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South America and Antarctica

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Day 57
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Australia Bell Park -38.10636, 144.32765338°6’23” S 144°19’40” E
Home after 2 months
March 27, 2018 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
36 hours in flight and transit
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Day 56
Monday, March 26, 2018
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 563 m
Chile Santiago Chicureo Airport -33.26373, -70.65662833°15’49” S 70°39’24” W
Santiago and homeward bound
March 26, 2018 in Chile ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Another 12 hours in transit, Santiago is not the most comfortable transit point. Day 56, marks 8 weeks away.
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Day 55
Sunday, March 25, 2018
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 710 m
Peru Cerro San Gerónimo -11.995741, -77.03168511°59’45” S 77°1’54” W
Lima
March 25, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Today we began the transit home, beginning with the evening flight from Lima to Santiago.

We took a taxi around the beaches, which are overlooked by large cliffs, and in Miraflores, the ‘Love Park’. Although why one would consider it a good place to take their partner is a mystery, given the park is so open, exposed and well lit.Read more
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Day 54
Saturday, March 24, 2018
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 375 m
Peru Cerro San Gerónimo -11.987093, -77.02526111°59’14” S 77°1’31” W
Ica to Lima
March 24, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
After a relaxing day in Huacachina, we headed back to Ica and boarded the bus to Lima, last stop before heading home.

Coming in to Lima, smog was so thick that visibility waswas down to only a few kilometres.Read more
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Day 53
Friday, March 23, 2018 at 9:09 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 407 m
Peru Laguna Huacachina -14.0876, -75.76129914°5’15” S 75°45’41” W
A day relaxing in Ica & Huacachina
March 23, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
A chance to sit back and relax in a hammock by the pool.
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Day 52
Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 11:37 AM
🌙 27 °C
Altitude: 404 m
Peru Cerros Huacachina -14.078543, -75.76483214°4’43” S 75°45’53” W
Nazca to Ica and Huacachina
March 22, 2018 in Peru ⋅ 🌙 27 °C
After a pleasant night (Nazca gets quite hot around midday, due to no wind, then about 3 pm the winds come down from the mountains and cool everything), it was time to travel to Ica, and Huacachina.

Huacachina is an oasis in the desert, and home to the largest sand dunes in America.Read more
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Day 51
Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 7:27 AM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 550 m
Peru Maria Reiche Neuman Airport -14.854518, -74.96015214°51’16” S 74°57’37” W
Flying the Nazca Lines
March 21, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
At 7 am we went to the airport to fly over the Nazca Lines. Nothing short of amazing. The pilot banked the plane this way, then that, doing steep turns to allow us to get photos of all the major figures.Read more
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Day 50
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at 12:04 PM
☀️ 31 °C
Altitude: 595 m
Peru Barrio San Carlos -14.826027, -74.93674514°49’34” S 74°56’12” W
Aqueducts, mummies and ancient ruins
March 20, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
After arriving in Nazca and settling in to the hotel, we went on a tour of the sites around the city, especially the pre-Incan culture.
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Day 49
Monday, March 19, 2018 at 11:24 AM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 3,427 m
Peru Plaza de Armas Cusco -13.515233, -71.97733313°30’55” S 71°58’38” W
A day at the museums, lambs and llamas
March 19, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
With our intrepid tour of Cusco and Machu Picchu at an end, we had about 5 hours to take in the museums around the city before we had to board the overnight bus to Nazca.
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Day 48
Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 7:10 AM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 2,717 m
Peru Machu Pichu Airport -13.132581, -72.5614413°7’57” S 72°33’41” W
Machu Picchu
March 18, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
The tourist pictures of Machu Picchu do not prepare you for the sheer size and magnitude of the site. It is enormous and astounding when one considers the engineering involved.
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Day 47
Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 11:50 AM
☁️ 13 °C
Altitude: 2,860 m
Peru Ollantaytambo -13.258584, -72.26396913°15’31” S 72°15’50” W
Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
March 17, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Our day started with brunch and local songs by two young boys. They asked for 3 soles each but we gave them 5 each ($2). They were more than delighted.

Then came the train to Machu Picchu town, at the base of the site. It was a spectacular trip, hugging the mountain side as the railway followed the river.Read more
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Day 46
Friday, March 16, 2018 at 7:09 PM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 3,577 m
Peru Saksaywaman -13.508056, -71.98248313°30’29” S 71°58’57” W
Saqsaywaman
March 16, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Saqsaywaman (or as it is pronounced- sexy woman) was part of the gateway to Cusco during Inca times. It was part of a series of various stations enroute to Cusco, which acted as checkpoints / customs points to regulate the number of people admitted to Cusco at any given time, and also to ensure animals did not enter the city either.Read more
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Day 45
Thursday, March 15, 2018
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 2,971 m
Peru Pisac -13.420825, -71.85439313°25’15” S 71°51’16” W
Pisaq
March 15, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
After overnighting in Ollantaytambo, we went to Pisa’s, to explore local craft markets, and on the way, had the chance to see how guinea pigs are prepared and roasted.
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Day 44
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 3,427 m
Peru Plaza de Armas Cusco -13.515194, -71.97759213°30’55” S 71°58’39” W
Ocucuan co op
March 14, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
The Ocucuan cooperative has been established about 15 km from Cusco, as a working example of traditional agrarian practices still utilised by Incan descendants.

We were treated to a traditional greeting, and shown a variety of produce the cooperative grows, including many potato and corn varieties.

Later, we were treated to a traditional lunch including a flavoursome quinoa soup...all locally produced ingredients.Read more
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Day 43
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 11:28 PM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 3,406 m
Peru Cusco -13.516947, -71.97280113°31’1” S 71°58’22” W
Cusco
March 13, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Cusco was the centre of the Inca empire, founded in the 1200s. A road led from each of quarter to the corresponding quarter of the empire.
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Day 42
Monday, March 12, 2018 at 2:03 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 35 m
Peru Jorge Chávez International Airport -12.022173, -77.10887912°1’20” S 77°6’32” W
Lima to Cusco
March 12, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
After a brief flight, we found ourselves in Cusco, and altitude. Initially we had fun getting our breath as we climbed the stairs.
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Day 41
Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 5:06 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 150 m
Peru Plaza Mayor -12.041867, -77.02927412°2’31” S 77°1’45” W
Lima, Peru
March 11, 2018 in Peru ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
What a contrast. We arrived from Uruguay Sunday morning, and found that Sunday was the day that all the locals descend on the ‘centro’. The city was alive!

There was entertainment everywhere in the streets, as well as the ceremonial changing of the guard at the presidential palace, and markets everywhere.

Dave and Zawadi went for a long walk around the city, and toured the historic Basilica de Lima, including its catacombs.

Lima seems to have police for everything, and there are always riot police and water canons around the central city. Kalashnikov semi automatic rifles are held by every second policeman. Despite their tough appearance, they were incredibly approachable. Lima also has official money changers in the streets, who charge one Peruvian Sol commission (or 40c). The government have put a lot of effort into providing a safe and pleasant experience for the traveller.Read more
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Day 40
Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 10:56 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 53 m
Uruguay Plaza del Entrevero -34.905872, -56.1939734°54’21” S 56°11’38” W
Montevideo - the weekend
March 10, 2018 in Uruguay ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
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Day 39
Friday, March 9, 2018 at 8:51 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 42 m
Uruguay Plaza Libertad -34.907238, -56.19224934°54’26” S 56°11’32” W
Montevideo
March 9, 2018 in Uruguay ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Montevideo is a bit of an unknown place for Australians to visit, but we were glad we did. It has a far more laid back feeling to Buenos Aires, and without the major high rise. People seem more conservative in their dress, yet the society is more tolerant of minorities, especially the gay community.

In many ways it felt like a Uruguayan version of Melbourne.

We visited the Museum of Historic Art (Muhar), and viewed numerous Aztec artworks, along with antiquities such as an Egyptian mummy.Read more
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Day 38
Thursday, March 8, 2018 at 12:28 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 28 m
Uruguay Pueblo Ferrocarril -34.786835, -56.20726834°47’13” S 56°12’26” W
Go southeast to Montevideo
March 8, 2018 in Uruguay ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
So with the change of the plan, we traveled southeast to Montevideo and the Atlantic Ocean.

The western and inner (gauchos) parts of Uruguay are primarily agricultural, and Australian eucalypts are everywhere. In fact, apart from driving on the opposite side of the road, one could be forgiven for thinking that this was rural Australia.

Cattle and horses dominate the landscape, and given the gauchos supposedly originated here, there is a mythical appearance of people going on horse rides, as if to reconnect with the past. Also,as many of the properties are smaller than Australian farms, and the availability of ready labour, horses are a logical choice.Read more
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Day 37
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 9:48 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Uruguay Arroyo Rodríguez -31.456926, -57.90840931°27’25” S 57°54’30” W
Personæ non gratæ no longer
March 7, 2018 in Uruguay ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
After an overnight bus trip, we arrived in Concordia, and caught a taxi to Uruguay. Finally, at the border, exit and entry stamps were in our passports, and we were able to move internationally once again.

We booked into a hotel about 8 km from Salto, in a quiet little community where there are thermal pools. A bit less humid than the previous days, and the local policeman rides around on horseback. Salto is, after all, gauchos territory, and they are proud of it.Read more
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Day 36
Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 10:42 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 201 m
Argentina Puerto Iguazú -25.604086, -54.56663525°36’15” S 54°33’60” W
Change of plan
March 6, 2018 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
After visiting the Paraguayan Consulate, the only option to enter Paraguay was to purchase another visa. Given the cost, it was decided we would head back south to Concordia and enter Uruguay.

That meant another overnight bus trip, and booking a flight to Lima from Montevideo on the weekend.

Puerto Iguazu gave us a taste of the jungle, and a visit to Biocentro allowed us a close up look at more native animals, especially snakes, which we adore, and local crocs and gators.

Then on to the bus and southwards.Read more
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Day 35
Monday, March 5, 2018
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 200 m
Argentina Puerto Iguazú -25.603956, -54.56668525°36’14” S 54°34’0” W
Iguazu Falls
March 5, 2018 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
What else could we say, incredible, massive, 217 falls all told, with water flowing over at rates we could only imagine in Australia.

The wildlife was absolutely gorgeous, although the coatis were quite brazen. Despite graphic signs with images of severed hands caused by these little creatures, people still fed them...or the coatis would raid your meal by jumping up on the table in a daylight snatch and grab.

The butterflies were astounding, and landed all over us.

The parque was worth the travel up from Buenos Aires.Read more
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Day 34
Sunday, March 4, 2018
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 201 m
Argentina Puerto Iguazú -25.604137, -54.56660125°36’15” S 54°33’60” W
Rest day in Puerto Iguazu
March 4, 2018 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Yet another chance to just relax, especially as we were back in tropical climate, with the wet season still happening.
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Day 33
Saturday, March 3, 2018
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 201 m
Argentina Puerto Iguazú -25.604132, -54.5666525°36’15” S 54°33’60” W
Onwards to Iguazu Falls
March 3, 2018 in Argentina ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Finally we left Buenos Aires on the overnight bus to Puerto Iguazu. We booked ‘cama’ class, which is effectively like business class on the bus.

For most of the journey, it was open plains and massive rivers being navigated by ships.

With dinner served, it was time to sleep and wake the next day to find ourselves in tropical forest.Read more
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