Planning a Surprise Trip

Posted on April 22, 2018 by

Sunday April 22nd ~ San Bernardino Mountains

Although we have had a break from traveling the past two months, we have still stayed busy with doing some needed clean-up, repairs and decluttering at our tiny cabin in the mountains. We have had this much-loved home for nineteen years now and have done almost nothing towards maintenance and updating since then.

It was time!

But, now that project is well underway, the Travel Gods have been rattling their sabers at us, and we are preparing to get back on the road. Continue reading →

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain

Posted on February 28, 2018 by

January 14th ~ Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer Statue

This was to be our last full day in Brazil and we still had some “must see” places left to visit.  Continue reading →

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ~ Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches

Posted on February 26, 2018 by

January 13th ~ Rio de Janeiro

Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro

Overlooking Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro

A morning flight from Foz do Iguacu to Rio de Janeiro was followed by a short drive to check into our hotel. We caught our first glimpse of the “Christ the Redeemer” statue along the way, but our visit would have to wait until the next day. Continue reading →

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Iguazu Falls – From the Argentina Side

Posted on February 24, 2018 by

January 12th

Iguazu River from below the falls

We had both our Intrepid guide and a local guide today for our excursion to see the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls. Both were in agreement that an early start was a necessity in order to beat the crowds. So, up and at em, we were on the road before 7:00.

A quick photo stop in the middle of the bridge that crossed the Iguazu River at the point where you could have one foot in Brazil and the other foot in Argentina.  Continue reading →

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Iguazu Falls ~ From the Brazil Side Including a Helicopter Ride

Posted on February 22, 2018 by

January 10th ~ Getting there

Brilliant flowers hung from a tree at the bus depot

The 10th was a travel day. Sebastian and crew dropped our group off at the bus station for a scheduled 5-6 hour ride in a local bus from Ituzaingo to Puerto Iguazu.  Continue reading →

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The Ibera Wetlands of Argentina

Posted on January 15, 2018 by

January 8th – 9th

Ibera Wetlands

Departing Buenos Aires on the 8th, we caught a flight to Posadas and then had about an hour drive to Ituzaingo where we checked in to Cezeta Hotel. This is another quite basic style lodging. I am not overly impressed with the quality of some of the hotels that Intrepid chooses, but they do get high marks for location.  Continue reading →

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Buenos Aires ~ Starting our Intrepid Tour, Food and Tango

Posted on January 12, 2018 by

January 7th

Say “Beef”

On the evening of the 6th, we were scheduled to meet up with our new Intrepid Tour group at our hotel. It turns out to be a very small group with four from Australia, two from the UK,  plus Tim and me.  Continue reading →

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Buenos Aires ~ Opera House (Teatro Colon) Tour

Posted on January 11, 2018 by

January 5th

We had a rainy day, which was refreshing after the oppressive high heat of the previous day. With our light weight rain jackets, we were prepared, and off we went to get our tickets to tour Teatro Colon, or in English, the Opera House.  Continue reading →

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Buenos Aires ~ A few Highlights Including Colorful La Boca

Posted on January 10, 2018 by

January 3 – 4th ~ Buenos Aires on our own

Boca District

Getting off of the ship went smoothly. We caught a cab at the terminal and arrived at our hotel by 10:00. We had made the decision to book Two Hotel, which is where out Intrepid Tour is scheduled to meet on the evening of January 6th. It is a basic, inexpensive hotel that has seen better days, but we thought that not having the inconvenience of changing hotels might offset that.

Might not have been a wise choice, but we lived with it.  Continue reading →

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Buenos Aires ~ Evita Tour Including Recoleta Cemetery

Posted on January 9, 2018 by

January 2nd, 2018

A cruise ship arriving at the port of Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the second largest city in South America and the capital of Argentina. It is located on the Rio de la Plata, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

By the end of the 19th century, Buenos Aires was becoming one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Famed architects came from Europe to build beautiful mansions, impressive monuments and wide boulevards.  Continue reading →

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