great to read your stories... And i`m looking forward to go to Bariloche, hope it isn`t that cold when we get there. We are now in Puerto Madryn, the place is very quiet but the surroudings (??) are so beautiful. We saw already sea lions, elephant seals, pinguins and whales. Now we`re hoping for a orca, but i`m afraid we won`t see it.
Have fun on your trip..... We are gonna copy you in a couple off weeks.
x Mad from the hammockpeople
Anna
The Coati looks like a Barry, no?
Loving the latest pictures, btw.
Nikki
Thx - you have really inspired me! I booked a custom tour for next year that includes the falls, then on to Peru for a stay at the Manu Wildlife Center in the jungle in Manu Natl Park, then on to Machu Picchu (via train), then concludes with a cruise to the Galapagos Islands. We won't get the great memories of long hikes, longer bus rides and hammocks you are enjoying - but at least my husband (hates to travel) has agreed to go.
Audrey
Nikki - wow, you are really planning ahead! Because the Iguassu Falls border is frequented so heavily by tourists, you may find that they dispense with the need for visas at this border. You will probably find out more with the hotel or guide you are travelling with. You will absolutely love the falls!
Nikki
Hi Audrey,
Thanks so much for the pix and comments about the falls. I just booked a trip for Sept 2009 that includes one day there on the Argentina side. From your pix, I feel better about deciding not to take the trouble to get a Brazilian VISA just to see the view from the other side.
Nikki
Audrey
Shannon - this is brilliant!!! Thanks so much for the tips - I am really looking forward to trying all you suggested - will be there in 2 days, and I feel a lot more equipped now to do the whirlwind tour in 3 days.
Shannon
Hi Audrey,
My name is Shannon and I am Marie Bell's daughter. I spent 6 weeks in Argentina this summer, and most of that time was spent living in Buenos Aires. My mum asked me to post some recommendations for you, so here goes...
Food:
- For a REALLY good, but more expensive, steak than you will get at any random parilla, go down to Puerto Madero (new, trendy place to live down by the water, but only 10 minutes walking from the Casa Rosada).Recommended: Caba a Las Lilas
-Ice Cream: They do it really well here, and they have some distinctive flavors that you don't see in many ice cream stores in the USA (foremost, dulce de leche).Some great chains: Volta, Freddo
- Empanadas: You can buy them anywhere and everywhere, but I would recommend buying them from a place that has a wood burning oven.There are tons of different flavors, but I would recommend the humitas (mostly corn)or one that has a lot of cheese!
Tango:
- You could pay to watch a tango show, but I would recommend just going to a milonga (a get together where regular people just come to dance tango).They are all set up with the dance floor in the middle and cafe tables around so you can have a drink and/or a little something to eat and watch on.The shows seem really fake to me.The dancers are technically very, very talented, but there is less of the emotion and passion tango is all about.It is all showy instead.
- Some milongas where you will see great dancing:
- Tuesdays - La Catedral - Sarmiento 4006 in the Almagro neighborhood - a hole in the wall from the street, but it opens up into this huge space that looks like some crazy grandmother's attic
- Wednesdays - "Maldita Milonga" - Peru 571 in San Telmo neighborhood - a wonderful orquestra called Al Afronte comes on at about 12:30 AM
- Mondays - Confiteria Ideal - Suipacha 384 in El Centro - a beautiful, old style salon with waiters in black bowties and starched black vests
In general, all of these milongas really get going at around 11:30 or midnight, but they often have classes starting around 9 or 9:30 PM.
Transportation:
- Taxis are super cheap.You can take them anywhere, and from my experience they are all very safe, especially if you can chat with the driver in Spanish a little.
- The Subte (subway system) is fast and really cheap (30 cents per ride US), but only really useful if you are staying in a hotel/hostel near a Subte stop and you are going into El Centro (downtown).
Not to Miss Sights:
- La Boca's Caminito neighborhood - Spend a sunny afternoon wandering around here.There are tons of markets all around Buenos Aires with "artisanos" (handicrafts), but I have been to them all and I think the best, most unique stuff is here.Also, this is where the brightly painted houses you see on the cover of every guide book to Buenos Aires are.
- Palermo - This is the center of the young fashion scene in Buenos Aires.If you like what young women are wearing on the street and want to get something for yourself, this is where you will find the highest concentration of shops.There are different parts to Palermo: Palermo Viejo, Palermo Soho, and Palermo Hollywood.Palermo Soho has the shopping and Palermo Hollywood has a lot of bars and restaurants.
- Museums - If you are going to go to only one museum while you are there, make it the MALBA (modern art).The Museo de Bellas Artes is also very beautiful, but full of more classical art.
Email me ([email protected]) if you have any questions about what I wrote or want to know about something I didn't touch on here!I know you only have a few days in the city, so I wanted to keep it relatively short!
Well does it surprise me that you are pushing mind, body and limb as you always did - no not exactly.
Am I jealous, yes probably. Keep going, make sure the liver holds out until January.
Audrey
Jules & Sarah... you are supposed to say that "Parenthood beats travelling anyday!" - not that I would believe you. But anytime you feel like dropping the kids off with the grandparents and joining me with your backpacks again, just give me a holler. I need to figure out what to do once this trip ends in January.
Barry: I am sorry - I forgot that Anna was reading the blog - I am afraid I have destroyed your reputation completely!!!! (Anna: Please don't give him such a hard time - I have never ever thought of him as a turkey before.)
Shelby: Just so you know, I have learnt how to make really good caipirinhas, so you just have to drop in on LA when I am back.
Jules
Well - I just knew it ... follow the innocent looking link to a few holiday snaps, zip through a few albums, bit of blog and yup - jealous as hell!
I have really fond memories of being 'beached out' - and can just imagine you there, suffering like hell - well girl, put on a tough face - 10 down 57 to go!
Jules & Sarah
Anna
Aha, I finally got a chance to read through your blog and look at the pix/vid and it's had the effect I was afraid of. I'm jealous and just need two days to meet you on the corner of Brazil and Peru! ;-)
Seriously, look at that smile. Great to see.
Take care, and do try to find something more butch to name 'Barry'. It's undermining the confidence of the entire OTC team.
Barry
ok - I went back a read the blog and you are innocent in the turkey naming incident. Tell Tracey she's on my list. (well I don't really have a list, but if I did she would be on it, but I don't really know her, and she is probably really nice, and she probably doesn't know that some of us Barrys are actually nice people with self esteem issues, so I forgive her) I'm so easy
