TravelStream™ news feed for member littleshivy on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/littleshivy en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:01:44 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212371940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212371940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212371940/tpod.html Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:01:44 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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San Diego, United States

Will write this later
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212075540/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212075540/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212075540/tpod.html Mon, 02 Jun 2008 11:41:46 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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San Quintin, Mexico

Today we splashed out and hired a car for a day, actually it worked out to be only $30 with insurance and everything as it is low season. It is normally $70 basic price and then everything else added on top. We set off early up the coast and within less than 2 hours we had a seen four or five beautiful beaches.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212025380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212025380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212025380/tpod.html Sat, 31 May 2008 14:39:00 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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Loreto, Baja California, Mexico

We arrived in the late afternoon and walked about 10 to 15 blocks...or so it seemed to our lodging. We are staying at a place called Posada Nuevo San Jose and it appears to be the cheapest place in this little overpriced town. The town is nice and it is not too big, but the prices seem to be from a large city and are even more expensive than that of La Paz and also of the Cabos (for the souvenirs mainly). Well, today we spent some time on the beach and just enjoyed the sun and cool breeze coming off the ocean. It seems that this town is more for the fishing types and many fishing opportunities throughout the many agencies that are spotted on every street. It also has an array of snorkeling and scuba opportunities available here. Tomorrow, we are heading up the coast a bit in search of a nice secluded beach in which we can lie around and do nothing but enjoy the sun.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212284580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212284580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1212284580/tpod.html Thu, 29 May 2008 21:44:31 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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San Quintin, Mexico

Last stop before San Dieogo!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211850240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211850240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211850240/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 21:14:23 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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La Paz, Mexico

We are back in La Paz now and staying here until Wednesday. We have decided to do a few more hours of Spanish, but literally only 2 hours a day for 3 days, as a final consolidation. We have a great teacher, Omar at Centro de Idiomas CICC, it costs more than we paid in Guatemala, but as far as I am concerned you get what you pay for with these lessons and it has been worth paying more for better teachers.Mum says I have been more preoccupied with money for the last few weeks. I think there are a few reasons for that, firstly we really felt ripped off in Guatemala  and we are still getting over it, we paid double what the locals paid for everything and it is not the same way in Mexico, but we still don't trust everyone fully! Also we are near the end and we have very little reserve left in the budget, so whereas in the past if something cost a bit more than we were expecting we had plenty of time to save it somewhere else, now it is different. If we over spend, we don't have anymore in reserve. And also Mexico can be a lot more expensive than other places, but we have found that by looking a little harder and walking a few more blocks the prices can change dramatically. But you have to remember that our daily budget includes everything, buses, lessons, hotels. food, washing clothes - so when we have to pay gringo prices for excursions it doesn't leave us a lot to play with - or eat with! So please do not let me put you off coming to this country, it is still very cheap in relation to anywhere in Europe or America. I cannot wait to come back here and no I don't have loads of money, but I know that it is worth the effort to save up and come back. It is a fantastic country with truly wonderful people, even if they do stare at your chest all the time! I love it!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211762520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211762520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211762520/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 20:56:37 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

We got up early and caught the bus to Cabo, only about 30 minutes away. We got on a bus which dropped us off at a beach full of Mexicans, at first we thought we had gone to the wrong place, as we were expecting beaches full of Gringos, but it turned out perfectly. We had been told by someone that we had to go to Lands end or El Arco as it is known here, and by good fortune the place where we had been dropped off had boat taxis out there. We were the only gringos around so we got a glass bottomed boat all to ourselves! It cost $10 each for the boat ride and it was so worth it. I think that El Arco is one of the most beautiful set of rocks and beaches I have ever seen. It is a protected area so there are no shops, hotels, nothing. There are Sea lions swimming everywhere and Pelicans and so many fish. We opted to get dropped off at Playa Amor (Love Beach) it links to Playa de Divorcio - hopefully I don`t need to explain that one to you! Jumping off the boat into the waves was good fun, I got soaked!The beaches were amazing, just white sand and clear blue sea. No shops, no people bugging you to buy things, wonderful. We started on Playa de Divorcio and then went around to Playa Amor. On Playa Amor I braved the sea, you couldn't swim on Playa de Divorcio as it is out onto the Pacific Ocean and there are really strong currents. But the other side was amazing, the water was so clear it was like getting into a swimming pool. I am normally a bit scared of the sea, but this was just great.We finally got our taxi boat back with the locals, I was quite proud as I managed to jump back on the boat better than a couple of the local guys, so I did not look like a girly gringo! There were other girls screaming and making so much fuss trying to get on their boats and I was determined not to look or sound anything like them!!!We had some quesadillas on the beach full of Mexicans and then walked around to the shopping malls and gringo beach, it was interesting to see! The gringo beach was so noisy, there was an MC getting people to dance and drink and it was like an 18-30 club. But the beach was very long and again there were locals further up the beach, so we joined them before heading back to catch our bus back to La Paz. A wonderful experience and El Arco I will never forget, I just wish we had the camera!!!! We did by a kodak instant thing, so we will a have some photos at least. I should have taken a video, but had left my broken camera back in La Paz!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211675460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211675460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211675460/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 20:41:36 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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San Jose del Cabo, Mexico

We went for a weekend trip to see Los Cabos. Now if you are anything like me then this will mean nothing to you. But Los Cabos and in particular Cabo San Lucas are play grounds for the rich and famous and those who like to party, but have the money to do so! I really did not know what we were going to see, but was open minded about the whole thing. We had already decided to stay in San Jose as it is quieter and cheaper than Cabo San Lucas and I think we made the right choice. San Jose was very, very quite, to the point of being dead! It is off season right now as there was virtually no one on the beach, but is was an amazing beach. Miles of white sand and the waves were great, we just sat and watched the sea for ages and then made our way back into the town. The town is really pretty and it has a beautiful plaza with a church and coloured fountains. Of course there are all the usual souvenir shops, at double the prices of everywhere else and lots and I mean lots of very expensive looking restaurants. In fact these is the finest display of restaurants I have seen in a long time, but the prices were what you would pay in America or the UK. So we asked the locals where we could eat for cheap and they pointed us to a great little Mexican place. I don't think I have eaten so much in a long time. I had this baked potato dish with prawns and cheese, sounds boring, but oh my God the Mexicans can take the most boring dishes and make them taste wonderful with their spices.I think one night here was enough for us both as it was a little too tranquilo, but it was really nice to see.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1210988160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1210988160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1210988160/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 20:31:06 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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Puerta Vallarta, Mexico

We arrived in Puerta Vallarta, right on the outskirts of town, so we had to get a local bus into the main town. This place is split into 2 parts. Firstly you drive past all the massive beach resorts and I mean massive. There are American style shopping malls and everything looks new and a bit like Las Vegas to me.Then you get into old Vallarta, with small cobble stoned streets and the plazas, like you see in every other Mexican town. The old town is mush nicer and cheaper too!We found a great little place to stay and it was $28 for a night, a little higher than we are used to paying, but we are in one of the top beach resorts in Mexico.I have to say that apart from the fact that the beach was a little too busy for me and there are far too many Americans, I actually really liked Puerta Vallarta. The beaches are nice and it is safe to swim. The little town is interesting and of course everyone speaks English!!!We have a Margarita in the semi posh side of town, not quite in the full American part, but it was a lot posher than where we were staying! It was really nice to sit in a nice bar and chill whilst the sun set. In one way I wish we had more money to blow on nice restaurants and sun set cocktails, but if we did we would not have been able to afford all the other great things we have done, so don`t feel too sorry for us (just a little maybe!).There was also a show going on whilst the sun was setting, it was 5 men on the top of a very, very high pole. They climbed up there, danced around a bit and then threw themselves off and they gently came down on bits of rope, whilst spinning around. Epi wasn`t that impressed, but with my great fear of heights I was pretty impressed.It would be nice to come back here one day with money! Although if I had the money I would probably want to try somewhere new anyway! There is Whale watching here, but we are in the wrong season, it would be good to come back for that.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211243340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211243340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211243340/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 20:29:26 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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Mazatlan, Pacific Coast, Mexico

We have to get a bus from San Blas to Tepic and then another bus for 4.5hrs to Mazatlan. We are going 2nd class as it is so much cheaper, so it could be a hot and sticky day!Actually the bus journey was much better than we had thought. The first bus was actually not too hot as it was still early in the morning, and then we literally got straight on the next bus to Mazatlan, we didn't even have time to go to the bathroom! But the bus was great and air conditioned! We arrived in Mazatlan and decided to walk to the hostel as we though  it was pretty close, it wasn`t!!!!! We walked for at least 20 minutes in the blazing sun with our backpacks and eventually found it by mistake. It is a great little hostel, I know it is called hotel, but that is too grand a word. It has cement beds, with mattresses on top, but all the rooms have fans and private bathrooms and all for $15 - that is for the room no per person. We are one block away from Playa Norte and about a 20 minute walk from the centre of town.Mazatlan, like Puerta Vallarta, is a big holiday resort for Americans. Like Puerta Vallarta it is also split into 2 parts. You have the part to the right of the beach which is covered in huge hotels and American shopping Malls etc, then you have the old town and the cheaper places to eat and sleep, where we stayed. The thing is that I actually think that I like the part of town we were staying in more. We have great taco stands to eat from and a Mercado nearby with cheap food and drinks.We had a great meal in a restaurant on the beach and watched the sunset. Because it is in the cheap end of town we paid $16 for everything, beers and food - and we were the only ones there, it was great.We walked a lot in Mazatlan, it is a bustling town and the centre is nice. But we were there mainly to get our tickets for the ferry. Little did we know that the ferry that leaves on a Wednesday is for cargo only! So we wended up staying an extra night, but it gave up the opportunity to get the boat across to one of the prettier beaches - I cant remember the name if it, but it was really nice and not many people there at all. I really enjoyed my time in this town and would recommend a visit here, but stay in the old town!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211478060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211478060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/littleshivy/argentina-2007/1211478060/tpod.html Mon, 26 May 2008 20:15:48 -0400 Travelling around South America - The Gringa Trail!

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La Paz, Mexico

Off on the boat today - 17 hours!!! Cant afford a cabin, so it is the cheap seats for us!!!!Well we went on the boat and when we saw the cheap seats our hearts sank. They were worse than any bus seats we had ever been on and the salon was dirty and hot. The miserable lady (and she really was miserable) gave us seats on 2 different rows, I have no idea why!!!So we went up on deck, fed up and not really looking forward to the next 17 hours. We watched the main land of Mexico disappear and then sunbathed and read in the sun. Eventually the sun cooled off and we headed inside. I think we had both been dreading the moment of having to go and sit in our seats, but neither of us had mentioned it. When we did go inside I brought up the subject of getting a cabin (I am usually the first one to crack!). I asked and I don't know if it was because there were not many people on the boat, but it was a lot cheaper than the miserable lady had told us. It worked out at $25 for both of us, so we were able to afford that and still had enough money for a few beers (to help us sleep on the rough seas of course!).The cabin was great and we both slept much better than we would have in the cheap seats and because we were now part of the exclusive club that could afford a cabin, it meant we got to get off the boat first too!!!!We got a shared taxi into the centre of La Paz as there was no sign of the bus, we had asked to be dropped off at the Spanish school where we wanted to take lessons, but the taxi driver dropped us about 15 blocks outside of town at the wrong language school. We had a long hot walk with our backpacks!We finally got sorted and are staying at a great hostel, with a kitchen and internet. It is $23, which is a lot more than we have been paying, but it is great for this part of the world.I wish I had pictures to show you what it is like here. The beaches are white sand and the sea is clear blue and green, it is really very pretty.The people here are really nice and the fish tacos are to die for!!!!
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