Sherri Aker I just found this site - very cool. I was searching for my friend Krista (went to school together in Sussex) - go Sonics! LOL By the looks of the dates on these posts maybe you don't check these often, but I decided to take a chance anyway and see if I couldn't connect with Krista on here - if so drop me a line sometime...by the looks of things life is good :) but I would love to catch up just the same.

daniel Hi Fergus and Krista. I enjoyed your Coroico bike tour video on YuoTube. As A Bolivian American whose been on that road before, it is nice to see other people from different parts of the world enjoying the same sense of adventure that such a place evokes. Daniel

Melissa Hi!! u don't know me but i love ur sight i'm in your dad's social studies class thancks for all the photos!!!

Melissa Hi!! u don't know me but i love ur sight i'm in your dad's social studies class thancks for all the photos!!!

260 Gang Welcome Home, What a ride, thanks for sharing it with us

Devin as long as its in Canada...Fredericton specifically.

Devin do you guys need to get picked up at the airport? let me know and i'll be there. ready.

260 tris Wes you need to step up to the plate and kick their asses. Can't imagine they would want to make you look like the bad guuy

wes hey, I know krista and fergurs havent been keeping up the site since I got here. but for the record its not my fault. We are on and island called ilha grande. it is paradise. we go to the beach everyday. its just so hard to get anything done here, so hot. hope all is well

powerbear fergus, you are my arbitrator regarding the dog. blue whales eat camel meat in the midnight sun.

Krista Arrived in paradise on Isle Grande 3 days ago...what an amazing spot! The last night of Carnevale was another evening of street parades and bloco parties...seems like these people rest all year for these 5 days...I slept the entire 2.5 hours on the bus recovering from a few late nights that turned into early mornings. We caught the last boat to the island and arrived in 2 hours at about 7:30...it was an interesting ride sitting on the back end of a converted fishing boat of sorts. We really like it here...a little bit off the beaten path and not too many tourists even though it is the height of summer here...nice change from the city that´s for sure. It has been great travelling with Wes and the three of us are busy adding to the adventures we have already shared together...how wonderful to share a place as special as this with friends! The last two days we have been beach hunting...there are 42 beaches on this island alone and Isle Grande is surronded by about another 60 islands. Yesterday we went up the beach and through the trees to a spot 3 beaches over...the water is Azure blue and clean, clean, clean...something that Copacabana really is not...we stayed until the tide came in and devoured the beach...hardcore though as we turned our towels parallel to the water fighting for every last minute. Last night we went out to dinner and the boys shared another of the infamous tabletop BBQs and then propmtly went off to sleep while I went shopping and exploring the town site...I wish I could call myself a sleeper - but alas, I am not. Woke this morning and headed down the beach and through the ruins in the jungle...we found the aqua duct and a popular locals watering hole and then continued to hike up over the mountain for an hour and a half...Ferg said it felt like walking in a sauna...sweat just poured off of us and we downed 4 liters of water between us on the walk there. Very happy to find a nice Senorita with a cooler of beer at the end of the trail...it took me about 30 seconds to dive into the water...definitely worth the walk though as there were only about 20 people on this secluded beach. We stayed as long as we dared...the sun is strong here and yesterday we all turned a bit rosy. Caught a boat ride back with one of the locals and soon we were back at the pier...and not long after the bar on the corner! This is the life and what a spot - less than 10 cars on the whole island! Have been out exploring while the boys enjoy a siesta after our day in the sun...must run now and get them up for dinner...Having an amazing time and plan to stay in the islands for at least another week! Hope all are happy & healthy...will be seeing you soon! Kris

Judy Anne (mom) Hi Partiers. Life must be good for you three rascals. I think this must be the longest you've gone without a message. Oh well, we'll survive! As usual, we look forward to hearing about your escapades. Our March break is just beginning, look out!!! Love, JA

260 trio What amazing fun you are all having. Hope you three are all well and ready for the next leg of the Amazing Journey.Will look forward to seeing the pics from the Carnevale. Continue to have fun and stay safe

Krista Carnevale is definitely action packed...beach time is definitely needed in the day simply to catch up on your rest. After a late night of dancing we all enjoyed sleeping in until 10 and then the boys hit the beach while I walked over to trendy Ipanema to explore and shop...this is Rio´s most walkable neighborhood, with a sort of sexy & sophisticated contemporary style. Ipanema and Leblon have recently given Copacabana a race for it´s money as the top spot to see and be seen in Rio. This is largely due to the fact that the tunnel through the mountains into Botofogo opened access to the beach area to an extent to which it now reigns as the most densly populated district in South America...an estimated 5000 people live per block...& only 6 Km long and 4 blocks wide! On the way I walked by the white cake like Copacabana Palace which is reputed to be singlehandedly responsible for the popularity of the area as a fantasy destination synonoymous with glamour and decadence. It was here that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers first danced together in the 1933 film `Flying Down Rio´. Ipanema is the home of the Bossa Nova (literally= new style) and just a few blocks walk from here is the bar =Garota de Ipamema- where Brazilain composer Tom Jobim & poet Vinicius de Moraes wrote the popular song - `The girl from Ipanema´...it was truly based on a girl they saw walk by everyday & launched a new era of in Brazilian music with its slow, sexy, and brainy beat. I walked the entire lenght of Ipanema Beach and it definitely rivals Copacabana for capacity although it is not as wide...there are tonnes of vendors selling everything you can imagine and half the fun of shopping is bargining to make the deal. Ferg has given me some pointers and I am now a seasoned pro. It was a crazy hot day and I put on the miles before turning inland to wander along the popular Rua Visconde de Piraja...Ipanema is a quiet residential district with beautiful garden squares and is interspersed with high end botiques and coffee shops...the full array! Lucky for the budget many stores throughout Rio are closed down completely for Carnevale...absolutely everyone is out dancing. Headed back to Copacabana and enjoyed some down time before heading out for dinner...Fair is fair so Ferg gets McDonalds after sharing numerous Veggie pizzas and being more than considerate with respect to dining options on this trip. On the way home we visited the grocery store and restocked the fridge for another night...or early morning out on the town. Ferg and I headed out to the Sambadrome about 12:30AM after a few warm up drinks and watching the beginning of the parade on television. During Carnevale this 600m long, 34,000+ capacity parade ground built on and around Centro´s Rua Marques de Sapaucai - is the center of the action...before this the parade took place in the streets of Centro. We took a cab ride into Centro through Flamengo and Lapa past the eye catching Arcos de Lapa and the huge Parque do Flamengo...once completely underwater before the hilltop Favela Morro do Sao Antonio was levelled to fill the area in. We climbed out of the cab as close to the action as we could get...Ferg said he has never seen this many people in one area of a city before...helicopters flying by overhead and thousands of people partying and dancing. Everyone was wearing the colors of the school they supported and vendors had formed an informal street circuit to navigate on the way to the Sambadrome...complete with color TV´s to watch the action going on inside. As Ferg would say - we partied with the people...not surprisingingly there were many who could not affoard a 400$US ticket but still wanted to share in the experience...I have never seen so many transvestites in my life. Everyone was having a great time and the atmosphere was cramped but by no means choatic. We found our way to the back entrance of the Samba drome and from here you got an up close and personal view of the participants as they prepared to enter the stadium...each parade lasts for 65-80 minutes so there is plenty of opportunity to watch it all come together...the transition from bikinis and speedos to beautiful costumes and gowns. We lined up along the fence and really felt part of the action...fireworks exploding overhead and the spotlights of the helicopters created to the surreal experience. We even scored some authentic costume pieces from over the fence which we wore for the duration of the night...was fun trying to fit in the cab! We watched the parade until well after sunrise before calling it a night...back at the hotel it was 6:01 and we were just in time for the breakfast buffet - perfect timing once again. Slept until noon and then hit the beach...the waves were huge today and there was even a helicopter rescue! All 3 of us are red in the cheeks tonight! Today is Fat Tuesday and the results of the parade will be announced tomorrow afternoon...tonight is one of the most popular Blocos of the Carnevale and also the Gay Ball...should be another interesting night.

Krista Wally...had to get a pen...it breaks down like this: *Columbia=Bogata-Popayan-Pasto-Ipiales to* Equador=Quito-Banos-Riobamba-Allusi-Guayoquil-Montanita-Guayoquil to* Peru= Tumbes-Mancora-Lima-Cusco-Manchu Picchu-Cusco-Puno-Isla Flotantes- Isla Taquille to* Bolivia= Copacabana-Isla del Sol-Copacabana-La Paz-Sorata-La Paz-Corioco-La Paz-Rurrenabarque-Santa Ana-Rurrenabarque-La Paz-Villazon to*Argentina=La Quecha-Salta-Corrientes-Puerta Iguazu-Iguazu Falls to*Brazil=Rio de Janeiro-Ihla Grande...2 weeks left! Hope all is well with the new baby, see you back in Freddy, Ciao, Kris