Brownie Badges 1970's

Travelogue: Viva la Vida!

Sooooo, for three days, I am safely returned from my big trip to Buenos Aires. Since I have three weeks to experience it too much and seen, as I could describe it in a long text, I'll just tell in the form of a shorthand travel diary of the last four weeks. So ...
4th January: Rio de Janeiro
- for good, if exhausting because previously little sleep, flight landed in Rio and been lucky with no entry difficulties allowed into the country
- in the hostel last Annika hit and the first time battle plan for the next two weeks designed
- made:
+ Pao Azucar (Sugar Loaf): joar, very cool view of the city, was unfortunately n bit Rain on the day
+ Christo Redentor (the famous Christ statue, her arms over Rio spreads) rather crass, a little intimidating impression conveyed by this truly riiiiiiiesige statue, also great views over the city, this time with a good view
+ to Copacabana (bedrphmtester beach in Rio) sat and drank coconut water. This is done in Brazil on every corner: Coconuts to drink up and then eat the meat - very tasty! bathed
at + beach of Ipanema
+ lots of running around the big lake looked gone the Künstleriertel Santa Theresa, the pedestrian area, etc
+ eat on the last night in Lapa (the party district of Rio) and the samba music heard in all the bars and Restaurants will be played live, there is me my first Brazilian Caipirinha risen quite to the head;)
- a total of Rio really liked me, a great, vibrant, colorful city ... the many favelas (slums) in the north of the city tarnish the image may be a little of in recent years apparently dramatic rise in crime rate Fortunately, we have even felt nciht the contrary, I have all the time actually felt very safe!

7th January: Campo Grande
- continue on to Campo Grande, a small town in Panthanalgebiet (so called the tropical southern Brazil) - 22 hour bus ride: Whew!
- Campo Grande arrived immediately booked a trip to the Panthanal, but we have another 4 hours to the Pousada (hotel / farm / hostel) into the Green travel
- So now we live for three days in the charming, small Pousada Santa Clara which is the middle of nowhere. on the first night we befriend us now with our internationally-mixed Room staff, and enjoy together the typical Brazilian food (meat, rice, beans) and the house brand of Cachaca
- next morning you go to 4:30 on Safari: astray many crocodiles !!!!!!! an incredible number!! really scary!! otherwise: toucans, deer, parrots, coatis, capybaras, etc. ...
- in the afternoon boat tour of the river, but unfortunately it poured with rain all the time - rain time stop!
- Highlight: cruising through the mud while we were allowed to stand in quietschgelben raincoats in the mud rain outside on the back of a jeep road. Meeeega has fun!
- Total That's real time ne cool experience few days n on so nervous Ranch pleasure of living in the wild, the mosquitoes have eaten us during the time, but can live with that, also we have met there really very cool people

10th January: Bolivia
- continue to Bolivia, fortunately, of any contacts with the Lady Claudine (thanks again to this point;) in time of tickets for the bus to Santa Cruz came
- Santa Cruz should It will actually continue towards Uyuni (there are the biggest salt desert in the world) go
- we however, for a distance of about 400 km nearly 16 hours have (!) used as roads in Bolivia are simply undeveloped so and the buses in Germany nciht times more likely to drive a school bus, we decided at short notice in Santa Cruz (after a durchzächten night at the station) to change our route and accordingly nciht to Uyuni (where we have again used about a half days) but to go back in the north of Argentina
- so we were unfortunately only about 48 total hours in Bolivia, have at this time, however, passes through almost the entire south and so get an impression of the country: Bolivia seemed to me crazy beautiful, green landscape everywhere, very friendly but also very very gößtenteils
poor people - which makes traveling in Bolivia, of course, simply, is that everything is so terrific cheap (for a full meal with meat, rice, salad, sauce, beans and so you pay about 1 €)
- on the other side, the country is very chaotic and unstructured: our bus to Santa Cruz for example, was simply overbooked, so that six young men sit during the entire 16 hours of night driving on bumpy roads in the narrow aisle of the course without air bus had
- despite all this I, Bolivia very much and we would have had more time, we would also like to have spent more time in the country ... well, so it went for us, then further by ...

12th January: Jujuy

- on the journey from Yacuiba (Bolivia) to Jujuy (Argentina) with our night bus we found ourselves in a more or less spectacular drug control. At the border our bus was attacked at once by a bunch of police with sniffer dogs, weapons, etc.. Apparently the bus had been smuggled in drugs (ie cocaine, Bolivia has, after all, a top Koksexporteuren the world), so all the passengers get off, can scan and had to unpack their bags, complete (Argentine police officers make themselves clearly have no idea how long it takes a backpack to pack sent!) durwühlen again pack up and leave. In the end, even ncoh slashed the seats on the bus at random, to see whether there are in the upholstery of the chairs drugs. According to this, but then ultimately unsuccessful, night search operation at a lonely Plizeistation middle of nowhere yet so we could then proceed to 3 clock in the morning with almost three hours late.
- in Jujuy we found a very, very sweet hostel in the city center, which was painted with such beautiful murals
- on the first day we wanted to make a Auflug to the famous hot springs ("Thermas del Rey) Unfortunately there was a downpour (Regenzeit!), so we naheglegenes into a Hotel fled. The hotel had a spa area by chance on the ground floor where you could also bathe in the hot springs: No sooner said than done! Annika and I have such chill 2 hours in the luxury Spaabteilung a castle hotel, while outside it rained
- through the hard downpour is the day the mountain river has risen so much that some people were swept away by the strong current. When we were on our way to the bus, we got the rescue of the police and mountain rescue service announcements. The next day in the newspaper that is fortunately no one died, but were probably several people seriously injured in hospital
- Another highlight of the tour Salt desert! (Insofar as we got our salt deserts so still nciht goods while the Bolivian, but the Argentine.) On the third day in Jujuy, we have booked a tour in the mountains. Overall, our group consisted of only 4 people and a driver who then drove us to the mountains. The way to the lying in 4170m altitude salt flats via one of the most beautiful of landscapes that I have ever seen: the "Tierra de 7 colores" (7 colors of the earth) !!!!!! Of course there were beautiful to visit.
As we then after four hours of driving finally up at the salt flats arrived, offered us a truly amazing sight! A desert of salt with a lot of small crystals from a sky-blue background. It looked really breathtakingly beautiful out there!
Up there we have then in a small, Hunzel restaurant, well actually it was more the living room of a family living there, eating. It was a regional specialty: Llama meat! was very tasty, has taste but now nciht particularly distinguished by nem thin piece of beef, I thought.
On the way down to Jujuy then again we did stop in the small village Purmamarca where Annie and I strolled at length about a little fair. There, I made a cool, colorful jerk kind of linen purchased)
- Wed evening we sat on our balcony even cooked pasta in the hostel and unterhieltenuns with a backpacker from Passau, we had met there. The girl traveled for 4 months only with a tent and backpack through South America alone. In addition, she has little money and therefore completely sher minimalist living, camping in the wilderness, hitchhiking is so far, she is still nciht bad happened to ... but I think my parents would long for this idea one years not sleep quietly;)

15th January: Cachi and Salta

- we mahcen to the south and control the station of Salta on. There we stay not long, but take the next right wiggle Zuckel bus to Cachi (a small mountain village in the north of Salta). The 5-hour bus ride up to Cachi leads breathtakingly deep gorges along the tour might be better than nothing for people afraid of heights. In addition, the bus driver veered so fast around the corners and edges of the road that he has even driven him even a oncoming car. In
Chachi we were finally only one night, because first of our money was running out and secondly nciht so much there is to see. Holder is a sweet, sleepy little village with a few restaurants, pubs and a funny old town library, in some century-old books are kept.

16th January:

- arrived back in Salta, we found a cool hostel with a roof terrace
- have then explored in a Nahcmittag the city: nice, peaceful, just tranquilo ... Salta has very beautiful churches!
- evening we had dinner at a restaurant called "Jack Viejo" in which we are all a really thick, typical Argentine meat plastered.

17th January:

- then on Sunday we boarded the bus together in the direction of Foz de Iguacu, where I got off already 2 stood earlier in Eldorado, since there took place between my seminar IERP Annika is and went on to Iguazu.

Overall it was a pretty cool trip, in which we have indeed spent much time with bus travel, waiting and queuing, but have traveled the same beautiful parts of the South American continent. Seen much, experienced much, learned a lot!


had then as I said one more week intermediate seminar in Misiones, Eldorado. The seminar, like the Capacitación at the beginning of my stay, suuuuper made a lot of fun. It was great to see again all the other volunteers, exchange ideas, to tell, etc. Overall it was good to keep times for half the time, held together to reflect and consider how it should go further in the next six months.
highlight of the seminar was definitely the trip to the "Cataratas de Iguacu" (the famous waterfalls on the Argentinian-Brazilian border)! This was seen already really wrong, to overthrow the masses of water thundering there in the depths. In addition, the waterfalls are located in a huge National Park, which means that on a day in the park can discover hundreds of wild animals. coatis, giant spiders, and has what I like best: thousands, colorful butterflies! In the meantime, you are really a bit like Mowgli in the jungle has felt:)
The last evening of our seminar was of course staged large: There was a strong punch, spontaneous music sessions and a nice round sweetheart as a great final game for the group. Pictures of this fun evening, as always, to admire the new album.

So now I'm five days has been at home in the Salalah and everyday MCIH again already. Work goes to wash clothes shopping, writing stories ... all these things waiting for me. The incredible heat, which currently dominates the city, makes addressing these things nciht just easier. Currently we have so drenched temperatures to 29/30 ° C, ie it is actually all the time - Either because they had a shower or just because you are sweating again:)

send this in mind I you a bit of warmth to cold Germany.
Take care y VIVA LA VIDA!
your already sweating Merle

What Are The Sailboats Diagram Parts

Buenas Felicidades

(Happy Holidays)

So, now I have it no longer made but in the old year to sign me, but I use directly the first day of the year, I (as it was after a New Year's Eve is celebrated by) really only hang out with spending to be heard again by me. However, I tell this time not in chronological order, but reports Once past the holidays.
over the Christmas holidays, we have rented a house for fourth in the beautiful River Delta Tigre, which is located in the north of Buenos Aires. During the week explaining the other volunteers from BsAs and then took a visit in its surroundings, so we actually housed permanently at least 2-3 visitors. These seven days were really great! Our small but beautiful house was dirket the river and had a beautiful large garden with a large plum tree stood, of which we could harvest every morning, fresh plums. Actually, our days there were almost too idyllic - we spent our time such beautiful things like a loud sun bathing, canoeing, cooking together and play guitar. The boys were able to practice their hunter-gatherer instinct and river fishing, even a few times so we could even eat fish caught.
Christmas Eve was a very strange day for me - clearly not the first time to celebrate with the family was very unusual. In addition to that we spent the day by day only in a bikini on the web and in the sun, so just really wanted to pay nciht Christmas spirit / could. Not until then it was getting dark at eight, and all took to the music of "Last Christmas" something for Christmas Eve to prepare, it was more contemplative. Then when the food was ready (we have made in a classic Argentine Asado - grilled meat with a thousand side dishes), we all sat around the large table and even more nciht wore our bathing clothes, was the mood then very solemnly. As we had in the house even found a Bible, we were able to read even after eating the Christmas story in English and sing a few Christmas songs, so we could replace the missing church at least a little. During the subsequent scrap Julclap louder senseless things were thrown at the gift table. I had the good fortune such as an old clothespin and a dream catcher to find in my gift. However, I also have a very cool, very get colorful hammock given that already adorns our patio in the WG and in which I am currently rocking out in front. Although the giving and the Christmas Eve so this year was different than I used to at home am, and we are in between were all a little homesick, it was still a nice evening and we eventually all felt very comfortable .
After a week of green idyll we went back into the noisy, chaotic and returned at the time sweltering Buenos Aires. Since the moment many other volunteers on the Druchreise, we have in the past two days quite a few people home in our flat - Full House! Yesterday we planned to our squad of People to a fellow Argentines go to there to celebrate New Year's Eve. But how Argentineans are (very spontaneous and unplanned!), He fell three Stunkel up first, that his apartment was too small really for so many people. But no problem, we could all just go to a buddy of his roommate. No sooner said than done! So we marched so with 12 people, a big bowl of salad, Schinkenspießchen, Foccaciabrot (Dorte Gracias, mi amor!) And a few bottles of beer in a flat one in which we really did not know anyone directly. However, no one was bad or even rude, on the contrary, all nine of the local residents WG was very pleased that we have come and have brought so much to eat. Running, that's Argentina - great country, great people! In any case, we were sitting with a large group of people and a 9-liter barrel of sangria at midnight on the roof terrace of the flat and waited for the new year will beknallert. But in Argentina, just everything has a little delay, so that the fireworks started only at 5 minutes after midnight ... Actually our original plan was that after midnight to go in 'ne Boliche (= disco), but the mood in the flat there was so nice that we summarily decided there continue partying. So we spent the rest of the night with dancing in the living room. Against 4 clock at night we heard from the roof terrace that Murgatruppe was playing in the street straight on, so we went down quickly in order to see us the spectacle. There were drummers then do 8-10 with different percussion instruments in the street, all of which were led by a master drummer with a red cap. To this end, some women danced to the classic Murgatanz, by the crowd that had gathered around the group, were fired. This action was witness to, definitely a cool end of the evening. However, I was sooooo tired after that I just fell into my bed and only just gonna be a cap had to catch up on sleep. So my conclusion of the last Week: Definitely unusual, but totally cool holidays!
Just before Christmas we have with the children of La Paloma made a Campamento (comparable there with a German class trip) in Baradero. That was for me a ganzs Chene experience, some children experience times outside the "walls" to the project. Suddenly, the most bullies to tame Egelskindern who are willing to cover the table or clean up completely voluntary. In addition, it was kind of funny to see how were the "big" for the night hike through the forest at one time quite scared, even wanted to turn back and bravely the little ones straight step sparkled ... However, after the weekend I was also pretty tired and ready for vacation.
Speaking of holidays: On Monday starts my journey! I fly at 6 clock to Rio de Janeiro, where I meet with my friend Annika, who makes the time of her voluntary work in northern Brazil. From there we will then travel together for two and half weeks in South America. Our route covers the south of Brazil, Bolivia and northern Argentina before I then on 18 January in Misiones arrive, since then there begins my intermediate seminar IERP. I'm really looking forward to this trip and the opportunity to finally discover everything from the South American continent. I come back until the end of January home, but I will read my mails regularly from the road. Maybe I already put in between times' n swing photos online.
So, in this sense I wish you all a happy new year and you do not offend too much on the negative, especially in Germany ... hehe ^ ^ Feliz Año Nuevo
!