TravelStream™ news feed for member traceywilson on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/traceywilson en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 15 May 2009 15:46:19 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/traceywilson/1/1241910660/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/traceywilson/1/1241910660/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/traceywilson/1/1241910660/tpod.html Fri, 15 May 2009 15:46:19 -0400 Without a Trace - for a while anyway!

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Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Final destination Rio de Janeiro, and waht a stop this is...........the atmosphere is a party one and you know me not one to miss a party have participated a few times!!!

Have visited the famous Copacobana Beach, Christ the Redeemer, Maracana Football stadium a circular pyramid Cathedral...........cocktails for £1.50.

Lyrics to the song: (if you sing, hum or even mime this once it will just keep on coming back in your head again!)

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar
Across a crowded floor, they worked from 8 till 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?

At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....they fell in love

(Copa Copacabana)

His name was Rico, he wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancin' there
And when she finished, he called her over
But Rico went a bit too far, Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who?

At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....she lost her love

(Copa. . Copacabana)
(Copa Copacabana) (Copacabana, ahh ahh ahh ahh)
(Ahh ahh ahh ahh Copa Copacabana)
(Talking Havana have a banana)
(Music and passion...always the fash--shun)

Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola
Still in the dress she used to wear, faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined, and drinks herself half-blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she's lost her mind!

At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....don't fall in love

(Copa) don't fall in love
Copacabana
Copacabana

Lots of love Tracey xxxx

p.s. see you all soon!
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Pucon, Lake District, Chile

Decided to have a little trek up an active Volcane at 2947mt's. It was a long and exhausting climb up Villarrica Volcano took most of the day up there and back again required crampons and ice axes, apparently the volcano is the verge of exploding!!

We walked over the glacier and at the top I peered into the fuming crater........whooo..

It was really windy at the top, the guide had to hold on to me so as not to get blown away! we could see five other volcanos in the distance once we reached the top including one in neighbouring Argentina, how cool is that!

Slept very well that night in my wooden lodge with log burner and a couple of well earned glasses of red vino......mmmmmmmmm.

Lots of love Tracey xxx
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Pucon, Lake District, Chile

Horse Riding, long walks, bike rides (including sore bottom), beautiful scenery and plenty of fresh air! 3 dogs from the farm I stayed at seemed to like me and follow me wherever I went which was kind of nice, but sill do not want to have pets myself!

Ah yes some red variety of Chilean wine!!!

Lots of love Tracey xxx
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Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Peru

Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu then back to Cusco - After spending the previous night in a hostel in Ollantaytambo, I had to get up early again to board the train for 1 ½ hours to Aguas Calientes, then a bus tide up to Machu Picchu and enjoy a tour of the spectacular Inca ruins. Unfortunately I got sick from (I think mayonaise, never liked the stuff anyway, so spent most of the night before in the bathroom!!!!)

As we arrived so early in the morning there were not too many other visitors so it was nice to be able to stroll around in the ruins.

They are very impressive and must have been so grand in their day.

Also managed to catch two Alpacas at "it" just after the female had given birth, my my all males are the same arent they, just one thing on their minds!

Lots of love Tracey xxx

p.s. only half a bottle of beer the whole time I was in Peru!
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Santiago, Chile

Arrived in Chile at last, only a couple more flights to go.....Argh!!!!

Walked the city today but will be off down to do some activities in the south may even try the local brew, Vino!

Lots of Love Tracey xxx
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Cusco, Peru

Minus temperatures, tents, outside loos, woken up by the chef with Coco Tea at 5.15am, then a bowl of hot water to wash with each morning, beautiful scenery, high mountain climbs and plenty of fresh air. Only saw 3 other travellers/hikers in the 4 days, but plenty of local animals and mountains and glaciers and local people were were a bit shy!

We walked through high mountain peaks and sub-tropical valleys, saw scenic lagoons, natural hot springs, and Inca remains. The remoteness of the area has allowed the local people to preserve traditions of llama and alpaca herding, potato cultivation, and colorful weaving dating back to the Incas. This treks offered a first-hand look at the life of the Andean farmer and a journey into a region of outstanding beauty.

Cusco to Cancha Cancha - We left Cusco early morning to Huaran (2900m.) Our hike began here in the fertile valley following a small river up through the mountain corridor. After walking roughly 4 ½ hours, we begin to see the glacial peaks of Cancha Cancha Casa (4984m.) and Chicon (5530m.)

Cancha Cancha to Quisuarani - Shortly after beginning our trek in the morning, we arrived at two brilliant glacial lakes, Suirococha and Yuraccocha. From the lakes, the trail climbs steeply for about 2 ½ hours to the first pass, named Pachacutec (4700m.). Nearing the top, we enjoy a spectacular view of the snow-covered peaks of Pitusiray (5750m.) and Chicon (5530m.). An original Inca stone path lead us along the ridge down into the opposite corridor. We followed a series of cascading waterfalls to the village of Quisuarani, where we camped for the night.

Quisuarani to Cuncani then onto Lares Hot Springs - we begin our hike upward through the high puna to the Huillquicasa pass (4400m). From this high mountain perch, one can behold the extensive Vilcanota range and the pastoral farmland and lagoons below. The well-marked trail forms zig-zags down to the greener pastures, where llamas, alpacas, and sheep graze alongside flocks of Andean water birds. The rare Peruvian Viscacha, a medium-sized rodent related to the Chinchilla, can be seen bounding in and out of the rocky mountain crags. Continuing down even further, we reach the picturesque village of Cuncani (3700m.) for lunch. We saw in the nearby horizon the mammoth white face of Mount Colque Cruz (5818m.) The trail follows the spouting river down through the valley for approximately 3 hours as the vegetation becomes greener and thicker and large rock formations divert the winding path. Entering a more sub-tropical climate, small farms and adobe houses signal our arrival to the village of Trapiche and finally the hot medicinal baths of Lares (3100m.) A relaxing soak in these thermal pools was an excellent way for my tired legs after such a challenging and exhilarating trip.

Woken to another morning of glorious scenery and a lift through the valley to another ong trek through villages in the mountains, wild horses, alpacas, llamas, children playing and waterfalls.

Time for a nice hot shower and to wash my hair after 4 days!

Lots of love Tracey xxx
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/traceywilson/1/1239542940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/traceywilson/1/1239542940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/traceywilson/1/1239542940/tpod.html Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:41:05 -0400 Without a Trace - for a while anyway!

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Canaima National Park, Guayana Highlands, Venezuela

One of my dreams was to go through the jungle in a dug out canoe and go to see Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world.

Well I have managed to achieve this and it was wonderfull, breathtaking and like a dream.

I arrived in Canaima eventually after a couple of days of confusion and driving back and forth between two airports, where the plane I was due to fly on had a problem, went in a taxi (though at the time I could have been kidnapped for all I knew!) which drove at 140km an hour and swerved the potholes on the main road and stopped at the last minute at all the police checkpoints. Arrived an a 21 seater plane and left on a 6 seater plane, it was really great to see the jungle from above.

Went to some waterfalls where we could walk behind and they were so powerful that as some points you lost your breath and could hardly see where you were walking, pretty amazing though as after we walked along the top of it and could see the thrust of the water going down it.

To get to Angel Falls is a 4 hour boat road down the river in a dug out Canoe where there is only about 1 inch of wood between you and the water. We then had a trek through the jungle and view the famous waterfalls for ourselves - wow it was amazing. You can swim in the part underneath it as it isnt at its height and therfore the water is a bit less than in the rainy season, pretty cold though. The trek back through the jungle to our camp for the night where we get to sleep in hamnmocks with mosquito nets on out in the open. Very fortunate that there was also a full moon so lit everything up nice and brightly for us, also saw glow worms in the jungle as I went for a walk with a couple of the others at night.

Also managed to get myself some local admirers which was an interesting one to get out of as 4 of them took a real shine to me.......suspect it is my british passport again, and not necessarily my wit, humour and charm!

Venezuela has to be one of the most expensive places I have been.

The police, national guards and military just walk the strets with massive guns and pistols in their pockets, all a bit daunting really.

Lots of love Tracey xxx
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Cusco, Peru

Cusco is the highest city in the world so you need to acclimatise your body to the high altitude, symptoms can be headaches, dizzyness, tiredness, sickness..so far I have only got a headache, you can drink coca tea to help releive some of the symptons, but only with copious amounts of sugar to make it taste better.

My 5 day trip at high altitudes starts soon where I end up at the Machu Pichu.

The city is a very clean place with plenty of churches and monuments.

Have been to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and seen the traditional homes, along with their dress and foods.

Lots of love Tracey xxx

P.S just so you know I have been really good and not drunk alcohol since Miami!
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Lima, Peru

Home of Paddington Bear and Aunt Lucy :-).

Arrived in Lima late at night and drove through the city which is nothing as I imagined it, very westernised and lots of bright lights lighting up Casinos etc. but pretty clean and well signposted.

Not much to do in Lima so have booked an internal flight to go to Cusco (an hour flight or a 22 hour bus ride!)

Lots of Love Tracey xxx
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Orlando, Florida, United States

Drove to Orlando to stay in a 4 bedroom villa complete with swimming pool and hot tub (I know this lifestyle of mine is a hard one! The villa was free for two nights from a friend of a friend - how jammy!

The first night we were there we had the local police round at about midnight as some hooligans had broken the letter box!!!

Anyway we went to MGM and Universal Studios which were pretty good (I can see what all the hype and excitement is about, the americans sure know how to make things good!) Some of the exhibitions were rides and scary ones at that I think of the ones we went on I screamed the whole way through them! I really do not like them but felt "when in Rome"! Watched a magic show, how they do horror make up and a street block party with characters out of the films! Plenty of fun.

Lots of Love

Tracey xxx

Lots of Love Tracey
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