Where are we?

January 26, 2008
Oh my, we´re at the bottom of the world. Looks a lot like Whistler meets Squamish. Thank goodness for Argentina wine. Must roll back to ship. Having a great time. ConciergeClass on the ship is fantastic.

Photos!

I've created a web photo album and downloaded some, not nearly all, of our photos to date. The current load is of Valparaiso and a few of the neighbouring Vina Del Mar. Vina is the modern upscale resort town for Santiagans (we are about 1.5 hours away from Santiago). Vina is very Waikiki/Mazatlan and we're glad we chose to be here in Valpo as the locals call it. I'm not sure how to post a link, I'm sure its easy - here we go:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rutendale/Valparaiso

Hope it works!

Valparaiso

Hola, and that is about the extent of our Spanish to date (oh and cafe cordatado of course).

Valparaiso is a gritty yet beautiful city – like Havana meets San Francisco. It’s the kind of place where corrugated steel houses are charming. Its a City of stairs going up, stairs even longer going down, and some just for show (some of you might get the reference).

The food is great and we've stumbled upon some beautiful restaurants. Above is a photo of Lewis´s new best friend- who was actually fed at the table! Don´t worry mum, he got a huge twirly pinch for that (but he was quite cute)

We discovered our new favourite wine - Santa Emiliana Cabernet, full bodied and delicious - about $14 if you buy it at a fancy restaurant to take away, or $4 in the store - we did both. The fist bottle was to bring to a parilla (BBQ) that the owner of our B & B invited us too. It was our first night and we had no idea if any stores would be open. The BBQ was great - in the beautiful courtyard of the B&B with Juan and his friends. Unfortunately, they already had drinks, so Lewis and I had to consume the wine ourselves, and then they played what is surely a Chilean trick on tourists and introduced Robb to piscola - a seriously wicked drink. But I think Lewis was in on it and was simply trying to ensure that I wouldn't drag him around the enitre city the next day - and it worked.

OK - a note about this blogging stuff - why didn't anyone tell me I should read the "How to blog for dummies" prior to landing in South America with a very weak wireless connection! I thought it would be so easy but all I feel is panic about not yet having posted anything! So I now have a bit better idea but it is 3:00am and I should be getting my rest for our 14 days of cruising (sorry, just had too). But for simplicity sake, and while we're on the cruise (tomorrow!) I'm going to try posting photos to a picasa web album - wish me luck!

Departure January 15th

You can't blame us for leaving Vancouver in January... Even Lewis is getting grumbly. Dad would certainly approve!! All seems to be in order; Jones is most definitely lounging by the fireplace in his vacation pad, Susan and Peter are taking care of all our mega real-estate transactions, mum is now a wiz at skype and I've set up a future payment of our taxes on-line so we won't have the Lewis-has-to-find-an-internet-cafe panic in the middle of Carnaval. Hope all both of you who've read this are good! And Happy Birthday Dad.

Detailed Itinerary and Contacts

Here is all the boring detail in case someone needs to contact us - hopefully because they have decided to join us in Buenos Aires!

January 15 - January 20

American Airlines 330
Depart: Vancouver, BC at 2:00 PM
Arrive: Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX at 8:00 PM

American Airlines 945
Depart: Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX at 9:40 PM
Arrive: Santiago, CL at 10:20 AM

Arrive Santiago and transfer to Valparaiso (port city)

Accommodation: Hostal Caracol: www.hostalcaracol.cl, phone: 56-32-2395817, info@hostalcaracol.cl

January 20 - February 3

Celebrity Infinity, Valparaiso Chile to Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Stateroom 8124. Celebrity: 1-800-437-3111

February 3 - February 5

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,

IBIS RIO DE JANEIRO STO DUMONT
RUA MARECHAL CAMARA 280
CENTRO
20020 080 RIO DE JANEIRO
BRAZIL
Telephone : (55) 21/35064500
Fax : (55) 21/35064501

February 5 - 8

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Transamerica Flat Intl Plaza Hotel. Not certain of this one, will update.

February 8 - 10

In transit from Brazil to Buenos Aires
February 10 - March 4th

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Private Apartment:

194th Callao Ave. apartment 7, 3rd floor
Capital, Buenos Aires,
telephone number ++5411 5252-2465

Apartment booking agent:

Marita Carreño Morra
Adress: M. G. de Jovellanos 236, pb "A" - (C1268ADF) Buenos Aires - Argentina
Telephone: ++5411 - 4362-6262
info@bahomeandbusiness.com

March 5 - March 18th

Not Yet Determined!

March 18 2008

American Airlines 908
Depart: Buenos Aires, AR at 10:40 PM
Arrive: Miami, FL at 6:20 AM

March 19 2008
Alaska Airlines 17
Depart: Miami, FL at 8:10 AM
Arrive: Seattle, WA at 11:55 AM

Alaska Airlines 2312
Depart: Seattle, WA at 1:30 PM
Arrive: Vancouver, BC at 2:25 PM