Chris & Erika's Excellent Adventure

My relatives Lois and her son Matthew kindly picked us up in Auckland at 4am and by 7 we were on the Ferry Waiheki a small island where they have been building a house which could feature on Grand Designs, so we fit right in with not a clean sock between us!!
Lois & her family fed, tendered and sight saw around Auckland & Waiheke v. well.
We picked up a rental car 2 days later and headed Nrth for the Bay of Islands, Waitange Treaty Grounds where there Maori's signed up with the Brits. ninety mile beach and every time you turned a corner more stunning scenery - which beacme a common problem in NZ!
Then off Sth to Waitome Caves where we Black Water Rafted our way through caves in the freezing cold water and the dark, under ground to see the glow worms in their thousands, glowing like stars on the roof of the caves.
Then Rotarua to see the ground bubbling all around you with thermal pools guysers and a constant smell of sulpher!
We had a lovely thermal pool in the rain.
We tried to the Tongariro Crossing which is classed as one of the top ten 1 day walks in the world but unfortunately for us (as the pictures area amazing) winter had well and truly set in and there was too much snowq for anyone to go up there in the forceable future. We were told 2 Americans died up there a couple of weeks earlier - no doubt the usual badly equipped story! Unlike us who have now bought nothing but thermals in NZ to face one of their coldest winters on record so we're off to Antarctica next!
We then made to more of my relatives in Eketahuna which has a pub, a community owned shop and Tourist Info. Centre, a charity shop where Chris bought a Eketahune rugby jumper for $3.00 and a local radio station run by 2 old blokes who steal the news off a national radio station every hour and transmit as part of Eketahuna FM- hilarious.
Anyway Norma & Peter own a beautiful farm and apart from the constant rain for the 2 days we were there we had a fantastic time. It was nice to see and understand how theses small towns work and how much of it is down to the community working together.
From there we did a super quich tour of Wellington , as in we saw the sites but we've both had enough of Big Cities, not that NZ really has big cities but anyway, we ran out of time & were happy to get the ferry 2 the Sth Island.
This crossing across the Cook Straights is meant to be one of the worst sea crossings in the world and we were forecast for 120 mile winds and rain - what joy! Anyway, we borded as foot passengers (the next car to be picked up on the other side) got our fisk & chips - you can't beat a bit of grease l;ining in your stommach to keep sea sickness at bay and off we went in what turned out to be one of the best crossings ever known on the ferry - a bit disappointing really!
We headed east for Blenheim decide we didn't like that and back west to Nelson which was just gorgeous. We went to the WOW museum there (World of Wearable Art) and they have one of the rings used in the Lord of the Rings. Nelson is very Arty place and the sculptor who made the several rings for the film was from here.
Next was a stop at a Gold mining town to pan for some of that there precious metal. Naturally I got more then Chris but you're more than willing to judge for yourselves on our return.
Finally we make our true destination of Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers and more walking (in the rain), to the glaciers and the glow worm tunnels (but sadly even they were hiding from the cold!)
We wanted to do the heli-hiking on the FJ glacier (as we heard it was better than Fox) so you get to see the ice caves. Typically the day we arrived was glorious sunshine and the next 2 days were awful so the helicopters that drop you off on the glacier couldn't go up, so we had to do quad biking instead while we waited!
Finally, we got a break after hanging on specifically another day to do it and it was absolutely incredible. I don't know which was better the walking on the glacier or the helicopter ride over it.
For anyone following our footsteps here look out for us as we are now staring in the companies new video too - I kid you not!
It was well worth the wait we had to leave immediatel as the Haast pass on route to Queenstown had to be crossed in daylight as the weather is sooo treacherous across it at the moment (4 people died crossing it that same night).
We arrived at Queenstown (exhausted) for the start of their annual winter festival (pure luck). Sadly we had energy for nothing but sleep after of course the usual bottle of wine!
Ist priority of the next day was to find new accomodation the place we stayed in had the heater on a 1Hr timer and in below -5 it's not bloody funny when you get out of your cosy, warm sleeping bag.
We chanced upon a lovely hostel with Very Hot Heaters and turned out to be a great find - lovely place and great, helpful staff. So we warmed up and began planning where to spend our time and life's savings over the next few days. For those of you who don't know Queenstown is the home of Bungee and the original one is still there, and Much, Much, Much Bigger ones, 134 metres or there abouts. This in turn makes Queenstown the home of Adrenalin Junkies. I've never seen so many things you can do too induce adrenalin in one place in such a small amount of time.
We decided on 2days skiing, Chris didn;t the Canyon swing for which you drop free fall 60 metres and then swing across the bottom of a canyon until they decide to winch you back. We took a Jet boat ride down the DaRT rIVER which is in the area of Glenorchy where alot of Lord of the Rings was filmed and absolutely beautiful. Thanks for the cold warning Chris 10 layers just about kept me warm but not as warm as the possum boot liners we bought down there!!
Then we took a 13Hr trip to Milford Sound and a Boat trip on the sound out to the Tasman Sea and watched a pod of Dolphins (including 2 babies) playing around the boat and catching it's slip stream on the way back - just Great.
A mammoth drive to Kaikora by which time I couldn't speak (lucky for Chris)I was so tired! Whale watching here for Hump Backs and a seal colony. We got a nice little video of the whale justt as he heads under water. No pics were taken cause it's a waste of time they just look like blobs in the water!
And here we are in Christchurch the 1st time we've seen broadband in the country and the 1st time in weeks we've had time to do any of this.
Looking forward to our now many thermals collecting dust when we hit Nrthn Oz on Monday and some bloody warmth.
As usual no grammar or spelling has been checked so you'll have to work it out yourselves!

We crossed the border to Argentina at Iguaza Falls some time in early May - much to my relief.
Iguaza Falls truly is tremendous at certainly outclasses Niagara but not Victoria Falls (apart from it's size)
From there we bused it down to Buenos Aires where we saw the local Boca football team play. They were Maradona's 1st team and he attends every game still!
On my B'day we went to see a Tango show as BA is where it was invented - superb.
Then we got the ferry to Uruguay and spent a lovely hot day (well remembered as it was our last hot day)at the border town of Colonia and then bussed it to Monte Video - av. strange place with not much charcter and considering it more wealthy than Argentina & much more expensive it no sole. We couldn't wait to leave so thankfully we did v. quixckly back to BA
for more sight seeing. This city is incredible it's alive 24Hrs and we had some of the best food I've ever had anywhere. 2 fillet steaks, bottle of wine, water, pudding and 2 cokes for under a tenner- what more can you ask for!
From here we headed down south for Patagonia and a lovely new town of El Calaffate & the Perito Merino Glacier which was incredibly huge, beautiful, and cold.
Then another 4 Hrs south to El Chalten the southern part of the Glacier National Park to see Mount Fitzroy and it's surrounding mountains and 2 do 3 days walking. I can't begin to describe how beautiful this area was but on our last days 6 Hr walk we went up 2 c Lake Capri and drink the water ( you can drink any water you come across in this National Park) and not wishing to sound like a 1980's Yuppy it was the best water we have ever tasted!We tracked deer & Pumars prints in the snow, saw a fox walked through frost, snow, sunshine, bitter cold, more sunshine and then rain on the way down which was in fact the snow on the trees melting. It was a day neither of us will forget in a hurry and well worth the constant taking off and putting on of layers as the climate changed.
We then headed Nrth East for Southern Right Whale Watching at Puerta Madryn - which we were lucky enough to see 2 of aS they only arrived a week ago
Then our 24 Hr bus journey to the Border town of Mendoza for a wine tasting tour - not recommended with a hangover!! - but a great Feast at the end of it and horse riding in the mountains at the base of the Andes which too was stunning. The whole country was stunning and very enjoyable.
Now our great bus journet through thew Andes to Santago Chile.
Thankfully the bus was quiet so we could keep changing sides to view the changing climate and terrain.
It's the highest border crossing in the suthern hemisphere as the snow told us and once through to Chile there was a winding roaD WITH ABOUT 21 360DEGREE bends in it. It was like a scalextrix track - Amazing
We managed only 24Hrs in Santiago and until we did the city tour we would have both said this was enough but seeing the city as a whole we realised how nice it was. I thibk perhaps the riot police with their water cannons parked down the road from our hostel because of demonstrating students didn't help our view at 1st!
It seems Pinochet took away all their funding and thewre's problemsa ever since, we've seen alot of trouble on the news since being in Sth America re-students, but you have to feel for them amd their cause.

Onto NZ

OK here it is, we finally got off our arses to write this thing! Rio, Brazil what can we say fantastic city. It has everything; world famous beaches, mountains, immense greenery and the most diverse split of economies weve ever seen. The world famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacobanna dont dissapoint except you cant sit on Copacobanna because of the sewage outlets that flow freely onto the beach (a common problem in Brazil) and the water at Ipanema is so treacherous you cant go in it. Apart from that they are stunning. The statue of Christ was incredible (smaller than we imagined) even if he was covered in cloud the day we saw him!! However, one of us (Erika)was not too peturbed by missing out on the stunning views of the city below as you can imagine! Sugar Loaf Mountain was yet another day to test my nerves with TWO cable car rides just to get up there. The views were amazing {but my feet looked good enough to me) However, I have to agree that the views from the top were incredible and we spent a couple of hours up there just soaking it all up and trying to get my land legs back again! On our way down we took a helicopter ride over the city, along the beaches and round the statue of JC who decided to pop his head out of the clouds for us and Chris took some amazing pictures. For those of you who dont know these pictures along with our camera are now in a Favella (slum) somewhere in Rio as the following day we had our bag with camera stolen.Lifes a bitch but you will all have to imagine how good the pics were instead. The following day and the Favella tour was probably the highlight of our entire stay in Rio. Commencing with a Motorbike ride to the top of the hill where the extremely poor of Rio live and continuing with a guided walk down through the sewage ridden main street of these peoples lives was really quite something. It was the one place and time I think we will both agree that we actually felt completely safe in this city. We saw an art studio by locals and bought a fantastic painting which will hopefully arrive par avion, we had fantastic chocolate cake in a local shop, bought bracelets off the local kids and finally went to the ever expanding nursery which 60% of the tour money funds where we were just blown away by kids literally crawling all over you. It was like a tiny piece of CLEAN haven for these few kids in this filth ridden hell hole. Very nice to see even if we couldnt wait to get in the shower when we got home! They really should say on their fliers that closed toe shoes should be worn!
After Rio we headed south for Florianopolis and the tiny Isle de Santa Catarina which is famous for nothing more than its beauty and beaches. The 1st beach Ingleses had the same sewage problem but we both felt the Health and Safety Executive could do a roaring trade in Brazil as there are ALWAYS food outlets either side of the flowing sewage! Anyway we eventually found the little haven of Barra de Lagoa which was the most stunning, little fishing village where local kids ran round bare foot carrying fish nearly as big as them. Lets just say if you werent carrying a fish you were a tourist. And all this just in the harbour, we then wailked round the corner to the stunning white sand, horse shoe beach where surfing is prolific and spent a most relaxing day soaking up the rays!
Moving on another 18 hour overnite bus journey (not as bad as they sound with reclining seats, pillows and blankets and in Argentina even meals and wine served by a steward) to Iguazu Falls at the border with Argentina and Paraguay. We spent one day on the Brazil side seeing the sights and being harrassed by Coatis (look it up!) who will pinch your food straight off your tray still in its wrapper as we saw happen to one woman. We crossed the border to Argentina on 8th May. We even got a smile off the customs officials and the bus driver waited to make sure we all got back on the bus. Now thats what I call service!
The falls were far more impressive from the Argentinian side but then they do have the lions share. We got a disposable camera for this as we have still not replaced ours yet but if any of the people who have promised to email us there pictures deliver, we wont be dissapointed, we might even be in some of them.
As Im sure you can all tell the grammar buttons arent working too well on this keyboard but its free internet hence the need for speed so I think we should leave it there for now as Im probably as bored as you are now!
Adios for now.
I cant believe I forgot to say and I cant believe Chris hasnt snatched the keyboard out of my hands - the people in Brazil particularly Rio are absolutely stunning. Every other girl was a jaw dropper and the blokes werent far behind. They make Giselle look ordinary as there are so many of her just walking down the street! And the world renowned Brazilian bikini didnt fail to impress eiher!