Cristo

Photos of Karen #4

Karen, Easter Island

Karen, Hotel Room, Santiago

Update. 26th February

Had a lull in blog writing so the last couple of weeks in short:

- Easter Island: Truly incredible place. 20metre high Moai heads, beaches, bumping into Mafalda from work whilst gazing at the sky, Tommy unknowingly chowing down on fish balls, me sucking fish intestine to respect local tradition (subsequently throwing up)

- Valparaiso: Hilly, brilliant graffiti, stinking 24hour operating port outside my bedroom window

- Mendoza: Cycling from vineyard to vineyard sipping malbec, joining a wine tour of 20 people where the guide spoke only to Tommy throughout, seeing Boca juniors play Mendoza and watching Tommy's indifferent/perplexed expression, Tommy on horseback (comedy gold)

- Buenos Aires: Slept behind airport trolley bay en route to Brazil

- Rio: 24hour sweat box hostel, moved to Ipanema glory apartment, Ipanema beach, thongs, Brazilians, caipirinhas on Sugar Loaf at sunset, Christ the Redeemer knee deep in clouds, torrential rain forecast for the 2 weeks of our Brazil beach tour, biking through Rio's biggest favela

Photos of Karen #3

Karen: Bariloche, Argentina


Karen: Bariloche Argentina

Scalp Chachi

13/2/10
Tonight was the finale of the Rapa Nui Tapati festival. Me, K-low and everyone on the Island headed to the centre of town to attend the crowning on the new queen. Starting an hour and a half later than billed the show commenced with loud tribal drums and an impressive light show all leading to a huge crescendo and lighting up one solitary figure on the stage. Dressed in a moomoo (probably picked up on a journey through India to discover his "new sound") stood an old man. His hair looked like he'd travelled back through time, stormed the 'Happy Days' set and scalped Chachi and he stood behind a blue synthesizer holding his guitar. With his intro being so dramatic the crowd were expecting big things and he didn't disappoint. After three of four minutes fumbling and gesturing to someone off stage he eventually plugged in the synthesizer and pressed play. Trying to describe the sound here just seems pointless because it was either so ground breaking our westerns ears couldn't understand, or , it was just the pre-programmed 'bon tempi' setting. This went on for 15 full minutes, occasionally he'd switch to a more experimental beat and then suddenly . . . after an uncomfortable silent gap . . . he'd switch back! Clearly a genius he then changed instruments and did an extended set of Rapa Nui folk hits on his guitar. Soon even the event organisers realised he was losing the crowd and sent out the hosts to try and prevent him from continuing, but, unfazed he ploughed on until he was done. With a dismissive wave of his arm he allowed them to begin. He was AMAZING.

P.S. Easter Island is one of the most magical places we have ever been. Beautiful, fascinating and very hot (Summer Tom is BACK!)

Santiago de Chile

Admittedly we had been a little optimistic about how great Peurto Montt would be as a stop over, en route to Santiago. All excursions to the volcanoe were cancelled due to bad weather so Mr Forbes and I made the most of getting to know Chile by dining in a hotel equivalent to a Travel Lodge, going to the casino and watching 4 DVDs in 2 days.

Arrived in Santiago yesterday. Staying in a beautiful old building (French townhouse style....Tommy is currently standing on the balcony sipping beer, in a thong pant get up whilst doing some kind of plie), visiting museums, climbing San Cristobal and hanging out with our new Chilean friend Dr. Jorge.

We met Jorge on a boat in the Patagonian mountains. He claims he felt an immediate connection and therefore taken our comfort and happiness, in Santiago (his home town), into his own hands.

Jorge took us to his apartment today, to his favourite neighbourhoods and then into the mountains. He is determined to help us fall in love with the city.....we are.

What's in the bag.......

........if you'd like to know email me

Photos of Karen #2

Karen, Room 55, Hotel Palicio, Montevideo, Uruguay

Karen, Elevator, Bariloche, Argentina

Update & Photos

Hello, we are now in a small city in Chile called Puerto Montt. If there was an equivalent city in the UK it would probably be Dover or Portsmouth as it is considered to be a "travel hub". Contrary to what you might think a Chilean Portsmouth is no more fun than the actual one so today we're headed somewhere we've heard is better called Puerto Varas. Fingers crossed.

Been in Bariloche for the last few days, very beautiful but the weather utterly sucked, causing all the fun stuff to be cancelled due to the wind. Gutted. As a result we went cycling twice, the first time (sunny) was lots of fun, the second (raining) was totally miserable and difficult especially considering the arse-bruises we hadn't noticed from the first time. Not a total loss though as we discovered an amazing hippy colony in the woods, had a good lunch, and then got stared out of a shop dedicated to clocks and dolls by the rude and intimidating owner. We will be in Santiago in the next couple of days and then on to Easter Island, woo.

p.s. Accidentally smashed the window in our room in Bariloche. Bugger.

p.p.s. Got some photos of Torres Del Paine developed & scanned . . . see below . . .

Lago Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche, Argentina

Photos of Karen #1

I have obviously been taking lots of photos since we've been away. However, unlike at home, where friends and family are always around to do this or wear that infront of my camera here there is only Karen so here are the first of many . . .

Karen, Room 55, Hotel Palicio, Montevideo, Uruguay

Karen, on the sea wall, Montevideo, Uruguay


. . . many more to come . . .

Brief Update (With Reviews)

Been busy recently, here is a brief update of what we've been up to. . . (with reviews when necessary) After trek across Moreno Glacier (very good see photos below) . . . went to Puerto Natales in Chile. . . (nice town, yet slightly odd, only comes alive for about 45mins everyday, and is otherwise totally dead apart from the packs of wild dogs that roam the streets everywhere (including puppies!) . . . From there took bus and boat to the Torres Del Paine National Park (quite definitely the most beautiful place I have ever been FACT, before you get here everyone warns that the weather is a bastard and that you should pack every piece of waterproof thermal you can get your hands on . . . probably quite good advice but weather was fine and trekked for two days in shorts) . . . weirdly bumped in Jamie Rea's old house master at the base of a glacier . . . (he bought us a cup of tea) . . . Went back to El Calafate (Argentina) . . . stayed our first night in a rank dorm in bunks (not as much fun as I remember & managed to annoy everyone by forgetting to switch my alarm off at 6:15am) . . . that is us up to date . . . we're leaving in an hour headed north to Bariloche for Swiss village inspired Argentinian based lake & forest fun . . . marp.

P.S. Mental note: When in the most beautiful place you have ever been (. . . FACT!) do not, for safe-keeping, place your camera in a tight sock, and then in a waterproof bag. The tight sock will, because it is so tight, push down on the shutter, run down the battery and render your camera utterly useless.