Saturday, July 26, 2008

Why would anybody do this?

So in an earlier post I inferred that the scariest part of this trip was not the possibility of running into Maoist rebels in Peru, nor street criminals in Rio, but rather skiing down a mountain in Chile. I was wrong. Pictures of us hang-gliding over the beaches of Rio are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48052163@N00/sets/72157606379874818/

While soaring past Christ the Redeemer was the highlight of Ashley´s life, mine was probably landing. This of course was after flying for a couple minutes, hearing the guy piloting the ´plane´talk to himself in Portugese, and then look over at me and mutter in broken English, ¨turbulance¨ as we headed toward the high rise hotels on the beach. This is a word that terrifies me in a real plane, never mind in something that looks like it was possibly made from Legos.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Rio

We have been in Rio for 2 days now and I already think it is my favorite city. We climbed Pau de Acucar this morning and then spent the next couple hours sipping coconuts on the beach of Ipanema. Life is good.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Another border crossing

Just finishing with Argentina. Pictures are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48052163@N00/sets/72157606169863219/

Iguazu Falls is maybe the most spectacular thing either of us have ever seen. Ashley had a great Birthday today celebrating here in the park on the Argentine\Brazil border. After an icredible week in Buenos Aires and a great two days on this side of the river, we are off to Foz do Iguacu tomorrow to see the Falls (or Foz) from the Brazilian side. Then a plane on Tuesday to our last stop on the tour in Rio.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

BA Arrival

We just arrived in Buenos Aires this morning. The city looks great and we already went for quite a walk. Just spent 3 days in Mendoza, Argentina which is in the center of the Argentine wine country. We did a pretty cool wine tour yesterday after renting bikes and riding around the town of Maipu. We´ll be here for the next week until taking a bus up to Iguazu Falls.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Chile Pictures

Colorful houses, more Plaza de Armas', and somebody thinking it was a good idea to put Brian in skis. All at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48052163@N00/

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Chile

After 40 hours, 3 busses, 4 taxis, 2 countries, and 1 drug dog sniffing border inspection we have made it to Santiago, Chile. Crossing the border was as sketchy/funny as imagined. I'm still about 5% sure Ashley and I were smuggled across, while the cabbie listend to Abba. Everybody is safe. We are going to be here for a couple days, then down to Valpo.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Friends Update

The future of American music is at:

http://www.myspace.com/themegachurch

one of our friends from Austin who is currently starting a movement in Portland. Please make sure you click on the video.

Parents Update

The itinerary has been changed slightly. We are going to take a bus to Tacna, Peru (very safe) tonight. Then cross into Chile tomorrow and on to Santiago the next day.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Superhikers

Back from our Inca Trail trek. 4 days and 28 miles later we ended up at Machu Picchu this morning. It´s unbelievable. Although it´s quite the cliche, the journey itself was truly the best part. We started in a valley and hiked up over 4500 feet past snow covered mountains, and then back down through the jungle in a cloud forest. Tomorrow we are trying to get down to Santiago, Chile. It´s actually been a little bit more difficult than initially anticipated. We are quickly learning why people say to take your time and have patience when traveling in South America. Apparently we have a reservation for a plane flight to Chile tomorrow, but not an actual ticket. Of course we learned this by email right before leaving on our trek where we were completely out of communication with society. We may be on an overnight bus this time tomorrow to the Salt Flats of upper Chile instead. Then on to Santiago/Valpo the next day. We´ll keep you updated. Pictures to follow.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

We Made It

Well, the first part of the adventure is over. We are both in Cuzco, Peru and safe as could be. We've been up for 26 straight hours so probably won't write much. A few bumps along the road, but nothing that really threw us. I thought the funniest part was when Ash did not want to dump her water bottle out at security like she has every other time for the last 7 years since the drinking fountains on the other side are not exactly up to par. When she asked the security guard if she could just bring her water through, he answered with equal parts surprise and condesention, "yes... it's water."

Monday, June 16, 2008

Itinerary



Origin
Destination Notes Travel

Hotel
Sat. June 21 Houston depart at 12:40- land 2:55 Mexico City depart 5:25 Lima, peru
Flight


22 Fly to Peru Fly to Cuzco 5:25 - 6:40 explore city
Loki Backpacers Cusco El Buen Pastor 1

24
Cuzco Cuzco festival Cuzco festival Loki Backpacers Cusco
1





















25
Inca Trail

Llama Path
1

26
Inca Trail



1

27
Inca Trail



1

Sat 28
Machu Picchu

Loki Backpackers Cusco
1

29
Cuzco to Santiago
Valpo
Flight to Lima to Santiago 1

30 Chile Valpo
Valpo

1

1
Valpo
Valpo
2 hr Bus 1

2
Valpo Santiago Santiago

1

3
Santiago Ski Santiago

1

4
Santiago Talca Talca

1

Sat 5
Talca Santiago Santiago

1

6
Santiago flight to Punta Arenas bus to Punta Natales Punta Natales

1

7
Bus Punta Natales to Administration Hike Administration to MLPG Parque Torres del Paine Mountain Lodge Paine Grande 5 hour hike 1

8
patagonia Glacier Grey Hike Parque Torres del Paine Mountain Lodge Paine Grande 1

9
patagonia Valle Frances Parque Torres del Paine Mountain Lodge Paine Grande 1

10
patagonia bus to Puerto natales PN

1

11
Puerto Natales Bus to El Calafate El Calafate
5.5 hr bus 1

Sat 12
El Calafate Parque los Glacieres-Moreno El Calafate




13
El Calafate flight to Buenas Aires
BA

1

14
Buenos Aires

Palermo Viejo/ eat at las lilas Stay away from La Boca 1

15
Buenos Aires

Palermo Viejo
1

16
Buenos Aires

Palermo Viejo
1

17
Buenos Aires



1

18
Buenos Aires






Sat 19
travel to Iguazu
Stay in the Sheraton

1

20
21
22

Iguazu




1

23
Rio
Ipanema

1

24
Rio
Christ the Redeemer

1

25
Rio
Hang glide over Rio Sugarloaf mountain
1

Sat 26
Rio






27
Rio






28
Fly home Depart 8:45 PM





29
Land Miami 4:20 depart at 8:05 Land IAH 9:40