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Cheers Kennas,

I have my open water dive cert so i'd happily tag along for a few dives too :)
 
Ive been spending Christmas and New Year in Columbia with the better half and a friend from Melbs.

We had Christmas in Cartagena and are now in a little fishing village near Santa Marta called Taganga and New Year celebrations are about to begin. Tomorrow we head back to Cartagena and a flight to Bogota for 3 days before heading to Ecuador for a month.

This is my second trip here, the last 3 years ago, and its been just as much fun, if not better, having the previous experience to build on.

Highlights...

Women. Columbian women are surely the best looking and most well endowed on the planet.
Rum. Rum. Rum.
The Old City of Cartagena is up there as one of the most picturesque cities in the world.
The people. Probably the friendliest I have met anywhere, apart from Aussies and Kiwis.
Local product. Cheap and tasty.
Safety. Its safe here, bring the kids.
Fresh fish, fresh fish, fresh fish. Yum, yum.

Lowlights....

Computers without the bloody at symbol.
Computers without the apostrophe button working.
It is fvcking HOT, HOT, HOT!!

Put it on the next world tour!!
 
We arrived in Quito a few days ago from Columbia and have settled into our hotel in Mariscal, the trendy part of town.

Initial impressions are that this is a great city!

Could be the nicest I've been to in Latin America actually.

We're in Quito because Rach has an office here and she's working here for the month before we head back to Lima.

While here we'll be doing a little bit of exploring on Rach's days off and this will include a trip to the Galapagos, departing Thurday. We're on a 5 day trip and I'm very excited about it. It's been a long time dream to visit the islands and see the wild life.

Photos will follow.

:D
 
Am looking forward to the photos of the Galapagos Islands!

Hope you and Rach enjoy yourselves! Sounds fantastic!
 
Can`t wait to send some phots, this place is amazing.

:D :D

Getting so close to nature is quite unique.


Back in Quito tomorrow night, your Tuesday morning I think. Hopefully no one has jumped off any roof tops from Mondays inevitabke carnage. Ouch.
 
Nice pic Kennas but you would think with such a great view the builders would get a move on and finish off damned quick.Just looks like an ugly building site with a great view at the moment!
 
LOL. I have some better photos actually. Will exchange one up there.

Um, no, tried, by too big. Go to my blog for better photos.
 
Flew to Quito in Ecuador yesterday and will be here for 2 weeks. It's nice to get out of Lima as the weather there is crappo at the moment. It's the time of the year when a sea fog rolls in called the 'Garua', and covers the coast. It NEVER rains, but you are effectively walking through water. Living on the 16th floor of a apartment building makes it feel like living in the clouds. Sounds interesting, but it makes life pretty dull! And wet.

Love Quito. The city is set in a valley at the foot of an extinct volcano and surrounded by mountains up to 5000m. It's the second highest capital in SA after La Paz. Unfortunately, we're not in our regular hotel that has good wireless and I have to spend a couple of days working out of Cafe's.

While here I'm hoping to get to see something new. Haven't been to Cotopaxi yet, which is an active volcano in the south. May go for the weekend.

Here's a pic of Quito with Cotopaxi in the distant background.
 

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Yikes! That looks fantastic Kennas.

I'm heading to Mexico in December (not as far south as you!) but am hoping to get a feel for Central/South American Cultures. Have you ever been? Any recommendations?

Also thinking about a connecting flight to the Caribbean...worth it?
 
Yes, pretty place.

JTC, I've travelled through most of Mexico and CA. Mexico is my favourite country in the world. Will send highlights when I have a bit more time.
 
Thanks Kennas, would really appreciate it.

I'm a little bit daunted at the size of Mexico...but just the surrounds make it worthwhile for me to bite the bullet.
 
You could do Mexico justice in a month I think. The route I'd take is: Mexico City, visit Teotihuacan, head south east to Oaxaca and see Monte Alban, then to San Cristobal de la Casas (best colonial town), then to Palenque and the jungle ruins (best ruins imo - stay in the jungle near the ruins - awesome) then to the Caribbean coast, starting at Tulum for a couple of days and visit the beach ruins, move up to Playa del Carman (a bit Americanised but a happenin beach town), if you are into diving dive the Cenotes (fresh water caves from Playa) and/or ferry over to Cozumel (amazing visibility 50m +), for something a little quieter you could go to Isla Mujeres (although starting to get developed), then head to Chichen Itza (most famous Mayan temple and one of the new 7 wonders) and then to Merida and fly out. You could skip Merida and fly out of Cancun. I think that's the highlights. :)
 
Hello blog readers!!

I'm off to Cuzco tomorrow, the navel of the world, for about 2 weeks.

Will be having Christmas, doing the Inca Trail and then having New Years there.

Was in Columbia last year, and I hope this year is as half as much fun!

I hope you guys all have a great Christmas and New Years and we make a motza in 2009. Fingers double crossed...eeeek!

:xmaswave:xmastree:chimney
 
Belated Happy New Year Sean to you and your family

I was overseas for 4 weeks and deliberately stayed away from Internet just to test my patience. It was hard

Any way I am wondering if rare earth would be of your interest and what do you think of LYC ?

Regards
 
Have followed ARU but not LYC. Probably haven't as it hasn't really been a trendy commod to follow unlike IO, or U, or CSG for example where people jumping on the bandwagon can create significant gains. Will have a look though, cheers.

Hope you had a great holiday!
 
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