Fin de la Aventura............16 de Febrero, 2011

196 days on the road,
9 countries,
17,200km of continent (calculated guess - as the crow flies),
327 hrs of bus travel,
92 hrs in a boat,

22 hrs in a plane (47 if you include return flights to from NZ),
71 places of accommodation (excluding countless night buses),
and 6000-odd photos later…….

It was briefly back to BA for one last Calatrava fix for Matt.

Los mejores accesorios de viaje - exclusión de la cámara (best travel accessories)
Sporks

Leatherman…………. for all those fish we gutted and trees we cut down.

Notebook computer………….for skype, photo storage and to spare waiting in queues at hostels.

Calculator watch
Sarong……..Matt hates that I put this but the many functions of a simple sarong. A picnic rug, towel, dress/skirt (for me), something to get changed under, blanket, sun shield or scarf.

Ear plugs…………for all those HONKO’S on overnight buses and in dorms. Our new favourite word – Portugese for snoring!

Lonely planet……. We love to hate it but it really is at times very handy.

Buena comida (best food)…………

Chilean empanada’s

Argentinian carne y vino tinto (steak and red wine) – So good that even I did a 400g on my own! Not recommended late at night unless you’re happy to be up for hours…….

Bolivian jugo de mango con leche

Peruvian Ceviche – raw fishy goodness

Brazilian Acai – deep purple berry - gritty goodness ground into a sorbet type substance with ice and banana, topped with granola.

Colombian fresh fruit and juice ­– 50c p/kg mango’s and strawberries. Miss you mango-man.

Homeward bound.

Nos perdimos (we missed) ………….. exclusion de la familia y amigo’s.

Marmite

NZ cheese……………simple people, simple needs!

Nos perderemos (we will miss)........
Lack of routine
Wearing the same clothes (as each other!!)
The incredible - colourful people, colourful cultures, colourful countryside!
Eating lunch at 3, 4, 5, whenever......
Each other.......1 hour is the longest time frame we've spent apart in 6 months.
Not having to wear pants.........trousers - its been ages!
Travelling.........

Que no se pierda (we won't miss)…………

"That guy" changing his ring tone on the bus.

Omnibus bano’s – never a pleasant experience!

80/90’s pop music - M-people, Ace of base, Michael Bolton………you get the drift, especially on repeat on overnight buses.

Protests…………… (refer to Huaraz blog)
False money – only happened twice and in miniscule amounts thankfully, but was always a worry and unfortunately happened to a lot of friends!
Brazilian public buses – they all have tiny turn-style gates which are a nightmare with a big pack.

Favorito experiencias………(impossible to keep it to 5)

Uyuni Salt Flats (Bolivia)

Torres del Paine – The BIG ‘W’ hike (Chile)

Salkantay y Macchu Pichu hike (Peru)

Volunteering at La Senda Verde - animal sanctuary (Bolivia)

Whale watching (Puerto Madryn de Argentina)

Hang Gliding (Rio de Janeiro de Brazil)

Hiking up and snowboarding down Volcan Villarica (Chile)

Snowboarding on the Andes (Chile y Argentina)
General exploration of small towns and communities (todo sudamerica) - the locals are incredible!

Favorito 5 ciudad de grande………

Cartagena (Colombia)

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Salvador (Brazil)
Cusco (Peru)

Favorito 5 ciudad de piquena………

Sucre (Bolivia)

Pucon (Chile)

Valparaiso (Chile)

Montanita/Puerto Lopez (Ecuador)

Ilha Grande (Brazil)


Coming to you hot off the press - finishing the blog in Santiago airport with a bottle of wine (6 hours in transit).  Goal of the blog was to have it complete before hitting home-turf! 

Matt and Clare have survived the ultimate pre-marital test and the experiences we have shared over the last 6 months are indescribable - this really has been the trip of a lifetime!

South America, for us, has been awe inspiring, self discovering, enlightening, motivating and a bloody lot of fun! 
Quite simply, South America was all we hoped it to be and so much more!

As we head home its a combination of feelings 'its gone so fast' & 'we have been on holiday forever', alongside 'oh to keep on travelling'  & 'the green, green grass of home'.....

No post-holiday blues for us though as its back home to the excitement of Brad and Aimee's wedding, followed by some close friends weddings and ofcourse our own. Let the celebrations and catch up's begin!!

Thanks to everyone for sticking it out and following 'Sudamerica Aventura Blog' - your comments, messages and emails have been wonderful!!

Hasta pronto América del Sur (we will be back) y hasta mañana Nueva Zelanda!
Muchisimas gracias y mucho amore,
Matt and Clare