"Es Mucho Frio" playback.

Just managed to get to a web cafe here in Brazil able to upload this short few video clips. Was trying to get it up in the previous post for "Es Mucho Frio", but wasnt possible then, so here it is now. Better late than never I guess. First is from our 20km trek to the summit of Mount Fitz Roy, down in Patagonia Argentina, after our mountainous uphill struggle. The view at the peak was fantastic and as you can prob tell from this short clip, its was soooooo cold up there. Its difficult to hear what im saying as the wind was vicious when we reached the view point. But basicly its something like- "welcome to the view point of Mount Fitz Roy, Patagonia, Argentina" :

This second clip below was when we were trekking up French Valley on way up Torres del Paine. Its the free run water that comes off melting glaciers. We drank gallons of this water on the trek, very refreshing and clear - fantastic!

Shedding the winter skin

Well after moving away from the snowy Andes mountains, we moved on up to Buenos Aires again to made our way to Brazil. Since its back to the piping hot weather, i have finally got rid of the beardy boy look, and shaved it all off. It was fine in the cold winter weather down south Argentina/Chile, but not in this sticky heat.

A before and after look, no snearing comments now!!!

Beardyboy & Cleanboy:
. .

We've hooked up with so many people along the trip, there are so many Brazilians and Israelis traveling throughout Argentina and Chile.

We were riding the Uruguayan coast for a bit, trough Colonia and Punto Del Este then breaking over the boarder to Florianopilis, Brazil (a 16hour bus ride, nasty!!) where we are now, and then over land to Rio. Punto Del Este is a beach/coastal city. Its supposed to be prity much dead in the off peak season, but its so fucking alive now! If your not into eating, drinking and worshiping the sun, then this aint a place to come, but I'm happy with all 3. ... and once again - the women. un-fucking-believable. Not an ounce of exaggeration here, but its hard to find any Latin ladies that aren't good looking.

Right leaving you on that note, its time to go back to work; chilling on the beach in Florianopilis, on the southern east coast of Bazil, admiring the very pleasant scenery.

Trekking Andes + 92km = sore feet!

Well just back from trekking another part of the Andes, this time it was a 4 days camping trek at Tores Del Paine. Was tight going at times, but eventually finished it. Cant believe we covered that amount in that timeframe. But it was very rewarding when completed. I think I'll be staying off the trekking for a while, feet still in agony. eek! (Sorry no photos yet!)

We've crossed the boarder to Chile now, and sampling the beer & beef. I'm far from disappointed, but have to say its not a scratch on what we had in Argentina. We've only went to a few places, but none of them were really top notch. The few beef houses went to in B'Aires, were all fantastic!

The Chilean natives come across a bit distant to "outsiders", and not very friendly. It feels at times, they couldnt care less if you needed help with anything, and are quite reluctant to give advice, its more or less a "next person please!" ... just one other reason why I like Argentina more, the people there are great, reminds me of the Irish hospitality back home.

Anyway we're heading to Ushuaia in Patagonia next to catch a flight back up to Buenos Aires, before heading up to Rio. We may cross into Uruguay to sample the beaches on the way up the coast, but we'll see as we're cutting it fine time-wise, as Carnaval is closing in on us.

OK, over and out for now.
Thanks for the emails and texts!

Es Mucho Frio

i.e., its v.very cold!

Just another quick one here, back from trekking areas of the Andies along the Argentina/Chile boarder, now that was an experience and a half!
Just fantastic, we left El Calafate after viewing allot of glaciers, including Puerto Moreno Glacier - an amazing experience i must say. We went to a wee remote village called El Chalten, further south. I'll not be able to get across the scenic views in writing, here are just a very few i got up with such slow connections here in s.argentina, so i'll let the photos tell some of the story. Better ones to follow soon. (see below)

We done a 20km trek yesterday up to Mount Fitz Roy. Its in the Patagonia region, so i'm so utterly bollixed at the mo. Was quite a tough challenge for both Barry and myself, but the view at the peak was out of this world. Was mainly a mountainous uphill struggle, which made it even harder. Not sure of the temperatures at the top, but believe me it was "Es Mucho Frio" -
Very coooold!!!



Right, me outa here, time to recuperate. Yawnnnn!

Oh, as you can see in the middle photo, that collapsed right in front of our eyes. Amazing!

Thoughts on Buenos Aires.

Well just a few thoughts here so far...,
settled into the new surroundings in Buenos Aires. Its a really cool city, with lots to see. The taxi-men are prity fucking crazy, there is no concept of pedestrians crossing on lights at anytime. Weather there is fantastic, and local people as good, and very friendly. (ill not even get into the native women, just out of this world!!) South American women totally live up to their reputation!

We've met up with loads of people from different countries. we're hanging around with 2 Mexicans and 2 Brazilian lads, really sound people.. As laid back as us, and are a great laugh The Brazilian lads love the Irish whiskeys, Jameson and Bushmills being their favorite!

Went to see Boca Juniors stadium in BA, where Maradona played at club level. was class! iv got loads of photos, but cant post them yet, as its restricted here at the mo.

Since doing my "self-taught" Spanish course before the start of the trip, its great and makes life a hell of allot easier. A few Spanish words goes along way! Baz has allot of Spanish which is a great help too.

We've moved onto El Calafate now in South Argentina, near the Chilean boarder.
We're planning to trek the Perito Moreno glaciers on a guided tour, so that will be excellent.

Its allot colder here down in the south as you can expect moving south of the equator, but we'll soon be back to the hotter weather when we head back up north to Rio De Janerio in Feb.

OK, chao for now, hope alls well in your side, if anyone is reading ths.