Nov 2018 – Mar 2019

South America

November 2018 - March 2019 Read more

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South America skip's retirement travel
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Day 83
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 12:31 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 33 m
Uruguay Playa de la Gruta -34.90866, -55.0447834°54’31” S 55°2’41” W
Casapueblo
February 13, 2019 in Uruguay ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Home of the artist Vilaró. Built it himself with friends, working to avoid straight lines. He worked around the world to capture the lives of those less fortunate. One of the places he worked that caught my attention was Cameroon. The first two pics are of the house overlooking the Rio de la Plata. Then 3 of art displayed there. And finallly a pic of Vilaró with Picasso. I'm not usually big on modern art, but his work caught me.Read more
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Day 83
Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 3:05 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Uruguay Playa de los Ingleses -34.96525, -54.9496934°57’55” S 54°56’59” W
Punta del Este
February 13, 2019 in Uruguay ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Upscale seaside resort city built on a peninsula where the Rio de la Plata meets the South Atlantic. The first pic is a sculpture of a hand trying to reach up out of the sand that won a competition in the city some years before. Then some looks at the Atlantic side of the city. The last pic looks over the marina on the river side.Read more
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Day 85
Friday, February 15, 2019 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 777 m
Argentina Mendoza -32.89232, -68.8474432°53’32” S 68°50’51” W
Mendoza, Argentina
February 15, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Center of the largest wine region of Argentina, although the largest industry here is oil, followed by wine and tourism. The first 3 pics are independence plaza, the main Square. Then a national park in town, a look at the main street and Italy plaza, next to the hotel where I stayed.Read more
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Day 86
Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 4:32 PM
☀️ 34 °C
Altitude: 848 m
Argentina Russell -33.01355, -68.7995833°0’49” S 68°47’58” W
Pasrai olive oil processing plant
February 16, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
It may seem strange to post about olive oil in a region supposedly famous for wine. Well, truth is, I took a wine and olive oil tour. The three wineries visited were poor. I was disappointed. However, seeing how olive oil is made was fun and the tasting was really good. The first pic is about the olives. Then the stone press, sorting and separation, olive oil presses, decanting to remove water, and bottling and shipping. The tasting used 6 or 8 stations with bread and various olive oils, some flavored or toppings made with olive oil, all excellent.Read more
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Day 87
Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 7:34 PM
☀️ 6 °C
Altitude: 4,175 m
Argentina Departamento de Luján -32.92228, -69.9949332°55’20” S 69°59’42” W
Argentinian Andes
February 17, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C
We visited the region from Mendoza to the border with Chile. First is Aconcagua, just under 7,000 meters tall (over 22,500 feet). Next is Christo Redentor de los Andes, located on the border with Chile. Then a look at the mountains, a man made lake in the region, a road we traveled that I was glad to be a passenger, and a natural Stone bridge.Read more
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Day 89
Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 8:07 PM
🌙 25 °C
Altitude: 1,175 m
Argentina Iglesia San Francisco de Salta -24.79071, -65.4082324°47’27” S 65°24’30” W
Salta
February 19, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ 🌙 25 °C
City of about 700,000 where a major battle in the war for independence from Spain was fought. The first pic is the main square, called July 9th square, July 9 being independence day here. Next is an overview of the city from Mt San Lorenzo. Then the cathedral with a close up of the chancel. I suspect some syncretism here, with the sun being an Incan God. Then the church of Saint Francis. No inside pics as mass was in progress. Finally a street scene along the main squareRead more
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Day 90
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 9:59 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 2,329 m
Argentina Purmamarca -23.74647, -65.4990223°44’47” S 65°29’56” W
Purmamarca
February 20, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Small, dusty tourist town at the seven color mountain. The first and last pics are the 7 color mountain. Then several pics of the main square with the everyday market clearly geared to tourists. And there is a pic of one of the secondary streetsRead more
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Day 90
Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 11:22 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 2,482 m
Argentina Maimará -23.58433, -65.4002623°35’4” S 65°24’1” W
Pucará de Tilcara
February 20, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
A Pucará is a fortress built mostly by pre-incan groups after they made the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled agricultural communities. People would retreat here when the community was threatened. There are dwellings, food and water storage, etc. This Pucará is dated to around 900 CE. Also, some of this is restored, based on archaeological and anthropological guesses as to what this place might have looked like.Read more
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Day 92
Friday, February 22, 2019
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 205 m
Argentina Iguazu Falls -25.67145, -54.4673325°40’17” S 54°28’2” W
Missiones Rainforest
February 22, 2019 in Argentina ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
These are area pics of the rainforest and some of the critters here. The first pic looks up a creek into the rainforest. In the second, a capuchin monkey is hiding in the shadows. Then a coati, a caiman, vultures soaring on the thermals at the falls and a big jungle spider.Read more
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Day 92
Friday, February 22, 2019
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 208 m
Brazil Foz do Iguaçu -25.6084, -54.5087425°36’30” S 54°30’31” W
Iguazú Falls, Argentina
February 22, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Spectacular place. There is a post with photos from the Brazilian side, too. Located in the Missiones Rainforest just up river from the point where Paraguay meets Argentina and Brazil in the middle of the Iguazú River. There are many individual falls here. A pic from the Brazilian side will show the whole Argentinian side. These are a random selection of the pics I took. The next last is called Devil's Throat. It is the largest of all the falls and is located on the border. The name comes from the gorge in the last pic.Read more
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Day 93
Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 9:12 AM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 190 m
Paraguay Lago de La República -25.50911, -54.6152825°30’33” S 54°36’55” W
Punta del Este, Paraguay
February 23, 2019 in Paraguay ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Disappointing morning here. My only stop in Paraguay, but for only 2 hours. So pics are of the town as I walked around.
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Day 93
Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 3:50 PM
⛅ 33 °C
Altitude: 179 m
Brazil Foz do Iguaçu -25.68815, -54.439725°41’17” S 54°26’23” W
Iguazú Falls, Brazil
February 23, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C
The views on this side are even more spectacular. The first pic is of the falls on the Argentinian side. It's even more extensive than I realized when I was up close. Then some pics of falls and the gorge. The next last pic is taken from a platform in the middle of the river looking up the Devil's Throat. The soaking spray from the falls felt really good at 93 degrees. The last pic is from the top looking down the Devil's Throat.Read more
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Day 95
Monday, February 25, 2019 at 10:26 AM
⛅ 33 °C
Altitude: 290 m
Brazil Sugarloaf Mountain -22.9494, -43.1564622°56’58” S 43°9’23” W
Sugar Loaf, Rio
February 25, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C
One of the well known landmarks of Rio. The first pic is of Sugar Loaf taken from the cable car, the only way to get there. The rest are various views from the top.
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Day 95
Monday, February 25, 2019 at 3:00 PM
☀️ 34 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Brazil Praia de Ipanema -22.98767, -43.2026222°59’16” S 43°12’9” W
Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro
February 25, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C
I can say from experience that the song is right, but you'll have to really enlarge the photos to see!!
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Day 96
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at 11:22 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 485 m
Brazil Serra da Carioca -22.94717, -43.217722°56’50” S 43°13’4” W
Christo Redentor
February 26, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Famous statue overlooking Rio, facing the harbor with arms open in welcome and blessing. Clouds were around the statue, with one side of the mountain fully fogged in. So here are pics of the statue and of the view over Rio.Read more
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Day 97
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 12:00 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Brazil Praça Tiradentes -22.90977, -43.1807322°54’35” S 43°10’51” W
Metropolitan Cathedral, Rio de Janeiro
February 27, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
I haven't posted a cathedral like this in a while. This one is modern. The architecture is said to be inspired by Mayan temples. Frankly, I find the exterior to be ugly. See the first pic. However, the interior blew me away. It is set up in the round, with huge, floor to the top of the conic structure, painted glass windows on 4 sides. The last pic is the steeple/bell tower that stands nearby.Read more
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Day 97
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 3:57 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 107 m
Brazil Morro do Curvelo -22.91883, -43.1834122°55’8” S 43°11’0” W
Santa Teresa
February 27, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Interesting neighborhood in Rio. Maybe best known for the tram that is built on the old aqueduct in the second pic. This was built using stacked arches on the Roman style. It had been built to bring water to the city. When better facilites were built, it was converted to carry the tram between Santa Teresa and the city center. The third pic is a a house in ruins that has become a park. The rest of the pics are views from the roof of the house that has been built up for the purpose.Read more
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Day 97
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
⛅ 31 °C
Altitude: 62 m
Brazil Praça Tiradentes -22.90957, -43.1793522°54’34” S 43°10’46” W
Rio de Janeiro City Center
February 27, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Some looks at downtown Rio. First are several street and market scenes. 4th is a look along Carnaval Road where the parade takes place. Not a very good picture as the area is closed for final preparations for Carnaval in a couple days. Then Maracaná Stadium, the big national Fútbol (soccer) Stadium. Last is the Colombo Bakery, a landmark beautiful 19th century building, built as a bakery and maintained as one. Good coffee and excellent baked goods.Read more
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Day 99
Friday, March 1, 2019 at 9:43 AM
🌧 27 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Brazil Rio Perequê-Açu -23.21971, -44.715823°13’11” S 44°42’57” W
Paraty, Brazil
March 1, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
Small Town, about 4 hours drive down the coast from Rio. The old town is well preserved. The first pic is of the main street in the historic area decorated for Carnaval. The second and third are other looks at town. Much of the economy is based on tourism, especially in the surrounding rainforest and beaches. That is the other 3 pics.Read more
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Day 101
Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 10:53 AM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 35 m
Brazil Arena Fonte Nova -12.977, -38.502412°58’37” S 38°30’9” W
Salvador de Bahía
March 3, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
First capital of Brazil. Lighthouse on the point at the edge of the bay. Statues of gods of an African animist religion brought by slaves. Old governor's palace. The broken cross sculpture sits at the place where the old Cathedral was town down. I'm with a woman in traditional costume. The last pic is inside São Francisco church (not cathedral), said to be the richest church in the country. Yes, that's all gold leaf.Read more
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Day 102
Monday, March 4, 2019 at 11:48 AM
☁️ 31 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Brazil Ponta Açu da Tôrre -12.57734, -38.0021612°34’38” S 38°0’8” W
Project Tamar
March 4, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
Brazilian eco project for conservation of sea turtles. This is the headquarters. The site is an interpretive center about their work and the turtles, along with some other fish and rays. The first pic shows all their sites. Then one of the turtles. The third pic is an albino turtle. Albinos don't survive in the wild as they are too easy for predators to see. Then hatchlings. Last is a nurse shark.Read more
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Day 102
Monday, March 4, 2019 at 12:05 PM
☁️ 31 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Brazil Ponta Açu da Tôrre -12.5776, -38.0032312°34’39” S 38°0’12” W
Praia do Forte
March 4, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
Lovely tourist town built up at project Tamar (see another post). Pics are of the town and the beach. The last pic is a remnant of the Atlantic rainforest preserved in a reserve that surrounds the town. Only about 7% of the original forest remainsRead more
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Day 103
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at 7:00 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Brazil Picao Passage -8.05969, -34.87148°3’35” S 34°52’17” W
Carnaval, Recife
March 5, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Come with me on a journey to visit one of Brazil's pre-Lenten Carnavals, this one is in Recife. Starting from one of the gates, there are pics of the groups/bands working their way through what seemed like a mosh put, rather than a more formal parade, a look at the main stage (there were 3 outdoor stages plus a number of indoor venues), and a couple of the characters floating around. The were tens and probably hundreds of thousands of people crowded into the old city. Amazing timeRead more
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Day 105
Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 1:52 PM
⛅ 31 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Brazil Porto de Galinhas -8.50593, -35.000798°30’21” S 35°0’3” W
Porto Galinhas
March 7, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
Or chicken port. Formerly Porto Rico. I'm told that when the slave trade was made illegal here, plantation owners started importing chickens. Turns out the chickens were the top level and slaves were underneath. Unloading was at night. These are various pics along the shore and out on the sandstone reef with it's tidal pools. I was there just after low tide. If you look closely at the last pic, you will see a small land crab.Read more
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Day 105
Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 2:40 PM
☀️ 30 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Brazil Porto de Galinhas -8.505, -35.008438°30’18” S 35°0’30” W
Projeto Hippocampus
March 7, 2019 in Brazil ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Seahorse conservation project based in the Porto Galinhas region. Hippocampus us the genus for seahorses. After hatching, young are released into the mangrove swamps around the area. The seahorses in pics 4&5 are pregnant.Read more
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