La Casa de Maria Tango Buenos Aires

... STILL talk to me to Spanish. Truth be told, it's not so bad as I'm learning to understand it more and more (though my speaking is still atrocious), but having spoken to a few people in the bar last night though I was told that this is probably becuase they really don't seem to like us English. On our bike tour our guides told us about this (relatively mini) replica they have of Big Ben that the English gave them as a present when they ...

... the rugby the previous Saturday. It was absolute mayhem. Through some friends of Stevie we were able to skip the queue into a bar and we made a good effort at drinking the night away until Argentinian closing time. Wednesday with some remarkably un-hungover heads it was off to the airport to say goodbye to my family. I think they enjoyed themselves anyway. Dad`s parting comments were that he would miss the sun.. I was back into a hostel again for ...

... Later we went to a museum coffee shop and ordered lots of icecream, chocolate, coffee and other sweets. Here is a picture of it Interesting group of people, differet backgrounds, different nationalities, and different ages. Only spanish was allowed during these excursions, so it was funny how everyone tried to communicate in Spanish and lannded up with a lot of Spanglish.

... Livia (a Brazilian girl) who also does the course and Liz who is from Ecuador, who obviously doesn´t need Spanish lessons, but does Film studies at the University here. Both girls are nice and friendly though haven´t been able to talk to Livia as she only speaks Portugese and some Spanish.... After finally finding my way to my bed I was happy to stay there till late the next morning, so by the time I had myself sorted and out of the door it was 12.30 ...

... weird and can get a bit painful. Presumably they don't trust the people serving the food & drink to handle money?

Still, it didn't stop us getting stuck in and we were soon enjoying some more beers (served in a can?), a few tequilas (one of which was particularly disgusting and had us all retching!)...
Buenos Aires, Argentina al_fey

... to wake student who had a lovely snooze and set off to find a hotel, without much luck, finally found a dive and once again it was given we would share a room... I don´t know who made these unwritten travel rules, but didnt think 2x about it until I was left to sign our names in and realised I didn´t know his name! Only travelled 36hrs together... My embarresment and the look on the hotel owner´s face was priceless. So student is called Will ...

... at a KFC copycat place called The Church (there were even some nuns buying CHicken there!), and finally after asking about 10 people, discovered that the only bus left from the domestic terminal. As I was quoted US$60 for a taxi, I decided to go with the bus despite being told it was too dangerous. Plenty of abductions in taxis too, so I risked it, and saved a minor fortune. Unfortunately, I went to the area where the hotels I had listed by subway, and passed up one ...

... dominant, although the facilities for tourists are really good. Cusco in Peru is the number one place for foreign tourists in all of South America. It can be a bit much at times. Round 14 to Venezuela Round 15: Overall feeling As you can probably guess by now, we preferred Venezuela. It was just a lot more fun, and seemed a lot more natural. Round 15 to Venezuela The judges have deliberated, the votes have been counted, and the unanimous decision is..... VENEZUELA!!!!! ...Stan

... they just grab a talent and show iit on the streets...this one guy was unicycling and juggling and blowing fire....his friend was selling handmade journals and granola from the mountains (be quiet karen!!) yep crazy...and there we were ....smiling.....i guess our skin colour is enough of a contribution..OH MY WORD! i honestly did not think that it would be as big of a deal here...honestly, especially with the conference and everything.....but my ...

D*y 1, Arriv*l in Venezuel*, M*rkets *nd Art Museums Wh*tever you've been told *bout the be*uty of Venezuel* doesn't do it justice. There is no w*y to prep*re yourself for the gorgeous mount*ins rising str*ight out of the oce*n covered in d*rk green r*inforest. The hillside b*rrios (slums) looked *stonishingly like the r*inbow coloured houses of Newfoundl*nd (in terms of colour, sh*pe of house *nd closeness to e*ch other, *nd *lso the w*y they're *ll clinging to edges of ...