Argentina, and lets be stereotypical here, Evita, Tango, Steak and Maradonna. (Add two americans, Cuba Libres and the `Kings of Leon` and you've got it spot on!) ___________________________________________ It started funnily enough just as Bolivia closed!? We dashed across the boarder on foot to La Villazon. Only a ten minute shuffle on gravel but Instantly Argentina was worlds away from the Bolivia. Tarmac! Yes something we curse in Britain became our saviour in South America, still we couldn't have imagined just how far into civerlization we'd ventured. With all the banks closed we just about scrapped together enough, with a little help from our new American friends Amar and Tom, for a 10 hour bus ride to Salta. The bus left at 11pm leaving us 4 hours to sit around and wait. Sit around crossed legged and wait. Yes officially penny-less all we wanted to do, and please forgive the pun, was spend a penny (well maybe a little more for some of us). 4 hours later and as the bus pulled away four gringo's stood toilet paper in hand along the isle of the bus. But what a bus! We'll touch on the transport later but all we'll say now is `cama` is a beautiful word. A day or two in Salta and we soon we're on our way again. A meer 30 (yes thats `Thirty`) hour journey and we were at Iguassu, home of one of the worlds largest waterfalls and arguably the most spectactular. First we jumped over to Brazil to get a glimpse. A day trip and a bit of hiking and we weren't dissapointed! they were fantastic! and even better the walkways went out over them giving some breathtaking views, if not a little wet. We soon got even wetter as one walkway went almost under one of the falls. Day 2 and now the Argentina side but unfortunatly the speedboat ride was full booked leaving the 4 amigos to hike into the tropical forest to a hidden waterfall where it was possible to swim. It was Beautiful, if not a little fresh! after, and all dried off, we set on back when the heavens opened. For what seemed like hours we treked drenched to the bone on a path that turned into a mud river. Wet? I don't think we've ever been wetter! Day three and you'll never guess what ... it rained! Not that it mattered much anyway as the speedboat ride actually took you spectactually under the falls! We left on that afternoon to Buenos Aires, for all three days we we're never actually dry! Via Barriloche is more a ride to heaven than a bus company. Cama beds (fully reclinable) 3 course meals and all the Wine, Whisky and CHAMPAGNE you can drink. 20 hours just wasn't enough! But BA (Buenos Aires) is a heck of a place to get off at! We were in BA for what I believe to be about err ...10 days? Now's a good time to explain the BA way of life: You wake when you wake - no matter what time, (something we both often dream about) Lunch is served around 3pm before, of course, it's siesta time. After sleeping for 3 to 4 hours you slowly get ready to go out. Dinner of Steak usually starts about 11pm with most resturants not even opening until after 10. Then a few drinks and maybe on to a club? The clubs get really pumping at about 6am! .....On yes and your last meal of the day is Breakfast!!!! We had an absoultly fantastic time in BA. We did the whole Evita thing, Museums and the balcony. We ate steak, so much so that we both trully voud to be Vegitarians (parcially due to eating brains, intestines and testicals). We Tango'd! at the National Accadomy of Tango - where the teacher honestly said we were the 'Worst she's ever seen` and we met Maradonna! Well we went to the Choclote box to see a fantastic 2-1 victory for Boca Jrs over NOB (Newel Old Boys) how could we not call them NOB :) .....Oh yer and did we mention we hung out with the Kings of Leon? We actually delayed out flights because they we're playing a concert on the 28th. Then a few nights before we managed to bump into them in a bar called El Cigale and had a few drinks. It was excellent! Very weird and some what drunkenly but excellent! Then on the 28th we went to their concert and somehow ended up in their Hotel Suite with them drinking beers, eating empanaders (a South American Cornish pasty) and playing poker! (....A story for when we get home) If anyone is thinking about going to Argentina and Buenos Aires - DO IT! ____________________________________________________________ Next stop is Brazil and our Volunteer work in the Amazon you can visit their website at www.iracambi.co.uk and if your really sad you can check out where we partied with the King of Leon at www.faenahotelanduniverse.com (Presidential Suite) ____________________________________________________________ Ps. A BIG thank you to both Tom and Amar, (Hall and Oates, Opera singers in restaurants, Tom's new found Tango talent, Porn bathrooms, Bus Bingo, Crashed Taxi's, Johnny Cinco, Via Bariloche, Icelandic Warrior fantasy movies and Spoof!!!) We had a fantastic time travelling with you guys! Good luck back home Doc's and keep in touch! Love Sig & Vic xx xx xx