So I finally left Rio, after a good 12 days!! It is longest I have stayed anywhere by a multiple of 4. Whilst it was nice to chill out and have no where to go / no where to be in any hurry etc, it was also nice to leave and I am enjoying being on the road again!!
I met up with my tour group last Monday, there are 12 of us including the group leader and they seem like a really cool group of people, so I am looking forward to the next 6 weeks with them, it should be awesome.
Salvador is cool, there is music everywhere and the streets are really pretty, paved in cobble stone, with loads of artsy little shops selling all sorts of useless things. We have been to the markets by the peir, where I bought earrings (I think I will come home with earings from every town we go to coz they are lovely and sooo cheap!!). We also went to a folk show which, despite my misgivings becasue of previous ones (which were crapp!!), was really really awesome. It included some folk dancing, some stick fight dancing which was really impressive, some Capoeira fighting / dancing which was amazing (includiung really high kicking / summersaults and the like) and some Candoble ceremoney which was also cool. Also the men in the show were very fit and very hot, dark skinned and toned chests and stomachs and they were obviously very good at what they were doing. Unfortunatly we weren´t allowed to take pictures though, which is a shame but I will make do with the memories!!
Yesterday I went out with Helen, a girl from our tour group, and we visited Praia do Forte, a villiage a couple of hours bus ride out of Salvador. It is a small, very pretty, touristy town where the is a turtle reserve and a small beach (where the water was super warm). The reserve was fasinating, we got to see some adult turtles (which were huge) and some babes (which were tiny and oh so cute). We also learnt alot about turtles and about the TAMAR project, a project in Brazil to protect the turtles as they are now an endangered species and it was a very fun and interesting day.
The bus ride back to Salvador from Praia do Forte, however, was not as fun - our mistake was getting on the mini bus and not the public bus. But the mini bus was going now, it was the same price and it was a mini bus so it was blatently going ot be faster and to top it off we had no idea when the public bus would arrive as they only go once an hour and the one this morning had been really late. So, with that in mind we got on and paid our seven reals. But, when we arrived at our destination, we had apsolutly no idea where we were, and I think we felt lucky we were actually in Salvador. It turns out we were right on the edge of Salvador, near the airport, which had taken us a good 45 minutes in a minibus on arrival, two days before, and now we were there which no clue what bus to get on and a load of portugese speakers on there way home from work (yes thats right it was also rush hour). So it was exceptionally lucky that there was a freindly english speaking guy on the mini bus, keen to both practise his english and to advertise his new tour agency to us! He was a great help - I hate to think what we´d have done if he hadn´t quizzed both the surrounding people and three bus drivers (after chacing the first bus down the road) in order to find the right bus for us and get the bus driver to tell us when to get off. It was a little bit of an adventure to say the least.
Today is our last day in Salvador, next on the list is Olinda, further north up the coast. Remember, if you want to see the route I am travelling with the tour go to: http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/JAR
Hope you guys at home are doing good, thanks for all your messages etc. it is good to know people are still reading despite my tendancy to babble on.
Loads of Love to you all,
xxxxxxxxx
Saturday, 29 September 2007
Friday, 21 September 2007
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hey all,
I have posted some new pictures of some of the other places I have been, so scroll to the bottom of the page to have a look.
I am now in Rio de Janeiro and I am allone.
Jon left the day before yesterday :-(.
Even before Jon left we were attacking Rio pretty sedatly, as unlike our previous stops we have a long time here. Jon was here for 4 days and I am here for 9 days, so there really is no need for rush.
We visited Christ, the 30 meter high statue on Rios highest hill \ mountain. We have been to Copacobana and we have hung out at the hotel, drank and eaten good food. We also went to the hippy market where Jon spent his last pennys and he bough an awesome leather bean bag and we bough together a really cool map made of leather and burnt in, for our new house for when I come home.
Since Jon left I have been to the Sugar Loaf Moiuntain with some girls I met at the hostel and I enjoyed the hostel BBQ last night where we ate a LOT of steak. I am going to relax and try and do some revision about fish in the next few days, in preparation for Mexico and I am going on a Favela tour tommorow, which sounds really interesting.
Hope you guys at home are all doing ok, let me know whats happening with you etc. Am going to be more loney now Jon has left and will have more craving for news from home.
All my love,
Aims
xxxxxx
I have posted some new pictures of some of the other places I have been, so scroll to the bottom of the page to have a look.
I am now in Rio de Janeiro and I am allone.
Jon left the day before yesterday :-(.
Even before Jon left we were attacking Rio pretty sedatly, as unlike our previous stops we have a long time here. Jon was here for 4 days and I am here for 9 days, so there really is no need for rush.
We visited Christ, the 30 meter high statue on Rios highest hill \ mountain. We have been to Copacobana and we have hung out at the hotel, drank and eaten good food. We also went to the hippy market where Jon spent his last pennys and he bough an awesome leather bean bag and we bough together a really cool map made of leather and burnt in, for our new house for when I come home.
Since Jon left I have been to the Sugar Loaf Moiuntain with some girls I met at the hostel and I enjoyed the hostel BBQ last night where we ate a LOT of steak. I am going to relax and try and do some revision about fish in the next few days, in preparation for Mexico and I am going on a Favela tour tommorow, which sounds really interesting.
Hope you guys at home are all doing ok, let me know whats happening with you etc. Am going to be more loney now Jon has left and will have more craving for news from home.
All my love,
Aims
xxxxxx
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
Sucre, Bolivia
We staying in La Paz for four days, to allow me to recover from my heart burn type eating problem. We wondered around the shops close to the hotel, we went on a bus tour of the city (my first one as I usually walk around, however that was impossible whilst i wasn{t well) and Jon cycled down "The Death Road" (I rode in the Bus - i both didn{t want to cycle and was too ill still).
The Death Rd was by far the most exciting part of La Paz even for me in the mini Bus. The Driver was awesome and kept stopping for and pointing out good photos. The scenery was amazing, it went from snow covered mountains to jungle type scenery. The driver, less helpfully, also kept pointing out the crosses at the side of the raod, with a "that one is a bus" etc. Jon decided to scare the life out of me half way down by falling off, and not just falling off the bike, but falling off the orad. Luckily it was sheer cliff at the point he fell off but he could have killed himself!! At this point i was very glad I didnt cycle.
After La Paz we continued on to Potosi, to see the silver mines. It wasn{t what you would call a good time but it was very interesting. We saw where they refine the rock and take out the minerals. We learnt about a lot about the mining community and the miners are pretty rich people!! They can earn 2000-3000 US a month, which is an awefull lot for out here. But the conditions were terrible, it was so dusty and hot, we were only down there for tow hours and I was so glad to leave. I cant imagine spending all day every day down there, it makes any other job I could possibly have seem good.
We only stayed in Potosi a day, enough time to see the mines, to watch a film, to make some new freinds in the hostel, and to sleep in some VERY comfy beds before we left again to go to Sucre, where we are now. At the moment I am not very impressed but will let you know more when I have seen more.
xxxx
The Death Rd was by far the most exciting part of La Paz even for me in the mini Bus. The Driver was awesome and kept stopping for and pointing out good photos. The scenery was amazing, it went from snow covered mountains to jungle type scenery. The driver, less helpfully, also kept pointing out the crosses at the side of the raod, with a "that one is a bus" etc. Jon decided to scare the life out of me half way down by falling off, and not just falling off the bike, but falling off the orad. Luckily it was sheer cliff at the point he fell off but he could have killed himself!! At this point i was very glad I didnt cycle.
After La Paz we continued on to Potosi, to see the silver mines. It wasn{t what you would call a good time but it was very interesting. We saw where they refine the rock and take out the minerals. We learnt about a lot about the mining community and the miners are pretty rich people!! They can earn 2000-3000 US a month, which is an awefull lot for out here. But the conditions were terrible, it was so dusty and hot, we were only down there for tow hours and I was so glad to leave. I cant imagine spending all day every day down there, it makes any other job I could possibly have seem good.
We only stayed in Potosi a day, enough time to see the mines, to watch a film, to make some new freinds in the hostel, and to sleep in some VERY comfy beds before we left again to go to Sucre, where we are now. At the moment I am not very impressed but will let you know more when I have seen more.
xxxx
Saturday, 8 September 2007
Puno, Peru
Our last stint in Peru before crossing tyhe Bolivian border was Puno, a lake side port town. Not a very interesting town in itself tourists visit here to take tours of the islands on Lake Titcaca. This lake, at 3800m is the highest navigatable lake in the world.
We went on a tow day tour and visited three islands.
The floating islands were first and these were facinating. The islands themselfs, including baots, house and even th4e floor we stood on was all made out of reeds and the islands are continually remade all the time, becasue the lower reeds in the water rot away. The islands were however very touristy, there main income is from charging tourist entrance fees, boat rides and gifts, but dispite this they were very interesting to see, they were not initially made for the tourit, they have just become like that, and the history was very intreging.
The other two islands we went to I didn´t find quite as interesting. They were both very tourity and very traditional at the same time. We stayed with a family at one of the islands and had lunch dinner and breakfast cooked for us. It would have been infinitly better if we spoke spanish I am sure but the food was amazing (pity I had trouble eating it becasue of my doxy induced heartburt).
Despite difficults with food it was an enjoyable two days. We also met an insralie guy, Ido, who was in Ica when the earth quake hit and it was quite interesting talking to him about that.
Anyways, we are now in Bolivia, in La Paz. Will tell you more whern there is more to tell.
Loves,
Aims
xxxx
We went on a tow day tour and visited three islands.
The floating islands were first and these were facinating. The islands themselfs, including baots, house and even th4e floor we stood on was all made out of reeds and the islands are continually remade all the time, becasue the lower reeds in the water rot away. The islands were however very touristy, there main income is from charging tourist entrance fees, boat rides and gifts, but dispite this they were very interesting to see, they were not initially made for the tourit, they have just become like that, and the history was very intreging.
The other two islands we went to I didn´t find quite as interesting. They were both very tourity and very traditional at the same time. We stayed with a family at one of the islands and had lunch dinner and breakfast cooked for us. It would have been infinitly better if we spoke spanish I am sure but the food was amazing (pity I had trouble eating it becasue of my doxy induced heartburt).
Despite difficults with food it was an enjoyable two days. We also met an insralie guy, Ido, who was in Ica when the earth quake hit and it was quite interesting talking to him about that.
Anyways, we are now in Bolivia, in La Paz. Will tell you more whern there is more to tell.
Loves,
Aims
xxxx
Sunday, 2 September 2007
Cusco, Peru
We just left Cusco last night after being in the region for just over a week. I will try to keep my explainations short!
The first 5 days we spent exploring Cusco and its sights and re-adjusting to the altitude. I was really feeling it the first day - I wasn´t hungrey and went to bed at like 8pm (Amy wasn´t hungrey!?!?!). We saw all the sights in town, I got a massage and a manicure, we saw a couple of near by arcilogical sights, including a site close to Cusco coimonly known as "sexy woman" as this is how it sounds to the ears of the English, it is actually spelt very differently and means "sacred falcon" but they tour guides take advantage of what we hear when they say it!! We also visited the inka citadel and the tourist markets of nearby Pisca and during a four hour walk saw some spectacular veiws - due to the clear skys (this was I think our first hike without rain, yay!)
Following this we went on an "adventure tour" with four others, to Machu Picchu. The involved 1 days biking, 55km downhill on dirt tracks, jon loved it, I hated it!! I was so slow becasue I was scared of falling off and it hurt my arms like hell, so yeah we decovered that off road biking isn´t really my thing... We then had two days of walking which was fun, but nackering. The first day we walked 19km, off road and lots of up hill, it was so tiring but the veiws and the gorgeous hot spings to finish the day off made it worth it. We did however get bitten to death by mossi´s, a different type to English mossi´s I think they call them sandflies. You don´t feel a think when they bite you and all you see for 24 hrs after is a little red spot, then after that the swell up horribly :(, it was not nice!! The third day was more walking again, after a late breakfast (9am was late after the 5:30 breakfast the day before) we walked 10km along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, the town under Machu Picchu where we spent the last night. In the afternoon of the third day we walked up a pretty treacherous moutain (with many wooden ladders) to gain our first views of the inka citadel. The fourth day was Machu Piccu day and I felt terrible!! I couldn´t sleep all night becasue of noise and becasue of my swollen arm (covered in sand fly bites) and then we got up at 4:00am and walked for 1.5hrs uphill to machu picchu. When we got inside we had a guided tour of the citadel for two hours, during which I kept falling asleep and was constantly shivering. It was not really that great and I was bloddy annoyed considering how much I had been looking forward to it!! The day got better thop. The sencond half of the tour involved more walking sao it woke me up and stopped me being quite as cold, jon gave me his jumper (so I was then wearing 3 jumpers), and as I paid more attention to the tour, I became more interested in listening and less interested in my own discomfort! The afternoon was a lot better, I felt more alive and we walked up another mountain overlooking the ruins, this gave up an amasing view and wasn´t too difficult a climb and I felt a lot better for it. The ruins of Machu Picchu are amasing, for up high they look superb and walking through them you are amazed by the size, by the condition they are in, and by the scpoe of the building that took place so long ago. It really was awsome to see, no matter how much I compalain about everything else!!!
We walked back down to Aguas Calientes for about 3pm and got pizza (we thought we well deserved it after all that walking) before getting the train and then a Bus back to Cusco, me and Jon made freinds with some Peruvian Journalists on th train which was quite amusing.
Back in Cusco me and Jon got our bags and headed to the Bus station for an over night bus to Puno. Upon arrival we met a man offering us accomodation, without much fuss we followed him, it wasn´t to bad a price and at 5:30am with no sleep we decided it was best to go to a place that was definitly open rather than using the book and possibly being disappointed. It is now 13:15 and Jon is still asleep as he is not feeling great, getting up at 4:00am and not sleeping well on the bus, along with painfully swollen legs covered in bites is not agreeing with him.
The last four days have been painful, what with lack of sleep, the walking and the biting flys, but it was worth it. Maccu Picchu was amasing, as was a sceenery along our 2 day hike, we met some really cool people and we had a good laugh. The rest you just have to put up with!!
Until next time
Aims
xxx
The first 5 days we spent exploring Cusco and its sights and re-adjusting to the altitude. I was really feeling it the first day - I wasn´t hungrey and went to bed at like 8pm (Amy wasn´t hungrey!?!?!). We saw all the sights in town, I got a massage and a manicure, we saw a couple of near by arcilogical sights, including a site close to Cusco coimonly known as "sexy woman" as this is how it sounds to the ears of the English, it is actually spelt very differently and means "sacred falcon" but they tour guides take advantage of what we hear when they say it!! We also visited the inka citadel and the tourist markets of nearby Pisca and during a four hour walk saw some spectacular veiws - due to the clear skys (this was I think our first hike without rain, yay!)
Following this we went on an "adventure tour" with four others, to Machu Picchu. The involved 1 days biking, 55km downhill on dirt tracks, jon loved it, I hated it!! I was so slow becasue I was scared of falling off and it hurt my arms like hell, so yeah we decovered that off road biking isn´t really my thing... We then had two days of walking which was fun, but nackering. The first day we walked 19km, off road and lots of up hill, it was so tiring but the veiws and the gorgeous hot spings to finish the day off made it worth it. We did however get bitten to death by mossi´s, a different type to English mossi´s I think they call them sandflies. You don´t feel a think when they bite you and all you see for 24 hrs after is a little red spot, then after that the swell up horribly :(, it was not nice!! The third day was more walking again, after a late breakfast (9am was late after the 5:30 breakfast the day before) we walked 10km along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes, the town under Machu Picchu where we spent the last night. In the afternoon of the third day we walked up a pretty treacherous moutain (with many wooden ladders) to gain our first views of the inka citadel. The fourth day was Machu Piccu day and I felt terrible!! I couldn´t sleep all night becasue of noise and becasue of my swollen arm (covered in sand fly bites) and then we got up at 4:00am and walked for 1.5hrs uphill to machu picchu. When we got inside we had a guided tour of the citadel for two hours, during which I kept falling asleep and was constantly shivering. It was not really that great and I was bloddy annoyed considering how much I had been looking forward to it!! The day got better thop. The sencond half of the tour involved more walking sao it woke me up and stopped me being quite as cold, jon gave me his jumper (so I was then wearing 3 jumpers), and as I paid more attention to the tour, I became more interested in listening and less interested in my own discomfort! The afternoon was a lot better, I felt more alive and we walked up another mountain overlooking the ruins, this gave up an amasing view and wasn´t too difficult a climb and I felt a lot better for it. The ruins of Machu Picchu are amasing, for up high they look superb and walking through them you are amazed by the size, by the condition they are in, and by the scpoe of the building that took place so long ago. It really was awsome to see, no matter how much I compalain about everything else!!!
We walked back down to Aguas Calientes for about 3pm and got pizza (we thought we well deserved it after all that walking) before getting the train and then a Bus back to Cusco, me and Jon made freinds with some Peruvian Journalists on th train which was quite amusing.
Back in Cusco me and Jon got our bags and headed to the Bus station for an over night bus to Puno. Upon arrival we met a man offering us accomodation, without much fuss we followed him, it wasn´t to bad a price and at 5:30am with no sleep we decided it was best to go to a place that was definitly open rather than using the book and possibly being disappointed. It is now 13:15 and Jon is still asleep as he is not feeling great, getting up at 4:00am and not sleeping well on the bus, along with painfully swollen legs covered in bites is not agreeing with him.
The last four days have been painful, what with lack of sleep, the walking and the biting flys, but it was worth it. Maccu Picchu was amasing, as was a sceenery along our 2 day hike, we met some really cool people and we had a good laugh. The rest you just have to put up with!!
Until next time
Aims
xxx
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