Well it looks like it is over before it started
Ruth and I are in Buenos Aires revaluing on what from here , things have just not worked out for us as we expected , so where from here we are not sure just yet .
Thanks for reading the blog I will keep you posted
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
San Juan to La Roija to San Megual De Tucuman
Having booked a hostel in San Juan we thought that it was all good to arrive , its hot and after 185kms of almost straight road we were hanging out to get off the bike . I walks in and the guys says I have your booking but we haven't got any rooms (thanks a lot prick ) . So it was back on the bike and off to find a new Hostel . We find one and I have a look (all looks good with tired eyes ) , we get our gear off and Ruth goes for a shower , well not for me . Its got an open sewer pipe in the middle of the bathroom and its fifthly , not the first though with the one in Mendoza with all the hair and the likes .
San Juan was nothing to write about just a little town
From San Juan to La Roija ( our first big day 465km) was more of the same just long straight roads and nothing in between ( very much like Aussie ) , you certainly cant drive past a petrol station on the hope that there might be another up the road cause there isn't probably for about 330kms . ( I got quite worried at one point but then a little town appeared out of nowhere and we were saved "Petrol "
La Roija was a very pleasant surprise but not at first , cause they certainly do have siesta . When we got there there was not a person to be seen, we thought shit what a dump and where are all the people , then about 5.00pm it was like ants out of an Ant nest (bloody Amazing ) they just keep on coming from where I don't know . It was just an amazing site the little town became so vibrant and alive we loved it (and our Hotel was so clean Ruth was going to sleep on the Bathroom floor) .
Then yesterday we arrived here in San Miguel de Tucuman (375kms) the same as La Roija after dark its great and so alive . We are here for 3 days then off to SALTA
One of the most notable things is that the towns are just jam packed with people and cars but no body on the open roads , I mean nobody . We could go and hour or more some times without seeing anyone . The roads are very hit and miss some good some bad . the only wild life we have seen has been 2 Foxes and dead dogs and horses on the roads .
Temp is around 30 degs
Up here is just so different from down south , it reminds me more of Mexico than anywhere else (people and buildings ) , and they loved to que with nobody in any hurry . the shops open at 9.ooam and shut at 12.pm till 5.30pm
I hope it doesn't get to much hotter , we try to get on the road around 7.30am to 8am so we can kill some Kms before it starts to get too hot .
San Juan was nothing to write about just a little town
From San Juan to La Roija ( our first big day 465km) was more of the same just long straight roads and nothing in between ( very much like Aussie ) , you certainly cant drive past a petrol station on the hope that there might be another up the road cause there isn't probably for about 330kms . ( I got quite worried at one point but then a little town appeared out of nowhere and we were saved "Petrol "
La Roija was a very pleasant surprise but not at first , cause they certainly do have siesta . When we got there there was not a person to be seen, we thought shit what a dump and where are all the people , then about 5.00pm it was like ants out of an Ant nest (bloody Amazing ) they just keep on coming from where I don't know . It was just an amazing site the little town became so vibrant and alive we loved it (and our Hotel was so clean Ruth was going to sleep on the Bathroom floor) .
Then yesterday we arrived here in San Miguel de Tucuman (375kms) the same as La Roija after dark its great and so alive . We are here for 3 days then off to SALTA
One of the most notable things is that the towns are just jam packed with people and cars but no body on the open roads , I mean nobody . We could go and hour or more some times without seeing anyone . The roads are very hit and miss some good some bad . the only wild life we have seen has been 2 Foxes and dead dogs and horses on the roads .
Temp is around 30 degs
Up here is just so different from down south , it reminds me more of Mexico than anywhere else (people and buildings ) , and they loved to que with nobody in any hurry . the shops open at 9.ooam and shut at 12.pm till 5.30pm
I hope it doesn't get to much hotter , we try to get on the road around 7.30am to 8am so we can kill some Kms before it starts to get too hot .
the first lot of hills
its hot
so the reward is a Litre beer sometimes 2
San Juan
San Juan
La Roija
La Roija
La Roija Ruth didn't sleep on the floor
Big flash Hotel in S M D Tucuman for 3 nights
SMD Tucuman
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Santiago to Mendoza to San Juan
Yes it has happened Ruth got robbed , she lost her bag and a little Chilean money and it could have been a lot worse
We were at a Starbucks Cafe just having a coffee when this couple came over and asked about the Internet and while we were helping the women the guy got behind Ruth and then the rest is History . Lucky Ruth had all her stuff on the table and not in the bag , like IPhone , IPad , wallet etc .
Anyway back to the trip
We got away from Santiago and over the Andies ( got up to 3,200 mts above sea level ) went through our first border crossing with no problems and on to Mendoza . What a beautiful ride it was fantastic the beautiful mountain's and all the colours out standing .
We had 2 nights in Mendoza , its quite a nice city with lots of trees , cars and people . We run into a guy who was tired up the Otago rugby Club (an Argie) he spends 3 mts a year in NZ .
Today it was to San Juan (160kms ) just one straight road the whole way which is pretty much what I expected and tomorrow we are on to La Roija
The weather has been great nice clear days of around 25c
We were at a Starbucks Cafe just having a coffee when this couple came over and asked about the Internet and while we were helping the women the guy got behind Ruth and then the rest is History . Lucky Ruth had all her stuff on the table and not in the bag , like IPhone , IPad , wallet etc .
Anyway back to the trip
We got away from Santiago and over the Andies ( got up to 3,200 mts above sea level ) went through our first border crossing with no problems and on to Mendoza . What a beautiful ride it was fantastic the beautiful mountain's and all the colours out standing .
We had 2 nights in Mendoza , its quite a nice city with lots of trees , cars and people . We run into a guy who was tired up the Otago rugby Club (an Argie) he spends 3 mts a year in NZ .
Today it was to San Juan (160kms ) just one straight road the whole way which is pretty much what I expected and tomorrow we are on to La Roija
The weather has been great nice clear days of around 25c
Just entering the Andies
A bit of a Truck jam
The Top quite cold and hot when we got to the bottom
Down the other side
drink stop
Mendoza
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Trapped in Santiago
We have had to stay an extra 2 days in Santiago due to our visas for Paraguay not being ready until Wednesday .
Yesterday (3/10/16) was a frustrating day trying to get our Visa's , after arriving at the Embassy on time only to be told we needed Passport photos and that we had to deposit $280US into there Bank Account , to top it off they only open for 3hrs aday . That may not sound a lot to do in 3hrs but when you have know idea where you are and no body speaks English , Its Huge
Anyway we got it done with much sweating and swearing .
I forgot to mention before we set off for the Embassy on the Bike (aprox 15 mins away), we got all our gear on and got on the bike to only find that the Battery was flat ( not good cause its hot and I was thinking F##k what now ) , but luckily I bought one of those Battery Packs (on John Allen's advise , so thanks John you came through again , it worked a treat) .
Today has been a relaxing day doing bugga all , tomorrow its back to the Embassy and hopefully our Visa's for Paraguay will be ready
Yesterday (3/10/16) was a frustrating day trying to get our Visa's , after arriving at the Embassy on time only to be told we needed Passport photos and that we had to deposit $280US into there Bank Account , to top it off they only open for 3hrs aday . That may not sound a lot to do in 3hrs but when you have know idea where you are and no body speaks English , Its Huge
Anyway we got it done with much sweating and swearing .
I forgot to mention before we set off for the Embassy on the Bike (aprox 15 mins away), we got all our gear on and got on the bike to only find that the Battery was flat ( not good cause its hot and I was thinking F##k what now ) , but luckily I bought one of those Battery Packs (on John Allen's advise , so thanks John you came through again , it worked a treat) .
Today has been a relaxing day doing bugga all , tomorrow its back to the Embassy and hopefully our Visa's for Paraguay will be ready
Street Chess
We had to move rooms , view from our new room
Beer O'clock
Street Art
Sunday, October 2, 2016
2 / 10 / 16 City Tour
Sunday 2/10/16
Just a City Tour today on the Hop On Hop Off Bus, and Bugger All Else
Just a City Tour today on the Hop On Hop Off Bus, and Bugger All Else
Above the view from our Apartment , this Saint Lucia Hill famous so Julio told me
Plaza De Armas
Santiago
City Tour
And then its Beer Time
Ruth ordered a Shandy and got Beer with Lemon Juice with salt around the rim (not good )
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Got the Bike and Counterfeti Money
We were up early and back to the airport , with a little trouble with the Taxi Man
When we arrived air the Airport , I got out paid the guy with 2 nice new 10,000 Pecos notes , he then starts throwing them back at me , so I told him to get F###ked and walk away . I returned and paid (when he wouldn't go way ) in US Dollars and thought bloody wanker .
Later on in the day we were having a few beers and I paid for them with the same notes , only to get the same result after a lot of talking , them in Spanish and me understanding nothing , the penny finally dropped , the money was counterfeit . Number 1 Lesson Learned .
We also went to the Paraguayan Embassy to get our Visas only to get told "come back Monday"
A Good Start , I'm down $40.00 and now a day late with the Visas for Paraguay , if we can't get the Visas we will have to go round Paraguay , which will take an extra 3 days Max , so no be deal.
Plaza De Armas
Good Beer so all is good
We are in Santiago for 5 nights , it a huge city full of people and very Europe in Design
Like all cities heaps of great restaurants
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Santiago Day 1
Day 1
Well what a day or day and a half
We left Auckland ( 7.10pm ) an hour late but made up time arriving at 2 pm , all going good .
Then it was time to find the bike , not easy , then being directed to Customs (Aduana in Spanish) only to find that they were having some sort of Strikes . We spent the next 3hrs walking from office to office trying to find one that would process us (bastards ) . We were lucky enough to find a young guy Matias Castillo who took the old people under his arm and sorted it out for us ( language being the problem ) .
So by the time we got Customs done it was to late to get the bike , tomorrow its up early and back to the Airport to get the bike ( Matias will be there to help, just as well, bloody nice kid )
Well what a day or day and a half
We left Auckland ( 7.10pm ) an hour late but made up time arriving at 2 pm , all going good .
Then it was time to find the bike , not easy , then being directed to Customs (Aduana in Spanish) only to find that they were having some sort of Strikes . We spent the next 3hrs walking from office to office trying to find one that would process us (bastards ) . We were lucky enough to find a young guy Matias Castillo who took the old people under his arm and sorted it out for us ( language being the problem ) .
So by the time we got Customs done it was to late to get the bike , tomorrow its up early and back to the Airport to get the bike ( Matias will be there to help, just as well, bloody nice kid )
Ruth and our little Apartment booked on Airbnb
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