rio 2 and half hours way to meet the man and then drive down to Paraty 3 hours down south again! Oh well the day is cloudy ... Because of this little incident we get to our Pousada in the jungle outside Paraty in the dark. The apartment is super cozy and has bay window all over with the jungle around and the noise of the waterfall! You can't get more nature than that!
Next day we visit Paraty, Colonial town with huge cobblestone and with lots of charm. I buy a ring that I really like and enjoy the strolling around and visit the fort with a great view of the bay.
Ilha Grande
A real virgin island, the only way of moving around is either by foot or by boat. The entire island is a natural reserve with trees up to the shores except for few unspoiled beaches that we were able to explore through our daily boat tour. I Love the spirit of the place, local tourism and some occasional backpayers at least at his time of the year which makes you feel that no one will find you here. Our bungalow is a little rustic with a mezzanine where the kids sleep, but we have a great view of Abreeu and the three palm trees that welcome us every morning makes the day already a great one.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Petropolis
It's raining in Petropolis, it doesn't stop us for a quick exploration of the imperial town. The mansions are incredible and the town has an alpine flavor. I guess there is a Switzerland in every country. The most unexpected surprise is the hotel/ guest house where we are staying. A 300 year old house where personalities were staying as guests of the grandparents' owner. We are sleeping in Evita Peron room! (Why not!) It is also an educational and rescue center. Just for the house is worth the stop and there is no better experience for a kid to pet a tucan!
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