Kathrine Breivik

Did I mention that I am now a professional tango dancer?

I am as good as these… 

I am only messing (of cause you believed me). Anyways, we went for some tango lessons! After the lessons we had brilliant steak with lots of wine and watched the professional tango dancers. It was a lots of fun.

Finally made it to BA. Both me and John got ready for great wine, massive steaks and brilliant bars, and BA definitely did not disappoint us. The first day started with a city tour. There is so much to see in this great capital.

The Iguazu falls consists of 270 different waterfalls and is over 2 miles long. It is the 3rd largest in the world, but it has been argued that it should be considered the largest (compared to Victoria Falls; the widest, and Angel Falls; the tallest). This was our next destination. So after a 24 hours bus-ride we arrived at Puerto Iguazu, a little town outside the Iguazu falls.

The Iguazu falls were so beautiful. I have never seen such an big waterfall in my life (not even in Norway). It has been said that the waterfalls creates an positive atmosphere, and that moods improve as you get closer to the falls. I think this is true as I could not stop John and Tim giggling the whole day.

We also went on a speed boat around the falls. At one point we went right under one of the falls, it was so crazy. We could not see anything and got absolutely soaking wet, but it was so much fun!

I think most impressive point of the Iguazu falls  was the “Devil`s Throat” which is at the top; a 270 feet high waterfall…INDESCRIBABLE! That is all I can say to describe it!

New day new country, why not?  We have now been to 3 different countries in 3 days. We arrived in Salta in Argentina very late, around 11.30 pm. However, even thought we were missing sleep after a 12 hour bus ride, we gained 2 new travel buddies, Tim from Texas and Kris from Switzerland. Salta was a gorgeous city, so we decided that it was the best place to relax a little after such an intense schedule the last few weeks. There were also a lot for nice resturants and bars.

Next destination was Sad Pedro in Chile. We crossed the border, which is made up by huge mountains nearly all the way down Chile (I am in two countries at the same time as you can see on the picture). Sad Pedro was very expensive, and very touristy. I think that most of the people who go there only use it as a stop over when starting or ending their salt flat tour. However, it was a very nice place and very different to Bolivia.

Our last day of the salar tour. We got up at 5am and headed for the geysers (hot air being sprayed up from the underground). It was extremely cold outside, but i guess that is what you get when your at very high altitude before the sun rise. It was really smelly as well!  

Then we took a bath in the hot-springs, warming ourselves up. To explain the contrast; our bathing clothes froze when we tried ty dry them afterwards, it was that cold! 

Next day we visited the pure deserts, and saw lots of flamingos at the Stone Tree and Red Lagoon.

We stayed at some very basic accommodation this night, and when there is -10 degrees outside you have to put all your clothes on to make sure you do not freeze your bits off.

We also met this chap. He did not like us very much…

We arrived in Uyuni very early in the morning after an awful bumpy overnight bus. However, we were  ready to explore the Salar de Uyuni (salt falts). We headed out in a jeep through beautiful sandy landscape, to find a white desert salt flat. I have never seen anything like it, white as snow but actually made by salt!

We stayed in an hotel made by salt itself. It was actually really warm inside compared to the freezing temperature outside.

La Paz, probably the most known city in Bolivia. It is definitely the most random city I have ever been to. We had a bit of an scary experience when we arrived, which involved a “fake” policeman getting in to our taxi and demanding to see our belongings and id. However, we managed to get away from him safe and sound with all our precious belongings. We had read about things like this happening before we arrived in La Paz, so we were prepared in some ways of what to do. Apparently it is some kind of scheme they do over here (by taxi drivers and fake policemen) to try to scam you and get away with all our belongings.

However, enough about that, we went to a football match over here. Attending a local derby of the La Paz teams; Bolivar against The Strongest (I am not joking when I say that’s their name). There were about 40 000 people watching it, the atmosphere was great!

No it is not the Copacabana your probably thinking of, it is actually a small village in BOLIVIA! Copacabana lies on the other side of the huge Lake Titicaca and is still at high altitude (3800 meters). If you do not know what i mean about high altitude, then I will explain in the simplest words ever; being out of breath going up the slightest steep hill, feeling dizzy if doing anything to radical and have to keep an appetite to the minimum (eat small portions and low speed). However, there is a fix: Coca leaves (I personally drink coca-tea), it is a miracle worker.