Snaps from the SBSB
Saturday, December 20, 2003
Gooday.
The best reception so far. After a smooth 13 hour flight we found in Aukland Airpoirt, that there are volunteers who get up at 6 am to make free coffee for people arriving. Amazing. Car is sorted - didn't get upgraded to a 4x4 but our little green Ford Ka is lovely. Having found a Hostel at 8am this morning we hit Aukland centre to go shopping. Its about as like Oxford Street 4 days before christmas as a bag of carrots. Bought some camping equipment, sandles (aggh) and some CDs for our little KA. Decided on the best of selections for.....Billy Bragg, Red Hot Chillie Peppers, Beach Boys, Cheryl Crow and US Roots. Should keep us happy as we search out the locations for Lord of the Rings. (There is a book which we didn't buy and if we find a hobbit it will by accident or due to drink.)
Now we MUST find a laundrette. The situation is critical.
We will hopefully post agian before Christmas but I'd like to phone some people too so could you email me your number. All your numbers are on my sim card which is now in the hot hands of some sweaty palmed criminal in Chile. I bet they are trying to find a charger for a Sony Ericsson T610 as I type. But we wish them a Merry Christmas too cos we really don't have anything to much to complain about.
Take care......
The best reception so far. After a smooth 13 hour flight we found in Aukland Airpoirt, that there are volunteers who get up at 6 am to make free coffee for people arriving. Amazing. Car is sorted - didn't get upgraded to a 4x4 but our little green Ford Ka is lovely. Having found a Hostel at 8am this morning we hit Aukland centre to go shopping. Its about as like Oxford Street 4 days before christmas as a bag of carrots. Bought some camping equipment, sandles (aggh) and some CDs for our little KA. Decided on the best of selections for.....Billy Bragg, Red Hot Chillie Peppers, Beach Boys, Cheryl Crow and US Roots. Should keep us happy as we search out the locations for Lord of the Rings. (There is a book which we didn't buy and if we find a hobbit it will by accident or due to drink.)
Now we MUST find a laundrette. The situation is critical.
We will hopefully post agian before Christmas but I'd like to phone some people too so could you email me your number. All your numbers are on my sim card which is now in the hot hands of some sweaty palmed criminal in Chile. I bet they are trying to find a charger for a Sony Ericsson T610 as I type. But we wish them a Merry Christmas too cos we really don't have anything to much to complain about.
Take care......
Friday, December 19, 2003
Best meal of the trip so far last night. A place called Christophes. We then met up with Michelle (pictured) and her bloke William (not pictured) and his mate Alex (also not pictured) for a few drinks.
Well we got home at about 5 this morning and the cleaner chucked us out of our room early. So we had no option, really none. We went to MacDonalds. Did the trick. We then went to see Kill Bill which was great apart from all the bits in Japanese were subtitled in Spanish. I donīt think it really mattered. We then went a lay on the grass in he botanical gardens for 3 hours, so a pretty hectic way to spend our last day in Argentina.
We are now off to book our transfer to to the airport, get some more food and fly to New Zealand. See you on Sunday. Saturday appears to completely vanish on our itinerary. We have had a most splendid time to date.
Well we got home at about 5 this morning and the cleaner chucked us out of our room early. So we had no option, really none. We went to MacDonalds. Did the trick. We then went to see Kill Bill which was great apart from all the bits in Japanese were subtitled in Spanish. I donīt think it really mattered. We then went a lay on the grass in he botanical gardens for 3 hours, so a pretty hectic way to spend our last day in Argentina.
We are now off to book our transfer to to the airport, get some more food and fly to New Zealand. See you on Sunday. Saturday appears to completely vanish on our itinerary. We have had a most splendid time to date.
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Hola,
Mooch Mooch Mooch,
Not much up today except xmas shopping. Online for people at home and in Spanish for Naomi and I. This afternoon we are splitting up to go and buy each other some pressies. We have to keep it small. So Nomes bought herself and nice little handbag which I have to fill and I bought a Boca Juniors lunchbox which she can fill.....sort of alternative stockings. We had a great time at the Boca stadium, below you can see Naomi giving a conference about our tripo in the Boca press room...."Its a holiday of two halves" she deftly stated.
Boca itself was really interesting, colourful, vibrant and a bit smelly. Nomes and I were wondering what would happen if we painted our flat in Allison Road as colourfully. The nice Irish Lady next door could follow suit and before long we could recreate Buenos Aires in North London. No?. OK.
Oh just as an experiment Im trying to put one of the little vids I have taken. Its the galcier we saw last week. Does it work for you?
Click Here
Mooch Mooch Mooch,
Not much up today except xmas shopping. Online for people at home and in Spanish for Naomi and I. This afternoon we are splitting up to go and buy each other some pressies. We have to keep it small. So Nomes bought herself and nice little handbag which I have to fill and I bought a Boca Juniors lunchbox which she can fill.....sort of alternative stockings. We had a great time at the Boca stadium, below you can see Naomi giving a conference about our tripo in the Boca press room...."Its a holiday of two halves" she deftly stated.
Boca itself was really interesting, colourful, vibrant and a bit smelly. Nomes and I were wondering what would happen if we painted our flat in Allison Road as colourfully. The nice Irish Lady next door could follow suit and before long we could recreate Buenos Aires in North London. No?. OK.
Oh just as an experiment Im trying to put one of the little vids I have taken. Its the galcier we saw last week. Does it work for you?
Click Here
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
We had Vietnamese food last night in Palermo. Nice to have something spicy. Earlier we had gone to visit the museum Belles Artes and saw some interesting exhibitions including a pyramid of rubber dolls which were occasionally inflated by hair dryers.
I had had a bit of a shock earlier in the day when I went online and discovered my phone bill. I was swearing at whatever git had stolen my phone and had run up 350 pounds worth of calls. All night I was planning the rant I was going to have at Vodafone. I just got back from calling the billing department. The bill was for October. I had made all the calls. | hits own head on screen |
Anyway today we are going to Boca to see the Football Stadium and buy replica shirts.
I had had a bit of a shock earlier in the day when I went online and discovered my phone bill. I was swearing at whatever git had stolen my phone and had run up 350 pounds worth of calls. All night I was planning the rant I was going to have at Vodafone. I just got back from calling the billing department. The bill was for October. I had made all the calls. | hits own head on screen |
Anyway today we are going to Boca to see the Football Stadium and buy replica shirts.
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Hola Chicos!
Weīre back in Buenos Aires after much fun and excitement in the South of Argentina. So we were in Puerto Natalis in Chile. We got a bus across the border to a town called El Califate. Itīs a bit of a tourist trap as itīs 70km for the Pierto Moreno Glacier. It is the star attraction of the Park Nacional de los Glaciers. So as soon as we arrived we decided to get out of town. We bumped into Thijs and Olga the really nice Dutch couple we first met halfway up a mountain and when I suggested the idea of hiring a car and driving up Route 40, Thijs (Matthew) seemed keen. So him and I spent a fun 40 mins sorting out the motor while Naomi and Olga booked flights to Beunos Aires and Baraloche respectively for five days later.
The only car left was a Jeep Cherokee I was really unhappy as I wanted a Nissan Micra, but hey what can you do. Thijs drove it round the block and it made a sound like a helicopter. Choppertastic.
By the time all the paperwork was sorted out we decided we couldnīt make it to the glacier so we headed up the road to El Chalten. This is a town of 350 people 220 km up Route 40. It is a climbing mecca, as it is a the base of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, two of worlds most difficult climbs (apparently) Too be honest we found it difficult enough to find a place to stay when we finally arrived after a bone shaking 5 hour dirt road drive.
I was also slightly worried as we had forgotten to get any money out before we left and there was no bank here. Olga and Thijs assured us that they had enough cash to cover us. Lovely people.
The next day involved a lie in then a quick trek up to a view of a small glacier a little taster for the next dayīs glacier walk.
The glacier trek was amazing. We walked for 2 hours to ībase campī where we picked up our crampons then had another hourīs trek to the base of the glacier. This involved crossing the Rio īCant Rememberī by pulling ourslves along hanging from a pully and rope thingy.
We then donned our crampons and trudged across the glacier. Magic. Then disaster struck! The two arrogant macho up their own backsides guides called lunch! We hadnīt brought any. Everyone was tucking into sarnies except the four of us. We were not happy. We had been walking for 5 hours and hadnīt had any breakfast. I could see a large weather front moving in ready to sit just over our heads. At this point I luckily stood up a gazed at everyone with puppy eyes, in a īAnyone got some biscuits?īkind of way. It worked, we were soon stuffing our faces with left over salami and some Happy Face biccies.
We then did an ice climb which was a little scarey but cool.
The following day we took another walk along the valley to see Mount Fitz Roy. It is the most beautiful walk Iīve ever done. Had a sudden urge to write poetry. Naomi stopped me. For the best I think.
Weīd met some French hikers and they told us of a top notch restaurant in town which we went to in the evening and Thijs and I probably drank too much as we ended up playing darts in a bar with the landlords kid. It was the pisco wot made me do it.
The hotel took Thijs and Olgas dollars and we left and drove to the glacier we missed on the first day. It was spectacular to see chunks of ice the size of busses fall off in to the lake.
The car was sounding really bad now and by the time we got to the airport the transmission was about to vanish. They are dropping the car off today. I hope it lasts for them - they are great guys they donīt deserve my luck with cars.
We flew to BA last night and are now answering emails and generally not walking huge distances with backpacks. Four days to NZ and this is our route so far.....
In conclusion...... you really ought to go to Patagonia, itīs not all walking.
Weīre back in Buenos Aires after much fun and excitement in the South of Argentina. So we were in Puerto Natalis in Chile. We got a bus across the border to a town called El Califate. Itīs a bit of a tourist trap as itīs 70km for the Pierto Moreno Glacier. It is the star attraction of the Park Nacional de los Glaciers. So as soon as we arrived we decided to get out of town. We bumped into Thijs and Olga the really nice Dutch couple we first met halfway up a mountain and when I suggested the idea of hiring a car and driving up Route 40, Thijs (Matthew) seemed keen. So him and I spent a fun 40 mins sorting out the motor while Naomi and Olga booked flights to Beunos Aires and Baraloche respectively for five days later.
The only car left was a Jeep Cherokee I was really unhappy as I wanted a Nissan Micra, but hey what can you do. Thijs drove it round the block and it made a sound like a helicopter. Choppertastic.
By the time all the paperwork was sorted out we decided we couldnīt make it to the glacier so we headed up the road to El Chalten. This is a town of 350 people 220 km up Route 40. It is a climbing mecca, as it is a the base of Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, two of worlds most difficult climbs (apparently) Too be honest we found it difficult enough to find a place to stay when we finally arrived after a bone shaking 5 hour dirt road drive.
I was also slightly worried as we had forgotten to get any money out before we left and there was no bank here. Olga and Thijs assured us that they had enough cash to cover us. Lovely people.
The next day involved a lie in then a quick trek up to a view of a small glacier a little taster for the next dayīs glacier walk.
The glacier trek was amazing. We walked for 2 hours to ībase campī where we picked up our crampons then had another hourīs trek to the base of the glacier. This involved crossing the Rio īCant Rememberī by pulling ourslves along hanging from a pully and rope thingy.
We then donned our crampons and trudged across the glacier. Magic. Then disaster struck! The two arrogant macho up their own backsides guides called lunch! We hadnīt brought any. Everyone was tucking into sarnies except the four of us. We were not happy. We had been walking for 5 hours and hadnīt had any breakfast. I could see a large weather front moving in ready to sit just over our heads. At this point I luckily stood up a gazed at everyone with puppy eyes, in a īAnyone got some biscuits?īkind of way. It worked, we were soon stuffing our faces with left over salami and some Happy Face biccies.
We then did an ice climb which was a little scarey but cool.
The following day we took another walk along the valley to see Mount Fitz Roy. It is the most beautiful walk Iīve ever done. Had a sudden urge to write poetry. Naomi stopped me. For the best I think.
Weīd met some French hikers and they told us of a top notch restaurant in town which we went to in the evening and Thijs and I probably drank too much as we ended up playing darts in a bar with the landlords kid. It was the pisco wot made me do it.
The hotel took Thijs and Olgas dollars and we left and drove to the glacier we missed on the first day. It was spectacular to see chunks of ice the size of busses fall off in to the lake.
The car was sounding really bad now and by the time we got to the airport the transmission was about to vanish. They are dropping the car off today. I hope it lasts for them - they are great guys they donīt deserve my luck with cars.
We flew to BA last night and are now answering emails and generally not walking huge distances with backpacks. Four days to NZ and this is our route so far.....
In conclusion...... you really ought to go to Patagonia, itīs not all walking.
