Day 36 & 37 – An Ab-Zorbing experience!!

The usual booking of buses happened again today as we prepared to say goodbye to Auckland. We are really impressed by Auckland, especially Mike who said that it is the most liveable city we have been in so far, along with Buenos Aires…I tend to agree with him. After two big bowls of cereal and numerous slices of toast we were on another bus to Rotorua after learning that the bus for Waitomo Caves left at 8.30am. We will go back to the caves but we prepared for life in Rotorua! Sheep were the main scenery on the route to Rotorua…I was feeling a little sleepy so I counted as many sheep as I could but still can’t manage to sleep on any bus but at least I know every song on the lad’s Ipods now. Rotorua is one of the world’s most concentrated and accessible geothermal areas…it has geysers and cauldrons of boiling mud. You can smell Rotorua long before you see it. There is almost a smell of rotten eggs in the air (Hydrogen sulphide, drifting up from natural vents in the region’s thin crust…that’s my history lesson over!). All the books on Rotorua say that you get use to the smell after a few hours….I can still smell it and it smells bad, I’d rather smell the Maloney’s silage in the morning than this. We checked into the “Crash Palace” and it seems really nice with very helpful staff and they explained all the activities that we can do. After a few games of pool we hit the hay because we have to get up early to do a bit of Zorbing (explained later) and some other activity.

The boys woke up in the morning complaining that it was a very cold night…Mike wants to wear a hoodie tonight because he said it was freezing. I didn’t think it was that cold but I guess I am a bit tougher than these young pups!! A big fry up set us up for the day (although we are eating every two minutes these days, even a fry doesn’t fill me and Tom’s bellies!!). We got a bus up to the Agro adventures activity centre. I have seen Zorbs on TV a few times but for those of you who don’t know what one is it is “an 11 foot high inflatable transparent sphere which you can ride inside. Two feet of air protect you from the ground enabling you to Zorb down hills at high speed (I love robbing stuff from Manuals!!). We decided to do it in pairs so I was paired with big Mike Ryan. Inside the Zorb there is water so we had to strip down to our shorts for this ride. The journey up to the hill where the Zorb is stationed was bumpy to say the least and your man driving the jeep up had the tunes pumping…this was an activity in itself. We had to do a Superman like jump to get inside the Zorb as it has a really small entrance. After I jumped in Mike wasn’t far behind. Away we went at a really fast pace down the hill, Tom and Conor pushed our Zorb so we were slipping, sliding and spinning away inside the Zorb. My feet were in Mike’s face!! It was weird because you have no idea where you are and it’s like a cross between a water slide and a rollercoaster!! Conor and Tom came rolling down the hill after us and we all agreed that it was great craic!!

After drying off from our Zorbing session, we decided to hit “Hells Gate” geothermal park and Mud spa!! The Gap tour was our first spa experience so we decided to splash out again. This spa is famous for its legendary, health-giving mud’s and sulphurous waters…..but it had us at mud, Apparently these special mud’s and sulphurous waters have been guarded for centuries by the Kaitiaki “Wai Ora” (guardian warrior) after whom the spa is named…I didn’t see any sign of the good auld Kaitiaki! We all hopped in the mud bath and it was like going into our septic tank out the back garden but obviously a bit healthier than that…well a lot more, I hope!! The slogan says that it is like playing in Silk!! We all started covering ourselves in the mud and looked a bit like Harry Henderson….a handsome Harry Henderson I might add at that! After messing in the mud we had to have the coldest shower known to man…it was freezing. It even made Mike Ryan weep like a little girl…he let out a massive scream!! After this we went into a thermal spa which was basically really hot water but it got us into a relaxed mood, even us travellers need a bit of a break because its usually all go. Conor and myself had another facial, I know some people are laughing at us but it great fun to have attractive New Zealand girls pampering you…even though they weren’t that attractive (no lies in the blog I’ve been told)!!

The Geothermal park walk was next on the list and Mike took the role of the leader and guided us through this park with his map, the man was in his element as we asked him questions about the park, he had all the answers!! Hells Gate Thermal Reserve is set in 50 acres with a large variety of geothermal features. We walked past steaming fumeroles and pools of boiling Mud ( in excess of 100 degrees Celsius) so violent that they are unnerving. We saw remarkable formations and colours as well as cascading hot water. The biggest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere can also be seen here!! In fairness New Zealand is starting to grow on me because one minute you can be in a forest with waterfalls and feel like you are back in Brazil and then you are right beside sulphur lakes, its weird but amazing at the same time. A strange thing about one of the pools is that it is in the shape of Australia and it wasn’t man made…spooky!

Following our adrenaline rushing (Zorb) yet relaxing (Spa) day we hit a Chinese buffet. I guess we got use to our buffets in Spain that we couldn’t quite help ourselves. They had a great selection with lots of broccoli so Mike and Tom made sure I ate it!! A big bus full of people came into the restaurant so business was booming! All in all a very satisfactory day was had and with white water rafting on the cards tomorrow it’s exciting times ahead!

Not bad not bad at all,

Gary.

Day 34 & 35 – It’s Freestyle, Bro!!

The weather here is pretty similar to home, it’s very changeable and while the weather was good yesterday the rain was never far away and today it showed its ugly head. We didn’t mind too much though as we were leaving Pahia today with a 4 hour bus journey back South to Auckland. We hung around the town in the morning, did a bit of interneting, devoured our now customary ice-cream cone a day no matter what the weather and ate lunch. The rain didn’t stop all day. We gathered our bags, put on our macs in the sacks and loaded onto the bus. During our travels we have noticed the excellent public transport (particularly buses) in other parts of the world. In South America the long haul bus journeys were very comfortable (more comfortable than a plane), smooth and efficient and decent food provided. While here in New Zealand the ticketing system is excellent, bus drivers friendly and helpful, each driver gives a little commentary and guides passengers through the journey ensuring everyone enjoys the journey, catches their stop while being informed of any sights or points of interest along the way.

We were booked into a different hostel in Auckland this time, more central and bigger. We arrived at hostel round 8.30pm so we settled into our rooms and went to leaba.

That morning we had arranged another meeting with Mike's fellow freestylers, David and Graeson (the number 1 freestyler in New Zealand). They were taking us to an event organised by FIFA to raise awareness of the U-17 Womens World Cup which is being hosted by Auckland in the coming weeks. There was a 2-on-2 soccer tournament which unfortunately we missed the entry deadline for. A freestyle tournament was also held with NZ$250 prize for the winner. Mike entered and made it to a 3 way play off with David & Graeson, however the result was inevitable and Graeson came away with the cash. The things Graeson can do with a ball is amazing, he specialises in sit down ball skills and he is awesome at them. He not only has the skills but he puts on a show for the crowd aswell.

That evening we headed out with the aim of having a few drinks and experiencing Auckland nightlife. We met up with Graeson again as he wanted to bring Mike busking with him, Graeson busks every Saturday night in Auckland city. We met an Irishman from Wexford in a sports bar who is actually living in Auckland, he wanted a game of gaelic football with us in the morning….must have been the drink talking. However our plans for the night were turned upside down as we didn’t envisage such difficulty finding somewhere to show the Man United game. This time difference thing really takes a bit of getting used especially when you consider that the game was the midday kick off on Saturday at home while we were searching for it at 12pm Saturday night. After much pub searching we concurred that be best if Mike and Conor would go busking with Graeson while Gary and I went back to hostel to try get the game on the net. Much to our despair, we watched United draw with Everton on the internet.

Stay in school,

Tom

Day 33 – Mack Attack

Walking up in our own apartment was a change from the usual banging of doors and sounds of shouting we have become accustom to in the world of Hostels. The apartment has a beautiful terrace at its front which provides some great views of the scenic Bay. We briefly enjoyed the sounds and flutters of the birds before we realised we were hungry. Tom complained that the shreddies monster was pounding his belly. We decided we needed to act quickly so we walked down towards the local town.

We have become used to a few bits of bread and croissants for breakfast, Mike wanted a good old greasy breakfast to remind him of jolly Ireland. After our feast we were full to the brim. The activity we had planned for today was the Mack Attack. We made our way slowly towards the harbour to book the trip. They told us that they had an opening for straight away so we decided ya what’s the harm in going now. We got kitted up for the Mack Attack.

We boarded the speedboat and were told all the places we were going to visit. The highlight of the trip was going to be a hole in the rock which didn’t sound amazing but we went into it open minded. As the boat began to gain speed the experience became to live. The boat was skimming the top of the water and we were being thrown from left to right to left again. As we rose up Gary shouted I hope my breakfast doesn’t come up with me. The ride was thrilling and almost back breaking. The driver slowed down the boat and told us that he wanted to speed things up by 30% and for the less adventurous people to move to the back. Of course we being thrill seekers we decided to step to the front to get the best of the impact. The boat was actually out of the water this time. The brochure really didn’t sell the rush the bouncing up and down provided. After an hour of this we reached our destination. We had found the Hole in the Rock. It was in an impressive Island called Persie Island. We drove into the Hole and got to see just how erosion had created such spectacular scenery. Persie Island also has an underwater cave that is described as being the second best underwater cave dive. On the way back we saw a rock in the shape of Princess which legend says protects the Maori. She looks after them while they are at sea. Mike was shocked at how real she looks. Cape Brett was viewable on the way back which has a wonderful lighthouse. It was great to see Brett again ;-)
After getting off the boat it was impossible to walk and took us ten minutes to adjust. Once we were adjusted our next point of call was Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This ground would give us a more depth insight into the history of New Zealand. This is the single most symbolic place in New Zealand for the Maori. The location provided history that provided similarities between Ireland and New Zealand. It told the story of New Zealand’s struggle for its identity. The grounds included the Treaty house, Maori Meeting house and a War Canoe as well as a fantastic look out over the bay. The Treaty house is the location in which the Maori leaders signed the declaration of independence. The War Canoe was impressive and in times of war would fit 76 Maori warriors. After the history lesson we decided to head back to Sublime Apartments.

We got kitted out and went for dinner to discuss the good day we were having. We still haven’t fully adjusted to New Zealand customs. As a result of our time in South America we only headed out for dinner at 10. The restaurant was considering not serving us but after a few smiles we were in business. A good meal with some nice music only helped improve spirits. We decided to head to a few bars to see what Paihia had to offer. After a few quiet drinks we headed to a Karaoke bar. Tom was tempted to go up but the performances were to a high standard so he decided not to risk it. A few more drinks and it was time to go. We were all high after the day so we decided to head home.

Stay Posted
Conor

Day 32 – Bay of Islands

The things we do for Manchester United!!! Due to the time difference here we had to wake up at 7.45am to watch United’s champion’s league game against Celtic but winning 3-0 certainly wakes you up. We were off to the Bay of Islands today so we had to book our bus early in the morning. Auckland is starting to grow on us, it has similarities to back home but one thing about it is that it is very hilly and the Mauri tribes can be seen a lot doing the day. We have to do the odd treck up these hilly roads which does take it out on you!! We arrived at the bus station and went to the supermarket straight away to buy the usual junk food to fill our bellies. To our disgust we found out that food was not allowed on the bus, what sort of bus is this!!! So we hopped on the bus with our food hidden in our bags and sneakily started scoffing the sweets down. Conor and Mike made loads of noise unwrapping there sweets but we got away with it and it felt great. The bus driver was having the craic with us, even though I didn’t have a clue what he was saying but he was smiling so it was all good!! Conor sat beside a complete weirdo on the bus. He had long shaggy hair and a big beard and his pants were falling down. He was on the phone giving out about how his license was revoked and everyone on the bus could hear him….luckily Conor moved well away from him. These bus’s are no where near the standard of South America but we can’t complain as it only took four hours to get to the Bay of Islands. We got to the Bay after six so it was beginning to get Dark. Our first impressions were that there is plenty to do around here. After walking up another big hill (with our backpacks might I add), we arrived at our Apartment suitably named “Sublime apartments”. It is a very well laid out apartment and it is nice to have a break from the backpacker world for a while. Unfortunately there were only three beds so we had to fight over who got the two single beds. Conor and Myself won the battle so Tom and Mike had to share the big double bed. Neither party seemed to mind and from were I was looking it was a match made in heaven…they looked so comfortable as if they have done this before. However, like all married couples, they had a mini row over the sheets as Tom wrapped himself up in Mikes sheets. They eventually sorted it out. We got an early nights sleep as we decided that we will get up pretty early to suss out what activity we will do tomorrow. It looks like the “Mack Attack” will be our first priority …..we will find out more about this tomorrow.

Kia Ora,

Gary

Day 31 – Sky’s The Limit

As we awoke this morning two of us thought it might be the last nights sleep we would ever get. Today it was time for Conor and I for the daunting task of leaping off the Skytower and plummeting 192m (630ft) to small target on the floor below.
We scoffed down breakfast and made our way on the Link to the ominous structure of the Skytower. Skytower was opened in 1997, cost 85 million to build and just pips the Eiffel Tower in height. We descended into the mission control below the tower where we booked our launch time which would be in just 20 minutes. The Skyjump team walked us through the procedure of the jump and suited us up in our jumpsuits and harnesses. There was time for a few quick photos before Conor and I made our way to the jump zone. There was 3 people in front of us. One of which was very nervous. A team of two checked our harnesses and footwear and various other security checks before we were informed again of what happen when we went out the edge of the tower. The view from the top was amazing. You could see a range of the attractions Auckland offered such as the Auckland Museum and Harbour Bridge. Conor was the first to jump as he had earlier won a game of rock, paper and scissors to see who would get to go first. We had both though it would be much better going first and not witnessing the other jump off. I gave Conor the thumbs up as he posed for a photo with the crew before his jump. It was the first time either of us has done anything like this and now it was time for his jump. It was a very weird feeling seeing him jump off and disappear from my sight. The feeling must have been incredible.
Now it was my turn. Walking out onto the edge was an unnerving feeling. Knowing only two bits of rope and a harness supported you but I wasn’t feeling as nervous as I though I was. I uttered the words “and here we go” and I leaped gracefully off the top. 10 metres down they stopped me as I had to pose for a photo and then I had a 175m freefall to the bottom. It was an exhilarating experience and one that neither of will forget for a long, long time. As the brochure said “the view is unbelievable, the thrill unbeatable and the experience unforgettable”. What a way to start the day!

After collecting our photos and DVD of the jump it was time to hop on the Auckland Explorer and head to the Bastion Point Lookout. This park had very picturesque views from the coast and large greens which we walked through. We then strolled on the gorgeous Mission Bay Beach before heading back to get the bus to our next destination.

Our next stop was Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctica Encounter and Underwater World Museum (opened in 1985) where we got to get up close and personal with stingrays, sharks, tortoises and penguins along with hundreds of different types of fish. There was even a fake Free Willy! The museum pioneered the walk-through acrylic tunnels that have now become common in aquariums. There was even the option to scuba dive with sharks or stingrays. We then rode the Snowcat through the largest underground colony of the sub-Antarctic penguins in the world.
The Antarctica Encounter provided us with knowledge of Antarctica’s history and detailed famous explorers such as Robert Falcon Scott and Shackleton. It was well worth the visit and probably the best Aquarium we’ve ever been in.

Now it was time to visit the Cathedral Church of St. Mary but unfortunately there was a funeral on when we arrived so we moved straight onto the Auckland Museum which is on the highest point of the beautiful park, The Domain. The museum itself was built as a World War I memorial in 1929 and the names of World War II battles were added around the outer walls of the museum. The contents of Auckland’s original city museum were moved here and it became one of the world finest collections of Maori and Pacific art and craft. It was expanded again in 2006.
There was even an volcano eruption simulation room (which we didn’t know when we entered). There was a large T.V in the corner in which a news channel team discussed how the eruption would affect Auckland and a large window showing a view of the ocean. We all (particularly Tom) got a big shock when the whole room shook and the lights flickered. It was very well done and made us feel like we were the only ones left in the Auckland. Everyone outside didn’t know what was going on as we dramatised the situation. We explored the museum further and were amazed by the vast amount of artefacts and Maori houses, boats and different sections that were on display.

After this it was time to head back to the hostel and prepare for a dinner. We walked along the street and were pulled into a nice little restaurant that probably because of its location will have to close soon. We all ate nice meals and headed back the hostel. An early night was had by all! Jumping out of a building really takes it out of you.

Be good,
Mike

Day 29 & 30 – Kia Ora

The day had finally come, the day we dreaded and wanted to postpone for as long as possible; the day had come to say aidios to South America. Over the past month we have experienced the wonders, beauty, sounds and sights of Latin America. We danced the samba in Brazil and the tango in Argentina, drank caprinha and mate tea, played football with the Brazilians, attended a match in the largest football stadium in the world, caught a glimpse of one of the greatest players of all time, Diego, journeyed under the sprays of the Igaussu waterfalls, wondered at the beauty of Ilha Grande, watched the sunset on Colonia and drank some of the finest wine the continent has to offer. Most of all we have met some great people and while we may be physically leaving this continent, the memories we have acquired will be with us forever and can never be taken away.

Anyways back to Day 29 and our final day in Santiago, Chile. After a unsuccessful journey around town to find the match, we watched Manchester United beat West Brom 4-0 on the worldwide web. We followed this by a final stroll round town and basked in the marvels of Santiago under the beaming sun one last time. On the way to the airport we passed a homeless drunk taking a piss in the middle of the dual carriageway in between the lanes!! Gary was disgusted! Just another wonderful sight from South America. Santiago international airport is the main international gateway to the West from South America. We went to the airport with plenty time to spare in order to acquire seats together and avail of the free wireless at Gatsbys. An interesting proposal was postulated to us at the check in desk, a LAN airline official approached us with a request to deter from flying tonight in exchange for the same flight tomorrow, a night in a hotel and $270 each. The reason being the flight was overbooked. After some consideration, we decided we were best to keep moving no matter how much Conor wanted the money!

The 13hr flight was adequate for want of a better word. Nothing wrong with the flight, staff, the entertainment or facilities just that it is impossible to sleep on these shagging planes and the frustration of not being able to sleep is crucifying. The best thing about the journey was standing at the back of the plane bitching about our lack of sleep!! On arrival at Auckland we had the banter with a security official (great to be back in an English speaking country) and got a taxi to the hostel and went to sleep straight away. That afternoon, Day 30 of our trip and Monday the 20th of October (we completely lost Sunday 19th due to stupid international date line) we ventured around Auckland. First protocol was for myself, Gary and Conor to get the hair snipped. We found a fine barber and watched as our luscious locks, which had served us so well over the last month, fell to the floor each hair echoing another good memory of South America. All set with our new hair dos, we were ready to tackle Auckland. We met 2 freestylers that Mike had arranged to meet and they all showed off their skills and chit chatted about stuff. We ensued on a gentle stroll around the town, went around the main street, down to the harbour, visited a park and examined the Sky Tower for the prospect of the Sky Jump tomorrow – a 192 metre wired rope free fall!! The highest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Conor and Mike were psyching themselves up, acclimatising to the surroundings because tomorrow they would be no second chance, tomorrow one mistake jumping off the Sky Tower and you’re a goner.

Slan,

Tom

Day 28– Sambuca Pancake

We apologise in advance to the blog fans as not too much happened today. We decided we were all in need of a good sleep in so got up just in time for breakfast. Then we planned the next adventure we would partake in that being New Zealand. After a bit of homework it was time to treat ourselves to a stroll in the park. We lazed in the park for a few hours before lunch.

Santiago has a lot more to offer in terms of food than the fast food tag the rough guide awarded it. We enjoyed croissants and then a nice big ice cream before watching the sunset over the Andes then the city of Santiago. The rest of the evening was spent waltzing around the city. It being our last full night in Santiago we decided to treat ourselves to a top meal. The restaurant was situated across from the main street and beside a 5 star Hotel so we knew it would be good. We ordered a really good pasta dish and a large serving of meat. The meal was enjoyed by all. Mike and I decided we would be adventurous and take the bald waiters advice on dessert. He suggested a pancake with alcohol. It didn’t sound good but we taught why not. The pancake came out with a glass of alcohol. The waiter threw it over the pancake and the plate went up in flames. Looking at it was the best thing about it. It tasted like pancake smothered in Sambuca, quite simply it was horrific. Adventurous orders pay off sometimes but this one didn’t. We were also entertained by a skilful magician. He was Chiles answer to David Blaine and had Tom in awe of what he could do with cards and a rope. We headed to a pub for a few drinks.

Stay Posted

Conor Daly

Day 27 – Red hot Chile

I was awoken at the early hours of the morning by the sound of a train. Was I somehow in the train station? No it was Mike snoring. We all headed down to breakfast area to discuss what we would get up to for the day while enjoying what Chile had to offer. After planning our route for the day we headed off to explore Saint James (Santiago).

The temperatures were far from Chile. It was easily 30 degrees which was a good change. Stop number one was the government palace La Moneda. A beautiful building which was protected by armed guards who carried swords. Mike decided it was better not to take out the football. Opposite the building was the Santiago star. This was one of the other magic monuments that this continent has to offer. Traditional Chilean dancing was taken place behind the palace. We held back the temptations to join the unusual dance with a tissue. As we walked around the city people couldn’t help but stare at us once again. At this stage we are beginning to think we are the best looking lads everywhere we go.

Plaza de Arms de Santiago is the main Plaza in the city and was our second stop. This Plaza makes Eyre Square look like a waste of money but then again so does a pile of rubble. The Plaza is where all the Santiago students and young people hang out. We were even persuaded to have our photos taken for a University project. Across from the Plaza is the Cathedral. The Cathedral is aesthetically pleasing on the eye from both inside and outside. Outside the Cathedral Gary chatted to a man ready to mine. The Miner handed Gary some memory stones. Let’s hope they help us remember this fantastic experience.

Contemporary Art Museum of Santiago was an interesting stop. We got to view what many call modern art. To us some of it was merely a couple of scribbles. We made some modern art with our camera as well. For the equivalent of 60cent it was well worth the visit. Tom and I then entered the Fine Arts Museum which cost the same price. This was a much better museum which even had a skillful juggler outside the entrance. The building was equally as impressive as the exhibits. The ceilings were high and the floors marble. Inside the exhibits included heads shaped with nails, some artistic views on Christ as well as a view unusually shaped sculptors.

The final stop on the city tour was Cerreo Santa Lucia. The best way to describe this is to compare it to The Sugar Loaf Mountain. After a descent to the top the views were simply out of this world. One side offered the Metropolis of Santiago while the other side offered the snow capped peaks of the Andes. We headed back to the Hotel satisfied with what we had seen.

We headed out for dinner that night in Santiago city. We ended up enjoying a Chorrilana in one of Santiago’s finest fast food joints Schopdog. We gazed out the window at a coffee shop that got us questioning whether it was a coffee shop or a gentleman’s club. Suited men entered and went up stairs as they left they were given a kiss on the cheek by women wearing very short skirts. We decided to leave it a mystery. We headed home for the night. A good night was had by all. I really ought to stop saying that but its true lol.

Stay Posted

Conor

Day 26 – Border Control

We started our day with the routine not wanting to get out of bed. Tom arose at 10 to 8 as we were supposed to get the 9 bus to Santiago but there was not a chance of the rest of us getting out of bed so we decided to get the 10:30 bus. We were all delighted! It reminded me of Father Doughal in Father Ted when he said to Ted “another great lie in for the lads”. We grabbed a quick breakfast consisting of croissants and more croissants with caramel sauce. We had a short taxi ride to the bus station where we booked our tickets for our 7 hour bus(we thought) and searched the departure lane. This time there was no need for the more expensive seats as we wanted to enjoy the scenery.
We crossed right through the heart of the rocky, snow covered Andes mountains and gasped at the sheer scale and beauty. As we headed towards the Chilean border it began to get a bit colder. We pulled up right before the checkpoint and we waiting on the bus for two hours for some unknown reason. We would later find out that we were waiting all that time because some idiot American had an orange in her bag which they we told about on numerous occasions just as we had been. She was fined all the money she had on her which was US$600. I think she deserved it for making us wait all that time on the bus for a stupid orange. Because of this delay we knew we had no chance of making the Chile v Argentina game. After another hour of waiting to get our passports stamped we descended from the highest point of the Andes and we were back on our way to Santiago. When we arrived in Santiago bus station we had two taxi drivers fighting over who would bring the “gringos” to their hotel. Upon arrival at our hostel we were told we were at the wrong one but thankfully we were only a short walk from our real hostel.
We walked the streets of Santiago looking for a restaurant and we were mobbed by crazy but friendly Chilean football supporters shouting chants in Spanish. Chile had beaten Argentina 1-0. It was a massive win for them, the first time the have beaten them in recent memory. We proceeded to the nearby restaurants and ate easily the worst meal of our trip so far. The dodgiest looking burgers you’ve ever seen.
When we left we were once again stopped by a drunk Chilean who clearly wasn’t listening to a word we said because we said we didn’t speak Spanish on multiple occasions, in multiple languages.
It was now time to get some sleep as we had a big day of sightseeing in Santiago tomorrow.

Stay Classy,

Mike Ryan

Day 25 – Red or White?

The first thing on our minds this morning was to make a phone call home because it was our Mothers birthday so we all wanted to wish her a happy birthday all the way from Argentina. We had our first bowl of cereal since we arrived as we bought Frosties the night before and it went down like a treat. Of course the usual Danish’s and croissants were available to us as well. Before we looked for a place to ring home we booked a wine tour through the hostel. We haven’t had a proper sup of wine in a long time (2 days!!!) so we were gagging for it. I blame the Gap girls (Michelle & Brett especially…you get the blame!) for getting me into wine but I have to admit I like it a lot! The weather was ok, it was quite warm. The locals couldn’t get over us and looked at us like we had 10 heads as we walked through the city. There doesn’t appear to be too many tourists around this part of Argentina but in fairness when the four of us walk around Galway we get the odd funny look! We finally found a place to ring Mam after we had a nice orange Juice. I spent ages trying to tell the waitress that I wanted a “Jumo de Naranaga” (once again practising my Spanish) when all I needed to say was an orange juice! After finding out some goss from home we quickly returned to the hotel to get ready for this wine tour.

We picked up a few others from their respective hostels and hit a place called “Bodegas Lopez” for a tour of the Winery, Vineyards and tastings. We got to see the development of the industry and watched the elaboration, aging and bottling process which was pretty cool. Tom was amazed by some of the machines; in fairness they could do everything except talk to you. I never knew that so much work went into making wine!!! An interesting fact which the tour guide talked about was that it only costs $14 to buy a bottle of wine in Mendoza but it costs $60 plus to purchase a bottle in the United States and costs over $200 to buy it in Europe…that’s some jump but luckily we are in Mendoza!! Apparently the more “tears” a wine glass has when the wine is in it, the better the wine…..if you don’t understand that I’m afraid I can’t go in to more detail because I’m not that into wine (yet!). We then went to an Olive Oil factory which I wasn’t too impressed with. The tour guide was a bit of fun but after tasting Olive Oil on plain bread, I think I’ll revert back to the traditional Jam on bread because it was pretty disgusting to be honest. The last Winery we visited was smaller than the first one but we got a lot more wine so worked out pretty well for us. I won’t say that we are experts yet but we have more of an idea than before we started.

To end the night we enjoyed another nice steak!! They are really good over here but this one couldn’t beat the one me and Mike had in Montevideo, Uruguay. We had a great conversation about good old Kiloughter and Ireland…not to say that we are missing home yet. We hit the hay before midnight as we have a long journey ahead of us tomorrow because we are heading to Chile which is a place I know absolutely nothing about but it’ll be all the more fun because of that.

Adios,
Gary

Day 23 & 24 – Dozzing in Mendoza

I awoke in the middle of the night to see a bald, Norwegian, wicked looking fella staring at me while I slept, welcome to dormitory life!! I didn’t even know the lads name! I turned around and went back to sleep….

Anyways this was our final day in Buenos Aires so we met up with the remaining members of the GAP tour for a walk to the San Telmo Sunday Market. Gary held hands with Janina the whole way!! Aaawww!! I can see the potential of a heart broken man in the evening. San Telmo is a cobbled street area of Buenos Aires with a nice atmosphere and was thronged with visitors and market browsers. The market stretches the length of the main street in San Telmo and spills out into the connecting laneways. We spent an hour or two there before heading back to the hostel to prepare for our 14 hr bus journey to Mendoza, the west side of Argentina. We got a taxi to the bus terminal which is more like an airport, Mike and I had to venture around the bus terminal for a half hour trying to figure out which departure gate we needed to go to.

We had a comfortable bus journey to Mendoza with little or no incident. The dinner was fairly good and First Class (Cambio) was worth the extra 7euro!! The movies on the bus were Casino Royale and Training Day, which reminded us of our buddy auld pal back home Kieran. We arrived in Mendoza at 7.30 am and waited at the hostel for our room to be ready. We had a comfortable 8 bed dorm all to ourselves last night, so no fear of scary Norwegians!! Gary didn’t say much since Buenos Aires and drowned his puppy love sorrows in the room while myself, Mike and Conor explored Mendoza. Its nice quiet town with a wide open park in the North end with various trees, a zoo and a lagoon. The main plaza called Plaza Independicia (surprise surprise) is pretty. The town was very quiet today though as Columbus Day (national holiday) is on and the place is pretty deserted par the workers preparing a stage for the celebrations last night. We bought a cake and a few goodies to cheer Gary up but not to much success. We ventured out again that night to see the festivities that were being prepared for earlier. We were still pretty exhausted though and didnt stay long, picking up a cheese burger on the way home for Gary back in the room. Mike nearly got eaten by a dog as we rushed to ensure the burger remained warm. He described it as the best burger he ever tasted.


Choi,

Tom

Day 22 – The Beautiful Game

The morning began like they all have recently without breakfast. It is the lack of cereal and a cup of tea that is preventing us from getting up early (Not the late night’s haha). We had heard last night of a cheaper option for match tickets so this morning’s quest was to save over 700 Argentinean pesos (170 Euro). For a traveller saving is like finding Gold.

Our first destination was to the Argentinean Federation Head Quarters in Buenos Aires in quest of cost price tickets. The man at the door refused to sell us tickets or give us any information. We continued to hassle him and we got the location of the tickets. It was River Plates stadium where the game would take place in a couple of hours. We couldn’t take in the atmosphere due to our quest to find the gold. Nobody spoke English to us unless they were offering us black market tickets. Eventually the tickets were found. We had to rush back to Buenos Aires now to check out if we had a home.

The hostel we were meant to stay in didn’t meet our high standards so Mike and I were left abandoned in the hostel while Tom and Gary located a new one. The hostel attempted to convince myself and Mike we should stay there. Eventually after about 40 minutes Tom and Gary came back with a new hostel that could cater for the four of us. We had lunch with the others. Silke and Laurence then departed us. Goodbye Neu SoeurL. We then threw in our bags and departed for the stadium with Andy.

When we arrived at the stadium it had completely changed from the quiet and subdued stadium we had been queuing at earlier. Argentina and Uruguay fans chanted to their heart contents. The rivalry and tension could be felt. We entered the stadium and waited for a game involving two former World Champions. The importance of the World Cup was clear. The game kicked off.

We got involved in the match banter. Prior to the game we put a bet on first goal scorer. This caused us all to shout the more for our own player. 5 Pesos of our own money were on the line. The game started excellently. Argentina flew out of their traps. We saw the flair that Argentina had to offer. Messi and Tevez chased down every ball and got an early reward that Messi snapped at. Tom had won the bet. He leapt off his seat and didn’t find the ground for five minutes. The game provided a lot of early chances thanks to some Uruguayan mistakes. Aguero capitalised to make it 2-0. The first half provided some good football. Uruguay grabbed a goal that gave them a chance. The crowd jumped up and down in their seats chanting in Spanish “Jump up and down if you support Argentina”.

The second half provided some poor football that the fans didn’t like. We hopped on a bus after the game that contained 100’s of Argentineans. We were squashed and it reminded us of the Manchester tram. 40 minutes later we decided to hop off without paying and search for the city centre. We ended up getting a taxi back to the centre.

The game was excellent overall and we were delighted that we extended our stay in Buenos Aires. We returned to the buffet once again. Tom raved about the peach ice cream. Veronica enjoyed the restaurants food and insisted it should appear on the food channel. We headed home to the hostel in the rain. We invented the 9 de Julio Avenue challenge. A 110 meters sprint through 12 lanes of traffic when the lights went from red to green. We all made the challenge and avoided the rain at the same time as well as saying goodbye to Andrew. No need to get too emotional though as we will be meeting up with Andrew in sunny Sydney! A good time was had by all.

Stay Posted
Conor Daly

Day 21 – Time To Say Goodbye

Today we would lose three more of our group.
Before this we decided to visit La Boca for most peoples second time there. When we arrived at La Boca and had finished complaining about our taxi driver screwing us we walked down the through the market and were stopped by Diego Maradona! He was an impersonator! Tom was distraught. He was charging money to get a photo taken with him but we were having none of it.
We stopped by for a meal at a tango restaurant before heading back to Hotel Splendid to say goodbye to our wee Scottish gals Jen and Julie. Another very emotional goodbye commenced and if some of them weren’t warm enough, they were after our hugs. As we waved off the taxi we knew we were seeing the tour crumbling before our eyes. We had already lost three people, there were seven more goodbyes to say.

After the goodbye we headed back to the hostel to get some beauty sleep before the big night out in Pachas. Some of us had slept in more than we should have as we had planned to visit Calleflorida and do some street performing. When we woke up it was time to get some food in us before the night of boozing we had in front of us. We spotted a great little buffet just five minutes away from the hostel. We all ate till the buttons popped in our shirts and we were ready for a night on the town.

Before this we had some time to kill before Pachas got going so we into a nearby off-licence and within one minute I couldn’t believe my eyes. I had spotted an Argentinean version of Buckfast. Gary and I quickly snapped up the bottles and we all headed back to the girls hostel.
We were quick to annoy the locals in the hostel by taking up all their chairs in the living area. We also found out where the main actor in Dawson’s Creek was hiding out all these years, a shitty hostel in Buenos Aires! I wish we took a photo of him!

It was now time to head to the club so we grabbed three taxi’s and we were on our way. It was 30 peso in and we were getting a bit worried when we entered as the first floor was completely deserted. The top two floors was where it was happening. To our surprise the DJ was belting out some 80’s and 90’s tunes. Even Snow Patrol and Mark McCabe were played!
After a great session we all met outside at half six. Here it was time for everyone to say goodbye and give a hug to our great tour guide Carlos. We had been through a lot together as a group and we were losing our leader tonight. He had shown us everything he possibly could and he was great craic. He would be missed. Conor and I were lucky enough to get one last taxi with Carlos and Andy and had one last hug before it was time to say goodbye!

Stay Classy
Mike

Day 20 – The last supper

We had a good nights sleep and woke up at 9.30….just in time for breakfast. Conor and I were too lazy to get up so Mike and Tom plodded along down the corridor to get stuck in….not like them to skip food is it!! Since we were meeting the rest of the group at 7 for dinner, we had to entertain ourselves for the day. We have gotten so use to Carlos (our tour guide, if you don’t know by now) having activities planned for us that now we had to make do with each other decision. After booking our bus tickets to Mendoza (1st class I might add), a brief visit to the Exclusive Gallery Pacifico shopping centre was our first stop. This place was way out of our price range, hell we are backpackers till the end!!! We walked down to Plaza San Martin, the biggest square in Buenos Aires. After Mike and I gobbled down a McDonalds, we all decided to grab the widely renowned “Freddo ice cream” which is truly scrumptious….Tom’s words not mine. We all collapsed on the green of the park and licked those ice creams dry! The clear blue skies are something we are now getting use to. The Arm’s museum caught our attention. It cost five pesos to enter but afterwards we were sick of looking at these guns. Some of the workers in there looked like they were ancient! Walking along Calleflorida street was quite interesting with the various street performers. They ranged from a talented blind man playing the guitar in unusual fashion (whose CD Conor bought) to a man painting with his foot a la Christy Brown. Mike would have fitted in well with his ball skills!!

That night we all met in Hotel Splendid to get ready for the two Scottish girls (Jen and Julie’s) last night out. Tom and Silke had there usual debate as both have different travel guide books. We decided to hit Palermo (about 20 minutes from Buenos Aires city centre) as we spotted some nice restaurants there a previous night. A restaurant called “Lo Jesus” was our fine choice for dining. It was a nicely laid out place and to Tom’s amazement they had Guinness on the menu. He got his Guinness in a bottle and wasn’t too impressed by the waiter’s pouring skills but after one sip he was singing like Johnny Cash!! The food was excellent again and all of us Irish boys admit to being pleasantly surprised at the standard of food and we are not really missing Irish food…..well maybe our mothers cooking!! After more group photos we hit a pool bar and tried to impress all the ladies with our ball skills (I admit I have been practicing and chalking it up!!). Some of the girls were very good, most notably Janina, Julie & Silke. Michelle got better once she got some words of wisdom from me!!! We’ll make a pool player out of her yet. As it was a quite night in general around Buenos Aires, we walked the streets to find a nightclub that could handle this groups dance skills but unfortunately we couldn’t find one and had a nice walk home through the streets of Buenos Aires which always seem to be busy well into the early hours of the morning.
Adios
Gary

Day 19 – Don’t Cry for me Argentina

Today was departure day from the GAP Adventures tour L. Last night we had our final farewell drinks together and reflection on the last 17 days as a group. As it turns out everyone in the group has a few extra nights in Buenos Aires so we will be meeting up again, except for Brett. She had to catch a flight to Lima to start another tour. Despite being extremely tired most of the group arose at 9 to say our farewells to Brett. However Brett wasn’t down for breakie yet and her pick up was half 9! She might miss her flight! Code number 1 of group travelling: Look out for and assist your fellow travellers. We hadn’t let anyone down so far so Gary and I went to arise her from her slumber and prepare her for check-out. Hugs, kisses and a few tears were shed as Brett and her taxi disappeared into the early morning Buenos Aires traffic. We will miss ya Brett.

We sat around for the rest of the morning with the group and prepared for check-out also, as we leave the GAP tour today and prepare for life on our own again. We checked into our new hostel which was short walk from Hotel Splendid and were impressed with the new hostel. However we couldn’t dispel the feeling of depression and nostalgia which came with the events of the morning. The GAP tour is coming to an end and we are going to miss everyone. Each group member brought a different dynamic to the group and we shared many experiences together. The final goodbyes are going to be tough. But for now we just had to make the most of the last few days with the group so we agreed to meet at 3 for an adventure to Recoleta.

Recoleta is an old cemetery with mausoleums to great Argentinean dignitaries and persons of the past. The most famous mausoleum being that of Eva Perron (Evita) the female suffragette who politically fought and rallied for reform in Argentina. The cemetery is impressive with each family mausoleum being more impressive than the last. We even spotted a few Irish names like Duffy, Doyle, Fahy and scarily enough a Daly mausoleum also existed! A number of parks exist around the cemetery which we walked through. The law school was a huge pillared building and in the middle of Plaza de Nacionale a giant metal flower exists which lights up at night. Sounds stupid but actually is quite an exciting architectural feat, even Gary was impressed!

We all went to McCafe on the way home and went our separate ways, knowing we wouldn’t see them again that evening or in the morning, a sad prospect.

Choi,

Tom

Day 18 - Fair Winds or Good Air

This was officially the last day we would all be official called a group so we all decided we would make the most of it. We had finally come full circle; we had made it to our desired destination. The air here provided us all with a good feeling each street was more beautiful then the next. We all looked at each other in the lobby of the Hotel satisfied with what we had achieved.

Today was to be a bit more relaxed then the usually two hours to see a whole city that we had become accustomed to and loved. A group of us headed down towards the Plaza de Mayo. It is the nerve center of Buenos Aires and witness to many demonstrations and pivotal events in Argentine history. Political demonstrations take place here most days and we were all witness to another one. Another stop of significant importance was the Cathedral. The cathedral is an impressive building from the outside and reminded us of a parliament building. It offers a mix of architectural styles due to the number of restorations that the building has undergone. Inside the most interesting statue was that of the Saint of Football. This man was intriguing. A number of men approached the statue and held the statues feet and prayed. I approached him and said a prayer for Manchester United.

At this point Tom and a few others left to visit the region of La Boca. The short taxi drive to La Boca was definitely worth it. La Boca is an unusual place with bright striking colorful houses and shops. The area is essentially made of 4-5 cobbled lanes with outside tango shows, gift shops, craft stores and restaurants and cafes. It relies on the tourist intake. We strolled around and than sat down for a milkshake and a free tango show. We were all hauled up on the stage at different moments for a tango dance, putting our previous night’s lessons into practice. It was good fun. After an hour or two of sipping our milkshakes and soaking in the dancing and atmosphere in the gentle sunshine we continued onwards to La Bombanera, home of Boca Juniors Football Club and Diego Maradona. The stadium is fully painted from top to bottom in the Boca colors and the surrounding houses the same. This area is die hard Boca territory and I can only imagine the buzz before a game. Stereos are playing out of the shops with Boca chants. Football is the passion here, Boca Juniors is life and death.

We continued a stroll around the beauty that is daytime Buenos Aires. We walked the streets and simply took in all the magic that each street projected. A few beautiful statues and monuments met us. We then decided to head back to Hotel Splendid to recharge the batteries and prepare a present for our tour guide Carlos.

Before we headed for dinner Carlos was presented with a picture of all of us at our happiest in Ilha Grande. Carlos spoke of the great time that he had with us and gave all of us four a special mention. We all held back the tears and went for dinner. Dinner like all the places we had been was superb due to the excellent company and fine cuisine.

We visited the region of Palermo for a bit of a pub crawl. We even managed to pull Heather out to complete the group. The area was a bit quiet due to it being midweek but we quickly changed that. Good times were had by all as we discussed the great experiences we have all shared. After a few more drinks and pubs we headed back to the hotel to drop off the light weights. Some of us headed to the only club open on a Tuesday night. As we entered we were met by rave music. It was an experience to say the least. We had enjoyed our last night out as an official group.

Stay Posted

Conor

Day 17 - Have You Been Tango’d?

Our morning began with the usual migration from the bed to the breakfast table. After breakfast the usual hustle and bustle of departing from one country to another took place as we all had to fill out forms about our passport information and other information. We had a short taxi ride to get to the port to board our boat to Buenos Aires. It was a weird feeling knowing that our tour would be coming to an end in two days. We passed the one hour boat journey playing cards games like “Bullshit” and “The Scabby Queen”. When we disembarked the boat we arrived before we even set sail as the time had changed on our crossing.

It was a hot day in Buenos Aires and after been inspected by local authorities we made our way to our next hotel which was aptly named Hotel Splendid. After dropping off the bags in our rooms we were all starving so we decided to take a walk through the city and look for a nice restaurant to fill our bellies. Afterwards we all spilt up as we had different things on our agendas (shopping, haircuts, sleep, McFlurry’s) and decided to meet up at half six for some tango.

Before the tango lesson we agreed that we all should buy new shirts for the tango lesson. Conor chose the most outrageous colour in bright orange and thought it would be a good idea to shape his hair like Patrick Swayze before he started his Dirty Dancing routine. We all gathered in the reception before the bus arrived with everyone looking very sharp and we made our way to the tango house. We were all very curious about how hard this would be but as the lesson started we took to it like ducks to water. I mean we were unbelievable! The only problem with the lesson was that we were in the hall with another group and things became very crowded with multiple couples crashing into each other. At the end of the lesson we each received a certificate that we have the basics of tango. We were very proud of ourselves to say the least!

After the lesson we were treated to a three course meal including steak and free wine all night before the show! None of us thought it would be this good. I had the best seat in the house and was the group’s photographer for the night. I was on fire snapping perfect photos time after time. The dancers were out of this world. Some were even lucky enough to receive private dances with the dancers and pose for specially made photos. They blew the crowd away!

After the show we were whisked away to a private bar for a party with another group that were ending there tour that night. Some of our group took an immediate disliking to the other group for their crazily loud antics on the bus and constant screaming but their renditions of “The Field Of Athenry” and “Dirty Old Town“ brought a secret smile to our faces. :-)

The bar itself was in the middle of nowhere and had no signage above the door. Inside there was a very relaxed atmosphere until the other group started breaking glasses. As the alcohol flowed we shared stories with each other and a good time was had by all. We knew there was not many nights like this left! We even joined in with the other group and found out a few of them were from Mayo. With these revelations brought a bit of banter about GAA results and the rivalry between the two counties! We made our way back to the hotel knowing a good night was had by all and that things couldn’t get much better for the group.

Mike

Day 16 – Lighthouse Family

Breakfast at seven seemed like a good idea last night but three hours sleep later it didn’t look so good. We were forced to get up due to the fact that check out was 10. We went down and checked out and decided not to mop around the hotel for the day so we went for a last visit to the beautiful Montevideo.

Today was Sunday and Montevideo like all South American cities shuts down all of it’s shops for the day. We headed down towards the old city. We really didn’t know what to expect from the old city. As we entered the old city we were met by groups of entertainers and street performers. Unusual women danced with trees while the band performed traditional Uruguayan music. We entered a building to be met by female dancers performing to a band. The dance had the crowd in a trance, drawing the spectators into them with their swift and beautiful movement. As we walked around the square we were surrounded by street stalls and lads performing spinning tricks with footballs. The old town had so much entertainment that we all could have spent the day in the square but Colonia was our next stop.

After a two and a half hour bus journey we arrived in Colonia del Sacramento, west of Montevideo. Colonia was the first city of Uruguay. It was a very big trade area. The streets are cobble but it’s not as bumpy as the ones in Paraty. Colonia is an old town of historic importance. A friendly atmosphere can also be felt. The hotel we are staying in is old fashioned and has a pier at the rear. The hotel was in the style of a courtyard with the rooms surrounding it. Andy and Mike are sharing a room with me, so there might be a bit of snoring! After settling into our rooms, we all decided to take a walk of the city. Carlos, Andy, Brett, Julie and Jennifer decided to go on Golf buggies……taking the easy way out. After they revved their engines, we started our walk along the coast, and as usual had to pose for our daily group photos.
We took in the view from the beautiful River Plate. Mike got a bit lazy and decided to jump onto the golf buggies brigade. A beautiful Lighthouse greeted us as the sun was beating down on our heads. Unfortunately the Lighthouse was closed for the day so we couldn’t get a view of Colonia from the top of the lighthouse. A fort was the next port of call and we felt like we were in a scene from a pirate film with the draw bridge. As the sun was about to set we took our places by the edge of the River Plate. I have never really bothered seeing the sun set before but our view of a far off island made this a very picturesque scene with the sun disappearing behind the island like Shergar (where are you??). In fairness to Tom he took a nice shot of this and he is always on the ball with the camera! After a few akward silences as we gazed at the glorious sun set we decided to eat by the River in an old converted lighthouse. Inside it was like a castle and we even had our own room. We had the usual craic at the meal with Mike being the usual topic of conversation (Miiiiiiikkkkkkkkkkkeeeeee). The food was delicious and we were all set for bed after one too many nights of partying. Tomorrow its Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires which we have heard lots of great things about and maybe we will see Mike do the Tango.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary

Day 15 – Monty’s Video

Waking up today and preparing ourselves for a day of touring wasn’t easy. Last night was a pretty epic session and everybody was feeling tender. But a backpacker’s life doesn’t allow for a mop around, the show must go on. Montevideo is a nice city, bad smell though. There seems to be a good culture to the city and a friendly and secure atmosphere. Hotel is in great location too so no complaints. United game was the first priority so we watched 1st half of United - Blackburn, Wonder Wessy Brown stole in at far post and headed us into the lead. Happy days. 2nd half had to be abandoned because City tour was on the agenda.

A bus with an English speaking guide took us around to all the main spots. The Plaza Independicia, with a statue of Uruguay national independence hero, General Artigas. A museum dedicated to him consisting of his remains exists under the statue. The bus took us to the Prada neighbourhoods of Monty, the upper class, consisting of very nice houses and parks. Monty consists of a series of statues, most dedicated to national heroes. Seen the presidents house aswell which wasn’t much better than me own house at home. Government building was pretty spectacular with very sophisticated and elegant architecture, interior and design. The final stop was a panoramic viewpoint of Monty, where we sampled our first bit of Mate Tea, which is disgusting! Its a part of daily life in Uruguay, 90% of people on the street (male & female) carry this spherical shaped cup filled with tea leaves and a flask of hot water under their arm; filling the cup and drinking the tea through a fancy straw. I don’t see the fascination myself!

That night we went out to the W Lounge, a really young vibrant club, buzzing with activity. Before entering the club Mike, meself and Jenn and Jules couldn’t resist the lure of the Rock N Shake, an amusement ride which spun us, shook us, jumped us, tossed us and rocked us silly!! The club was big with 4-5 different dance floors and stages where dancers were performing (Don’t worry they kept their clothes on!). A good night was had all round, we ate breakfast at 7 when we came back from d club and than went to bed!

Choi,

Tom

Day 14 Montevideo

We woke up feeling fully awake and refreshed after the previous days relaxation. This was a change from the 5 or 6 days sleep we have become accustomed to. Today we would depart for Montevideo. Montevideo has a very rich architectural heritage and an impressive number of writers, artists, and musicians. This City was supposed to be a relaxed capital which would make a change from the hustle and bustle of Rio de Janeiro. Montevideo is the only city in Uruguay with a population in excess of 1,000,000 people.

The bus journey flew by as we looked out onto the majestic background of the Uruguayan terrain. It reminded us of the Irish fields and mountains. The roads were extremely quiet which allowed us to fully enjoy the experience. We arrived in Montevideo at 7. We had to rush to the hotel and prepare for our next night out after Mike taught a Uruguayan boy some football tricks.

After getting settled in the Hotel we departed to one of the many bars Uruguay had to offer. When we arrived we were quickly introduced to a Uruguayan waiter who was Ireland’s number one fan. He has a plan to move to Ireland so he is moving in with the Daly family to replace us.

After the pub we all head to the Pony. It was an unusual name for an unusual place. We had a good time. Music was good and the Uruguayans know how to party. We arrived back to the hotel late after the partying. Tomorrow we will discover the city so we all went to bed.

Stay Posted
Conor

Day 12 & 13 Salto and Pepper

This morning it was the Brazilian side of the falls we had to explore!
We wondered how yesterday could be possibly be beaten. We all loaded into our mini bus and set out for the falls. We all starred out the windows in amazement of yesterday’s events and seen reflections of what we had witnessed in the panels of each window.
Our first stop was the helicopter tour area where there was ostriches waiting nearby and Gary nearly had his hat nabbed by one of them!Six of us from the tour decided to do the 7 minute helicopter ride over the Iguaza Falls. The view was unbelievable and the helicopter well worth the price of admission! It was a sight I never forget.We then made our way to the Museum where we learned about the history of the falls and the birds and animals that inhabit it.

When we arrived at the falls we were flabbergasted by the view. We then encountered an unexpected obstacle: the rain. As we ran from one sheltered area to the next we constantly stopped to take photos of the mighty waterfalls. We were accompanied on our run by the local quatimundi (raccoon like animals).One even entered a rubbish bin but we quickly kicked the bin as they are not allowed to eat the organic food as it gives them disease. We then went out along a protected path where the mist from the falls blew in our faces as battled against the elements as we took photo after photo before we got too wet!

That day at five our next long bus journey awaited a twelve hour trip to Salto in Uruguay. We had a long journey in store so Gary had to be prepared and he was. He whipped out Blades of Glory to kick off the movie proceedings but it was interrupted by crazy woman on the bus who none of us knew was on it. She wore six layers of clothes and big gloves that we thought were her hands. Because of this we referred to her only as “The Bear”. During our next movie, “Three Men and a Baby” there was a random search that none of us saw coming. Four officers with guns in the holsters and their sniffer dogs arrived on the bus and proceed to check our bags. Three people were taken away for questioning and we had to endure an awful two hour waited to see what would happen. The three amigos arrived back on the bus and we continued our trip to Salto. We were dropped into the middle of nowhere we then had to wait for five taxis to arrive. When we arrived through border control in Uruguay Conor had his back searched much to his disgust.

We arrived at our hotel appropriately named Hotel Uruguay. Lots of thought obviously goes into the naming of some of these hotels.Today it was decided that after our gruelling fourteen hour bus voyage we would need some pampering so we all went to the spa, one of the only things to do in Salto.

We could not resist the option to buy our own robes and flaunt our stuff around the swimming pool and hot tubs as we posed for a few photos. It was a much needed relaxation break from all of our travelling.

That night we had a very nice meal in the best restaurant in town and we could not believe the price of some of the meals. Uruguay is a very cheap country. We had an early night as we knew needed some sleep before our trip to the countries capital Montevideo tomorrow!
Stay Classy
Mike

Day 11 – IGAUZU FALLS

The common person on the street when asked to name a famous waterfall, the majority would reply with ‘Niagra Falls’ or ‘Victoria Falls’, even Torc Waterfall!! We admit too to not have heard of Igauzu Falls until researching South America prior to this trip. But from what we seen today, Igauzu is in a different league to those mentioned above.

Today was the day we explored the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls. We had a stupendous breakfast this morning to set us up for day ahead. A minibus was organised to bring us across border into Argentina. The border was quite humorous as with one step you were in Argentina and another in Brazil, Mike was amazed!! The weather was beautiful and everyone was excited about what lay ahead. The park has a cool tourist train like the one in Leisureland Amusements which brought us to the trails around the Falls. Thousands of butterflies swarmed the park, everywhere we went with designs, colours and patterns of all sorts. The trails brought us to a number of different viewpoints of the different waterfalls. The trails were very well laid out and this allowed us to view the waterfalls from lots of different angles. They were breathtaking; the “devils throat” was like a big cloud in that the water moved so fast. It was jaw dropping stuff. Tom said that the spray from the waterfall was like fairy dust. It was a hot day which meant that we could see the waterfalls clearly. We took a dingy out into the water and all had to wear lifejackets. The boat man (because I don’t know what else to call him) was very skilled. It was like a scene from River Wild…except Kevin Bacon wasn’t chasing us down. It was very silent and peaceful and we all took in the scenery which was tremendous. We also saw a crocodile which Mike nicknamed “Frankie”.

Following that we were brought through a forest in what can only be described as an army truck. We arrived down to where a boat awaited us to take us up close and personal with the waterfall. We saw another boat of people who were absolutely soaked so we had an idea what lay ahead of us. It was an R.L.N.I style boat that went racing through the water. We saw a perfect rainbow in the water and if we ever wanted our pot of gold now was our chance!! We had our cameras out but we were quickly told to put them away because we were going right beside the waterfalls. We got absolutely saturated. It was like a cold shower as the water flowed through our hair, like a good shampoo. We screamed like little girls!! It was a surreal experience and one that we will never forget for the rest of our lives!

That evening Conor, Tom & Mike went Go-Karting with some of the crew, the lads said it was savage stuff, zooming around like Formula 1 racers. Tom spun his car 7 times such was the speed he was going at!! A few bevies were had that evening, everyone reflecting on the magical and remarkable experiences of Igazu.

So if we are ever asked in the future to name the most famous waterfall in the world our reply unequivocally will be ‘Iguazu Falls, the most spectacular and jaw dropping sight experienced in our lives! .... so far’.
Gary

Day 9 & 10 – Thunder + Lightning

So we left Paraty today in search of the goal of this whole GAP tour, Igauzu Falls! This involved a night bus to Foz de Igauzu which was a 4 hr trek across Brazil to Sao Paulo where we stopped for a 2 hours including a quick tour by Carlos. To say Sao Paulo is a kip is an understatement!! Granted we were there on a Sunday so it was very quiet, but the place is a high rise jungle and streets are occupied with the homeless and the poor. Carlos gave us a quick tour and the only notable point was the central Cathedral which was worth a visit. After our quick tour we got tram back to the station and boarded our bus to Igauzu, a 14 hr journey south. The bus was OK and everybody got a bit of sleep with the help of Mike snoring!!

On arrival to Foz, we were greeted with a thunder and lightning storm accompanied by a deluge of rain which lasted the whole day! I felt at home! Luckily the hotel was equipped with a dodgy pool table (was grand once you judged the curls!), a fussball table and a few exercise machines. We made plenty use of these all day and surfing the net aswell. Conor and a few others went to Paraguay shopping to a big market type place. The feedback was not good as the place was dirty, sleazy and wasn’t up to the high standards of the Galway market!! That evening, in typical Irish fashion, we drowned out the thunder and lightning with a game of shreades to the amusement of all. Tomorrow is the day we have all been waiting for, Igauzu awaits …

Tom

Day 8 Becoming a local.

We were woken bright and early as per usual by our enthusiastic tour guide Carlos. Today we were going to tour the town of Paraty and sample what makes the town a popular destination for tourists.

The first destination was Trinidad beach. To Mikes surprise this wasn’t in Africa. We were back trekking again to find our destination. It was a short trek compared to Ilhe Grande. This journey brought us to the Pools. An aerial shot of this would make it look like a swimming pool hence the name. It’s surrounded by huge boulders. We enjoyed some time on the rocks while the sun was out. We headed back after a quick scare.

Our Gap adventure is called “In search of Iguassu”. Iguassu is a waterfall shared between Brazil and Argentina. Carlos decided that a little sampler waterfall was necessary so we visited Paraty’s equivalent to Iguassu. Initially it didn’t seem as impressive as we imagined, but we were expecting a large waterfall. It had an element of charm though added with a really cool Indiana Jones like bridge. Gary and another guy from the group jumped from a height of 33 feet into the cold water. Andy’s jump was graceful and skilful were as Gary’s jump could only be described as disastrous. Some of the Group closed their eyes as they taught he was a goner. Next up was Paraty’s answer to a waterslide. It was a large rock which the water flowed down. Each year surfing championship takes place on it. Being the guinea pigs, of course we had to go down the slide. It was great fun and Ponky (Carlos’s dog) ensured we stayed safe.

Outside of the waterfalls was a distillery. We all headed in to see how the sugarcane creates alcohol. Of course being Irish we had to sample the alcohol. Many flavours were available such as pineapple, strawberry, blueberry etc. It was nice to see how it was made. We headed back to the Hotel to get ready for another crazy GAP tour night out.

We were told that we were going to a BBQ in Paraty. We had assumed it was just the cheap option and going to be basic. However that assumption was quickly quashed when we were greeted off the street by the son of the family who would be our hosts. He walked us into the house and told us to make ourselves at home. We all wandered around the house exploring what a Paraty house had to offer. We then sat down to eat in a lovely Brazilian dining room. We dug into the fine cuisine which the family kept bringing to us. Once again Caiprinhas were on offer. We taught it would be rude to refuse more than 5 or 6 anyway!. The family showed us how they were made. They contain a lot of sugar which is why they are so sweet. We listened to the Beatles before decided to have an anthem contest. Aussie, USA, English and Brazilian anthems were sung before the Irish one blew them all away. We thanked the family and headed out to a local club.

The dance style was similar to the Favela Funk Party which gave us an advantage on some of the tour. We danced with the group and met some cool locals with dreadlocks. We left the club blocking out the fact we had an excess amount of travelling ahead of us. It was Paraty town by name but Party town by nature.
Stay Posted
Conor

Day 7 Paraty

Our day began with everyone waking up to the sound of rain on top of the cabins of Ilha Grande. It was lashing, reminding us of Ireland. We weren’t too bothered though as most of the day would be spent travelling.

Everyone met at the breakfast table with bags in hands as we would leave for Paraty, a town in which our tour guide Carlos lived. The boat we would travel back to on was much bigger than the one we came over on. I had described it as being very similar to the boats at the end of The Dark Knight. Unfortunately we had to leave everything we loved about Ilha Grande behind including our adopted dog Molly on the island, no matter how much she tried to get on the boat they kept kicking her off!

When we got off the boat we had to run to the nearest shelter and await our bus, there was just enough time for a few snacks. On the bus everyone was wet and miserable but one of the locals cheered us up selling packets of sweets for 1 real! We cleaned him out!

Two hours later we were off the bus and had to trek through Paraty to get to our hotel. The hotel was definitely the worst we’ve stayed in so far and was a big step down from the scenic cabins of Ilha Grande. We were in a small, cramped, five bedded room with our new friend Andy. After leaving our bags at the hotel, Carlos then gave us a quick tour of the town. The main streets roads were unusual to say the least. The stones for the roads were shipped over from Portugal when the town was being built and consisted of big round stones seemingly thrown randomly to the ground. You couldn’t take your eyes off the stones for two seconds or you would end up on your face. It would win worst road in Ireland easily.

Carlos then took us to the main fort of five in the town used to protect the town from pirates. There was a great view from the fort that we admired as Carlos played fetch with his dog Ponky using his flip-flops. We enjoyed a few games of cards before heading out to dinner at a fancy Thai restaurant. The restaurant was brilliantly decorated and couldn’t but be admired as we awaited our food. It’s a pity the food and in particular the desert for me left a lot to be desired and I will probably not step foot in a Thai restaurant for quite some time!

Now it was time to get a few beers into us and watch a traditional Brazilian band play for the locals in a big tent in the middle of the town to close a festival that was happening during the week. Locals of all ages were dancing and we couldn’t resist joining in ourselves and we picked up the style of dancing in no time! It was a great experience and after it was time to head back to our hotel for our first nights sleep in Paraty.

Mike

Day 6 Love Boat

Following our adventure to Paradise we woke up to prepare for a Boat Party along with another tour of Gap adventurers. The morning was a bit cloudy but it soon cleared up. The boat party consisted of free Caiprinha’s, which is the national (alcoholic) drink of Brazil and also a free barbeque. We headed off on the boat to take in the scenery and the sun began to come out. The water was crystal clear and plenty of fish were about. Tom went in to try and swim among the fish but he soon scared them off!! We tasted Caiprinha’s on our first night in Rio but didn’t like them but after we had a few on the boat we were flying it. The music was pumping and we mingled amongst the other group. The other group were taking the opposite tour from ours in that they started in Argentina and ended in Brazil so it was interesting to hear their views on this. The other Gap tour was full of Irish.

We were dancing away to the Samba and mingling before the sun went down and we stumbled off the boat…quite literally. Even after we came off the boat we still felt like we were swaying from side to side…this was the effect of the Ocean and not the Caprinha’s…well maybe a little. We had a quick bite to eat and hit the hay early as we were leaving Ilhe Grande in the morning.

Day 5 – Paradise

Our island tour commenced today with a trek across the island. All kitted out with our carry bags and footwear we headed into the jungle compromising gaps, rocks, mountains, jumps, leaps, streams, muck, insects and a few falls along the way. Nothing too serious though except for Mike nearly going over the edge!! Our destination was one of the top 10 beaches in the world on the other side of the island. Along the way we encountered 3 other very beautiful and quiet beaches. Over 2 hrs of trekking later we made it to “The Beach” which was like paradise. 3 km of squeaky clean white sand attacked by a barrage of beautiful blue ocean waves. A total of 50 people were present on the beach, plenty room to manoeuvre! It was like our own little secret getaway and no one on earth could find us or disturb this moment. A piece of heaven on Earth!!

We literally spent the day there hanging out, taking in the sights, catching the suns rays, swimming and playing footy. Perfect! To avoid another trek back we boarded up on a boat for our trip round the island back to the village. That evening we enjoyed fabulous seafood by candlelight inebriated by the sounds of the Atlantic Ocean over our shoulder. A magical place. A beautiful island. A paradise.

Tom