Argentina...

GEORGE: Having crossed the boarder south in Patagonia, we missioned it across the country, and headed straight to Buenos Aries. This is a wicked city. I could definitley live here for a while. We loved spending a week chilling and visiting all the different areas, and eating STEAK! Gorgeous.....yet so cheap!

ALEX: Let's talk about the bus journey to Buenos Aires. 19 hours - "painful!" I hear you say? No way Jose! for 40 quid we travelled in what can only be described as first class luxury, with the biggest seats you have ever seen that reclined to create a completely flat bed. On top of that, this rather charming fello kept bringing us food, whiskey and champagne which we consumed while watching Hollywood's finest movies - who said this travelling lark was hard work?!

Buenos Aires is a fantastic city - very cosmopolitan feel to it, dirt cheap, and loads to see.

Oh yes and of course, amazing steak and fine wine - need I say more?

GEORGE: The Pink Palace from where Madge.....I mean Evita, used to stand at the balcony and speak to the people!

There's a street in an area called Bocca which is painted like toy town. Every photography students dream! Half an hour is sufficient before you start feeling a bit sick!

We went to watch the Bocca Juniors play. As you can see from our photography, it was touch and go as to whether we were actually going to literally see them play. I'm pleased to say the fog cleared and we got to see the whole game and feel the stands sway from all the Bocca fans jumping.

Due to ticket availability, we were in the Columbian pit....who lost.....hence lack enthusiam in this picture.

ALEX: Ah, the footy! Classic Latin American passion with managers running on the pitch in the middle of the game to go crazy at the ref (and then receiving a red card), flares being thrown on the pitch, and more theatricals than you can shake a stick at.

GEORGE: The Iguazu Falls followed. At the northern tip between Brazil and Argentina. (Hands up who's been to Brazil for the day?) The falls were spectacular. I'm not sure if ours will, but I'll try and let the pictures speak for themselves.....





I have never seen so many rainbows, they were beautiful. Whole rainbows!!!! And I thought you never saw the end of one. Well, there ain't no pot of gold, but I did try and 'taste the rainbow' as advised in the skittles ad!





You had to be prepared to get wet! Some did more than others! I got soaked!

Oh, and as you may have heard. Alex popped the question, and I said yes!

ALEX: Quite possibly the most amazing natural wonder I have ever seen - absolutely mindblowing - despite these photos being quite good (apart from the random Japanese arse shot of course), they really don't do the falls enough justice.

Clearly the trip was made a million times better for George.........

GEORGE: Onwards and upwards still....

YES....we've become hardened travellers. Who ever said travelling was easy, obvioulsy hasn't really travelled....like us!

We found ourselves West of the country in Mendoza (and a 4* hotel), the wine region.

ALEX: Picture the scene, I've just pulled out the hero card and asked George the question she's been desperate for me to ask for almost the last 4 years and the next evening we arrive at Mendoza airport after a terrible (incredible turbulance) flight, tired and with nowhere to stay - THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK SIMPSON! - "By the way precious, as a little celebratory pressie, I've booked us into a swanky hotel for 5 nights" WHAM - my work here is done!

GEORGE: Despite all the drinking, we did manage to take one photo!

ALEX: I am pleased to say that following a very tough and palate challenging wine tasting course, George and I now hold certificates in er, wine tasting. We had a great time touring the vineyards and also drank plenty of wine - which is so incredibly cheap it would be rude not to!

GEORGE: Then North to Salta.

We did a lovely day trip out to see some countryside....very nice! But I must say, by this point we'd had enough of cities and towns and were ready for another trek of some sort!

Bring on Bolivia!

Chile...the first leg

GEORGE: We had quite a strange start to Chile. Having travelled from Sydney, 9 hours ahead of the UK, to Chile, now 5 hours behind, we were completely jet lagged. We spent the first two days wandering around Santiago like zombies. But it didn't matter....coz it was the weekend, and Santiago....the CITY....the CAPITAL of Chile.....was DEAD!

With a mix of attractive old architecture, and revolting 'modern' buildings, we spent our time celebrating their memorial day and visiting museums.

To be honest, the best bit was enjoying some really good bottles of red wine!

ALEX: Hello wine!

GEORGE: After a couple of days we headed south into Patagonia to the lake district. It was beautiful, but freezing! Here, we did lots of walking, mountain biking, horse riding and volcano climbing.

ALEX: The day we spent hiking in one of the many national parks (clearly forgotten/no idea how you spell the name of the one we visited) in Patagonia was great. In a strange way the rain made it more fun as we felt that we were really getting stuck in. Not to mention the fact that gaters make you feel rather manly in a Brian Blessed kinda way......

GEORGE: The horse riding was great - niether of us had ridden before....yet there we were, galloping through the countryside. It was so exhilirating. I have to say I didn't actually ask my horse to gallop....but it just followed the other horses (Alex being the speed freak). Apart from trying to stay on, I can remember seeing the sparks fly from under the horses hooves in front of me! (I'm not saying I'm ready to join a 'pony club' ...Chris!) It was great fun.

ALEX: Two words, Leather Chaps! Despite having blonde hair, my horse was quite with it and didn't mind charging through the countryside at speeds that would make Frankie Detori get a bit wobbly. Had a great day and even made it back in one piece which I was a little surprised at. I also don't need to join a Pony Club - sorry Chris......

GEORGE: Right...now this is where we were a bit clever. Forgetting after three hours of horse riding and using muscles we never knew we had we might be in pain the following day, we had arranged to climb a volcano! Oooooooo me legs!






So the next day, at 7am we started our ascent of an active volcano! It was exhausting. We had crampons on which helped, but it was a long zig-zagging climb up and into the wind. The first 2 hours for me were agony as my legs were aching and tired from the previous day. We stopped every 30 minutes for a break. Every time we a lip, we climbed over and there was still sooo much mountain to go. BUT the last 30 minute stretch was really exciting.





When we got to the top, it was AMAZING!!!!! Not only the sense of acheivement (and the thank f*** I've made it), but the sight inside the volcano and the views across the lake district both Chile and Argentinean side.

The smell of sulphur was literally chocking. But it was very cool to see the lumps of molton rock being spat out of the top, high into the air, before falling back in.

I was very relieved that we then put pads on our bums and slid like little bob sleighs down the mountain, stearing with our weight and feet. It was childish and so much fun.

ALEX: Despite dressing up as if we were on work experience with the local gas board, this was definitley a highlight for me. What George has failed to tell you is that the night before, golden balls here dropped our camera on the kitchen floor in our hostel which rendered it useless - oops. Needless to say we very quickly became incredibly good friends with the other 3 people in our group, showing great interest in them and their lives so that we could get them not only to take some pictures of us, but also email them to us afterwards - and no, I can't remember any of their names!

GEORGE: After all that exertion we decided it was time to sit on a bus for 19 hours and make our way into Argentina to Buenos Aires.

This was a brief visit to Chile as we will be re-visiting later on! Oh the suspense.