And so, our trip comes to an end...

We saved the best for last.

Iguazu Falls was absolutely spectacular. It's known as the 8th wonder of the world, and rightfully so. It makes Niagara Falls look like a leaky faucet. We took a boat ride (like Maiden of the Mist) right into the falls, and got drenched. We also had lunch with coaties (co-aht-ees) which are adorable little creatures that are kind of a cross between a racoon and a possum that are all over the park, and will literally crawl onto your table and steal your food.

Then, after a delightful siesta we had dinner at was probably the most interesting restaurant we've ever eaten at. The chef is from Italy and uses molecular infusion in his cooking so every dish is a new experience. Ste p H had an eggplant appetizer with parmesan flavored ice cream dressing. It was amazing. She also had a chocolate torte thing with chocolate filling covered in chocolate (that's what they called it--a chocolate torte thing)

Tomorrow we have a relaxing day in Iguazu before heading back to Buenos Aires, then a stopover in Brazil, then back to sunny Monrovia. Thanks for following our trip, and it's now time for another siesta and some chocolate things.

Touring around Salta

We flew in to Salta in northern Argentina, and took at 27 hour bus tour of the region. About half way through the tour Steven woke up. We climbed up to 4100m on the tour (about 13000') and Steven got an altitude headache so he went back to sleep. Traveling down the windiest road ever was very fun, especially sitting on top of the bus.

We then saw these very cool salt flats

which, because of the amount of salt in the air, made Steven even sleepier

We finally returned to our hotel about 10 p.m., where after a grueling day of sleeping, we went to sleep. Today we had several hours to kill, so we walked around Salta and went to an amazing Museum that is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and houses 3 of the best preserved mummified children in the world that were discovered completely in tact high in the Andes about 25 years ago. The children, 2 girls (one of whom was hit by lightening after being buried) were sacraficed by their Incan tribes about 500 years ago. First, they are chosen based on their beauty and rank in their tribe, then they are paraded throughout the streets, then giving alcohol to put them to sleep, then buried alive.

. We then finished walking around town, where Stephanie blended in perfectly with the locals.

Here is a better picture of Stephanie when she wakes up in the morning.

Running around Buenos Aires

In keeping with Stephanie's idea of a "relaxing" vacation, we had been trying to locate a store in Buenos Aires where I had seen a very nice briefcase when we were first here. My little "Sherlockisimo" finally tracked the store down using Google street maps. We then managed to catch an earlier flight to Buenos Aires today that allowed us a small window to grab a taxi, race into town, get money (we ran out), go to the store, and get the briefcase. We then hightailed it back to the airport only to find out that our flight had been delayed an hour. I told Steph that we should go back into town just for the fun of it, but that idea didn't fly. But I do own a beautiful new briefcase, plus we got gifts for everyone who has been reading this blog. Your original authentic ceramic penguin is on its way.

Bumming in Bariloche

This was the view from the hotel lobby in Bariloche (Spanish for "the town that sleeps from 1-5"). In keeping with our longstanding tradition of fitting in with the locals, we are now experts in siestaing.

Argentenian driving

O.k., so I can deal with being in a rental car the size of a Yugo, and not being able to go more than 65 without the doors falling off because of the vibration of the engine. But what is difficult to fathom is why they have a stop light in the middle of the highway to allow yaks to cross, but in the center of every single town there is not only no stop light but no stop sign anywhere. The cross streets are a complete crap shoot. Whoever can get through the fastest has the right of way. And the double yellow line on a highway? Here if it's an even numbered day it means you can pass, but only if going up hill on a curve. The nice thing about all of this is that I have only hit 1 pedestrian on the entire trip, and she deserved it because her cane had cracked and she was walking too slowly. On to more important things--we're kind of chilling the last couple of days. Drove around some beautiful lakes, saw killer sunsets, a Chilean volcano (active), some very unusual trees with pine "cones" the size of bowling balls.

Steph continues to excel at finding the absolute most remote hotels in the world with magnificent views and working toilets. She is a tourista Goddess.

The Day was Saved

After being saved by ice cream once again, we headed off on "7 Lakes Rd". As the name implies it has beautiful glacier lakes from the Andes Mtns. I enjoyed the curvy mtns rds, showing off my Indy 500 skills while Steph held on for dear life. We arrive at our destination and are now looking for the hotel. We are told to head up the rd only to eventually to be on an unpaved rocky rd which we have learned Argentina has perfected. After leaving our transmission and getting a flat tire (not really), I'm thinking to myself, where the Hell did Steph pick this time. To our surprise we get to the top only to find an adorable hosteria with a welcoming owner and views to die for. We'll have to get a new transmission tomorrow, but tomorrow is another day!!!

Horror Movie

Our story left off with beautiful lake views. We thought it would be a brillant idea to take a boat ride to to a nearby pennisula to see myrtle trees and bike ride back 7 miles since we were told it was downhill. Just as in a slasher movie everyone is happy at the beginning and at the end only 2 people are left. That is what this morning felt like. The first half was uphill trails. We did more walking than riding. Then we get so excited we start going downhill, only to find it became so steep because of a detour they had that we were walking and falling. We now have war wounds to show for it. Had to have gelato to fix the mood.

Beautiful view

As many of you know, our travels always become adventures. I wanted to explain the trip to Chile. We drove 7 hrs with literally 1 gas station which limits your gas. There was nothing except guanacos and rhea birds along the way. After our arduous journey up the mountain and barely able to move a muscle, we go to begin our return journey only to find our car is completely DEAD!!!! The only station is 3 hrs away and it feels like we are in the middle of the Sahara Desert. When I contacted Avis about it, they said sorry, can't help, find a way to get the car to the border. We said, oh yea right like we'd worry about the car. Thankfully someone at the hotel was able to jump us. I wanted to add pics from kayaking and our celebration at the Glacier Bar where Steph got wasted, we toasted our past and our next 30 yrs and Cathy and Jess danced like John Travolta. Today we said adieu to our friends, Cathy & Jess, and have moved on to a beautiful lake and glacier area.

Icebergs galore

So the day started with our great friends cath and jess being drugged by some Argentinian bandits.

Having miraculously recovered from the attck, we all embarked on another highlight of the trip. We kayaked Lago Argentina and saw dozens of amazing icebergs

. Funny thing about the kayaking was this Asian couple who, to save their lives, could not paddle straight. They looked like Shriners trying to drive those little cars around. They ran into icebergs, other people's kayaks, and finally had to be pulled in by 1 of the guides. The icebergs were incredible, both because of their size and bizarre shapes.

Chilean chicks

Okay, so there are some rare days in life when everything aligns just right and you think, it just can't get any better than this, and then you look outside, and

We're at Torres de Paine National Park in Chile now. Crossing over the border involved stopping at a farmhouse without electricity and handing our passports to a 12 year old who stamped them and said okay. Today the girls walked up to where the spires are (or the Towers as they're called here), 4 hours up, 3 1/2 down. I accompanied them about halfway up and once I felt they were safe I pushed them off the cliff and said "Fly, mis chicitas, fly away." So they left me and came back with their lenguas hanging down to the ground (that's Chilean for..."tongues," ye of the filthy mind). We ate at the restaurant here, and the funny thing about Argentina and Chile is that you pay $8 for as good a piece of filet as you could ever want in your life, but that can of Fanta? $6. Nuts.

Now, after having walked a total of 12 miles, a massage was definitely in order. I decided to have the "simple crotch" massage ( I was really looking forward to the "complex crotch" massage but it was sold out) followed by an intense workout on my aching Bozo. SEE BELOW. I swear sometimes I need no help whatsoever to be hilarious.

The girls got the 2 for 1 special on their YooHoos. Here's a final picture of the day. The area the girls hiked to is toward the right where you see the couple of spires sticking straight up (otherwise known as a Bozo)

Highlight of the trip!

Well, after the disaster with the airlines screwing up our flights we finally made it to Ushiaia, and spent a quick 3 hours at Tiera del Fuego, a beautiful national park. But, what was really cool was that we were at the southernmost city in the world. We also went to the very end of the highway that runs all the way from the city to the northernmost point in Alaska, and incredibly just as we were leaving we happened to see an American who had ridden his motorcycle from one end to the other and had just arrived at the park as we were leaving.

Today, we went to El Calafate and walked on the 3rd largest glacier in the world. Absolutely amazing pictures to follow as soon as I figure out how to get out of the cravasse I've fallen in to.

O.k. I have now de-cravassed myself. While doing so, my bride hooked up with the 2 guys, and has disappeared into the Argentinian wild.

To add to the pain, cath and jes decided to make it a 4some, leaving me to fend for myself.

But, no worries for me, as I have decided to revel in the beauty of the glacier rather than waste time with the fickle members of the opposite sex.

Sea lions

Stephanie and the crew went swimming with sea lions yesterday. I, being the pussy that I am, did not go. They had a blast.

We were supposed to go to the bottom of the world today, but the airlines cancelled our flight. So instead we're back in Buenos Aires for the night and we leave tomorrow morning very early. Hopefully we will be able to go as far south as possible.

Penguins galore!

Yesterday was one of the highlights of the trip. We went to a place called Punta Tomba, which means rocky point, and saw hundreds of thousands of penguins (we also saw hundreds of thousands of pounds of mierdo de pinguinas, and you don't need google translate to figure out what that is)

The penguins' babies were born in Dec., so many of them are still molting. We also saw Guanicos, which basically are large reddish brown llamas. Jess also spotted an armadillo, which she captured and she now has it on a leash. cathy is still at the penguin site, having taken more pix than there are penguins.

Dinosaur Day

Saw the femur bone of the largest dinosaur ever found, which was discovered last year on a farm just up the road from Trelew where we're staying. Then saw geologicos dusting off many other bones from the Titanysaurus, which was 130 feet long and weighed 75 tons. Much to my dismay, it came to life and devoured my wife so I am now singlasouras. Then we hiked up a mountain and saw many fossils of sharks, penguins, oysters, whales, and dolphins. Tomorrow it's off to see penguins that are still

alive.

just finished our first full day in Buenos Aires. Went to see you the world's most acousticly perfect theater where stephanie is still practicing her vocal gymnastic, then went to an argentinian flea market and bought all sorts of wonderful gifts for family members. Cath got felt up by a pickpocket, so she's returning there tomorrow. We walked many kilometers and have no soles on the bottoms of our feet. Also, went to an amazing cemetary where Eva Peron is buried. Astonishingly ornate tombs that get bigger every time you turn a corner. . Steph has decided that her gastronomical consumption will consist of eggs in the morning and pasta at night. Off to Trelew today.

Tangoing in buenos aires

So last night we went to see some absolutely astonishing tango dancers. They did things with their legs and their body that will probably be shown in the upcoming movie Fifty Shades of Grey.of course when they asked for volunteers Steph and I got up there and receive the biggest ovation of the night. Today we're going to a market where stuff is going to brush up on her Spanish and probably end up paying three times what she should since when she's going to be bargaining with people will actually give them more money

Estoy barracho y encuentro esta chica en mi cuarto.(I'm drunk and I found this girl in my room)

arrived in Buenos Aires without incident. Customs took all of 30 seconds to get through, and they did not even catch the ak47 that I had in my suitcase. Our taxi met us at the airport and took us directly to the king's palace because I gave him directions in Spanish and had no idea what I was talking about. Actually our hotel room is quite nice and Stephanie right now is sleeping in the bathtub.

in brazil

Just hanging around Sao paolo, Brazil waiting for our flight to Buenos Aires. Long layover. Fun starts tonight.

The Truth

Steven's Travel Buddy (aka Steph)

February 1, 2015 at 6:27 PM

It has actually be 18 months in the planning, so we'll see how it goes. Who knows, we may get lost in the Andes Mtns only to be found by a guanaco.

10 days to go!

10 days until we leave for the trip Stephanie has been planning for 10 years!