South America – Parting Shots
Monday, June 26th, 200626 Junio 2006
Well our time in SA has come to an end. We have spent only 6 weeks in SA chosing to spend the time in south Peru and Bolivia…the rest will have to wait for another day (top of our wish list for next time is Buenas Aires and Igassu falls in Argentina).
Before we leave for New Zealand here are our top ten likes and dislikes from our time here;
Likes:
1) has to be the scenery – it has been absolutely breath-taking at times and words cannot describe some of the views we have been fortunate to see.
2) Hot showers and toilet roll in Chile – bliss! Have had to endure some cold showers along the way. Nothing beats a good dirt scrubbing hot shower with the pressure of a firehose! Plus it is nice not having to carry around a loo roll with us wherever we go.
3) Cute kids – every single baby/ toddler has big brown eyes and rosy cheeks….invariably covered in dirt or snot but nevertheless they are cute! (however see 3) under dislikes)
4) Spanish commentary on the world cup, you can´t beat a ggggggoooooooooaaaaaaaalllllllllllll that last for 2/3 minutes, better than motson and davies any day.
5) Empanadas – We first read about the culinary delights in “The mermaid and the drunk by Ben Richards” …..this typical chilean foodtype is as close as one can get to a Gregs pastie whilst travelling the world.
6) Cheap cerveza, lager tastes better at 20p per litre.
7) No monday morning sick feeling on the way to work.
8)The friends we have made along the way, not a patch on the lads / lasses at home but some great people nonetheless (even the odd decent american!)
9) Hostels – surprisingly good, a bit like being back in university halls of residence.
10) Cheap, plentiful internet access to allow us to keep in touch with things back home, something tells me we may go relatively quiet when we have to pay NZ prices!
Dislikes:
1) Dogs- dogs are everywhere in each country we have visited….and where there are dogs there is dog poo…..
2) People spitting – now call us British (polite and uptight according to our American friend) but it is simply gross…..I understand that it is a different culture and may be more acceptable but what with phlegm and dogs poo you are constantly searching for the next clean foot space.
3) Ugly women, no south american beauties in Peru, Bolivia and Chile, these women would hands down lose a beauty contest with big Mo from Eastenders
4) The look of distate when you hand a shopkeeper a note – no-one has change for a note ….it would be easier to obtain the shopkeepers liver than them have change.
5) Quinoa soup – proceeds every single meal in Peru and Bolivia, not a bad dish but becomes a little repetitive (literally) after a while.
6)Uyuni – this place will never hold fond memories……largely tarred by the horrendous bus trip and the frostbite in our toes on arrival.
7) Being looked at like freaks fresh from chipperfields circus by the locals because we are over 5 feet tall, now i know how Peter Crouch must feel everyday.
8) The D-word – shooting in (or out) at number 8 is diarrhoea…..no blog would be complete without some sort of reference.
9) The local dried carrots on Amantani – look a little like witchedy grubs from the tv show “I,m a celeb” – don,t taste much better but we tried.
10) Rude travellers – unfortunately we have met a few…..from people who fail to use “please ” and “thankyou” to a downright horrible man who spoke in an extremely condesending manner to one of our guides! Manners cost nothing afterall!
Chris and Charl