New Blog!

I`ve started a new blog for the second half of my South American travels. Click Here to go there.

Having had little (if no) luck fishing wise at the first lake, we took a drive and found another promising spot. The problem was that, having not rained for at least a week, the water levels were extremely low. This river, for example, would normally completely submerge the bank and road you can see in the right of the picture.

Teniamos mala suerte en el primero lago, entonces viajamos a otro lugar. El problema era que no llovio por una semana a menos, y no habia mucho agua en este lago tampoco.

The landscape is, to a degree, quite reminiscent of that in certain parts of Britain, although this similarity is aided by the biting cold breeze currently being swept up from the glacial regions in the Southernmost tip of the country.

La tierra es, mas o menos, similar a la tierra en partes de Gran Bretaña, y ahora hay un clima muy similar tambien, con un viento muy frio de los glaciares en el sur.

Not being a fish eater, Mat spent the day relaxing and exploring the countryside - as you can see the climate is getting a little bit chillier as we approach the South American winter.

Porque no lo come pescada, Mat estuvo muy tranquilo y era caminando mucho en la tierra - podes ver que la clima va a ser un poco mas frio ahora porque otoño va a salir pronto y inicia invierno.

We travelled about 150km south from the city finding ourselves surrounded by astonishingly flat, serene, and silent fields and lakes - a real contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city life. Here you see Juan getting ready to wait for the elusive "bite".

Desde BsAs viajamos 150km mas o menos, encontrando pastos y lagos lindos en todos lados - muy diferente a la vida en la ciudad . Aca podes ver Juan preparando su equipo de pescar.

In early May, Mat went fishing with Juan and his dad - the only problem with fishing is the early start! this is the view at 6.00 am.

A principio de mayo, Mat fue a pescar con Juan y su padre - el problema sola con pescando es que tenès que iniciar muy temprano! Mirar la vista a las seis en la mañana.

Alejandro and Anamarias new business - the Wilde Libreria, a succesful extension to the Dalponte household. Best of luck guys!

La nueva empresa de Alejandro y Anamaria - la Libreria de Wilde, un gran adicion a la casa Dalponte. Mucha suerte chicos!

The view inside the Libreria - very nice indeed.

La vista de la interior de la Libreria - muy linda eh.

This is Constitucion, one of the main train stations in Buenos Aires - no relevance to the Iguazu trip but I liked the picture...

Este es Constitucion, una de las estaciones principales en Buenos Aires - no es del mismo tiempo de la viaje a Iguazu, pero el foto me encanta...

Al that was left the following day was the 18 hour bus ride back to Buenos Aires.

We stayed at Hotel Lilian - a peaceful hotel where we were lucky enough to enjoy the beautiful patio to ourselves.

After visiting the park we returned to the nearby town of Puerto Iguazu, where we were based for the visit. Theres a distinct touristy feel to the small centre which seems to rely solely on the income from tourists that stop by to visit the park.

Another view from the forest.

This view is of Salto San Martin, again from the summit of the island.

Yet more great views, this one is of Salto Bernabè Mendez from the summit of the island.

We then took the free boat to San Martin island.

and butterflies - all with spectacular wing patterns.

...birds, this one a woodpecker....

Having been warned about jaguars, pumas, dangerous snakes and spiders, all we found were gekkos...

Salto Bernabè Mendez, the fall that hosts the tour boats.

Each fall has a name, theres Salto Tres Musqueteros, Saltos Adan y Eva, here we´re stood in front of Salto Bossetti.

Another view of the tour boat, this time just before it disappears into the misty mouth of the falls - note also the people standing directly above at the summit of San Martin island.

A view from the forest.

Here you can see how both the main sets of falls are situated in relation to each other, separated by San Martin Island.

A view of the Garganta Del Diablo from downstream. You can see the huge mist cloud which soaks you from head to toe in a matter of minutes.

The section with the beach in the centre of the photo is San Martin island which you reach only by boat - you can actually see one of the tour boats, although these were paying excursions that took groups of people into the mouth of the waterfall just out of the picture to the right.

We then walked around the Circuito Superior which gave us spectacular views from the tops of some of the smaller falls in the park.

And this is the panoramic view - the land on the right is actually that of Brasil!

Heres Adri standing at the mouth...

April, Misiones: Adri on the walkway towards the Garganta Del Diablo, the biggest waterfall at Iguazu Falls.

At the sea end of the port theres a sort of ship "graveyard", the buildings behind are those of the city centre.

One relaxed sealion.

Check these guys out - theres a resident colony of sealions next to the port. They really stink but they charmed us anyway!

...the port has lost none of its charm and atmosphere.

Although some parts of the city have become "touristified"...

A view of Mar Del Plata centre.

...but the weather picked up the next day! The main beach is very busy at this time of year.

Just before James returned to Wales we went to Mar Del Plata - the first day was a bit cold and rainy...

We found a planetarium nearby, unfortunately it was closed the day we went but its a cool looking building nonetheless.

James & Fernanda at the Gardens. Check out the socks and sandals look - nice!

Adri, Sonia & Anamaria chillin' at the Japanese Gardens.

Palermo, in one of the various parks, on the way to the Jardin Japones.

Whilst the girls just like to sit at the side of the pool and try to look cool!

A rather badly timed photo of some of the guys doing a group dive.

On the hotter days theres only one way to pass the day - EN LA PILETA! This one is the "Independient" pool, named after the footie team.

On the way back home we stopped to view the magnificent University of Law. The cars on the right of the photo help convey the scale of the building.

There are literally thousands of graves, each one unique and highly decorative.

The entrance to the cemetary.

One rainy day we visited La Cemetaria Recoleta.

Tango dancers.

Some more painted houses and paintings for sale.