Home
Almost there...

House emptying, panic setting in.
By Claire
Sunday, 28th March 2004 16:50
Big bags

We only have 15 hours left in the country and we still haven't packed...
By Claire
Thursday, 1st April 2004 21:52
And we're off!

Start spreading the news, we're leaving today ...
By Mikey
Saturday, 3rd April 2004 15:27
Good morning.

Hi there. We've arrived safely and we're going to spend the day trying to find our way around.
By Claire
Saturday, 3rd April 2004 15:35
Hammocks

Breakfast? With our reputation? What we're they thinking?
By Mikey
Saturday, 3rd April 2004 15:39
Mexico City, Communists and the Museum.

We walked to the museum of anthropology, wandered round for the day and walked back - a lot of walking but very interesting.
By Claire
Saturday, 3rd April 2004 19:34
Sunday 4th April - Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Pyramids of Teotihucan

A day trip to the Aztec site of Teotihucan via a stop at the Basilica, a major pilgrimage destination, especially on Palm Sunday.
By Claire
Wednesday, 7th April 2004 19:34
Monday 5th April - Fifteen hours in Acapulco!

We tested out the very efficient metro system and got a bus to Acapulco. A tiny hostel room awaited us, along with bright lights, insistent street vendors and a beautifully warm sea.
By Claire
Wednesday, 7th April 2004 19:40
Tuesday 6th April. Back to Mexico City.

After a very short stay at the seaside, it was back toMexico City again. In a way, although it meant we lost a day, I was quite glad to go back because I'd forgotten to take pictures of the town square. Which I've now done.
By Claire
Wednesday, 7th April 2004 19:41
Wedesday 7th April - Oaxaca.

A slow day relaxing in the beautiful town of Oaxaca, wandering round the square, finding food, pretty courtyards and a very nice cathedral.
By Claire
Sunday, 11th April 2004 22:54
Thursday 8th April - Monte Alban

A trip to Monte Alban and a 12 hour bus journey.
By Claire
Sunday, 11th April 2004 22:55
Friday 9th April - San Cristobal de las Casas.

A colonial town not nearly as pretty as Oaxaca, and harder to navigate. It actually seemed quite dirty too, with no-one sweeping all day. Then it rained and we went back to the hotel and had a picnic in front of the fire!
By Claire
Sunday, 11th April 2004 22:57
Saturday 10th April - The world's most memorable bus ride, two waterfalls and Palenque, the lost jungle city.

Mikey wanted to write about the bus journey from hell, so I'll let him do that. We stopped at a pretty blue waterfall and another big waterfall, and then got to Palenque and almost died from the heat.
By Claire
Sunday, 11th April 2004 23:00
'Mysterious Cities of Gold'?

It's been quite a busy first week or so. Mayan and Zapotec ruins, numerous bus journeys and an eclectic mix of cultures. Could we do any more?
By Mikey
Saturday, 17th April 2004 23:32
Going Loco...

You know the song, you know where I'm talking about.
By Mikey
Saturday, 17th April 2004 23:53
Sunday 11th April - Easter Sunday in San Cristobal

Another lazy day spent recovering from Palenque and waiting for the bus to Merida. Another 13-hour ride awaits us!
By Claire
Saturday, 17th April 2004 23:56
Monday 12th April

Another lazy day of wandering, e-mailing and eating. Merida's nicer than San Cristobal, although I seem to have got into the habit of judging a Colonial Mexican town by its square, something I'm sure you're not meant to do.
By Claire
Saturday, 17th April 2004 23:58
Tuesday 13th April - Cenotes de Cozuma

The leaflet in the hostel said to walk 13 blocks to the vans, take the van to the bikes, the bikes to the horses and the horses to the pools, which I thought was a mis-translated overstatement...
By Claire
Sunday, 18th April 2004 00:05
Wednesday 14th April - Cancun

I didn't really like Cancun. The Americans with 'Spring Break 2004' T-shirts made Mikey and I avoid talking English in public, and while we tried very hard indeed to avoid the Hard Rock Cafes and TGI Fridays, the little Mexican place we did eat in was as geared to the tourists as any of the others.
By Claire
Sunday, 18th April 2004 00:08
Thursday 15th April Cancun

We did nothing today except sit on the beach under a palm-leaf shelter, play in the sea and make the most of the Hotel Gran Melia's fine swimming pool. That's it!
By Claire
Sunday, 18th April 2004 00:10
Friday 16th April - Belize City

An 8-hour bus ride took us to Chetumal, a town on the Mexican border, and another bus took us three-hours further to Belize City. We found a guest house and slept.
By Claire
Sunday, 18th April 2004 00:13
Oaxaca - I Still Have Trouble Saying It

I didn't know what to expect of Oaxaca and after the strong personalities that are Mexico City and Acapulco I was pleasantly surprised.
By Mikey
Monday, 19th April 2004 00:38
San Cristobal de las Casas - Great Name

A great name and a great hotel (we splashed out a smidge). What more could you want?
By Mikey
Monday, 19th April 2004 00:42
*The* Bus Ride

I don't want to spoil anything in the summary. Read the whole thing. You know you want to...
By Mikey
Monday, 19th April 2004 00:42
Sunday 17th April - Caye Caulker

We went for a long walk and got lost, had lunch, sat in the shade and read, swapped a couple of books and had supper. That's it!
By Claire
Wednesday, 21st April 2004 01:38
Monday 19th April - San Pedro, Caye Ambergris

We took the water taxi from Caye Caulker to San Pedro on the larger nothern island, found an inexpensive hotel virtually on the sea (with hot water!) and had food, watched the sunset, generally took it easy...
By Claire
Wednesday, 21st April 2004 01:49
Tuesday 20th April - San Pedro

We went diving today, bought some chocolate and lazed around.
By Claire
Wednesday, 21st April 2004 01:53
Wednesday 21st April - San Pedro to Placencia

Boat trips,bus rides, creepy hostels, we had it all today. Plus a really gorgeous journey down to Placencia through orange groves and jungly mountains.
By Claire
Friday, 23rd April 2004 19:04
Thursday 22nd April - Placencia

Very, very hot and humid. Slow stroll, breakfast, almost all our washing done and hanging on the balcony, swim in the sea, swing in the hammock, making the most of Belize's treacle-like atmosphere and just taking it easy.
By Claire
Friday, 23rd April 2004 19:05
Friday 23rd April - Placencia to Belize City to Dallas

A long day of travelling took us to Dallas, rain and clean laundry!
By Claire
Monday, 26th April 2004 06:17
Friday 23rd April - Placencia to Belize City to Dallas

A long day of travelling took us to Dallas, rain and clean laundry!
By Claire
Monday, 26th April 2004 06:17
Saturday 24th April - Dallas

Shopping, emergency supplies and Killing Bill.
By Claire
Monday, 26th April 2004 06:20
Who shot JR?

A very short stop in Dallas to replenish and relax. As for JR, I never used to watch Dallas anyway.
By Mikey
Monday, 26th April 2004 06:23
Sunday 25th April - Dallas to Lima

A very long day, a lot of waiting and two flights.Lima smelled of fish.
By Claire
Thursday, 29th April 2004 17:12
Hello

Just to let you know that we´re back from the Inca Trail. Diary entries and pictures for the whole of Peru so far will be posted in the next few days... honest!
By Mikey and Claire
Tuesday, 4th May 2004 18:49
Tuesday 27th April - Cusco, The Sacred Valley

A tour of many pretty little towns and markets and archaeological sites.
By Claire
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:21
Wednesday 28th April - City Tour

We had a whistle-stop tour of six archaeological sites around the city and it rained a lot.
By Claire
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:27
Thursday 29th April - Cuzco

A lazy day buying supplies for the Inca trail and wandering round the markets.
By Claire
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:29
Friday 30th April - Monday 3rd April - The Inca Trail

Four days, three nights. Don't read this if you're thinking of doing the trek yourself, it might put you off...
By Claire
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:31
Tuesday 4th May - Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu, Cusco

Back to Machu Picchu to take photos and a long train ride back to some semblance of civilisation!
By Claire
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:33
Wednesday 5th May - Cuzco to Puno

A long bus ride, a nice hotel and a wander round the town.
By Claire
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:35
Thursday 6th May - Puno, Lake Titicaca, Uros Islands and Taquile Island

A very pleasant daytrip on the lake, visiting the floating reed islands of the Uros people and Taquile Island for lunch.
By Claire
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:36
Psychic Lima

Peru marks a first for me. This is my first visit to the southern hemisphere. So, what's it like? Read on...
By Mikey
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:38
Machu Picchu

For some this place needs no introduction. For everyone else: A gruelling 4 day walk, well rewarded.
By Mikey
Friday, 7th May 2004 01:40
Friday 7th May

A taxi from Puno to Juliaca, a planeto Lima, and a long bus ride to Nazca. Very long day of travelling, but we saw the pacific ocean. And a lot of chickens.
By Claire
Monday, 10th May 2004 18:22
Saturday 8th May

We flew over the Nazca lines and then spent 8 hours on a bus, getting back to Lima.
By Claire
Monday, 10th May 2004 18:24
Sunday 9th May - Lima

A day spent doing very little, on purpose, and sitting around in the sunshine.
By Claire
Thursday, 13th May 2004 23:33
Monday 10th May - Lima to Santiago de Chile

A busy morning and a short flight and we were in another time zone and another country. We found the hostel and a supermarket and made our own supper, then we slept in bunk beds, although Mikey said he'd swap if I fell out of the top one...
By Claire
Friday, 14th May 2004 00:09
Tuesday 11th May - Santiago de Chile

A day spent shopping and wandering and going to the cinema, and a very satisfying home-made supper.
By Claire
Friday, 14th May 2004 00:10
Wednesday 12th May - Santiago

A day of exploring the town, visiting the doctor and the Metro and wandering round. We're taking it easy now!
By Claire
Sunday, 16th May 2004 02:32
Thursday 13th May - Santiago

I picked up my photos, we made a picnic and sat in a great park for most of the day, enjoying the sunshine and the scenery. Then we cooked again and watched Kill Bill for the one hundredth time.
By Claire
Sunday, 16th May 2004 02:45
Friday 14th May - Santiago

Another warm, sunny, lazy day. We actually got to see the Andes again, and a sunset, and did very little. A quick trip back to the hospital for some more medicine turned into a four hour wait, but we're relaxing and taking everything easy, so we're in no hurry.
By Claire
Sunday, 16th May 2004 02:47
Saturday 15th May

Same as all the other ones. Still relaxing.
By Claire
Sunday, 16th May 2004 02:48
Sunday 16th May - Valparaiso

The shortest ever day-trip to a supposedly beautiful colonial town. We were back by lunchtime!
By Claire
Sunday, 16th May 2004 23:12
Bring on the Chile jokes!

We haven't gone over-the-top with temperature related jokes yet. We also haven't left Santiago yet either. Well, we will tomorrow at least.
By Mikey
Sunday, 16th May 2004 23:29
Monday 17th May - Santiago to Punta Arenas

The flight to the very bottom of Chile was fine, with an occasional spectacular view of mountains and glaciers. Punta Arenas was very cold and foggy. We found a hotel, worked out the central heating and then went out for supper.
By Claire
Thursday, 20th May 2004 19:18
Tuesday 18th May - Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is not a pretty place and it's virtually closed from March until October. Very few tours are operating, there's nothing going on. We had lunch and a walk, I found the beach and then it was dark again.
By Claire
Thursday, 20th May 2004 19:24
Wednesday 19th May - Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales

A beach walk, lovely bus ride, internet, hungry dog, supper and sleep.
By Claire
Thursday, 20th May 2004 19:25
Patagonia

We're almost as far south as you can get in the world without getting wet or frozen. Brrrrrrrr!
By Mikey
Thursday, 20th May 2004 19:28
Brrrrrrrrrrr!

It's still cold, but at least we had some sun today in Puerto Natales.
By Mikey
Thursday, 20th May 2004 19:29
Thursday 20th May - Puerto Natales

Saw a giant plastic sloth in a cave today, which was actually more interesting than it sounded, and got some more photos done. Remembered to save some steak for our dog, which was very gratefully received.
By Claire
Sunday, 23rd May 2004 20:51
Friday 21st May - Torres del Paine National Park

We saw the giant plastic sloth again and lots of fog and cloud. When it eventually lifted, there were icebergs and glaciers and mountains and very pretty views.
By Claire
Sunday, 23rd May 2004 20:56
Saturday 22nd May - Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina

An even earlier start, but we went to Argentina, which was unexpected but very nice. A six hour drive there, two hours to see the glacier and then six hours home - a long day but worth it.
By Claire
Sunday, 23rd May 2004 21:00
Sunday 23rd May - Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers

A boat trip along the fjords and two glaciers. Even a bit of sunshine today, and snow. Cold but nice.
By Claire
Sunday, 23rd May 2004 21:02
Torres del Paine and other short stories

Mountains, cloud, dogs, cloud, steak and cloud. There's a lot of cloud here.
By Mikey
Sunday, 23rd May 2004 21:05
Would you like ice with that?

Today we spent twelve hours on a bus to see a big lump of ice. Completely worth it though.
By Mikey
Sunday, 23rd May 2004 21:09
Monday 24th May - Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales

A bright, very windy day in Puerto Natales and a bus ride to Punta Arenas. We changed our flight plans, found a hostel and food and went to sleep.
By Claire
Wednesday, 26th May 2004 01:06
Tuesday 25th May - Balmaceda

Balmaceda. It's cold. We spent six long, long hours here. Never again.
By Claire
Wednesday, 26th May 2004 01:18
Are you local?

Imagine a scary place. Not guns, murder and drugs scary. But Royston Vasey scary. That's where we are now.
By Mikey
Wednesday, 26th May 2004 01:20
Wednesday 26th May - Santiago

Safely back in Santiago. Nice to be here again! Did a funicular railway and a cable car and bought lots of useful things.
By Claire
Saturday, 29th May 2004 04:06
Thursday 27th May - Santiago

Second-hand books and a bad film. Lost at cards again too.
By Claire
Saturday, 29th May 2004 04:09
Friday 28th May - Santiago

We went to the zoo today and saw loads of animals, including something called a mara, which I didn't like.
By Claire
Saturday, 29th May 2004 04:10
Santiago Stuff

Relaxing in Santiago and a bit of a party. This is the life.
By Mikey
Sunday, 30th May 2004 01:56
Saturday 29th May - Santiago

A relaxing day wandering through the town, a museum, lots of cake and wine and a nice supper.
By Claire
Wednesday, 2nd June 2004 21:29
Sunday 30th May - Santiago to Easter Island

A day of packing, eating and airports.
By Claire
Wednesday, 2nd June 2004 21:40
Monday 31st May - Easter Island

Stone heads. A lot of them. Incredible.
By Claire
Wednesday, 2nd June 2004 21:42
Tuesday 1st June - Easter Island

Another day of waves and rain showers and giant heads, and an even bigger volcano.
By Claire
Wednesday, 2nd June 2004 21:44
Wednesday 2nd June - Easter Island to Papeete, Tahiti

Another busy day of stone carvings and heads, a lot of walking and writing postcards. Then a flight to Tahiti.
By Claire
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:29
Big Heads!

Jeeps, big heads and big waves. That's about all Easter Island has to offer. However, that's actually quite a lot.
By Mikey
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:29
Thursday 3rd June - Papeete and Moorea

We changed our flight to New Zealand, took a ferry to Moorea and a bus to the hotel we'd chosen and then spent the afternoon in the sea, the pool and the sun.
By Claire
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:37
Friday 4th June - Moorea

I had an incredible seafaring adventure today - ill-fated boat ride, dramatic rescue, the works. Loved it!
By Claire
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:38
Saturday 5th June - Moorea

Another unsucessful excursion, but a relaxing day in the sun (and rain) too.
By Claire
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:40
Sunday 6th June - Moorea to Papeete

A weird day of hanging around, waiting for things and travelling. It rained a lot too, and we had a great Chinese meal for supper.
By Claire
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:41
Monday 7th June - Tahiti, the Cook Islands and the international date line

The shortest day of my life.
By Claire
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:43
Bonjour from Tahiti!

Our last stop before travelling forwards in time to New Zealand. Time for some relaxing, swimming, beer and brie.
By Mikey
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:43
Tuesday 8th June - Auckland

Not a good start to our time in New Zealand, but, on the bright side, things can only improve from here!
By Claire
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:44
It's Just a Jump to the Left...

It would be a shame to gloss over the shortest day of my life. And for the fun of it, I've added the following day on too.
By Mikey
Tuesday, 8th June 2004 20:48
Wednesday 9th June - Auckland

A lot of walking, shopping and exploring. Auckland is very pretty, full of parks and nice shops.
By Claire
Tuesday, 15th June 2004 21:16
Thursday 10th June - Auckland

Harry Potter in the afternoon, Elephant in the evening, more shopping in between.
By Claire
Tuesday, 15th June 2004 21:18
Friday 11th June - Auckland

Another day of wandering and mooching, followed by a quick trip to a museum before it closed.
By Claire
Tuesday, 15th June 2004 21:18
Saturday 12th June - Auckland and Whangarei

The car turned up in the morning so we headed out of town and up to the North for a few days.
By Claire
Tuesday, 15th June 2004 21:19
Sunday 13th June - Whangarei to Kahoe

A lot more driving, more stops, rain and more lovely scenery.
By Claire
Tuesday, 15th June 2004 21:22
The City of Sails

Or as it is more commonly known, Auckland. The weirdness of time travel is behind us and now we can enjoy ourselves.
By Mikey
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:40
Northland

This is the bit above Auckland. I thought it didn't look too big on a map. It's actually kind of huge.
By Mikey
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:46
Monday 14th June - Kahoe to Opononi

Right up to the pointy northernmost bit, then down the left-hand side a bit.
By Claire
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:51
Tuesday 15th June - Opononi to Auckland

Giant trees, back to Auckland, another film.
By Claire
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:52
Wednesday 16th June - Auckland to Hamilton

The Sky Tower for a great panoramic view of Auckland, a drive up a volcano for another, slightly different panoramic view of Auckland, and then on to Hamilton to stay in a hostel with weird occupants.
By Claire
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:54
Hamilton

Another of the North Island's bigger cities. We didn't stay too long as Middle Earth beckoned.
By Mikey
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:56
Thursday 17th June - Hamilton to Rotorua

We headed straight for Matamata today, for a really nice trip round Hobbiton, and then on to Rotorua, which smells of sulphur. It rained.
By Claire
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:58
The Shire

"Baggins." (Said in the scary, rasping voice of the Nazgul.) And where would one find a Baggins? Why in Hobbiton of course!
By Mikey
Friday, 18th June 2004 22:59