Today I slept in a fair bit, and then got up to take the free Staten Island Ferry, which goes right by the Statue of Liberty. Better alternative than having to pay to go to Liberty Island I figured, they don't allow people to go up in the statue anymore, so a free ride right by it is just as good as a paid ride to the base of it.
After seeing the statue, which is smaller than I thought, I was walking around trying to find a subway station in the financial district, around Wall Street. Subway service is sporadic on weekends, and combined with construction and upgrade, you cant always find a line that is running to where you're going.
I was walking and walking and walking, and came around the corner of one building, and there was a girl lying in the middle of the street, pretty much right on the yellow line. People started to walk out to her, and when I got close, it was obvious why she was lying there.
She had jumped.
The only buildings around were at least 20 stories tall, and the brokenness of her body gave testament to how high she must have been. I'm pretty sure she didn't feel anything. Cops were on scene in mere seconds, as they are everywhere in Manhattan, and started sorting things out. I didn't really see anything so I left.
Not sure what to do tonight, I have to get up early tomorrow to get to Penn Station to catch the train to Toronto, so probably not a lot.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
New York Day 3
Again, out and about in NYC. Spent most of the morning walking around Manhattan, and went to the Empire State Building to try to get to the observatory deck. Unfortunately, due to the enormous line, I didn't make it up there, as I had to leave to catch the train to The Bronx to go watch a Yankee game at 2 pm
This game was the first of 2 in the same day, Yankees vs. Mets, Subway Series 2008. The first game they were playing at Yankee Stadium, the second at Shea Stadium later that night.
I managed to get a seat behind home plate and off to the side of the fist base line, not bad seats at all. There is construction everywhere around Yankee Stadium right now, as they are building the new Yankee Stadium right next to the current one; it's scheduled to open in 2009.
The game itself was good, turned out to be a blowout for the Mets. I was surprised at how small Yankee Stadium actually is. You can see that they do actually need a new stadium, the halls outside the playing area where they sell food area amazingly tiny and cramped. This game was the 42nd last game to be played there.
At night I wandered around again, heading down to Times Square at night to look around. Everything is busy all the time, I cant get over that. Cant find a moment to yourself anywhere. The only thing I really have left on my list is to see the Statue of Liberty, then I will have covered everything I want to do in NYC, but that is for tomorrow...
This game was the first of 2 in the same day, Yankees vs. Mets, Subway Series 2008. The first game they were playing at Yankee Stadium, the second at Shea Stadium later that night.
I managed to get a seat behind home plate and off to the side of the fist base line, not bad seats at all. There is construction everywhere around Yankee Stadium right now, as they are building the new Yankee Stadium right next to the current one; it's scheduled to open in 2009.
The game itself was good, turned out to be a blowout for the Mets. I was surprised at how small Yankee Stadium actually is. You can see that they do actually need a new stadium, the halls outside the playing area where they sell food area amazingly tiny and cramped. This game was the 42nd last game to be played there.
At night I wandered around again, heading down to Times Square at night to look around. Everything is busy all the time, I cant get over that. Cant find a moment to yourself anywhere. The only thing I really have left on my list is to see the Statue of Liberty, then I will have covered everything I want to do in NYC, but that is for tomorrow...
Friday, June 27, 2008
New York Day 2
After getting some things sorted out in the morning regarding tickets and whatnot, I managed to get away about 1030 am from the hostel. I bought a cheap bus tour that went around the city in several different loops, and was good for 2 days, covering pretty much everything.
I started off at the World Trade Centre site, bypassing everything else to get there first. It is enormous in size, but the construction is progressing, and the hole that is there doesn't so much look like a hole anymore, there are pillars and cranes that have risen past street level now. I walked around looking for the viewing area that I had been told to go to that allowed Emergency Services members in for an additional look that wasn't open to the public. After talking to a few Transit Authority Cops, I learned that it had been closed as construction progressed. There are many interesting things to see there though, including memorials, and interesting stories, such as a very old church that was next to the WTC that wasn't harmed at all, as it was protected by it's trees that surrounded it. Some trees died, most survived, even after being smashed by giant steel I beams that fell from enormous heights. If you talk to people that work in the area, most were there that day, and have interesting insights and things to say.
After that, I walked around some, as the bus is a hop-on-hop-off deal, making my way through the financial district, down Wall street, and to the Staten Island Ferry location. Went by the Brooklyn Bridge, and spent some time down by the water. All day I spent hopping from bus to bus, and jetting around on the subway, through Harlem, up to Central Park, and pretty much everywhere else you can get to.
If you can name a sight in New york, chances are I saw it on this day. the next day I planned for a Yankee game, and hopefully getting up to the observation deck on the Empire State Building.
I started off at the World Trade Centre site, bypassing everything else to get there first. It is enormous in size, but the construction is progressing, and the hole that is there doesn't so much look like a hole anymore, there are pillars and cranes that have risen past street level now. I walked around looking for the viewing area that I had been told to go to that allowed Emergency Services members in for an additional look that wasn't open to the public. After talking to a few Transit Authority Cops, I learned that it had been closed as construction progressed. There are many interesting things to see there though, including memorials, and interesting stories, such as a very old church that was next to the WTC that wasn't harmed at all, as it was protected by it's trees that surrounded it. Some trees died, most survived, even after being smashed by giant steel I beams that fell from enormous heights. If you talk to people that work in the area, most were there that day, and have interesting insights and things to say.
After that, I walked around some, as the bus is a hop-on-hop-off deal, making my way through the financial district, down Wall street, and to the Staten Island Ferry location. Went by the Brooklyn Bridge, and spent some time down by the water. All day I spent hopping from bus to bus, and jetting around on the subway, through Harlem, up to Central Park, and pretty much everywhere else you can get to.
If you can name a sight in New york, chances are I saw it on this day. the next day I planned for a Yankee game, and hopefully getting up to the observation deck on the Empire State Building.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
New York City
New York City at last. A quick flight from Miami landed me in NYC about 6:30 pm on Wednesday, and I made it to my hostel about an hour after that. It was close to dark then, so I just hung around getting some things sorted out for the next day, what I was going to do and whatnot.
I had originally planned to go up to Ottawa, around there a bit and then tour back through the states in several places before going back to New York for the flight home. Funny how things are always changing.
Due to costs, I decided to cut the trip back after New York and just fly straight into Calgary. I called United, to change my ticket. No problem, they said. With fare difference and fees, that will be.....hmmm......let me see.........$1240.00.
I says "Pardon?"
The next half an hour to 45 minutes were spent talking to supervisors and then supervisor's supervisors, but none changed their tune. So given the initial cost of the ticket, plus the changes and fees, they were trying to suggest that a one way ticket from New York City to Calgary at the end of June was somewhere in the range of $1500.00. I don't think that's reasonable. So, for a hundred bucks on the train to Toronto, and a cheap flight with Westjet, I am booked to come back into Calgary on the 6th of July for much less than $1500.00. While I'm at it, I'm going to take the week to visit family and friends.
But, back to New York. After that fiasco, I simply went out and got something to eat. It was dark, and I was walking back to the hostel. Flip flops on my feet, just walking down the sidewalk, when something ran across the front of my feet, missing my toes by a few inches. I didn't jump, because I thought it was a cat, and we've all had cats run out in front of us, right? Cats are harmless. When I looked at it running into the park to my left, I saw that it was actually a very large rat. About 1 1/2 feet long from nose to tail.
Welcome to New York!
I had originally planned to go up to Ottawa, around there a bit and then tour back through the states in several places before going back to New York for the flight home. Funny how things are always changing.
Due to costs, I decided to cut the trip back after New York and just fly straight into Calgary. I called United, to change my ticket. No problem, they said. With fare difference and fees, that will be.....hmmm......let me see.........$1240.00.
I says "Pardon?"
The next half an hour to 45 minutes were spent talking to supervisors and then supervisor's supervisors, but none changed their tune. So given the initial cost of the ticket, plus the changes and fees, they were trying to suggest that a one way ticket from New York City to Calgary at the end of June was somewhere in the range of $1500.00. I don't think that's reasonable. So, for a hundred bucks on the train to Toronto, and a cheap flight with Westjet, I am booked to come back into Calgary on the 6th of July for much less than $1500.00. While I'm at it, I'm going to take the week to visit family and friends.
But, back to New York. After that fiasco, I simply went out and got something to eat. It was dark, and I was walking back to the hostel. Flip flops on my feet, just walking down the sidewalk, when something ran across the front of my feet, missing my toes by a few inches. I didn't jump, because I thought it was a cat, and we've all had cats run out in front of us, right? Cats are harmless. When I looked at it running into the park to my left, I saw that it was actually a very large rat. About 1 1/2 feet long from nose to tail.
Welcome to New York!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Back in Miami
Well, after the long drive to Houston, through Dallas and back, I am in Miami again. I put close to 3000 miles (miles, not kilometres) on the rental I had, in 6 days. Not bad, not bad. It was nice to be able to drive through Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, it's really nice down there. The thing that amazed me the most was the amount of traffic on the Interstate everywhere you were. It was a constant game of trying to pass people while trying to get out of others' way, and it rarely let up.
Houston was great, visited some friends and spent time just relaxing. After the short hop to Dallas, it was again great to see some familiar faces and get together. Dallas is a city I will definitely visit again.
In Miami, I again haven't been doing much, just enjoying the sun, and have myself booked in to fly to New York tomorrow at about 3. From there I am not too sure what is going on. NYC is expensive, and right now I only have a place to stay until Friday, then I have nowhere. It doesn't help the fact that the 4th of July is approaching, and travelers who are getting in the city early are already booking things up. I had hoped to get to Ottawa, but flights aren't cheap.
I am looking forward to New York, so much to do, so little time...
Houston was great, visited some friends and spent time just relaxing. After the short hop to Dallas, it was again great to see some familiar faces and get together. Dallas is a city I will definitely visit again.
In Miami, I again haven't been doing much, just enjoying the sun, and have myself booked in to fly to New York tomorrow at about 3. From there I am not too sure what is going on. NYC is expensive, and right now I only have a place to stay until Friday, then I have nowhere. It doesn't help the fact that the 4th of July is approaching, and travelers who are getting in the city early are already booking things up. I had hoped to get to Ottawa, but flights aren't cheap.
I am looking forward to New York, so much to do, so little time...
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Miami to Texas = Long, Long Drive
So I rented a car and planned to drive over to Houston, Texas to visit some friends. I got up early, went to take a shower, only to find no water in the hotel. I quickly found out the problem when I went to the lobby and found several construction workers trying to seal off the water main they had sliced in half while digging up the street. So, no shower I guess. After I was late picking up the car, I finally set out from Miami around 11 a.m., enroute to Texas.
I made my way up the east coast, and north of Jupiter, I hooked it westbound onto the Florida turnpike, passing through Orlando, and hooking up with Interstate 10 on the northern end of Florida. I made it all the way to Pensacola before I decided to call it a night, staying there.
The next morning, I set out at 8 am, and passed through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana before hitting Texas. It was nice to have 2-3 lanes the whole way, without much of a slowdown, but I was amazed at the insanity of the amount of traffic on the road. Bumper to bumper, side to side, it was a fight the whole way. It's a nice drive, following the coast mostly, and you are surrounded by trees the whole way, but not a drive I want to make too often.
Around 4 pm, I made it into Houston, and then up to Spring, TX, where I am now, staying with friends. the plan is to hit the road once again tomorrow, heading up to Dallas to visit some more people, then the long, arduous drive back to Miami, where I plan to spend a few days before flying to New York.
I made my way up the east coast, and north of Jupiter, I hooked it westbound onto the Florida turnpike, passing through Orlando, and hooking up with Interstate 10 on the northern end of Florida. I made it all the way to Pensacola before I decided to call it a night, staying there.
The next morning, I set out at 8 am, and passed through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana before hitting Texas. It was nice to have 2-3 lanes the whole way, without much of a slowdown, but I was amazed at the insanity of the amount of traffic on the road. Bumper to bumper, side to side, it was a fight the whole way. It's a nice drive, following the coast mostly, and you are surrounded by trees the whole way, but not a drive I want to make too often.
Around 4 pm, I made it into Houston, and then up to Spring, TX, where I am now, staying with friends. the plan is to hit the road once again tomorrow, heading up to Dallas to visit some more people, then the long, arduous drive back to Miami, where I plan to spend a few days before flying to New York.
Miami
After clearing US customs, I got a ride down to South Beach, which was close to my hotel. Miami reminds me somewhat of my short stay in L.A. Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't live there. Lots of nice cars, clean, very rich atmosphere. 
I hung out for the day on Sunday and Monday (15th/16th) just on the beach checking things out and walking around, finally soaking up some sun. Not a lot to mention, just enjoyed some down time where I don't have to be ready to fly the next day. Although I did have to drive to Texas to visit friends on the 17th.
More Flights...
After spending the night in Cusco, I flew back to Lima on the 14th. I had less than 24 hours there before having to fly to Miami on the 15th at 6 am. This meant, unfortunately, that I had to get up at about 3 am to make it to the airport for the initial flight to Columbia, where I was to connect to Miami. As Peru and Colombia were playing in a qualifying soccer match for World Cup in 2010, I didn't manage to get a lot of sleep.
In my one hour stop in Columbia, I had to get off my plane, walk down a hallway, and get on another plane going to Miami. In this short, short distance to walk from plane to plane, I had to go through security 3 times. And we thought the States was strict? 1st step - x rays and metal detectors. 2nd step, frisk search and physical examination of my carry on bag. 3rd step - again, x rays and metal detectors. Keep in mind, this was all within 50 feet, in a straight line of sight. Kudos to Columbia for keeping the planes safe, I guess.
After all that, it was a short 4 hours to Miami....
In my one hour stop in Columbia, I had to get off my plane, walk down a hallway, and get on another plane going to Miami. In this short, short distance to walk from plane to plane, I had to go through security 3 times. And we thought the States was strict? 1st step - x rays and metal detectors. 2nd step, frisk search and physical examination of my carry on bag. 3rd step - again, x rays and metal detectors. Keep in mind, this was all within 50 feet, in a straight line of sight. Kudos to Columbia for keeping the planes safe, I guess.
After all that, it was a short 4 hours to Miami....
Macchu Picchu
So, the following day after the train ride from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, I got up early again to get up to Machu Picchu before it got too busy. I caught the first bus up there at 5:30 a.m., and waited in line for the site to open at 6:30.
Upon getting up to where you give the guy your ticket, I was told that my backpack was too 'large' to go in with, and I had to store it outside. This after they recommend you bring a lunch and water up there, to avoid having to go back out and eat. I protested for a bit, but no dice. It quickly became obvious that it was only a money grab, as they simply randomly picked people out of the crowd and told them to go store their bags, while allowing others with larger bags to walk through. When you had to go store your bag, they then charged you for storage. I then pushed my way back to the front of the line and went inside to have a look around.
Macchu Picchu was nice, and it was great to be able to get around in there without the pathways and stairs being choked with tourists. It is multi-levelled, and it takes some time and energy to be able to climb everywhere to look at everything.
After a few hours and a bunch of photos, I decided to leave when it started to get full. I hopped a bus down the mountain and went back to town. Rather than waiting for my train to arrive later that afternoon around 5 p.m., I changed my train to go to Ollantaytambo, and got out of Aguas Calientes.
The train was almost empty, which made for a much more comfortable ride, being able to stretch out and relax, and even sleep comfortably for a bit. Upon arriving to Ollantaytambo, I got a cheap taxi for the 1 1/2 hour ride back to Cusco, where I had one more night before flying back to Lima the next day.
Ultimately, Macchu Picchu is nice, but is the largest tourist trap I have run into since I left home. With all the hassle and cost it is to get there and back, I don't feel it was worthwhile. Others disagree, but I wouldn't go back.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Update
I have a fair bit to write about, just no time to do so. Currently in Miami, heading over to Texas to visit some friends for a few days. It'll be good to see familiar faces! Updates to follow soon.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Aguas Calientes
Well, up bright and early this morning and boarded the train for the 4 hour journey to Aguas Calientes, where I am now. It isn´t actually far from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, but the train only goes about 25-30 km per hour due to the terrain it has to negotiate, so it takes a while. I bought myself a ´backpacker´ticket, the cheapest you could get, and it was still $100 US round trip.
The trains are fairly comfortable, but packed full, and I wasn´t happy to see that they have the seats facing eachother in groups of four. You cant put your legs out, as the person opposite you has their legs there, so it is cramped and uncomfortable. At least when seats are in normal rows you can stick your legs under the seat.
I spent the journey in and out of something similar to sleep, with my face mashed up against the glass of the window, and created a nice red dent in my forehead from occasionally tring to rest my face against the window frame. Either that or I was slumped forward in a crumpled mess. I dont think I actually slept at all the night previous, as insomnia is another side effect of altitude sickness. That and people rolling into the dorm at 3 am and making a bunch of noise. Ahh, traveling.
The town itself is a giant tourist town, I´m not entirely sure it would exist if it wasn´t for people coming here to either hike the Inca trail or go up to Macchu Picchu. All that seems to exist is markets, hostel and hotels, restaurants, and lots of dogs and cats everywhere.
My altitude sickness has calmed down somewhat, I managed to get rid of the three day headache for a few hours, but it is back with a reinforcements. The nausea is gone, and my balance has leveled out for the most part. I have overheard others talking about it, and I am not the worst off by far. Some American kid had to be hospitalized for a while he had it so bad. Aguas Calientes is about 3000 feet lower than Cusco, so that is a bonus, and thankfully I only have about 12 hours in Cusco after I return, and then fly back to Lima, which mostly is at sea level or close to it.
Tomorrow is another early morning, about 4:30 am to get up and catch the first bus up to Macchu Picchu, trying to avoid the masses. Then it´s a lovely train ride back to Cusco at 5 p.m., and another early flight back to Lima the day after.
The trains are fairly comfortable, but packed full, and I wasn´t happy to see that they have the seats facing eachother in groups of four. You cant put your legs out, as the person opposite you has their legs there, so it is cramped and uncomfortable. At least when seats are in normal rows you can stick your legs under the seat.
I spent the journey in and out of something similar to sleep, with my face mashed up against the glass of the window, and created a nice red dent in my forehead from occasionally tring to rest my face against the window frame. Either that or I was slumped forward in a crumpled mess. I dont think I actually slept at all the night previous, as insomnia is another side effect of altitude sickness. That and people rolling into the dorm at 3 am and making a bunch of noise. Ahh, traveling.
The town itself is a giant tourist town, I´m not entirely sure it would exist if it wasn´t for people coming here to either hike the Inca trail or go up to Macchu Picchu. All that seems to exist is markets, hostel and hotels, restaurants, and lots of dogs and cats everywhere.
My altitude sickness has calmed down somewhat, I managed to get rid of the three day headache for a few hours, but it is back with a reinforcements. The nausea is gone, and my balance has leveled out for the most part. I have overheard others talking about it, and I am not the worst off by far. Some American kid had to be hospitalized for a while he had it so bad. Aguas Calientes is about 3000 feet lower than Cusco, so that is a bonus, and thankfully I only have about 12 hours in Cusco after I return, and then fly back to Lima, which mostly is at sea level or close to it.
Tomorrow is another early morning, about 4:30 am to get up and catch the first bus up to Macchu Picchu, trying to avoid the masses. Then it´s a lovely train ride back to Cusco at 5 p.m., and another early flight back to Lima the day after.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Cusco
Cusco is a nice place, about 300,000 people, and sits way way up at an elevation of about 10,500 feet above sea level. That´s probably why I got sick as soon as I arrived.
By the time I got to the hostel yesterday, it was close to noon. Had a bit of a headache, and decided to have a nap of about an hour or so to see it that took care of it. I woke up 4 hours later, feeling worse than when I went to sleep. I wandered around for a bit, had some supper, but by then the nausea had also set in and my balance was a little bit off, all signs of Altitude sickness. You can try chewing coca leaves or making it into tea, which helps apparently, but I´ve also been told that if you have too much, you can test positive for cocaine on any drug test, so I decided to avoid it.
After a nice 14 hour sleep, I woke today feeling much better, but still in a little bit of a haze. It´s really an odd feeling. I wandered around the city today, as there was finally some nice weather. Today was the nicest day I have had weatrher-wise since I arrived in South America.
Tomorrow, the train tickets are booked to Aguas Calientes, leaving bright and early. Thankfully, Macchu Picchu is several thousand feet lover in elevation that Cusco, so hopefully that gives me a bit of a break.
By the time I got to the hostel yesterday, it was close to noon. Had a bit of a headache, and decided to have a nap of about an hour or so to see it that took care of it. I woke up 4 hours later, feeling worse than when I went to sleep. I wandered around for a bit, had some supper, but by then the nausea had also set in and my balance was a little bit off, all signs of Altitude sickness. You can try chewing coca leaves or making it into tea, which helps apparently, but I´ve also been told that if you have too much, you can test positive for cocaine on any drug test, so I decided to avoid it.
After a nice 14 hour sleep, I woke today feeling much better, but still in a little bit of a haze. It´s really an odd feeling. I wandered around the city today, as there was finally some nice weather. Today was the nicest day I have had weatrher-wise since I arrived in South America.
Tomorrow, the train tickets are booked to Aguas Calientes, leaving bright and early. Thankfully, Macchu Picchu is several thousand feet lover in elevation that Cusco, so hopefully that gives me a bit of a break.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Peru
I haven´t been able to post anything interesting of late, as I really haven´t been doing anything interesting. I have moved on from Chile, which was a disappointment to say the least, and am now in Lima, Peru.
I am heading to Cusco tomorrow on a flight I managed to find for cheap, and will be splitting my time between Cusco and Aguas Calientes, which is a small town at the base of Macchu Picchu. I have chosen to spend a night there to let me get up early, around 5am, and head up to Macchu Picchu, avoiding the crowds that come on the train from Cusco, arriving in the late morning, and leaving in the early afternoon. I will have to hop the afternoon train to go back to Cusco, spend one night there, then board a flight back to Lima Saturday morning, spend one night in Lima, then fly to Miami on Sunday, via Bogota, Columbia.
Starting tomorrow, I am busy, busy, busy. I will post photos of Macchu Picchu as soon as I ahve them.
I am heading to Cusco tomorrow on a flight I managed to find for cheap, and will be splitting my time between Cusco and Aguas Calientes, which is a small town at the base of Macchu Picchu. I have chosen to spend a night there to let me get up early, around 5am, and head up to Macchu Picchu, avoiding the crowds that come on the train from Cusco, arriving in the late morning, and leaving in the early afternoon. I will have to hop the afternoon train to go back to Cusco, spend one night there, then board a flight back to Lima Saturday morning, spend one night in Lima, then fly to Miami on Sunday, via Bogota, Columbia.
Starting tomorrow, I am busy, busy, busy. I will post photos of Macchu Picchu as soon as I ahve them.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Santiago de Chile
After a flight of about 2 hours, I arrived in Santiago on Sunday. Flying in on the plane, it is neat to see how the city is situated right in the mountains, and planes have to wind their way in through the mountains to land at the airport. As I was going through customs, I was told I had to go back and pay an entry tax to get into the country. Apparently if you are from the US, Canada, Australia or Mexico, you have to pay a reciprocity tax to get in. I was not pleased to find out that it was $132.00!!! Higher than any of the other 3 countries as well. Airport tax to leave Argentina, and now another to get into Chile. Give me a break.
I cabbed it into the city from the airport, and on the way in, noticed all the flags at half mast. A long, long conversation consisting of broken spanglish ensued with the cab driver, and after a while, I got the story as to why. The Friday previous, a high ranking General in the Chilean Police Force had died in Panama in a helicopter crash, along with his wife. The funeral was today. The police had shut the entire downtown area down, and as a result, I had to walk in about 15 blocks to my hostel .
The hostel itself is very nice and clean, but I was disappointed to find out they allow smoking in the main area. Then again, so does everywhere. Everybody in South America seems to smoke, everywhere, all the time. Airports, restaurants, movie theatres, hostels, all pro-smoking. Oh well, might as well get used to it while I am here.
Tomorrow hopefully I will be able to head into the Andes mountians and do some hiking and exploring. I looked into Easter Island, but it is way too expensive, regrettably.
I cabbed it into the city from the airport, and on the way in, noticed all the flags at half mast. A long, long conversation consisting of broken spanglish ensued with the cab driver, and after a while, I got the story as to why. The Friday previous, a high ranking General in the Chilean Police Force had died in Panama in a helicopter crash, along with his wife. The funeral was today. The police had shut the entire downtown area down, and as a result, I had to walk in about 15 blocks to my hostel .
The hostel itself is very nice and clean, but I was disappointed to find out they allow smoking in the main area. Then again, so does everywhere. Everybody in South America seems to smoke, everywhere, all the time. Airports, restaurants, movie theatres, hostels, all pro-smoking. Oh well, might as well get used to it while I am here.
Tomorrow hopefully I will be able to head into the Andes mountians and do some hiking and exploring. I looked into Easter Island, but it is way too expensive, regrettably.
Buenos Aires
Well for the remainder of my time in Argentina, I remained in Buenos Aires. To travel over to the much heralded Mendoza wine region would have been nice, but with time restrictions and not wanting to shell out scads of cash to get there and back, I opted against it.
In Buenos Aires, I just mostly walked around, admiring the architecture and taking in the atmosphere of the city. I spent time in City squares, watched a few protests taking place in the street for something, and waited for it to erupt into somehting else, but the Policia had it well in hand. No excitement for now.
I am now off to Chile, and will be spending a week there, exploring the Andes and the capital city, Santiago.
In Buenos Aires, I just mostly walked around, admiring the architecture and taking in the atmosphere of the city. I spent time in City squares, watched a few protests taking place in the street for something, and waited for it to erupt into somehting else, but the Policia had it well in hand. No excitement for now.
I am now off to Chile, and will be spending a week there, exploring the Andes and the capital city, Santiago.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)