Hey all,
What an amazing (almost) 3 months it has been to say the least. Before we knew it we were at Lima, Peru and all sitting down to a final meal in the purpose built Mira Flores of Lima, which is the happening spot of the city and a more upmarket area of town with restuarants and swish hotels along the strip to entertain every brand of traveller. Lima is another city that has a lot of European influence from the takeover by the Spanish, very much like Buenos Aires and Santiago, but on a smaller scale.
It's felt like Rio De Janeiro was only 1 month ago at times, and then like it was 6 months ago at other moments where the schedule was too jam packed to realise where you were that day, if I was in a hotel or camping the night, who was that I just met again on the street - I'm so bad with names, what was that I just ate, after a while the head was filled with so much, you just couldn't take in anymore information and it was time for a chillout day to watch movies.
The last 3 months have been spent with some truly excellent people that I've met from all over the world, as we took in some of the most amazing sights that South America had to offer. Everyone I've met has had they're own experiences of the places visited, and theres been no shortage of stories to tell from the time spent Latin America thus far. It could've been lazing on Ipanema beach in Rio, partying in Carnaval, getting soaked at Iguazu falls, staring face to face with tucans in Foz Do Iguazu, shopping after a day of Island hopping in Parati, san dune surfing, climbing unexpected peaks in Ushuaia, coffee in Santiago, outrunning club security in Buenos Aires, seeing Volcano's erupt, or experiencing the seemingly never ending pursuit of Machupiccu... and it's all been a lot of fun whatever we did, and way to get to know your fellow travellers that much more.
So, now it's been thunderstorming in Panama and it sounded like the world was coming to an end, but I've got plenty of things to do still, I've hardly had a chance to see the sights around here yet, but one of the first will undoubtably be the Panama canal in the days ahead, then a trip through the museum district, and a browse at the many shops here with good prices on everything electrical from shavers to laptops. So far, it's been a smooth transition into settling in Panama city, company is never scarce as I'm catching up with Vance any day now, and I've also befriended two lovely colombian ladies who happen to be staying nearby, and although every conversation with my very broken Spanish is never short of hair pulling moments and frequent ´no entendio´s, there's no better way to learn than being thrown in the deep end, and I've already improved my Spanish vocab with some Central American Spanish terms thanks to my new teachers.
Hope everything is going well for all abroad and those back home, and when time allows, I look forward to hearing how everyone is doing and stay tuned for more updates.
Attached are some of my favourite photos from the South American leg.
Adam aka Big John
Dad, the Da Vinci Code was ok, but personally I think I should've read the book beforehand, but more importantly been a bit more awake when watching it, as I felt the plot (or parts of it) going in one ear and out the other. General consensus has been a so-so opinion of it, with a lot of negative reviews coming out, so I guess after the success of the book, the movie had bigger shoes to fill than first anticipated. As for Sam, I'm tipping blue personally, but we'll know in a couple of days, I look forward to hearing.
Andycap, so Miami is hot ey? Panama is stinking after getting out of the airport terminal to feel what it is to sweat again, there's no snow capped peaks here mate, just jungle surrounding the city, so it's time to start popping those Malaria tablets. Good luck with the house party in July, it's Mexico for me then, but I reckon a catchup around October could be the go.
James, I like your photos mate, and love your comments, it puts my recollection of the places we were to shame, and I'm amazed how you remembered the names of the short stop-over spots that I could never recollect without going into trip notes, but I'll be using your site as a reference for my diary catchup for sure. Hope Sao Paulo goes well for you during your stay.
Dan, enjoy your trip from LA up to Vegas, and be sure to tell me how the buffet is at Ceaser's palace.
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