Around the world in 367 days

We have spent the last few days following in the footsteps of Che Guevara travelling along Ruta 40 in Northern Argentina. However, there was no transformation to Marxist revolutionary for us - instead we found the vinyards and bodegas of Cafayate and a whole different transformation!

It's getting near the end of the trip now so budgets are being thrown out the window. Therfore we decided to hire a car for a few days and trace some of his initial steps of discovery. We didn't see a great deal of poverty to be fair but we did see some pretty nice landscapes (photos uploaded to the galleries when I find a PC with USB...). We have been treated to a fair few of those recently through Bolivia and then on the unofficial birthday ride from Chile into Argentina. Altiplanos, multicolored lagoons and psychedelic salt flats to name but a few.

My offical birthday was spent in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile and Deborah got me back for having food poisoning on her birthday by being sick for mine. So the birthday celebrations were delayed a few days until we got to Salta in Argentina. Everyone says that Argentinian steak is the best and I can't argue. On our first night we were treated to an all you can eat BBQ. I mean no offence to anyone who has ever cooked me steak but they were the five best steaks I have ever had. Weighing in at around 1.5 kilos though I'm still paying for it now. As a theme for the evening the wine was also all you can drink. A trip out to the local nightclub with the locals ensued which was fun though I'm reliably informed at the end someone had to take me from the taxi to help me to my room! Me and drink - never again!!!

Now we find ourselves in Cordoba, just a pitstop, before we take an overnight bus this evening to Buenos Aires. Again, budget has been thrown out the window and we have decided to rent an apartment for a week. I love backpacking put I'm a big fan of flashpacking too and can not wait to spend some quality time in what sounds a pretty exciting city!!

Posted by Alexander at 12:00 | Permalink | Comments

Anyone who has even a vague interest in politics will know that there is one subject dominating the political landscape at the moment - the hirsute invasion of my face!

Over the last 4 weeks hirsute troops stationed on my head have been crossing into southern regions in a planned manouver. Some leading comentators have suggested this is merely a rouse to exploit oily deposits found in the region.

Public opinion on the subject has been divided. Alexander is currently at his summer residence, Casa Blanca, in Salta, Northern Argentina where both camps have been represented outside the grounds. Those for the invasion waving banners reading 'Four more weeks'; banners reading 'No more Bush' for those against.

As with all good democratic systems the future of the Bush is going to a public vote, with strict rules:

1. Full penetration only; no dimpled chads
2. Postal votes must be dated, stamped and signed
3. All regional votes to be in and counted by 1201 GMT, September 22nd 2008
4. In the event of votes not being counted correctly a supreme final decison will be made directly

With voting options as such:

1. 4 more weeks
2. Trimming of troops
3. Partial withdrawal leaving troops stationed in the region north of the mouth
4. Down with Bush

At this time, Fashion police have confirmed they will let the democratic process prevail but may re-examine their stance after the results are declared.

Posted by Alexander at 12:00 | Permalink | Comments

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!! Anyone who didn't know or forgot then fret not, you get another chance!!

Whilst the 17th is the official date I figure my unofficial date is now the 19th of September. This is based on the fact that having crossed the international date line twice I have now completed two less rotations on this earth than I should have done by my age. Looking closely I believe this benefit can be seen in my youthful appearance.

In addition, given my Spanish royal heritage I think it only pertinent that my birthday should be celebrated globally on two dates! Enjoy!!

Posted by Alexander at 00:00 | Permalink | Comments

You know what they say... so I won't bother...

From Salar de Uyuni Tour, Bolivia

We have just finished a three day tour of the salt flats, lagoons, volcanoes and other natural wonders of Southern Bolivia and it was just stunning. Definitely some of the most incredible scenery we have come across over the last 11 months and there has been some stiff competition. Don't believe me then check out the rest of the photos!!

What the pictures don't tell: just how bloody cold it got, -8 degrees on the second night and 10 blankets and two hot water bottles were not enough to stop Deborah freezing her bits off. Also, the great fun we had with our group; an Aussie, three Swiss, our good selves and of course the Bolivian driver and cook (a bit miserable but -8 degrees every other day would make me pretty miserable too!!) - exploring Southern Bolivia, eating pretty respectable (for a tour) Bolivian food and playing silly games on the salt flats and sillier Swiss card games with only 32 cards, a bunch of farmers and a suspect queen or four.

All in all definitely a top 10 highlight!!

Posted by Alexander at 19:06 | Permalink | Comments

It's been a long while since I rated anything a highlight, all the way back to the three days we spent with the Cambodian Childrens Fund. However, it's not really that there haven't been any highlights, it's just that I have been somewhat complacent in labelling them as such. There have in fact been a good few, namely:

Learning scuba diving in Thailand
Life altering events in Costa Rica
Red hot magma
Galapagos Islands
Hiking around Huaraz
Machu Picchu and Lake Titikaka

And now we have La Paz; I wasn't expecting to like the place at all but the city itself actually has some pretty nice aspects. Cobbled streets, nice squares, dried Llama foetuses, indigenous peoples and great churches and cathedrals - all over 3,500 metres above sea level!!!

From Death Road, La Paz, Bolivia

We also did a day trip from La Paz to ride down the most dangerous road in the world, effectionately known as 'Death Road'. 64km of downhill (apart from about 6km of hard work pedalling uphill through one stretch) mountain biking. Statistically there are probably more dangerous black spots but it still ranks up there. Between 100 and 200 people a year die on this stretch of the road and since 2001 there have been 16 deaths to tourists cycling the route; the most recent coming just three months ago. Some points definitely need a little more concentration with the road narrowing to less than 10 feet, made all the more exciting by the fact that you spend most of the time on the left hand side just a couple of feet from a 100 metre plunge and certain death. I've not had to concentrate that hard since learning my 9 times tables!!! I only had one dicey moment when my gear cable snapped; as I was looking back trying to see the problem, whilst trying to divide 72 by 8, I came within a couple of inches of becoming number 17!

From Pampas, Bolivia

After the excitement of the mountain biking we went on a three day trip from La Paz to the Pampas, an area similar to the Pantanal in Brazil. The wildlife you see really is impressive. We saw Alligators and Caimans, Anacondas, Capyburras, lots of different types of birds, Piranhas and other fish, Monkeys, Turtles and Pink Dolphins - all multitudinous, the Alligators and Caimans alone numbered in the many hundreds!!! It was definitely a fun tour with some fun people!!

Six weeks to go now so probably only a few highlights left though we are looking forward to the salt flats at Uyuni, wine tours in Mendoza, partying in Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and a final week chilling in Rio!!

Posted by Alexander at 17:00 | Permalink | Comments

Five months in South East Asia and not once did anyone try and rob us. Five months in South America and three times now people have tried to relieve me of my possessions!

Regular readers will remember the incident in Chile of course. Then in Ecuador a husband and wife team tried to get me on the bus. She walked halfway down the bus then stopped, looking confused and blocking my path. The husband then comes up behind and I'm pinned as hands search out my wallet in the 'confusion'. Luckily, they got nothing whilst I at least got some minor titilation.

Then today some Bolvian miscreant tried to steal my camera in La Paz. Similar to Santiago it was at a crossing waiting for traffic. Impressively in one smooth move he lifted the case with his jacket and unclipped the catch. Luckily I felt something, turned around and he scarpered - otherwise he was one tea-leaf short of getting away with it.

I'm loving South America and in general South Americans but it is definitely less safe than South East Asia and in particular their buddhist cousins!

Posted by Alexander at 16:33 | Permalink | Comments