| December 2005 |
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| Stu writes: ----------------------------------------------------- December 4th ------------------------------------------------ Cari writes: |
| Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| "tough start... but brilliant now!" |
| your quote |
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| remember to scroll the page down for more..... |
| Hi everyone! Sorry itīs been so long... Well... Peru was brilliant, Cuzco, where we were based, was a lovely city... mountains all around, old streets lots of nice eating places. The only problem - 3200 meters above sea level! On the day we arrived Caz and I were a little cocky about the altitude... we were like - hey this isnīt effecting us at all... weīre doing fine... then the next day we woke up to a totally different world - Pounding head aches, light headedness, fatigue! And amazingly, for once, Caz was much worse than me!!!!! So we rushed off (walked very slowly, no breath) to a cafe for a cup of local medicane.... coca tea!... Yes, the same leaves thats used to make cocane - but just boiled up to make tea.. mmmmm.. very nice, wakes you up a treat! And reduces the bad head a little.... perfectly legal in peru you understand. So after 2 days of adjusting to the altitude... we started the inca trail.. WOW... what a time!!!!!!!!!! Incredibly difficult at time but always stunning views.. and what a superb bunch our group was! Poor Caz have a real bad day on the second day... we climbed up to 4200 meters (about 13,500 feet!) and the altitude sickness got her real bad... super-pounding head aches.. she could manage to walk about 5 steps then have to sit down for 2 min rest, we had to go at this pace for about 6 hours!!!! But amazingly, we got to the top (see pictures) even though in so much pain Caz made it!!! And with a little bonus - we practically had the mountain to ourselves!!! I also felt pretty terrible by the time we arrived at the campsite - we both collapsed into our tent and the brilliant guides brought me some soup to the tent... every spoon full I felt like throwing up, shaking so badly, but after a couple of mins it worked a treat!! After managing a few hours sleep we got up the next day and set off up hill again - and after and hour we both felt great!!!! The rest of the days we loved and it all went great!!.... I even ran down the mountain on the last day... 3000 feet in 50 mins!! me and about 5 others found it easier than walking the million of old crumbley steps! And every 100 feet down my lungs worked 100 time better so the further I went the better I flet. Brilliant!! And the lastr day seeing Machu Pichu and 6am... in the misty clouds was simply mind blowing! What a journey! |
| Stu writes: ----------------------------------------------------- December 13th ------------------------------------------------ Cari writes: |
| Congradulations Mandy and Simon on your new baby girl!!!!!! Trying to chat to Mum and Dad tonight about how it went!!!! Which I could be there with you all.... Hey Chris - a new baby sister!! A quick update... After a few days in Buenos Aires (brilliant city) we got the night bus up to the igazu falls... amazing place... if only our bus had turned up on the first morning, it would saved us massive amounts of stress trying to get to the bloody falls... but hey as always - nothing is ever easy while travelling.... After the Falls we returned back to the city for a few more night... couldnt resist... well with the best steak in the world and a bottle of top red wine in a great resturant comming in at about 4 quid - who couldnt!!! Anyway, we decieded againt flying down to the south of the country - too much travelling not enough seeing and doing, so we got yet another mamoth over night bus to Mendoza.... which isnt really what we thought it was... so we are now trying to book a few days in the mountain to do some white water rafting, trekking and cycling - burn off some of the city food!!!!.. Anyway might try and upload a few pics before running off... oh by the way... itīs about 34-35 deg during the day and doesnt get below 30 on a night...... sooooooo uncomfortable... no air-conditioning for us backpackers.... and no pool... just steaming hot city. Get me too the mountains!!!!!!!! It doesnt feel like christmas AT ALL. GOOD. |
| Stu writes: ----------------------------------------------------- December 17th------------------------------------------------ Cari writes: |
| Hello!
So last time i wrote was after Mexico City and we had just arrived in Peru. Currently in Argentina and loving it. Had a Tango lesson in Buenos Aires, really difficult, not used to dancing with another person, or being taught. Had this fantasy that Antonio Banderas would appear sweep me up and Tango me until dawn. However I was introduced to a little wizened character who was only a dirty raincoat away from being Columbo. However he was one helluva mover and got V.close. So Stu wasn{t bothered. Rang Vanessa and Newton is settling in a little too well, It{s that Tissington charm. And just seen Foster and Andi, which was extra fab, and just spoke to Jade and Vicky. Merry Crimbo all of Murray Park. Argentina is full of STEAK WINE FOOTBALL So Stu{s having a great time Us Veggies just have pizza. I^m sick of melted cheese, and spanish keyboards, WHAT{S WITH THEIR PUNCTUATION!!!!! So no doubt Stu would/will fill you in on the grissly details of me getting on a horse and swiftly demanding to be set down upon ground again. "SENOR, SENOR, SALIDA CABALLEROS" something along those lines, it was sooo high and no helmet, and my mum has taught me well. White Water Rafting was very cool, not as hardcore as we{re used to, being professionals and all, but it was fun. As usual i{m gonna be a bit slack and finish it here. Everyone should come to Argentina, Buenos Aires is amazing the only place we have always come under budget and ate out every night. CONGRATULATIONS MANDY AND SIMON, DAISY IS BEAUTIFUL AND AUNTIE CAZ WILL BE SENDING HER SOMETHING VERY PINK VERY SOON. Hope everyone got the postcards/crimbo cards lots of love Caz xx |