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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

Pictures

Pictures of Peru are now up at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48052163@N00/sets/72157605960621608/

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.

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.

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.

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."

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