Adventures in Moyaland

Jan 3rd 2007 - DUBLIN , IRELAND

2007-01-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

Yes - it has been a disgraceful 6 mths since my last post - but thought i would drop in a say Hi incase any saddos (John Clark i know you are out there!) are still checking in!
Well a new chapter is about to begin (hence i have something to type about!) and i am starting a new job on Monday - the fun begins in Unilever, where i have a new job job as product manager for a range of frozen desserts and Irish Tea (yes please refer to me as Mrs Doyle from here on out!) - most of the marketing work will be into the Foodservice/catering, so it will be pretty different to what i have been doing, but i'm excited about the challenge ahead, and definately ready to get back into a routine life! The past 5 weeks of job hunting have been mayhem - not to mind throwing the craziness of Christmas and a mental Fancy dress party for New Years Eve into the mixture!

Anyway i hope you all keeping well out there - give a shout if anyone is about moyaverling@yahoo.com

later dudes and dudettes!

The Verlingster

July 1st, Fungarvan, Co. Waterford IRELAND

2006-07-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOO

yes it is true, the working world has kidnapped me and taken me hostage only allowing me minimal communication! So to all my lovely people that have been checking this for the past two mths to no avial my sinCERest apologies!
So to briefly update, life is good! Ireland is treating me well - yes i have managed to talk my way into getting another job! This time i am marketing with an Irish company, yes all you Yankies will have a good laugh at this one, the company is called GREEN ISLE! Thats is the brand of the food that i am managing! Its going well, very different to what i was up to in the states (isn't everything?!) but settling in well and excited to announce that i will have my first product launch in the supermarkets in about 6 weeks. Really nice gang in the office (not as nice as DPI OBVIOUSLY!) and travelling a bit to the UK (smelly place that it is!)

So not much to report, i am working in Co Kildare (about 20min from where the Ryder Cup will be on for all you Golf fanatics!) and living in the big smoke of DUBLIN!

mmmmmmm what else is to say...Home in fungarvan at the mo, spent the day in the local supermarket packing peoples shopping bags, 4 friends are going to Hondurous in September building houses for 2 weeks so we were packing bags fundraising! Lil tired to say the least after it all so it is a rare quiet alcohol free sat night for Moya!

anyway i hope everyone is well, have probably lost ye all at this stage, but will keep an eye on sitemeter to see if anybody's checking in!

Off for a cuppa tea now

later
Moya

April 18th - Newry, Co. Down, Northern Ireland

2006-04-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

APOLOGIES TO ALL MY REGULARS!! I am very sorry for the lack of loving updates on my whereabouts, but having travelled in Sth America, and in alot of underdeveloped countries, i come home to the slowest computer in the world EVER!! So i have had as little to do with it as possible, but fear not a new computer is on its way and i promise to improve after that!

So for anybody that is still out ther (let me know if you are still checking this!!) I have arrived home and having a great time, delighted to be home, and really enjoying catching up with all those i have missed over the past two and half years! Although i do miss my Oregon crew, and my wonderful colleagues at IDB...speakig of which job hunting has also got underway, have had a few interviews, Barrys Tea, Coca Cola, Dawn Farms etc managed to wrangle an offer of a job alreadt but decided it wasn't the right job for me and turned it down! but the good news is that there seems to plenty of jobs in Ireland at the moment, so it seems to be a case of tracking down the right one!!

Anyway not much else to report, i am currently in Northern Ireland visiting family! (hence the fast email!!) Not really sure if anybody is checking this anymore so won't go wasting any time in case i have lost my loyal followers!!

Hope all well

Luv Moya

March 27th, Boston, USA

2006-03-27T08:02:00.000-08:00

yes, the dream is almost over! The life of not knowing what day of the week it is, the life where every day is a saturday, where you live life like a millionaire because everything is so cheap compared to life in Ireland..its all coming to an end! Flying home tomorrow evening - arriving home in the green lands on wed morning!

Have had a great weekend in Boston..shopped till we dropped at the outlets on Fri, tucked into scrumptious dinner at The Cheesecake Factory on the way home, and then dolled ourselves up and hit the town! Reestablished my love affair with the scrumption Magners (Bulmers in Ire), had been a long 3 mths without it, but i survived! Met up with the lovely Joe Nolan, friend from home who i haven't seen for nearly 3 years...he had his group of Paddies out with him and we had a right laugh! Not so funny waking up with the sore head the next morning, but that was soon cured with a lucozade and a full irish breakfast...sorted!

So not a whole lot else to report...loving Boston..surprised every time i come here at how much smaller it seems! I have aclimatisedto these sky scraper buildings and they no longer scare the life out of me! Very cold here, so cold that when we went sigthseeing yesterday we had to go warm up in an Irish car, some great live music there...and as you can guess we stayed for more than one drink! Met up with Toni and her folks from da Dublin yesterday evening, so have managed lots of catching up over the weekend!

Anyway for those of you at home, will be seeing you over the weekend
Can't wait to get home now!

Hope all well on the other end

Luv Moya

March 23rd Boston, USA

2006-03-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

yes, living the dream...the shopping has began, although it was a mild dent to the bank account, hitting the outlets stores tomorrow so that is where the real damage will be done! Managed to make our way to the Prudential Centre and Filene's Basement and negoitiated our way back to Katherines on the tram...loving Boston, very different feel than Portland! So girls (Katherine, her sis Anna and her friend Siobhan) are off to a concert tonight - sold out, but didn't know the band so having some 'Moya time'!! Realised tonight will be my first evening alone since sometime last Dec, sur tis no wonder i am gone demented!!

Anyway internet in Katherines having problems with my gmail so using my yahoo address for anybody that cares!! moyaverling@yahoo.com or just leave a comment on this!

Hope all is well, 6 day countdown to home!!!

Luv Moya

March 21st, Miami USA

2006-03-21T18:52:00.000-08:00

ONE STEP CLOSER TO HOME!!

Arrived here this evening after quite an eventful day! Started off with us arriving at the airport, and as we suspected because we didn't confirm our flight, we weren't booked on the flight!! Seemingly if you book online, and give your credit card details you are still not booked on! Luckily there were seats left and we only had to pay $70 extra each (instead of $400 more which would have been the reg price!!)... no problem we said, and Mick handed over his credit card. Such a high tech system them have she had to take the card up to an office on the next floor, only to come back 5 min later saying it wasn't working, no problem mick said, i probably need to put my pin in, and off they went again! 5 min later back again, not working...no problem i said...use my credit card. It hasn't been used since Jan should be fine, and off i went upstairs to this misterious room with the credit card machine plugged in, but nobody there (why it couldn't be plugged in at the check in desk i do not know!)...ahhh no Ted - those dreadful works 'denied (only in Spnish!)!! So no credit cards working (nothing to do with the machine of course!!) Managed to scrape the money together ($700 / not easy!) and got ourselves on the plane with not very long to spare - after spending an hr at check in!!
Never so glad to get on a plane, and low and behold there we were, the two paddies sitting in Exit row seating..."ammm no we don't have good spanish"!! And so began the task of switching us seats, because it is a regulation that you have to speak the language to sit in the exit row seats! So after all the people checking in watching us running around with credit cards in the check out line, we had to collect our belongings and march all the way to the front of the plane...i'd say people were wondering if we were well! The idea of being upgraded to first class had crossed our minds, but today was not the day! After all we were lucky to be on the plane!
Then of course with all the excitement the plane was delayed, and we only made our connecting flight with a few minutes to go...luckily that was delayed an hr, so we had time to catch our breath!!
So thankfully we have arrived in Miami, no passport problems, no 'are you still working in the USA' problems, no 'what are you doing here for a week' problems! Although still have a problem with my credit card with is slightly worrying...but hopefully will be worked out by tomorrow, or at least in time for the weekend so i can shop till i drop in Boston!!
So off to enjoy the comforts of our Hilton, just had a lovely salad for dinner, the joys of being able to eat salad again (lettuce a no no in Sth America!), reading an english (american) language newspaper, and being able to throw toilet paper in the ammm toilet!! Oh the joys!! Planning to spend the last dying few moments of sun by the pool tomorrow - i hear i am in for a bit of a shock with the weather in Boston! Ah well, will get some use out of the lovely alpacha jumpers!!

Hope all is well...1 week to Fungarvan countdown!!

Luv Moya

Anyway i hope

March 20th - Lima Peru

2006-03-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

ooooh the last few hours of life in Sth. America....ahhhhh
Spent a lovely relaxing day at the beach, at last able to relax because Micks new passport arrived so hopefully we won't have problems getting into the States for our last week!

Weather is goregous here, horrified to hear it is 2 degrees in Ireland, not much showing off tan oppoortunities in that weather!! Beach was lovely today, although slightly annoying with all the vendors, selling everything from clothes, to drinks, ice cream, beach balls, and trying to take photos for a few pennies...anything for a few pence! Also foiled an attempted robbery of my bag - mother stop worrying!!- was lying on the beach while Mick was in the water and this guy came up and tapped me on the shoulder showing me a flyer for the presidential election, meanwhile while he had me distracted his friend came from the other side...or so he thought i was distracted!! We had been warned to watch our bags, so i turned around immediately and the guy just walked away, he knew i was onto them!! Surprisingly enough i had said to Mick earlier, look at the two dodgy guys, they looking at my bags?? They weren't hard to pick out, not many people on the beach in jeans and t-shirts!! But it goes to show, if i had been sleeping on the beach, or not paying attention it would have been easy to swipe!!! not a good thing when my passport was in there and we flying to USA tomorrow!!

Ah well, thats part and parcel of the travels, glad to say that this is the worst I have seen so i cannot complain about a bag almost being stolen, after 3 months on the road!!

Anyway thats all for now...off to pack the rucksack for a final time! will be back in the land of the $$$ tomorrow, leaving here early in the morning with a stopover in Venezuela, and then off to Miami for a night before hitting Boston to shop till i drop, have some of my beloved cider, and a proper Irish brekkie...oh and visit my wonderful friend Katherine...hoping to catch up with Emer, Joe and Toni too - so will be a right weekend of catching up!! Anybody care to join us???

luv Moya

March 19th, Lima Peru

2006-03-19T13:26:00.000-08:00

Well managed to survive my final and longest bus journey!! Telling how used to these buses i am, i actually slept very well on it!! We left Airca yesterday at 11am yesterday, got a public taxi across the border, met a lovely (cute!) Peru boy, who was in the taxi with us! Got into Arica at about 12.30, booked 2.30 bus, and went to lunch with our new Peruvian friend Chris! So we were back on the bus for 2.30, fell asleep in about half hr (this siesta lifestyle has me ruined!) and was rudely awoken by a security check - the bus was stopped and we had to get out, put the backpacks through x-ray and then the bus was searched - the bus was s about 3 more times along the way although without the hassle of having to get out with the bags! So after finally beating Mick in a game of cards, and wiggling around for about an hr trying to get comfortable i slept soundly from about 12 -7.30am, waking once to put on my coat!! Was delighted, thought i would go off my head with boredom!
We arrived in Lima eventually 19hrs later, about 9.30am, and after checking a few hotels we found a lovely spot to spend our last few nights! huge spacious room, on the top floor ( in the attic) (small winding stairs not designed for backpacks!!) but have a balcony, private bathroom (with hot water...shocker!!) and cable TV - wahooo fighting over English soccer and Gilmore Girls!!!
Went a bit mad on the shopping today, but sur that has to be done, got the last of the alpaca scarves, some lovely belts and sur had to through in a pair of trainers...dumping alot of stuff out of the backpack here, the homeless people of Lima will thank me!!

Anyway thats all for the mo, printing out the flights to Ireland so that hopefully the yanks will leave me back into the country for one last week!!
Hope you all had a good Paddies weekend!

Talk soon
Luv Moya

March 18th, Arica Chile

2006-03-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALLYANN!!

Well as the world wakes up with green hangovers, think of your lovely friend Moya off on a 19hr bus journey!! We are taking the plunge and heading direct to Lima! Should arrive in Lima about 8.30am tomorrow morning, although that could mean 8.30pm with the buses around here!
Anyway enjoy the veggie/nursin the hangovers on the couch, packet of Taytos and can od Coke will do the trick for those of you in Ireland - oooh can´t wait for a proper Irish brekkie when i get home!!

Talk soon
Moya

March 17th, Arica, Chile

2006-03-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY TO Y'ALL!!

March 16th Arica, Chile

2006-03-16T17:27:00.000-08:00

Hey all...greetings from the sunny lands! Arrived here, tired and a lil groggy after managing a lil sleep on our 14hr bus journey from San Pedro. Nothing much to report, other than that we are resting and relaxing to the max! Staying at lovely hostel, with cable TV (whooohooo english language TV) and private bathroom! Big bonus is that we have a kitchen, so we haven´t stopped messing about in the kitchen - last night it was a beef stir fry a la Moya (no Mcgee there were no kidney beans!) and tonight an Australian style chicken curry - impressive even for an ozzie!!
Spent the day on a lovely beach, gorge weather, all you Fungarvan people will be delighted to hear that i am brushing up on the tan in time for the homecoming!!
Not sure how long we are staying here, even talks of splashing out on a flight to Lima to save us the 22 odd hours that it will take us bussing it (not to mind that it will give us an extra day at the beach!) as for Paddies Day it seems to be an non event, as people here barely know where Ireland is not to mind the fact that it is the biggest day of the year for all Irish people and there 700million plastic paddies around the world (you know who you are!!)

Anyway thats all for now, as all you Paddies are out celebrating the fact that nobody is going to be working in Ireland tomorrow, i am off to my leaba!

talk soon
Moya

March 14th, San Pedro, chile

2006-03-14T07:57:00.000-08:00

Oh the pain...waking up the morning after cycling 45+K on a bike with a race bike saddle!! Yes such was the adventure we undertook yesterday. Planned to goto the Valley of the Moon, which was supposed to have unbelievable sunsets...as it was apparently only a 12K cycle we decided to go looking for an oasis in the opposite direction,as we were killing time to be up to the valley in time for the sunset! Some 6/7Ks later, with no sign of the oasis, a flat tire, a wobbly saddle and some serious rocky terrain (we crossed through the river about 6 times!) we turned around, headed back for the town and changed out a few of the bikes before heading off againfor the Valley of the Moon - the 40min cycle turned out to be a tad more difficult than anticipated but we finally made it after about a 2 hour uphill, dirt track road journey!! The only plus being the lovely top up on the tan with the sun beating down on top of us! The sunset was not the amazement we expected but there were some gorgeous sights and the journey back in, with 2 stops to ration the 1/4 of a small bottle of water, was only 45 min! Thankfully having the wind at our backs and mostly downhill! Needless to say we were tucked up and fast asleep by about10pm!! Toni PUMP would have been proud of me!
So stillin San Pedro, moving on this evening to Arica, The most northern town in Chile, hoping for a few nice days at the beach before making our way to Lima - to fly tothe US of A this day next week!!

anyway away to lunch, having a special treat, as it is the final supper with the two English girls that we have been travelling with for the past 4/5 weeks!

Hope all is well

talk soon
Luv Moya

March 12th, San Pedro,Chile

2006-03-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

and so we have made it to our 7th country!! Our last and final country...sniff sniff!!
So as you can tell we survived ourrough terrain adventure, and arrived here after a late night celebrating Suzies (english girl) birthday and an early 5am start this morning!!

So to begin relaying the adventure of the past few days - it has been the most amazing experience, and words couldn´t begin to do justice to some of the sights wesaw. DEparted on Sat morning, when Edgar (our driver/guide/cook!!) arrived to pick us up from the hostel, thebackpacks loaded on top of the what looked like a 20yr old landcruiser and so we were off!

Our first stop was at in a small town at the edge of the salt flats, only 90 familes living here, all the usual tourist goodies, onlythis time all made of salt - dices, ashtrays, ornaments all the good stuff! Then we drove onto the salt flats - it was unreal, almost like driving on an ice rink, amazing seeing all the jeeps with the other tourists, just like driving on this huge ocean of ice (only not as dangerous mum!) - the only way the drivers know theright direction is by the mountains way in the distance - out driver divided the windscreen into 1/4s in his head and that is how he knew which was the right way - a bit like sailing a boat in the ocean with no navigational gear! Stopped off at a Salt Hotel, (made out of ...salt!) and had a very expensive toilet visit (oh they love the gringos here!) - after that the fun began. Most tour companies turned around at this point, and most tours headed in a different direction, we only found two companies that were doing the tour through the Isle Pescada, as it is rainy season (still managed to get sun burned!) and there is alot of water on top of the 20m deep salt flats.
So once we got into the wet lands the real sights began, with the mountains and clouds reflecting off the water as we drove through. The amazing thing about the sights here is that with the reflection on the water, there doesn´t appear to be any horizon, so it is almost like a mixture of driving through the ocean, and driving through the clouds! unbelievable!
We had lunch on one of the islands, had a nice climb up to the top of it - narrowly escaping falling into Cactus along the way! managed to work up quite an appetite, and were surprised to find when we got down, (we had left the tour guide cooking lunch, part of the deal!) lovely steak and quinoa awaitnig us - this far surpassed our expectations of ham and cheese sandwiches, needless to say some of thegroups next to us were no too impressed with their salads! After that we knew we were on the right tour! so cruised through the waters for about an hour and a half, mesmorized by the sights, finally as the waters got quite deep (half way up the wheel) we finally made it back onto dry land, and after only breaking down once, and having some smoky issues and radio issues we were a little relieved! So we headed off though the rugged dirt roads, driving over stones, rocks and boulders - a right little adventure it was! There was one place where a piece of the road was missing and the driver went off track to drive around it -but sur that was all part of the adventure. We met another group who were broken down, and had been on the side of the raod for over two hours, we heard many stories like this, so we were lucky with our odd 5 min breakdown! As it started getting dark, we could see thunder storms in the distance, and saving the battery, the driver only turned on the lights as he needed them so the lightening sights were amazing...so we arrived in our town about 8pm, tiny town, with dirt roads and semi built houses everyewhere (people living in them!) andthe place was black dark, not that the electricity was out, they just didn´t seem to have electricity! There was kids out playing basketball in the dark, and the lightening storm looming, not a care in the world! Thankfully our hostel (we were the only people staying there!) had a generator, so we had electricity for 3 hours! woo hoo
So day 2, and we were up bright and early at 7am - happy birthday suzie! and headed off into the valley, we were driving through this wide open rought terrain, there was probably about 10miles between the two mountain ranges..gorgeous sights - many photos to bore you all with! Passed through a security check point..in the middle of nowhere, only 9 guards there because it is near a Chile entry point - cost us 3 breadrolls to get through!! Apparently not many people pass through that way so they have very little! So had a lot of stops, first off a active volcano, amazing lava rock formations, then to a number of lakes, all with Flamingos - funny to realise that i have never seen Flamingos outside of a zoo before, also stopped to show us a few of the local favorite medicinal plants, and a famous Arbol Piedre - a huge rock formation in the shape of a tree! It was a long day, but we had a great laugh, tied balloons to the jeep for Suzies.. birthday and our legendary guide had an adapter to play the MP3s so we had a right sing song - he was lovin the mad gringos!
arrived at our abode for the night, basic to say the least - with no showers, strange smelling toilets (broken pipes) and manual flushing toliets (ie a huge tank of water, that you fill a plastic carton of water from, and pour it down the toilet to flush it away!! interesting i hear you say!)anyway after a few games of cards and another great dinner we got stuck into the rum and coke in honor of Suzies birthday! Managed to make friends with a few from Denmark, France and Italy, they helped us through the 4 bottles fo rum! Electricity was turned off at 10.30 but that made things all the funner, palying cards games by candlelight privided endless entertainment, and i had the handy emergency light (thanks Danny and Helen!!) - had quite a laugh at its association with Legally Blonde - Beeeeeennnnd and snap! (for those of you that are familiar with the film!)
so it was quite the stuggle to get up, dressed and packed this morning, not only because it was 5am and we were a little ill, but also because it was black dark, no electricity! Although the Danny and Helen candle was still brightly shining (it did say 12 hours on the label!!)...finally managed to get on the road, journey took us to some geysers - underground heat that steems up as volcanic activity underground! but the making of us, was our stop off at the aquas calientes - hot springs! I was fallingasleep in the back of the jeep, tired and cold, wrapped up in my puffa jacket and blanket and still cold, but once i managed to persuade myself to get the bikini on and run for the hot springs and it wiped away all the worries in the world! There is somethingquite refreshing about sitting in hot spings in the middle of a conyon in the middle of nowhere at 7.30am on a Sunday morning!! After we managed to grag ourselves out, Edgar had the breakfast of egg sandwiches and a cup oftea with the lovely powdered milk waiting - oh the joy...aso after one finaly stop at an amazing Laguna Verde Green Lagoon it was off to the border for us, and with little hassle we have arrived safely in Chile! Sooooo expensive, we had to pay $10 for our hostel (double/triple what we are used to) and lunch was a shocking $10!! oh i am in for some shock when i go home to Irish prices!
So planning to stay here fora day or so, and then heading for the Chile coast for a few days R&R at the beach....oh it is a tough life!

Anyway my hands are sore from all this typing, hopefully you will appreciate some of the sights although as i said hard to put some of the sights into words - but has definatly been one of the highlights of the trip so far!

Anyway hope you all had an weekendas excitingas mine!! Only one weekend left in Sth America!

Talk soon
Luv Moya

March 10th Uyuni, Bolivia

2006-03-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

Well well managed to arrive in Uyuni eventually! Myself and Naomi, English bird, headed down here last night, to suss out all the tour companies because the bus the following today wasn´t getting in until this evening and we wanted to get going in the morning!
so jumped on the 6.30 bus, supposedly 6 hours! stopped off along the way for an extended toilet break. We splashed out on some yum fresh sweetcorn that thislil old lady was selling, and asked her where the toilet was - she laughed and looked around, pointing at a bush! Mind you we were in the middle of nowhere, adn so the fun of the outdoor lavatories continues! 8 hours later we arrived in the town, whole place was shut down, we were knackered after thejourney, and most of the hostels were closed, we were never so glad to get into themost uncomfortable bed in a flea ridden room (they don´t bite the ladt told us, pinching at her skin!!) in our lives...anyway evacuated fairly early in the morning to the comforts of HI hostel! And so the wrangling of tour agencies began - managed to cut them down from 52 to 5 - and spent about 3 hours wandering around, trying to find out the differences, not wanting to get ripped off - and met up with loads of others who were doing the same - mind boggling stuff! Anyway to make a short story long, we got a tour company, heading off tomorrow in the morning, 4*4 (promised a berry berry nice vehicle!) we have a trip through the salt flats with the Salt Hotel and then off to Isle Pescado (fish island) most tour companies won´t go that route because of all the water, staying in a lil town of San Juan, then Sat we are off to see numerous lake, volcanos and who knows whatelse. Supposed to be an amzing trip and has been the highlight for most people that have been toSth America! Let the adventurs begin, and hopefully there won´t be too many breakdowns!

Talk soon
Moya

Mar 8th, Potosi, Bolivia

2006-03-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the highest city in the world! Yes a walk up at the street is a struggle here! Arrived here yesterday, the tourist highlight is that it is a very famous mining town and was once one of the richest cities in the world, surpassing New York, London and even Waterford! They do tours of the mines, which i opted out of, partly because it is a dusty, clostrophobic crawl through dodgy mines (that were precicted to collapse in 7 years, 11 year ago!) also with the climate changes we have experience i am stuggling with chesty cold - on top of all these excuses, you get to see the miners who still work the mines in absolutly miserable sub standard conditions - but has been interesting learning about their lifes, the history of these workers and how they operate...each person working for themselves/small family group, hoping to stike it rich.
So arrived here yesterday morning, after quite a plesant 12 11 hr bus journey, all the talks of the dodgy bolivian buses didnt hold true for us, so we were plesantly surprised - one 2am toilet stop and next thing we knew we had arrived - God bless the power of ear plugs, don´t know what i would do without them!
So leaving again this evening, 3 of us are heading off to Uyuni, our reason for heading to Southern Bolivia, from here we are going to do a three day tour of the famous salt flats and finish the tour of the Chile border, so heading down there to organise it tomorrow so we can leave on Fri, and tour over the weekend...getting under some pressure for our days that are left now, every day we save organising stuff means an extra day on the beach next week before we head home! So thats all for the mo, off for some food, collect my much needed clean clothes from the laundry and head back to pack the ever empty rucksack!! short 6 hour bus journey this evening, although there have been talks of people having to get out to help push the bus when it breaks down...oh the joys!

hope all well
talk soon

Mar 6th, La Paz, Bolivia

2006-03-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to fill you all in, as we are hitting the road again tonight and not sure what internet access will be like along the way! So 13 hour bus journey ahead of us tonight, 5 of us, the two english brids and the ozzie lad - we are heading for Potasi, a big mining town further south. We are aiming to hit the Salt Lakes in the south by the end of the week. That will involve a 3 or 4 day tour, finishing up near the Chile border!
So it is all go, not much happening in La Paz today as i have spent about 3 horus uploading photos onto the internet. If i have the patience to wait, all of the Peru photos should be up this evening! Apologies for the lack of descriptions, that is another bored days work
you can check them out http://photos.yahoo.com/moyaverling

departing Sth America two weeks tomorrow! Can´t believe how quick the time has gone and how much i have seen!

hope all is well

Luv Moya

March 5th - La Paz, Bolivia

2006-03-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATHERINE!

Greetings from the highest Capital city in the world! Lots of hills and steps, but it was a spectactulor site arriving into the city - huge city sitting in a valley! We arrived here on Friday, managed to wrangle a good deal in a hotel in a great location. Bargain at $5, including brekkie! And the extra added treat of having the rooms cleaned daily (something we haven´t come across yet!) also the added bonus of this automatic box thing, that you step into and it brings you up to your floor - saves the legs on the stairs, apparently called a elevator - but it has been so long since i have seen one i am not too sure!
Haven´t actually seen much of the city yet, very late night last night resulted in most of the day being spent recoveing in the hotel today! But sur it has to be done!
Not much to report other than the shopping starts tomorrow, apparently there is a huge Mercado Negro (black market!!) here, so looking forward to picking up some bargains!

Anyway away home to pack the rucksack AGAIN heading south tomorrow evening - the travels contine!

March 2nd Capacabana, BOLIVIA

2006-03-04T12:34:00.000-08:00

AHHH a new coutry for the journey, and a ´no problem´border crossing with the temp passport so all is well! Strangest border crossing ever, none of the gates seemed to be manned, and it seem optional to pop into immigration offices! So arrived in Copacabana on Wed afternoon, after attempting to suss out the bus situation, not wanting to go witht eh 6am option, we decided to wing it and see waht later options there were. Ended up travelling the 3 hrs im style, getting a taxi between the 5 of us ended up being the same price as a bus ' so got here in no time! Slight issue with the taxi driver trying to dump us off in the town and wanting to charge u extra for the 2k ride to the border but there was no backing down with the 5 of us - gringos unite!!
Copacabana, on the Bolivia side of Lake Titikaka, it was decided was going to be our chill out few days, the big attraction here was Island of the Sun, where the first Incas were allegedly born, so there is a few inca ruins to be seen, apparently the best way to experience it was to go overnight onto the islands, however having spent a throughly enjoyable few days on the (waht i considered more enjoyable Peru side islands) i decided against travelling to the islands, and also having seen so many ruins in Peru, with the climax of Machu Picchu i didn´t think much else would hold my interest - reports back from others that had gone to the islands confirmed that we weren´t missing a whole lot, so we stayed on dry lands, ate, slept and drank! The atmosphere of being so near the water, the town was so chilled (typical hr-2hr wait for food in restaurant) so was nice to relax and recharge! For a few days!
So its off to the big city of La Paz tomorrow...can´t believe how time is flying, will be back in the green lands in 4 weeks!! ahhhhhhh!

Feb 28 Lake Titicaca, Peru

2006-03-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

Well greetings from the worlds highest navigable lake! We have spent two days on the islands, and it has been an amazing experience. We left on monday morning, an early start had us heading off for our first stop at the Isle Uros - the floating islands. These islands are still in habited, amazing to see how the people live on them. There is about 35 floating islands, with a population of about 3,400 people. Had a tour of two of the islands and a really interesting insight into their lives. Boating to work, everybody weaving making a living, and everything made out of reed - houses, boats etc. There was 8 families on the island that we were on, it was tiny - women on the islands are surprisingly huge, they blame it on rheumitism - might also have something to do with living on a tiny island, spending the days sitting down weaving and the greasy diet that is loved here! We took a spin on one of the wreath boats across to a somewhat larger islands, that had a little shop, and a public phone - with the phone box made out of reeds! (see photos!) After the quick stop here, we had a 3 hr boat ride to our homes for the night, Island Armanti - a less touristy island, where people only visit when they stay overnight! WE were greeted on the jetty by a group of local women, all dressed in their local dress ' consitisting of huge brightly colored skirts, linen shirts and black shawls. We were split up and assigned designated houses, where we were going to eat and sleep with the families. This is their main source of income. So we had lunch, dinner and brekkie with the family. All local food, beauticful Quinoa soups, eggs and lots of veggies - delish! That night they had organised a dance for us - which involved dressing us up in their local dress and hauling us out on the dancefloor! Music provided by a local group, light provided by one kerosene lamp! It was a brilliant laugh! I had a lovely pink skirt, wrapped tight with their waist belts, a lovely linen shirt about 5 times too big, and a black shawl! The boys were given ponchos and hats, of course the brother wasn´t too impressed with this so he asked for a set of the womens clothes - can´t bring him anywhere!!
Funny that is was all local women that were there to dance with us, seems that the men are given alot more freedom and encouragment to leave the island for education and work but the women stay on the island. The walk home was amazing, little or no electricity on the island, we were told that the people fought with the government to get electricity on the island but after finally getting it they now can´t afford the bills so it is rarely used. Very little money with any of them, very dependent on tourism and agriculture - very simple means of living. Because of the lack of electricity we got to see the clearest skies with the brightest stars, it was incredible - going to bed by candlelight was also quite an experience - not to mention the outhouse toilet, where we had to use a bucket of water to ´flush´the toilet! All in all is was great to witness the real life of these people by living out their lives for even the few hours that we did.
The following morning we were off for an hr boat ride to our final island, Island Taquile - after an hr uphill hike we got to the town square - our timing was perfect, with the tour boats from Puno arriving about an hr after us - so not to touristy hustle and bustle. Here we had a talk on the traditional dress of the people on this island. They all wear hats, and the hats represent status, single, married and those of authority! Also the direction of the wearing of the hat indicating age! Amazing that they have a tradition here of living with a partner for 3 years before getting married, you can do this 2-3 times before it is frowned upon - however if you have a child within the 3 years you have to get married. Very funny wandering around the island to locate the single people!! I think we should introduce something similar in Ireland!

After a nice stroll down 500 steps we were back on the boat and headed for dry lands again!
So back to Puno for the night before onwards for the border of Bolivia!

Feb 26th - Puno, Peru

2006-02-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

So finally making it to the Bolivian border! Now that passport issues have been sorted we are heading in the right direction! So managed to survive our 7 hour bus journey today - wondering why we were the only tourists on the bus, we realised after about 10 stops along the route, that ´directo' obviously means the direct direction, instead of the 'direct no stopping' as we are used to! But is was a fairly uneventful journey, we did have the usual women in and out of the bus selling their yummy sweet corn with cheese (it wasn´t Dubliner but hey i can´t have everything!), and then further along the way some sort of animal carcass baring minimal meat, with a few spuds! All this being served in plastic bags - obviously not for us travellers, you´d want have not eaten in three weeks, and not have any other alternative before venturing your teeth into this stuff!
Despite the hunger we arrived safe and sound and have managed to book an Island hopping tour tomorrow. Leaving at 7am, heading to the floating islands, then on to Isle Armanti, which is a quieter, less touristy island. We are staying the night with a local family here, and having three meals with them, talks are that you dress up in the traditional dress and go dancing with them - part of the tourism deal! Should make for some interesting photos! Then tues morning we are off to Isle Tranquile, where the tourists go when thery are just doing the day tour, so it shoudl be interesting to see the tradition and the tourist ridden islands! Then back to Puno and head for the Bolivian Border at 6am on Wed!! Three bus companies head in that direction, all leaving at the one time, 6am - make sense to anybody else??!!

anyway away to bed with me - at an altitude of 3,800 m in this town, so bedtime is about 8pm here!!

Hope all well

Moya xx

Feb 25th Cuzco, Peru

2006-02-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

Greeetings from the rainy lands of Cuzco! devastated to tell you all that i had to splash out on a new coat today!! Have been cold here, and looks like the route we are heading it will be getting colder!! It just started raining about an hr ago, and i swear it sounds like the roof is going to come in on top of us - serious rain here!
But all is going well, had an easy going day today (because every other day is such hardship!!) - took a trolley tour of the City, some amazing sights from the higher grounds so took some good pics - hopefully will get the photos up next week. After our trolley tour, we headed to the local markets. Not sure how to describe these markets, lots of indigenous people buying and selling - the most amazing set up! Aisle for meat, fruit, fish, CHEESE(couldn´t find any Dubliner!) - then at the end there was a serving area - dodgy stuff for us Gringos but the locals were taring into it. We did venture along the juice area - where there was about 10 women with their stalls fighting for our business, and waving locals over luring them with the newspaper! Ventured a delicious Strawberry/Banana milk shake - she picked up the fruit, peeled it and fired in the fruit. Picked up the perviously used glass, rinsed it, washed it and poured me my fresh juice! We got talking to the lady who made it, turns out she has been working at that stall for 10 years - 7 days a week from 7am-6pm - hmmm i used to think 3 hour demos once every two weeks were bad!

The set up was amazing - The Health Authority would have a field day here, from half pigs lying on counters, fish sitting out, everybit of the chicken chucked around the place, and the serving area left a lot to be desired! The people here obviously have a resistance to all the bacteria that us spoilt gringos can´t handle!
Wandered around a bit more, bought mask hats (Balaclava type hats, with faces on them!), a finger puppet of Spongebob, michael bought a manbag - the woman had made it from her husband cord trousers!! and managed to get into a water fight with one of the local lads!! Its carnival time here so its impossible to avoid water balloons going down the street, however one guy messed with the wrong girl and sprayed me with his super soaker so i went after him with a bottle of water...hee hee hee hard to believe i am almost 27 years of age!!

anyway thats it for now, heading off to watch a film in one of the bars! Alot of the bars have big screens here and show free films in the evenins luring the tourists in!! Saw the Matador last night, who knows what it i will be tonight!!

anyway away with ye, hope all have a good weekend! Will be on my way home in 4 weeks!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Moya

Feb 22nd - Machu Picchu, Peru

2006-02-23T09:22:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable - an absolute must see for everybody!! In the words of my American friends we had the ¨most awesome¨day at the Lost City of the Incas. The only archeological site not to be invaded by the Spanish so it is all still intact and has retained its ¨air of grandeur and mystery¨. The location and surroundsing is absolutly mesmorising, huge mountains towering all around, mountains of trees, as it marks part of the start of the jungle, a river - part of the Amazon, flows at what seems like liels below. The set up of the ruins is unbelievable, the Temple of the Sun being most impressive, it has two windows, one which the sun shines in at 7.25am on JUne 21st the Summer Solice, and the other the sun shines in directly for the Winter Solice. The buildings each have a facinating story and reasoning behind their design - makes the engineering techniques of today seem all wrong!
So after an early rise, we arrived up to the site (9000 + ft) at 7am in time for the sunrise! We picked the best day of the year to be there, because there was a public transport strike, so none of the usual day tourists could get up to it - we had arrived the night before to the lil town near it. So instead of the usual 1000 + people there was only about 150 people there for the day, and because we spent 7/8 hours exploring(walking up and down steps) there was only about 30 people left in the ruins by about 2 pm - it was incredible sight! Got some great photos, and despite it being the raining season, we had a beautiful clear day, full of the joys of sun shine and even managed to get a lil burnt (imagine what the paddy skin would be like in the sunny season!!)

The Inca Trail was closed (for the mth of feb) so there was no 4 day hike(thank God!) and we had planned to climb Wynapicchu, which is the mountain towering over Machu PIcchu where you go for great views, but it was closed for the day - some said there was a landslide the day before, some said it was for cleaning (cleaning a mountain?!) but our guide said that there had been some 'american investigators' up there the day before, and there was a chance that they had discovered something, and so closed the mountain so tourists wouldn't disturb!!
so after 6 hours of exploring we decided to hike back down to the town and give the bus a skip (saving $6 is alot out here!) 400m decent over about 1000 steps!the muscles in the legs were in spasams after it (happened to all of us, not a misjudgement of my fitness!!), and then there was a 40 min walk after that!! needless to say i'm a little sore after it! Was in bed for 5.30pm yesterday, and barely moved out of it until 4.30 am this morning to catch the train!
Can't wait for ye to see the photo of Moya The Hiker, complete with hiking boots, hiking socks, the ultimate zip off trousers (zipped off because of the heat) and of course the camel back which kept me alive (Toni, Amanda, Mary you will be so pround - never thought you would see the day!)
anyway away with me, power nap for a few hours, up since 4.30am to get the early backpacker train back to Cuzco..oh the joys!

later,
Moya

Feb 21st, Ollantaytambo - The Sacred Valley, Peru

2006-02-21T13:34:00.000-08:00

Have walked the legs off myself today! Enroute to Machu Pichu, and had our tour of the Sacred Vallen today, which involved stopping off at ancient ruins in Pisac (40min hike up steps!) and here in Ollantaytambo(half hour trek up steps!)! Amazing sights and mad to think of the people living in them and the work they used to do (taking huge stones from teh top of one mountain and getting them over to the top of the mountain next to it!) - lots of the building built according to the summer solice - and its amazing how the so many of the buildings are built with areas for the direct ray of the summer solice sun - in some parts it landed directly on a cross so that the shadow on June 21st completes the cross, others the ray of sun come through a narrow gap in the mountains and light up specific areas of the land, another part lights up a sculpture on the side of the mountin - mad stuff altogether
Anyway stuck in this little town for about 4 hours until our train leaves for Aguas Callients (spanish for hot springs!!) - so Machu Pichu tomorrow..must go rest the weary legs with a beer!!

Later

Feb 19th Cuzco, Peru

2006-02-19T16:26:00.000-08:00

Strange place this, we feel like we have entered into a different planet. This stuff called rain started falling out of the sky yesterday, and we have to wear these things called jumpers and coats because it is so cold here! And we even had to put these cotton things called socks on our feet - unbelieveable!!
Some climate change, actually got a bit burnt yesterday morning eating breakfast, but by 7pm last night, we were tucked up in about 4 layers of clothes! We laughed at the beds in the hostel when we arrived because they had about 6 heavy blankets on them, but god did we need them last night! Then the rain, it appears that there are thunder storms and massive rain showers about 6pm every evening - taking a while to get used to, slight sniffles, and the bikini by the pool in the sweltering heat that was only 3 days ago, seems likes months ago!

But no worries, expected it to be cold, and have splashed out on all the neccessary alpaca wool gear, scarf, jumper and gloves - cute lil old ladies make them on the side of the street and they are so cheap (gloves $2, scarf $3)
So just wandered around today, trying to avoid the local kids throwing water balloons that have the potential to give us pneumonia! Have booked our trip to Machu Pichu, leaving Tuesday morning, with a guided bus tour through the Sacred Valley, staying the night near Machu Pichu, Wed at MP and then back early thurs - cost us and arm and a leg but its the main point of Peru so it will be cheap living for the next few weeks!

anyway thats all for now - off back to the hostel to put on some more clothes, weather has def dipped below 65F (18c) sur we´re frozen!!!

hope everybody is well

Luv Moya

Feb 18th - Cuzco, Peru Mossey bites:4

2006-02-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yes have arrived safe and sound, after 15hrs on the bus(we did stop for about 3 min somewhere along the way at about 5am!). Fairly uneventful journey, although not for some, some of the passengers on the bus were not so lucky and obviously didn´t have stomachs as tough as ours, made for some rather unattractive sounds through out the night!
So have checked in a fairly decent hostel (can´t complain for $4 a night!) beautiful roof top terrance with a few over the entire city! had a nap when we arrived, not sure if it is the bus journey, the 10min hike up the steps with our rucksacks, the altitude or a combination of all three that has us wiped out! But heading to the cinema for the early show, most of the films here are in English with Spanish subtitles, so i think BrokeBack Mountain is on the list tonight, they have lured us in with free popcorn, free coke and happy hour at 8pm in the bar when the cinema is over!! So hopefully we´ll stay awake for a few drinks and have some scandals to report tomorrow!

Away for now!
Moya

Feb 17th Nasca, Peru Mossey bites: 6

2006-02-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

yes back to the world of mossey bites, but a small price to pay for lounging by the pool in the evenings!!
So arrived here in Nasca yesterday evening, a short 4 hour bus journey!! Not a whole lot here, most people just arrive in to the town in the morning, see the Nasca lines and then leave in the evenings. We got in the night before because we had an early flight booked over the lines. So we were collected at 6am, and bleary eyed got to the airport. 6 seater plane arrived out of the maintanence shop (!!) but it was a great experience. We were in the air for about 35 min, just flying over all the lines - for anybody that is not familiar, the Nasca lines are patterns in the desert - there is not definate explanation as to where they come from, some of them are animals, monkeys, birds, dogs, some are people - they really are amazing - i like the theory that they are from outer space, but nobody knows for sure. They were discovered by accident when some American pilots were flying over the area in the 20´s. Anyway i´m sure you are all well capable of finding more info on the internet!
So bumming about Nasca today, have spent 2 hours in a bar having lunch, 2 hours in the internet cafe(photos are now up http://photos.yahoo.com/moyaverling ), phoning home is next on the list! This is all because we are homeless, we had to check out of our hotel at 12, and our bus doesn´t leave until 8pm!! Yes facing yet another overnight journey, although the bus is supposed to be fairly plush so shouldn´t be too bad! And there are 5 of us travelling together. Myself and the brother, Suzie, Naomi and Louisa from England! So heading for Cuzco tonight, its the 2nd biggest city in Peru, and apparently the epic centre for backpackers, so hoping to find some fun - although talks of the altitude driving people a bit loony!! The only cure is to drink Coco Tea..happy days!!

anyway away with me!
have a great weekend y`all

Luv Moya

Feb 15th Huacachino, Peru

2006-02-16T07:32:00.000-08:00

Well greetings from the oasis! Arrived here on Tues, after a 11hr bus journey, followed directly by a 4 hr journey...tired but the place is lovely, and nothing like a dip in the pool to redeem ourselves! So to describe the place, if you could imagine a desert, huge mountains of sand all around, and a little village planted in the middle of a about 3 of these mountains! We´re guessing the population of this place is only about 150-200 people, the rest being backpackers, and people out from the local town Ica - which is only 6k away.
So had a big bar-b-q the first night, the hostel organised it, and it was s/20 (about $7) for all you could and drink in about 2 hours! We made the most of it! There was a good gang of us there, and we actually bumped into the crazy English girls from the last hostel! Anyway the bar-b-q was followed by a few drinks in the local bar, Pisco sours, some local drink with Pisco alcohol, egg whites, sugar and lemon juice...yum yum yum!! the was followed by an attempted climb up the sand dunes, looked like a walk in the park but 40min later, only 3/4 of the way up, i did a bow turned and slid all the way down! enough was enough! Back to the pool for a mid night swim and washed the sand off - clothes will never be the same!
The jump in the pool the next morning was very much appreciated! Nothing like a dip in the pool after numerous Pisco sours! Spent the day in a hazy sunny daze, the heat here is unreal so glad to have the pool. Then yesterday evening we went sand boarding - about 16 of us from the hostel were collected and headed off in dune buggys! Maniac drives, negotiating their way through sand dunes, was like a rollar coaster only scarier because there are no tracks! Anyway went to three different `slopes´...1st one was like a baby nursery slope, took a few minutes to get down, by the time we got to the next slope people had started going head first on their stomachs, on the speed you pick up it was deadly!! Then the final one, really steep, really long..i was getting Mick to take a photo for me, and they all thought i was getting ready to go, so i ended up being the first one to go down and did it standing up(well with a few falls on the way!!) like a pro snow boarder - reckon i have the potential to become Irelands first pro lady snow boarder!! Definatly trying snow boarding the next time i hit the snow - walshie are you ready for it next year??!!!

anyway collapsed last night, was so tried after the late night, the boarding! Hitting the road again this evening, leaving for Nazca this afternoon, we have an early morning flight over the Nazca lines tomorrow morning and then its off to Cuzco, 20 hr bus journey i think! Although there are 7 of us in our gang now so should be a bit of a laugh!

anyway thats all for now, sorry to those of you that i didn´t get a chance to reply to emails - will get right on it!!

talk soon
luv Moya

Feb 12th, Huanchaco, Peru

2006-02-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

Oh yeah, you know you are living a tough life when the first thing you have to do when you wake up in the morning is put to put on sun cream! Such is life here, although hiding from the sun today as i took a lil too much of ue yesterday. This combined with a very later night last night seemed like a good idea to let the locals have their beach!

So still in Huanchaco, there was a big festival on last night, which prompted us to stay over the weekend, the fact that the festival was still in full swing when we got home at 5am meant that we put an end to plans to leave today, and put it off until tomorrow! Great night though, i am really getting to grasp with this Salsa dancing, can't wait for the big day in Sept to show off my skills at the wedding (joking avaleen!)

Not only lazing about all the time, managed to visit the city of Chan Chan yesterday. It was amazing. Chan Chan was the cultural centre and capital of the ancient and amazing Chimu civilization of northern Peru. When it reached it's peak in the 15th Century, it was the largest city in pre-Colombian America and throughout the world. Soon after, it was conquered by the Incas and then by the Spanish Conquistadores. (can anybody tell that i just copied and pasted that description!!) But it was fairly impressive, we got to walk all around and see how the structures and layouts of the towns. There was one huge cermonial site which was used as a concert venue a few years back - unreal! anyway look it up on t'internet if ye want more info!

So thats all for now, not much in the line of scandals for ye, although we have met a great group of people at the hostel so we were all out together last night, still no sign of any paddy irish, but talks are there are lots of them in Cuzco! So departing from here tomorrow and by the looks of things we are planning on spending the next 3-4 days in a bus! 8 hr trip to lima tomorrow, overnight trip to Nazca, to see the Nazca Lines just for the day, and then an overnight bus out of there to Cuzco, aiming to be a Machu Pichu early next week!! phew, getting tired thinking about it!

anyway away for a snooze, or my granny nap as Mick has started calling it!

hope everybody is keeping well

Feb 10th Huanacho, Peru

2006-02-10T08:10:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!

Well greetings from a relaxed world! Arrived here in the fishing-surfing village yesterday, had only planned to stay a day or two but that has already been extended to Sunday! Great little village, very sociable and a lot more life than the previous few stops! Have some sight seeing to do in the way of the Village of Chan Chan but obligatory tourist activities have been put on hold, pending the recharging of our batteries by lying on the beach for a few days!

Had a bit of a late night, with the rum and cokes last night. Big gang of us from the hostel, Naomi and Suzy from England, Gordon and Cal from US, Lisa from Sweden, Mick and my lovelyself from Paddy land and Ben from Ozzie - so twas a right night! Some people strayed out a little later than others (Michael ahem!!) and some of us were up at 8.30am for a run on the beach! (no idea what possesed me but don't imagine it will be a regular occurance, think it must be the fresh air!)

So not much to report other that we are really enjoying ourselves, tried my best to get photos up for ye, but have been here for 2 hours and still no joy! Will keep trying but my patience is worn at the moment! Have them on CD so at least we are making progress!!

Feb 7th, Chiclayo, Peru

2006-02-07T16:26:00.000-08:00

Greetings from the Northern part of Peru. Survived my first overnight bus journey, twas mighty comfortable and slept for about 7 hours - so i can´t complain! Although i have a serious cric in my neck,a 'peru' belly and i´m knackered but sur nothing new really!!

So arrived here bright and early about 7am and managed to bargain our way into a nice hotel, 3 of us (have picked up an ozzie from the last hostel!) - three bed hotel room for less than $20 a night BETWEEN US!! not a bad deal, mind you slight issue with the serious heat and the lack of air conditioning but hey we are not millionaires!

Headed off to locate a bus to get us to Saipan, an ancient burial ground belong to the Mocha culture - one of the most important ancient burial ground, that was only discovered in the last 80´s!! Anyway after getting on the wrong mini bus, we endured a might 30 mini bus ride with the locals and finally made it there in one piece! Had a great english speaking guide, which made the experience - there were 12 tombs, and there were in great condition, we could make out the Lord of Saipan, and the people that were sacrificed to be buried with him, as well as animals, a minder (with his feet chopped off) and lots of artifacts - amazing stuff. The excavation work is amazing and still continuing today. The burial ground are at the foot of two Pyrimids which we preceeded to climb (FYI not a good idea to climb dusty pyrimids in flip flops!) - the heirarchy used to actually live on top of these pyrimids with all the common people living around them (a bit like Waterford and the rest of Ireland!!!)
Anyway after that we made our way to the museum - which only opened in 2002 - 10 min on the other side of the city (we are still not sure why!) but it was great to have seen the burial site before the museum, because we knew the association of all the artefacts and jewellery and burial ground conditions etc! Yes i will be a NAtional Geographic Queen by the time this trip is over!

anyway back to the hotel room for a siesta as is needed, the city here is mad, would drive you bannanas, everybody seems to drive a taxi here, they are all yellow and all the same car, about the size of aCinqocento - they go around the place beeping to say they are free, beeping if somebody is walking on the road, beeping if a car pulls out in front of them, beeping if they are coming to a junction, beeping if they are stuck in traffic regardless of how far back the traffic is backed up - driving me mad i tellsyou, sitting in the internet cafe, and yes outside they are beeping!! ahhhhhh
oh the joys of the foreign lands!!
anyway thats all to report for the mo!

hope all is well, more pyrimids to report on tomorrow! Oh and going to a market that has lots fo witch doctors and potions and stuff - i figure i might be a bit late for Valentines Day but if anybody needs a cureor potion let me know!!

Later

Feb 6th Lima, Peru

2006-02-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

Finally managed to make it into the central parts of Lima yesterday, and i was pleasantly surprised it has to be said. We managed to stumble across a huge steet festival and it was a great opportunity to see some of the authentic cultural Peru. The dancers, musicians, and costumes were amazing - went on for about an hr, sort of like a very classy St Paddies day only without the Kenneallys buses in Fungarvan! But the architechure in the city is amazing, i am not one to be usually taken by it, but visited about 3 churches and saw palaces and some of the government buildings. One of the churches had a catholic convent attached to it, and had underground tunnels with Catacombs (excuse spelling) about 25,000 bodies buried there, with remains still visable - kinda spooky but great experience.
Today we finally made it to the beach, amazing views - the city seems like it is situated on the cliffs way above sea level, so it is a great view down to the water (and a nice hike down about 200 steps! - slight exaggeration but you catch my drift!), Beach was strange in that there was very lil sand, lots of rocks and more of a man made beach part - loads of surfers, which was something i wasn´t expecting in Peru but there you go, anything goes here!

Anyway away to get ready for the mighty 11 hr bus journey! Leaving at 8pm tonight, heading up the North Coast to Chiclayo to see some might ruins, pyrimids, and all that goof stuff!

zzzzzzzzzzzzz on the bus hopefully!

Moya

Feb 4th / Miraflores Peru

2006-02-04T20:09:00.000-08:00

So still living the dream in Peru, although have left the comforts of the Hilton with its complimentart buffet breakfast, for a hostel with fried egg and toast!! But having a grand old time, have managed to spend the past few days doing very little and just chilling out, although looking at the travels that Mick has put together for the next few weeks it looks like i will be looknig back on these few relaxing days as a hazy memory! So managed to miss the 3 hour tour this morn, as we didn't realise that it left so early, managed to get on a low key cheap 1 hr tour, but as soon as we were on the bus we realised that we forgot to ask if it was in English so we sat on a hr long tour not having a clue what the guide was rambling on about! But sure for the equivalent of $1.50 we cannot complain!
Miraflores where we staying is the cosmopol, shopping, party type area of lima, lots of cultural here, people not as friendly as previous countries, and the traffic is mayhem. Everybody here drives a taxi, even school teachers, government workers etc, all drive taxis in thier spare time to make extra money, so there is constant traffic. There is although a habit of beeping the horn to letpeople know that the taxi is free, so there are car horns going all day and all night/ belive me the youth hostel is in the middle of it, of course our dorm faces the main road so we hear them all night long / so annoying!!But you will be glad to know, i saudered back to the real life for a few hours today, managed to do a bit of clothes shopping and get a manicure and pedicure!! Yes i know this backpacking life is a tought one, i had to draw the line at getting the hair done although it is driving me around the bend!!

anyway thats all for now, hitting the haysack for some beauty sleep / hitting downtown Lima tomrrow to do the obligatory tourists sites. The plan is to head North on Monday / talks of a 10 hr bus journey / ah well at least the toes will be looking well for it!!

Buenos noches!

Luv Moya

Feb 2nd Lima, Peru

2006-02-01T19:32:00.001-08:00

The big news from Peru is MOYA IS NO LONGER BLONDE!!!You'd hardly recognise me, flicks are gone (too high maintanence and the mane is gone to long to hold them - luxuries such as hair cuts are out of the question!!) Have been talking about dying the hair for a while, and micheal has patiently walked around the hair dye aisles with me for the past few weeks, and finally found one this evening! Semi permanent so should be gone by the time i home, but might throw another one in before i come home..its a nice chestnut brown! Haven't been dark for years ( for ever!!) it is VERY dark, but looks ok with the tan, not sure how it will look with the pasty white irish skin once i get back!!

Anyway Greetings from Lima, finally have made it to Sth America! Only arrived in this evening so not much to report on the place - but loving the hotel so might not leave it for two days. Yes the grubby backpackers have booked into a 4 star hilton...oh the luxury! Had saved up my Hilton points over the past few years in USA so have swung 2 nights here, and hoping to have 2 more in Argentina!

So finally getting clothes washed, literally took every piece of clothing to the laundrette this evening, bar the clothes on my back! Even had to ask them to have one of the loads ready earlier tomorrow so that i would have something to wear! Everything has been handwashed up until now, so looking forward to getting some fresh clothes back tomorrow!
Actually ended up in a hotel in Panama last night too so have been spoilt in the past few nights. Decided to get somewhere near the airport because we had an early flight, got a lovely hotel for the bargain price of $66 - mind you, that seemed like a paying for a palace considering we paid $6 for the hostel the night before, but decided we needed the comfort (we had considered sleeping in the car or the airport!!) - it was great, lovely pool - dived straight in after 8 hours in the car! However took another dive later in the night, when i found out that the air conditioning was leaking in the room (found this out after i slipped in a puddle of water and soaked my ass!)
The journey from David was rather uneventful, apart from being pulled over at a check point because Michael was driving without his t-shirt on!! strange laws!

anyway thats all for the mo...bit disappointed to hear that the Machu Pichu 4 day hike that we had planned to do is closed for the month of Feb (what day do we arrive?? yes Feb 1st!) But we can still get up there on a train, going mad, i had myself all psyched to do the 4 day hike an all...i{m sure we{ll find something else to keep us occupied! will keep ye posted on the Lima happenings, talks of a few beers in an Irish bar tomorrow (Recommended by our Backpacker Guardian angel..aka Toni!) - would love some cider, might be some stories to report!

Thanks all for now!

Moya

Feb 2nd { Lima,

2006-02-01T19:32:00.000-08:00

Jan 29th, David, Panama

2006-01-29T20:14:00.000-08:00

Well moving along fairly lively through this posts! Arrived inDavid today - only really stopped off in Panama as a stop over for a few days so had no arrangements or research for the place! Managed to swing by a lovely hostel (thanks Toni!) and met two german girls there who were looking for someone to share a rental car for a few days, so here we are! After visiting the amazing Panama Canal this morning we took off on our 5 hour car journey, headed here as there are some amazing Volcanic sights and hikes to be seen here. Arrived this afternoon and about to embark on my first dormitory experience in about 10 years! (higgins i don´t count those days in Dingle as a dorm!) - anyway it should be all good. Pananama is sooo cheap, we are living it up - Michael even treated himself to a steak dinner yesterday, and in all the bill for both of us with drinks and dessert came to $13!! Hostel is $6 a night and the four of us had lovely chinese dineer for $10 between us all - i tells you i am going to collapse with the prices when i get home!!

anyway off to the leabe with me! Happy Monday to you all!!

Luv Moya

Jan 28th Panama City, Panama - 0 mossey bites!

2006-01-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!

greetings from Panama, arrived here a few hours ago - the joys of being back in the world where you can flush toilet paper down the toilet, people in the street are no longer asking for the clothes off my back and we are still managing to live it up cheap! Having my first hostel experience although we have managed to get a private room so not really roughing it yet!

So to finish up the Cuba stories, we ended up having a quiet few nights and a dodgy journey back to Havana! Five of us were travelling so it was cheaper-more convenient to get a taxi between us. One of the local women who looked after us sorted it out ( friend of a friend typ thing!) She was all excited when we arrived to get the taxi the following morning ¨We get you big american car, lots of space, so you are bery bery comfortable¨ Little did we know what we got ourselves in for! You wouldn´t sell this car for $10 on the black market, i´m talking broken windows taped together, and that was the doors that had windows, a rusty hole where the radio should have been 50 odd years ago (car from 1951!), because there was no windows the noise - Michael had his speakers blaring in the back, i couldn´t even hear them and i was sitting next to him! - as for the suspension in the seats...my sore backside speaks for itself!! Did i mention the journey was 5 HOURS LONG!! However the car is actually considered a normal run of the mill car in Cuba so there were no problems, and we actually just laughed all the way at the absolute hilarity of it all - i have photo´s to explain!

so thats about all - our last supper with our ozzies friends consisted of a meal in ChinaTown (yes i know what you are thinking, China Town in Cuba?? it does exist and rather tasty i tells you

so we have left the lands of eggs (breakfast) Chicken, rice and beans, (dinner) and ham and cheese sandwiches (lunch) - sometime little variation! but we certainly couldn´t complain, our bill in our house in Trinidad came to $300 between the two of us, for 8 nights accomadation, 8 breakfasts and 6 dinners!! Not a bad deal eh - sadly that is equivalent to 2 peoples annual earnings in the country, so you can see the effect tourism has on the locals...

anyway off to bed i go - free internet in the hostel although not sure how many nights we here for - off to Peru on WEdnesday, can´t wait considering we have booked 2 free nights in a Hilton, thanks to my Hilton Points collected after 2 years in the States!! oh the joys of a hotel room - words cannot express the excitement !!

luv ye all

The Verlingster

Jan 26th - Part 2!

2006-01-26T09:39:00.000-08:00

So Tuesday morning saw us us in Santa Clara and Santi Spiritus, We managed to hire a taxi for the day and it worked out cheaper than the tours - because we were with the ozzies so there was 5 of us - mind you the car was from 1950 with no door handle, no windows, obviously no air con but a brilliant stereo system!!
yesterday we hired mopeds and tore up the mountains to an amazing look out point - the view was amazing but it has to be said that coming from Ireland i think i take all the sceanary for granted! Got a nice color on the bike of the moped though! So after recovering from Monday night we went to a nightclub in a cave last night, it was amazing- no way you would get away with planning permission for such a thing in Ireland - or anywhere in the world for that matter! you walk into this cave - walk down dark stairs, you can barely hear music, we actually asked if it had started yet! and then you walk into a nightclub..in a cave! unreal! so 7 of us decended on the place and sure of course the regular bottle of rum had to be bought(it wasnt the only one of the night) and sur we were swinging around the dance floor like we owned the place!
so that has been life in Trinidad- lovin it lovin it lovin it and off to the beach for the afternoon, Michael is gone for a trip in a Steam Train with the crew (ozzies, Hot scottish boy (Yes hes a tic fan from Glasgow Danny boy) and his friend Samantha - no way i could get out of the bed this morning so i am off to meet up with them at the beach - yes i know life is tough at times!

so will probably be in Panama the next time i mail - we are leaving here tomorrow and taxiing it to Havanna for the night, and off to Panama on Saturday evening for 4 days before hitting Peru

anyway thats all for now - must go catch some rays!

luv 2 all

Verlingster

Jan 26th-Trindad Cuba Mossey bites 1!!

2006-01-26T09:17:00.000-08:00

Its official, much and all as i hate to say it...i have a tan
LOVING cuba...decended on the city of Trinidad last Thursday-sorry about the lack of emails- and we have been here since. We had originally planned to only stay about 3 days but its been brilliant here and we decided that it wasnt worth the 12 hr journey to Santiago with such short time - so have been living it up here. So arrived on Thursday, met up with our new ozzie friends that we had met in Havanna, Stewart, Andrea and Andreas daughter Ciara - they have been brilliant craic and probably alot to do with the fact that we didnt move on from here!! Went horse riding up to these beautiful waterfalls with them on Saturday - some hairy moments with long stirrups and one handed horse riding, a sore back the next day but it was worth it! the waterfalls were beautiful - jumping into the 9m deep water from the cliffs, slighty cold water but amazing!
i regret to depress ye and say that we spent Sunday and Monday at the beach! Weather is beautiful here, and the color of the water makes even a crab scared Moya want to swim a couple of times a day! Monday night was the big night out - some craic! somebody(me) decided it would be a great idea to have a local night out and buy bottles of rum instead of shots - great plan because it was a cheap night out not so great the next morning after 4 bottles of rum between 6 of us! (we have also made friends with two Jim and Samantha he scottish - HOT - and she English (have i mentioned that they are only friends travelling together!!)) anyway after closing down three bars we ended up drinking at one of our regulars bars and getting to know this African Tribal band that we seemed to bump into in every bar we went into! did i mention they added another bottle of Rum to the already very messy party! but all was well and a great night was had by all - although not so good the next morning when we had to get up and take a 2 hr taxi to see a Che Guevara Monument! slept all the way there - but it was well worth it, amazing sight and they had a memorial place underneath thats almost resembles a funeral home, there is the remains of 15revoluntionary people there and it was a very strange feeling being in there - i almost feel like i know more about the history of this country than Fidel himself at this stage! It is brill though could spend another few weeks here, the people are brilliant (it does help that i am some what a super model here, men love us white girls - was walking through town today and this guy shouts out¨¨beautiful where you come from - i said Ireland - he goes ¨you are bery bery beautiful! i could get used to this life i tells you)
anyway time almost up so signing off and will get another card and continue the adventures in Trinidad in next post

hope everybody well - thanks to all for the emails promise to reply to all!!

luv Moya

Jan 18th Vinales, Cuba

2006-01-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

Well arrived here, slightly by default on Tues - got up bright and early to get the bus to Trinidad (SW direction) missed the bus, and the next bus was going here so we jumped on it! Delighted we did because we got to witness the Cuban countryside. so arrived yesterday morning to a bizarre welsome of about 50 people advertising rooms for rent in their house - all shouting and waving about hot water (luxury these days), private bathrooms etc we had a contact from the previous house so we set abuot locating it 0 it was full of course but one of her neighbours had a room for us so in we jumped to his 1949 car (which is an average aged car here!) - getting good at this haggling business we got the room for $15 between us - so happy days!
After our 3 days of traipsing around looking at old buildings and museums it was nice to get a change of scenary - so we booked a walking tour through the national park - 3 hours!! finally got to break the hiking boots in! Saw tabacco plants, one of the farmers made us a cuban cigar (getting good at the cigars now i am!!), saw alot of the farming methods around here, and walked up 190 steps to a cave (this town is becoming very well knowns for rock climbing) - oh and i nearly forgot to metion the gorgeous walking guide we had - which helped ease the pain of climbing around the place for 3 hours (trying to look fit!!)
so went out for dinner that evening, little did we know that it would lead to a late salsa session - but went to a bar for a few drinks, met a Danish girl that was travelling around, that led to meeting 3 Isralies and a Canadian, which led to more Swedish people and next thing we knew there was a right crew of us! Seems the locals come out everynight to get dancing with the tourists - so after a few beers they had us swinging around the place, sur twas like dancing with Enrike Eglesious (??) himself - moved onto another bar and the later it got the stranger the music got - i reckon i lost about a million calories that night - now i know how the spanish keep fit! Compared to our sat night out of rambling as far as the bar for a large bottle and a bag of peanuts in Ireland - then the bag of chips on the way home - big difference!!
so up bright and early this morning, had rented a moped for the day and headed off the 17 K Journey (driving about 40-hr, taring along with the helmetss - some sight the two of us!) of course it would rain the one day we hire mopeds (i promise it was only a once off mum!!) - but we got out the the cave no problem - plenty of time to spare, and went off on a 2 hr walk(hike!) through Caves, pitch black so we had to wear helmets with light attached (loking well i have to say!!) - but it was really interesting - some gret sights!

so knackered at this stage - all this fresh air and exercise has wiped me out! Heading to Trinidad tomorrow - 6 hr taxi journey - oh the joys!

anyway until then

The Verlingster

Jan 16th Havana, Cuba # of bites: 3(brilliant!)

2006-01-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

Thankfully the mossies have gone back into hibernation! We think it was the bad weather - quite funny that everybody here is frozen with the cold and we spent the day on the beach, they call this their winter and it is like the hottest it gets in Ireland!
So still in Havana, had planned to move on today but never checked the buses and think they were leaving at 8.30am - needless to say i wasn't get out of bed at that hour of the morning when we weren't definate! anyway have decided to change our route so took the extra day here to chillax at the beach - god knows i needed it, Michael has the legs walked off me, i feel like i have a better understanding of the history of this city than Fidel himself!! Also the fact that i was a little ill after sat night didn't help progress yesterday - it was a strange night to say the least - some dodgy folk about the place, we weren't sure who was working or who was out for drinks if you know what i mean! also the fact that we weren't planning to stay out, had me with no make up, the same clothes i had on all day, a pink cardigan hoodie and to top it all off my hiking boots - i wasn't looking my bext for once - but Toni i know you will be proud of me!

but Havana is an amazing city - i advise everybody to put it on their to do list (apart from ye yankees of course!) - so much culture here, such a busy city, there is people constantly milling about the place, the buses are crammed with people (we got one today!), people shouting and roaring about the place, crossing the roads irish stlye (ie not with pedestrian crossings!), people shouting out the street at you to buy some cake or sandwiches that they sell out their living room windows and music blaring from every direction - its just mad! The people here are lovely, surprisingly accepting of tourists although we do get the odd stare or two (i did say i was looking well!!) - but overall its great!
So think Trinidad is our next stop - further down the country to the South East, the lady that we are staying with has a friend who rents out rooms there so we are fairly sorted!

anyway i hope everybody is keeping well - keep me posted on all the scandals - thanks for all the emails, glad to be kept posted of all the goings on in my absence!

later,
Moya

Jan 13th Havanna, Cuba # of bites: +30!!

2006-01-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

greeting from Cuba earthlings! all is well in this part of the world, Left a lovely sunny Jamaica yesterday for the lands of Cuba. OUr last few days in Jamaica were great, managed to climb the DUnes River Falls which was great fun , climbing the water falls, starting at the mottom, needless to say we got soaked but the tour guide took some great shots!
So settling into our first day in Cuba, great country although i feel like i have stepped back about 40 years in time! We have walked the city for about 5 hours today - Strange mixture of poverty, wealth, run down buildings and beautiful architecture - a complete oxymoran of a country - but loving it! Arrived in the airport last night at 11pm in typical paddy fashion of having no place to stay - but once again the lucky irish streak shined and we ended up with lovely place to stay! We are staying in what they call a "casa, which is basically a room in somebodys house, and after been driven down some dodgy looking roads (beginning to think they all 'look'dodgy) we finally landed at a house on a street where all the buildings are gated! but the host family are really nice, mother, father, two teenage kids - rooms are gorgeous with 15 ft collonial doors and huge high 20 ft ceilings - for $25 between us for the night - and there is even hot water! ! we pay $3 for brekkie, which consisted of a plate of bananas, mandarins, orange, and a strange mixture of Cuban fruits, a homemade smoothie (not really sure what was in it!), homemade youghurt and then she cooked up omlets for us - not a bad deal for $3 you would think! We are heading back to the house shortly for dinner - so no idea what fest awaits us, we are paying $7 for the dinner, sounds like a 5 course meal from what she was describing! I could get used to this for the next two weeks, although only planning to stay here for the weekend and move on to the finer parts of the country side next week - some beautiful beaches to be seen and talks of making it as far as Guatamano bay!
not much else to report from this end - some rather dishy cuban boys around the place, but everybody thinking that me and the brother are married!! hee hee hee

off to be fed!

The Verlingster!

Jan 10th - Ochio Rios, Jamaica # of mos bites: 15

2006-01-10T13:17:00.000-08:00

wow - record two days in a row posting! still alive and kicking in Ochio Rios, wet from all the rain (i can hear the pity sighs from here!) but fitting in well with the locals with my new rockstar hair style - the house keeper put braids in my hair - i am looking well even if i may say so myself!!-

so we managed to track down mum and dad today so it was great! Got up early (8.15am hee hee) and got down to the dock and watched about 1500 people getting off before we found them! had a great day - even managed to get mum into one of the crazy Jamaican taxi - crazy drivers, no meaning of the right side of the road, right of way etc - bit like a rollar coaster ride! then on the taxi back - we were in a mini bus with about 10 other people and mum turned to one of the local kids beside her and asked him if he spoke English! (their first language!) very funny! We brought them back to our house, and showed off our palace and then took a trip to the Dolphins Cove where people can swim with dolphins - and took a nature trail where we all (even mum!) held a snake!
so thats all thats happening at the mo, we have finally booked a few more legs of our trip so it is off to Cuba on Thursday for 2 1/2 wks, then Panama for few days before flying to Lima.

hope all is well in the real world!

The Verlingster

Jan 9th

2006-01-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Jamaica - man!

having a great time here, you will all be delighted to hear that the weather isn't great and it has been a few days since i have seen the sun! although it is supposed to improve tomorrow once storm passes!
so spent the weekend in Kingston - dodgy enough place although no way as dangerous as it is made out to be - although i think we were the only white people in the city so that was a bit of a strange feeling to say the least! An unbelievable amount of poverty, a very run down underdeveloped city, lots of people hanging around with seemingly nothing to do but it seems to be the way of life here - 'takin it easy man'! quite shocking to realise the amount of money that comes in here in tourism every year, and how little of it actually stays in the coutry, the Jamaica we witnessed is very different to the Jamaica that is marketed to us at home! we did take a tour of the city and managed to see alot in the few days - Emancipation park, shanty (dodgy) towns and we took a tour of the Bob Marley museum,his former home - he is such a God here. You will be glad to hear the Irish Independent and Irish times were well represented with clippings from his Dublin Tour!

We were lucky with the hostel, the people who owned the hostel in Kingston also own the one in Ochio Rios that we are in, and they were travelling the two hour journey between the two yesterday so they gave us a spin for a good price! so we are now in Ochio Rois, much friendlier beach town - living the dream in our hostel - which is actually a three bedroom huge house that they used to rent out long term, and recently coverted to a hostel - so they is nobody else staying there at the moment so we have the whole house, with a pool all to oursleves - did i mention with a house keeper and a gardener??!! although it has no windows - all shutters, railings and mossie nets - so it was kinda scary with all the winds last night - blowing doors shut and knocking stuff off the walls in the middle of the night!

so we are hoping to surprise the parents tomorrow - they are coming into this town for the day frmo their cruise - although the know we in Jamaica they don't know that we are in the same town so that should be funny - if we manage to locate them!

thats all for now - hope everybody is keeping well - will be in touch again during the week as we have finally tracked down an internet cafe!!

the verlingster!

Jan 5th

2006-01-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

The final countdown from Florida! Getting packed up and heading for Miami today. Naples has been great, beautiful beaches, and we have been really lucky with the weather!You will all be delighted to know the tan is coming along nicely. So next port of call is Kingston, Jamaica - we are due in there around lunch time tomrrow so the rucksacks are packed, all the shopping has been shipped home and we are ready for road.

No realu news from this end, spent New Years in Paddy Murphy's Irish Pub - even managed to locate my Bulmers so i was a happy little camper! Even managed to keep the parents out to ring in the new year - so had a great night!

anyway thats all from this end - have to go and sit on my suitcase to get it closed and sent home with the parents!

until the sunny shores of Jamaica!

The Verlingster

Dec 29th

2005-12-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

greetings from Naples, Florida - tan coming along nicely you will be delighted to hear! Fort Lauderdale was gorgeous, my God the money in that place is unbelievably - more millionaires have relocated there than any other city in America! I say a $45 million dollar home owned by Wanye hyzinger (spelling??) owner of Miami dolphins, funny thing is he doesn't even live in it - and has bought another $15mil home across the river - alongside his daughter in her $8mil home (which he bought her as a wedding present!), his nephew lives nearby - CEO of Blockbuster video and his sister also has a mansion along the same river! small houses along the waters start at about $2mil - Alan start saving!!!

anyway not much else going on, Christmas was strange to say the least, getting up to go to the beach for the day, eating sandwiches and Pizza for lunch, but managed to track down a turkey in the evening, and enjoyed a gorgeous buffet dinner!

So we are now in Naples, on the west coast - after a slight disappointment with the hotel we are changing hotels tomorrow to be 1/2 mile from the beach - got to work on that tan before i can hit the Jamican beaches!!

hope everybody is well

over and out from West coast!

The Verlingster!
ps apologies for the lack of emails, very little access to the internet without paying through the roof in the hotels - taking advantage of the Vistors information centre generosity at the moment!

Dec 21 (again - wrong date last post!)

2005-12-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

greetings from the lands of Florida - beautiful here! Staying in a gorgeous resort - slight issue with the weather not being as warm as expected but hey i have 3 months for tanning so won't worry about it! had a swim so its not that bad - hotel right on the beach, its like being in a different country here!
anyway just arrived this morning, knackered after my overnight flight so looking forward to taking it easy for the next few days!
anyway not much excitement otherwise

over and out

The Verlingster!

Dec 21st

2005-12-20T14:50:00.000-08:00

Ok - just testing that this works!! and so begins The Adventures in Moyaland - kick off is today, with red eye flight to Florida tonight! The idea of this is so that my wonderful friends and family can keep track of my travels without me having to send really long emails filling you in, and getting involved with the politics of not including all emails/returning emails!! FYI this is NOT an excuse for you not to email me!!

pk hope this works - Florida here i come!!

Regards,
The verlingster