In Lima

We went straight from the airport to lunch at what seems to be a fashionable restaurant in Lima then straight to city tour including the original town square dating back four hundred years or so.

A corner in the square

Further around the square

Wooden ceiling in a nearby monastery

Monastery library with books dating back more than 400 years

Then we were taken to our hotel for the evening. We are checking out of it at 5.45am to catch an early flight to Cusko. Here are some images of my room and facilities provided without comment.

I haven't posted photos of the bathroom which actually comprises three rooms of its own.

Sunrise over the Andes

The sun rises over the Andes as we arrive at Santiago Airport (Chile) for our flight to Lima (Peru).

Rio to Santiago

Last afternoon at Rio, we had a casual lunch at the Forte de Copacabana alongside the beach before our 4 hours and 20 minutes flight to Santiago.

Arriving at Santiago just on midnight, we were delayed on board the flight waiting for buses to collect us to take us to the terminal. There had been a rush of arriving flights and the airport was not handling it well.

I missed the first bus and was just at the plane's door with this view waiting for the next bus.

I reached my hotel room around 1.45am.

Heights and sights in Rio

We visited the statue of Christ the Redeemer yesterday and also experienced some of the sights of Rio. The first few images are from Corcovado where the statue is located and the others are of preparations for Carnival which which occurs in a week's time. Local communities are alive with activity.

Breakfast at the hotel in Rio

Overlooking Copacabana

Two faces of Rio

A Favela looks upon a downtown Rio street

Copacabana Beach night market, daily 7pm to 7am

Favelas

We visited two Favelas in Rio de Janeiro this morning. The Favelas are communities, mostly on the hillsides, where the poorer members of the community reside. Although by reputation the Favelas harbour the criminal and the indolent the reality, we have been told by our various guides, is quite different. Perhaps 90% of the population of these shanty towns is in employment including in all likelihood providing many of the smartly uniformed staff attending to us in our luxury beachside hotels. We were told there is high level of school attendance by the children. However there is up to fifth generation residents of Favelas nowadays and the best, perhaps only, escape to a richer environment is through the luck of achieving fame and fortune as a footballer or entertainer.

These tours of the Favelas are officially sanctioned as a means for bringing the reality of their character as well as lifestyle to a wider audience and for improving their reputation. That's what we were told and  there was nothing in the lack of interest or curiosity to our presence to suggest otherwise. There clearly are numerous daily tours and apart from those who gave us wide smiles or wished us a good morning there was no indication of hostility or any other negative response to our traipsing around their world.

The population of greater Rio is about 9 million and about 20%  (or a total of 1,800,000 people) resides in a Favela. There are 950 Favelas in Rio and we visited two of them. One is the largest in the city with a community that ranges from 80,000 to 250,000 depending upon what figures are used. It is the only one in the city with roads running through it and therefore with access to the public bus system. The other Favela is far smaller with a community of about 2,800.

It is extraordinary how the Favelas sit side by side with very wealthy elements in the city.

Here are several images.

Commerce looked to be thriving in this Favela

Narrow lane ways, twists and turns

Battle of the beaches and the bulge

We arrived in Rio de Janeiro this morning. Ahead of a trip to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain by cable cars and then a Portuguese BBQ scheduled for later in the day Hn and I had a quick wander around the precinct of our hotel.

The hotel fronts right on to Copacabana Beach and is also just two blocks to Ipanema Beach.

Here are a couple of images.

Copacabana Beach viewed from in front of our hotel

Ipanema Beach

One thing quickly obvious is that for lovers of budgie smugglers - or rather...lovers of viewing budgie smuggler wearers - this is a little piece of heaven. I have rarely seen such a display of...ahem...over-ample bulges. I scarcely knew where to look. I also felt somewhat faint, although the heat and humidity might have contributed to that.

A room with a view

This morning we are flying to Rio de Janeiro and by this afternoon we will be at Copacabana Beach. To keep you entertained in the meantime here are some images of the hotel we spent the past nights at in Iguassu Brazil.

Hotel das Cataratas

Lobby and Reception

The Pool

The Pool, again

A few bathers in 36ºc heat

The Hotel Restaurant which is adjacent to the pool

The outdoor section of the restaurant which is by the pool; naturally!

Iguassu Falls, Brazil

So, the next morning. Our hotel is the only one inside the National Park on the Brazil side so we are able to view the falls early before the thousands of daily visitors arrive after the National Park opens at 8.30am.

Here are some images.

The approach from in front of our hotel

That is Argentina, viewed from Brazil. Note the rainbow

Yes, we are headed for that walkway below

The rainbow connection, from here...

...to here

We are in Brazil, the water is in Argentina

Iguazu Falls, Argentina

The Iguazu (Argentine Spanish spelling) Falls are a spectacular collection of waterfalls bordered by three South American countries; Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. We visited Iguazu (Argentina) on the afternoon of 29 January after a 1 hour 45 minute flight from Buenos Aires. Later that afternoon we drove across the nearby border into Brazil.

The next morning we visited the Iguassu (Brazilian Portuguese spelling) Falls to view what he had seen in Argentina from the opposite perspective.

Sounds repetitive? It was spectacular. I do not possess the words to describe the experience but I suggest you visit, at least once in your lifetime.

This post has images from the Argentine side. The next post (the next morning) will be from Brazil.

Here are the Argentine images.

Initial travel by train to protect the National Park

Then walk along bridges to key scenic spots

First indication of Devil's Fall

Tremendous power

Widespread spray, prepare to be drenched

Further collection of falls

Another perspective, another section

These photos don't do justice to the sights in real life but the view from across the border the next morning is really something even in my images. They will be posted later today but first I need a break and a drink by the hotel pool. I'll be back.

The dance of passion...

...according to our tour guide as we drove to Rojo Tango in Buenos Aires for dinner and a performance of Tango dance and music.

Yes, there was passion aplenty and also dark, moody and dangerous stories acted out in dance. The skill was undeniable. Here are some images from the night. Photography was not easy in the low light, smokey surrounds, peering between other diners and with flash not permitted for obvious reasons.

I think these give you a flavour of the night, nonetheless. As usual, click on photos to enlarge.