The first month in England

Oh my gosh, time is travelling very quickly and now here we are, one month on, in Cambridge. Heading into Spring and watching the daffodils, tulips flower and now the trees have blossomed and now are starting to turn green. The days are longer and the weather is definitely getting warmer.

Our first week was spent in London, thanks Ash, Jac, Gareth and Dan for letting us crash. We made their home our base for the first week while we got our feet on the ground. Toured the tower of London and checked out Buckingham Palace, Oxford Circus, Green Park, Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park and Greenwich.

Spent a weekend in Brighton, though it was funny old weather as we didnt see the Brighton Pier for the first day as it was shrouded in a seamist. On the Sunday it did become clearer and was very pleasant to sit on the beach eating icecream.

For the last 3 weeks I have been lucky as Jase has been working for the UK branch of his old Aussie company, a bit of temp work while one of the girls is on holidays. This has given me sometime to get my resume and job letters into order, and hit the job market. Its been a bit tricky and so far I have had one interview at BBC - interactive TV, no news yet, hopefully that is good news. Otherwise I have another interview in Manchester on Wednesday, with Multimedia Education development group, looking forward to the travel there. About 4 hours by train from Cambridge.

Whilst in Cambridge we have gone punting on the River Cam a couple of times. The first weekend here, Ash came up for a sightsee visit and we spent a very sunny Saturday punting. Laughing and trying our best to control the boat. Jase definitely won the best punter award, whilst Ash would be the best to zigzag the river and myself, well I think I took out the award for negotiating the river congestion and punt ram. Mmm one of the tour punters took a dislike to my river skills and ended up ramming us... not very nice at all.

The following weekend, Dan an English friend I met on the Canada trip came up from London for a Sunday sightsee. Again we went punting and again we had the most beautiful day, but less people in town and on the river. We also checked out Kings College and its Cathedral.

Its been a fantastic month, pity I haven't been able to snag a job, but I have the challenge to do so before the end of April, its a personal goal. So we could be living in London or Manchester. I'll let you all know soon.

Madrid in review

A little bit of cheating and here is the travel log for Madrid.

We had a bit of luck on the plane and got upgraded to Business class. Infact had the beginning of the row and we had that extra leg room, such bliss for our last long flight. I could very easily become accustomed to business class service. Pity Jase was very very ill and spent most of the flight hunched over with the stomach bug.

And so we arrived in Madrid, on a cold morning, but promising to be a beautiful day. As it turned out it was the 1st anniversary of the train bombings in Madrid, where nearly 200 people were killed in several train bombings. The radio station in the taxi was quite solemn trip through peak hour Madrid to our hotel.

Once established we both were not on the well side and decided to spend the day in bed to catch up on Jetlag and hopefully get over this tummy bug... And so the first day was spent quietly in and close to the hotel. Saturday and Sunday we spent wandering around on the cool autumn days sightseeing Madrid. Visted the Royal Palacio and its magnificant rooms, lunched in Major Plaza - Calamari roll. Sunday made use of the 3 tourists buses that travelled in all directions around the city. Madrid is very beautiful, with amazing building architecture, street and building sculptures. Unfortunately the queues into the art Muesum was 2 hours long so the chance to go will need to be saved for next time. One of my favourite places on Sunday was to see Atocha Station, the interior of the original station is now a green forest with a large pond full of tortises. Totally amazing and beautiful.

And so another short stay in our 3rd country and Monday (14th) we are on the plane for London. Our first English speaking country in 7 weeks. One definite thing I have to do once settled in UK is to go to Spanish classes, to ensure the next time in South America will be more enjoyed.

Argentina & Uruaguay - in a flash

More like Buenos Aires for 2 nights, Uruaguay for 3 nights. Not really much of a sight see, but enough to know that we would love to come back here and see more. Buenos Aires is a huge city, we were there for Saturday and Sunday. Sunday markets in the streets, with Tango demonstrations all over. Fantastic atmosphere. It was a little hot, but still the crowds were out to walk the artesian area and the antiques... Almost bought a braclet for A$700, until I figured out that was over US$200. Well it was a gold-mosiac antique. Now talking about antiques, this is the place to pick up those pieces that you need to fit into your home. So many pieces, things and unusual objects to choose from - old toys, crystal lights, paintings, cabinets, and more. All absolutely beautiful and not soo expensive. Yes we did get our feed of red meat. I had this steak I´m sure was about .5 kilo worth. So yummy. The cook cut it off the slab of meat before throwing it onto the fire bbq. Washed down with a pretty nice vino tinto - veijo, all so yum. Not even my delhi belly was going to upset this feed. Unfortunately I have had a bad run with my stomach over the last few days, something from Lima and its now passed onto Jase. Soon we shall be in UK, eating good old English food. With hopefully better hygiene. We caught the 9am ferry to Colonia, Uruaguay on Monday morning. Our first bit of rain for days. And a rather rough crossing. Got into Colonia and settled into our hotel. Decided on something a little nicer while we both were not too well. Spent the afternoon wandering in the rain, around the old area of Colonia. From Portuguese time. The streets are lined with elms, and cobbled. There are old cars seemingly just parked on some roads, but have been placed for authenticity. In fact one old ford had its front seat removed and a table and chair added for another table at the restuarant. Pretty clever. After one night in Colonia, we are now here in Montevideo for two nights. Found an apartment on the net for the same price as a hotel room. And so for the first time in nearly 6 weeks we have cooked our own dinner. Made our own breakfast!! This was amazing, even if it was snags with mashed potatoes and Kellogs cornflakes... :) Tomorrow we head for the airport and our final country Spain, before landing at Heathrow. Hopefully the weather will hold up for the next 5 days and I have seen on the weather map that london is top 8c, hmmm so very warm. NOT!! oh well, we shall be arriving quite brown and relaxed. Till we chat again... Rainey

Arequipea, Lima and goodbye to Peru

From Cusco we caught a flight 35min flight to Arequipea. Dropped over 1200m in altitude and it became a little warmer.

Flying into Arequipea, it looks like we were flying into a desert. After the green mountains of Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Macchu Picchu, definitely flying into a drier and more desert looking countryside.
Arequipea is known as the white city. Most older buildings were made from the local rock Silica, which in some buildings actually provides a see through ceiling.

Things we loved about Arequipea, the monastery, cathedral and the fancy hotel we splurged on. The set menus of s/10 to s/14 (1 sollar = US$3.25) and so a 4 to 5 course dinner costs upto US$3. Lots of food and pretty cheap. Though with this good eating the tummies arent exactly getting very flat, even though we are still walking heaps. And also the fun of what we have actually ordered. So far no real surprises. !!
Things to remember about Arequipea, its really not a 3 or 4 day stay. Unless your heading out to the Colca Canyon - which we didnt do.

Now its our last day in Lima. Was unsure of how we would like Lima, from other travellers have heard that most got out as soon as they could. We are staying in a hostel not far from the Miraflores area, which is the nicer by the beach area. And for our stay of only 3 days its been ok. We grabbed a bus for s/1 into Lima and walked the city centro. Toured the San Fransiscan church, that from 1500 - 1800s had the public cemetary under its floor, in the catacombs. Apparently the catacombs were tidied up in the 1970s and opened for tourists. Now there is only about 25,000 skeletons-bones in crypts and does make for an interesting tour.

Tonight we are off to Argentina. The beef capital of South America. I know for a fact that Jase is looking forward to eating beef the entire time we are there. After eating pollo (chicken) for the last few weeks, we both are looking forward to a good steak. The couple we have tried havent been too tasty and very chewy.

Final thoughts for Peru - Why dont shopkeepers ever have the correct change? It doesnt matter what type of shop, a resturant, a souvineer shop or street vendor. They never seem to have the correct change and have to disappear to get it from somewhere else.

Adios Peru

Cusco & Macchu Picchu

Its been a couple of real touristy days and havent been on internet to update the journal...

So whats happened since getting off the boat in Puno. The next morning Jase and I caught the bus to Cusco or Cuzco. It was suppose to be a 8.30am till 3.30pm with lunch bus ride, but turned out to be a bit of a journey with over an hour stopped at Juliana, just hour out of Puno. While the local tout filled the bus. Then, the hydrolics seemed to failed and needed repair, before another 15 people boarded without seats and stood in the aisle for the next 140kms. That was ok for me as I had the window seat, but Jase got the short straw, being bumped all the time and having a smelly Peruvian standing right over him. Oh well that is going to be the last bus trip for Sth America.

We got into Cusco and I was a bit disappointed as it didnt meet up to expectations and what the travel shows were. But then when we actually arrived into the Plaza de Armas of Cusco - there it was beautiful square, the cathedrals and the gardens, just fantastic.

Have I told you that the weather has held up well, only the boat ride to on lago Titicaca, have we had rain during the day. It generally rains in the night till early morning and clears for the day.

On Thursday we spent the day at Macchu Picchu. Has anyone said that it was breath taking. Well let me tell you it is.. in more ways than one. The site is enormous, with terraces, and the different levels of architecture. The nobles at the top of Macchu Picchu are of the fine neat joints and the commoners at the bottom get the rough deal with just the off cuts to fit together to make the wall and buildings. even so, its fantastic.

In our travels we have met Amanda and Doug from Halifax, Canada. And we have been travelling with them for the last few days. One of our great ideas was to climb the young mountain, Huayna Picchu. Thats the mountain you see in the background of Macchu Picchu postcard pictures. It was suppose to be a 40min climb, not bad I did it in 1.5 hours, up and up and up... with rope handrails in some places. The view, fantastic. breathtaking. beautiful.
And then for some silly reason decided to see the templar de lunar, temple of the moon around the other side to this hill. It was one big down hill to get to the temple, which was ok. and I didnt like the bit where you had to hang over the edge clinging to a metal rope to then grab the ladder to climb down. Um think Im terrified of heights, no ums, about it Im definitely terrified. Luckily this nice americano talked me down the last few steps - otherwise I´ll still be there...
Then the walk back was another up and down bit against a cliff face.. sheesh the nerves of steel were certainly through out any windows. But after a good 3 hours the little 1hour 4min suppose to take journey was finished.
When I have upload access photos to the album will be posted... and I´ll let you know.

We spent two nights in a little town at the base of Macchu Picchu called Aguas Clientie for the none spanish - hot waters. It was an amazing town, right next to a river and rail way station that had 50 pizza resturants and casa´s built above one another. and very very touristy as you could image.

Other Inca sites we have visited is Ollantaytambo, with amazing aquaduct and fountain system. Pisac, which has these enormous terraces built into the side of the hill for agriculture. Maize and Abba (broad bean) growing.

Well Im off again ... tomorrow is Arequipa, still in Peru and then onto Lima later next week.

Puno & Floating Islands

Copacabana, was a lovely quiet town after the hussle, traffic and people of La Paz. Copacabana is a 3 hour bus ride from La Paz and requires crossing the Lake Titicaca. Where the bus gets loaded onto a barge and chuffed across. And the passengers pay 1.5 Bolivanos to get ferried in a small boat. Very interesting to see large buses on these flimsy looking barges heading across the lake. Luckily not a too far journey.

Jase and I ended up having a balcony room over looking the lake and shore. Very tranquil and relaxing. Especially with a good Chilean Vino Blanco and dip and crackers...

After only one night here we continued on our bus journey to Puno. Crossing the Bolivian-Peru border, was a simple process of walking into the Bolivian customs, getting passport stamped and then into the Peru customs for another stamp. easy-peasy...

We have been lucky and struck the festiva here in Puno, Friday night we were out doing the tourista thing and came across a parade with dancers and musicians. And the locals celebrate by using foma, or foam in can and spraying over everyone and everything in sight... eeee even us.

Yesterday headed out on a small boat with 31 tourists to see the Isla de Uros and stay the night in a home of a family at Isla de Amantani. The Floating Islands (Uros) were amazing. Spongy to walk on and complete homes are now built on these islands as well as the traditional reed ones.

After a rough crossing we got to Amantani, and Jase & I were billeted to Anita and her Family. We stayed with the home compound having a building of two beds and table & chairs to ourselves. The home was made of mud bricks and straw and was 500metres up from the port.
Anita´s family provided lunch, dinner and breakfast, of local food. All produced in the kitchen over a wood fire. Delicious vege soup and potato fried with egg with rice for lunch. A potato soup with spagetti and lentil-potato,carrot stew with rice for dinner. Breakfast was frittas of potato and onion. Each meal was accompanied with a tea that had a stick of fresh herb. I though cammolile but Jase seemed to think a mint of sorts. Anyways I couldn´t drink it without some sugar.

For the evening the locals put on a dance and two bands. And we as guests were dressed in Peru costume. The women wear underskirt, top skirt, long embrodied shirt, with a large waist band. to top off with a shawl. And the men, well they get it easy, just a poncho and hat. Was a good night.

Tomorrow off to Cusco and shall write more of the adventures then.

La Paz, nothing like I thought it would be

Here I am sitting in an internet cafe in La Paz - big YAY !! made it into Bolivia fairly easily this time and very greatful that we did. The airport is something like 4,100 and La Paz itself is 3,500. The only effects of altitude felt has been when Ive walked too quickly up one of the many hills here or sat up too fast. Get the head spins real bad...
So we have been here for only a couple of days and already wish that we can spend more time. Have walked about 45,000 steps in the last few days, thanks to TLF for the pediometre, which is quite scarey to that fact. We have visited all the markets, food, artesian, clothing, plant. Seen a couple of museo´s and just plain watched the people go by...
Love it here in La Paz there is 45% of the women still wearing the traditional dress, along with the bowler type hat purched on top. Street stalls that sell - well you think of it and yup they sell it. Absolutely amazing.

Before I get too far, I´d better let you know more about Santiago, the resturant where we had to ring the buzzer to go in was almost exactly like the Lonely Planet book described, unfortunately as it seems to most of our trip we haven´t aclimtised ourselves to South American time. Up and going by 8, siesta at 12 to 2, finish at 6ish and then dinner weekdays after 10 or weekends after 11. Not getting use to this at all.
Back to dinner, Jase had what we thought was veal and I had pollo el marinera. Chicken stuffed with seafood. along with pantanche de something which was mashed potato with paprika, absolutley yum.

Sunday, we thought we´d try the horse races, caught a couple of metro trains-buses there and got off at Parque O´Higgins, huge park in Santiago that the Chilean families spend Sundays at, BBQs, paddle boats on the lake and a huge theme park. Unfortunately it turned out the horses werent running so we headed back into town, for a couple of cerveza and a lie down. Big match on Sunday night, England vs France and was well attended in the hostel, with lots of chilean vino tinto and cerveza. Very exciting match, England lost 18-17 to France and so must not mention any more....

Well I´m running out of internet time now and so will leave shortly. We are leaving La Paz tomorrow for Copocabana in bolivia, on the shores of Titicaca, and so will have more to tell then.