Saturday's PhotoHunting: Landscape

One of my favorite things to photograph are landscapes and here are a few of my favorites.  

Cuzco, Peru

Along the Road to the Isles in Scotland (this is just past Glenfinnan heading toward Arisaig).

And I think glaciers make wonderful landscapes too. Here's a photo of the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina. 

To see more PhotoHunters, you can visit Gattina's Keyhole Pictures website HERE!  

Saturday's PhotoHunting: Umbrellas

Let your soul be satisfied 

with the odd beauty of this landscape

that although the world walk in truth

you'll never find, like this, nothing.

Good and bad dynamic and changing

find here, from 1st name, 

keep in your heart of man humble

a true and consistent message.

Meditate and feel the deep emotion

contemplating the vibrant climax 

eternal mist that is circled.

And do not try to describe it in your voice

only he leans his forehead against the abyss

is the mirror of the word God

~ Alfonso Ricciutto

Once upon a time . . . . I woke up in a place called Iguazu, Argentina.  I said to myself, today, I have a plan to see Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat). To get there I will take the train from the Cataratas del Iguazu train station. Then I will walk 1km on these metal walkways.  

At the start, there was some light rain but that didn't dampen my excitement.  About 20 more yards and I can already hear and feel the power of Garganta del Diablo.

Everyone wore these plastic hooded rain ponchos, a few carried umbrellas. Most of them were solid colors and rather ordinary. Happily I spotted a Minnie Mouse contribution to brighten things up.  I wish I had found one with Hello Kitty for fellow Photohunter, YTSL (Webs of Significance), but no such luck. It was a Disney fan tour group. 

Umbrellas come in different sizes too. Here the group photographer pulls out the big guns to protect his camera and gear. I can relate, it was hard keeping my lens dry. 

Here it is.  Devil's Throat! 

Suddenly, the sky opens up and there's a heavy downpour with thunder.  By this time the big tour group left and it was just a handful of us watching Garganta del Diablo thundering away.   

After taking a lot of photos and video, I put my camera away and just like these two visitors, I just stood there for about an hour in awe!  With no umbrella I got drenched. But it was okay, because I realize that I may never get to experience this again and I was soaking it all in (literally and figuratively).  As it turns out I did return the next day when the sun was out. It was nice to be able to see the falls more clearly without the mist and rain.

But honestly, there was just something uniquely special about this day's experience.   This little adventure taught me that sometimes in life you just have to say screw it. I don't care if I get wet (or whatever).  I'm just going to let the rain come down on me so I can enjoy this very fleeting magical moment. And yes, I did say Whoo Hoo and Whoa out loud several times. 

The End. At least for now. :)

To see more PhotoHunters, you can visit Gattina's Keyhole Pictures website HERE!  

Saturday's PhotoHunting: Creative

A creative way to sell coffee . . . .

Gives true meaning to the saying, I'll take my coffee on the go. :)

I took these photos at the San Telmo Antiques Fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

To see more PhotoHunters, you can visit Gattina's Keyhole Pictures website HERE!  

Saturday's PhotoHunting: Abstract

Abaporu is an oil painting by Brazilian artist, Tarsila do Amaral.  

I was able to admire this painting and some other pretty cool artwork at the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA).

I always find it very interesting to learn about the many things that can influence an artist: nature, religion, humanity, inhumanity, politics, other artists, culture, music, time, the good, the bad, life struggles, love, hate, relationships, current trends, etc.  

This makes me realize that our perception in everything we see, do and believe in is greatly affected by everything around us.  I think that's why I enjoy being outdoors, why I have a passion for music, photography and travel so much. Sensory overload  at its finest. :)  

To see more PhotoHunters, you can visit Gattina's Keyhole Pictures website HERE!  

2012 South America Adventures: My First Encounter Meeting a Coati

A Coati is a member of the raccoon family.  They have a long nose and measure about 33-44 inches in length.  Before my trip I had watched videos of them and was looking forward to seeing them in person.  Surprisingly, I saw them only three times, twice from far away and only once up close and personal. 

Here's a quick video I took of my first up close encounter of a coati.

A Birthday Wish Come True

The scene is Columbia, 2011 and a family celebration is taking place. It is her 82nd birthday and grandma tells her son . . . “I want to go to see Iguazu Falls” for my 83rd Birthday. Her son replied with the only possible answer to give, "... yes, mother we will go to see Iguazu Falls."

Fast forward to November 2012. The scene is Iguazu National Park in Argentina and I am sitting in the safari truck waiting to go on our safari adventures jungle and zodiac boat ride tour.  I notice a large family board the truck and sit in the rows behind me. Here is when I first notice grandma. She is helped onto the truck by her son. The jungle tour will take approximately 45 minutes and after the drive they will drop our group off at the dock for our adventure boat ride.    

The jungle tour was fascinating, but the zodiac boat ride was the part that I was most looking forward to. We finally arrive at the drop off point just above the river dock. I was the first one in line (he, he) and was assigned to sit in the first seat (yay!). As I sat there waiting for everyone else to board, I have to admit that I was a tad worried for grandma and wondered if she was going to skip this part of the tour. But with her big orange life preserver strapped on and the help of her son, grandma gingerly steps onto the boat. I thought to myself, how cool is this.

After everyone is seated, the driver steers the boat up the river, dodging and weaving our way on the rapids. There were a lot of oohs and awes coming from everyone. I was having a lot of fun but I also couldn’t help but think about grandma and how she was doing. Then, we are given one last pause in front of the falls. The video guy, puts on his heavy duty water proof pants and jacket. It was a clear sign to me that we were about to get seriously soaked.

Here we go, the boat traverses the rapids, bobbing and weaving then heads directly under one of the falls! We all raise our hands up toward the sky and we are soaked through and through. The poncho I had purchased did nothing to repel the water. I can feel the coolness of the Iguazu river on my skin and to be honest it felt refreshing. The boat captain asked if we wanted one more and we all unanimously screamed yes. One more! To be honest I could’ve done this all day long, it was so much fun.

The boat darts back to the second falls and we receive a second soaking, staying a bit longer under the water thundering down on us. There were cheers and laughter and more oohs and a lot of Whoo Hoos (mainly from me)! Awesome rush!

We then head to the dock where we exit the boat. I was one of the first ones out.   A few minutes later I look up and see Grandma walking up the steep steps with her son by her side. She was completely drenched. I smiled and gave her a thumbs up to which she smiled back and with water dripping down from her soaked big rimmed hat, grandma gave me a very enthusiastic thumbs up back! Priceless!

They walked up the trail ahead of me, but her grandson stopped to chat. He was the one who told me about her very special birthday wish. He said, "when Grandma asked to see Iguazu Falls on her 83rd birthday, what could we say. We have to take grandma to see Iguazu Falls, so here we are. My grandma is so energetic and although it may take her a bit longer to walk up she is healthy and strong enough to do it." I so admired grandma for that. And I admired her family for fulfilling her birthday wish and bringing her here to see this amazing natural wonder.

During the holidays, I can get a bit reflective.  Remembering this story of grandma and her family reminds of the things in life that I find to be the most important to me.  It reminds me that the relationships that we have with our family and friends are the most important thing in our lives.  Her story also reinforces my belief that we should follow our dreams to see and do the things that we want to do in life. No one in her family told grandma that she shouldn’t come to Iguazu Falls, that she couldn’t hike down and up these difficult trails or that she shouldn’t ride this very exciting boat ride.

Well, why not at 83 years young ride a fast high speed boat under a raging Iguazu water fall and get soaking wet. Thank you Grandma for teaching me a lesson. A lesson that we should not place limits on ourselves and that we should live our lives guided not by fear or uncertainty, but by our hopes and dreams!

As 2012 comes to an end and the new year is upon us, I feel so thankful and appreciative to be able to continue to do the things that I love doing and to have such wonderful people in my life. I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with my family and friends and I am looking forward to seeing what the new year will bring.

This is the only photo I could find with Grandma in it.  She is being held by her son.  I wish I had taken a better photo of her, but I was so in awe of what was unfolding before me that the photographer actually took a back seat to the student! I had something very special to learn from Grandma and that lesson demanded my undivided attention.

Here's what Grandma Columbia and me decided that we just had to see in person and I am so glad that I had the privilege of sharing the experience with her.

I'm currently getting over the flu and haven't had much time to work on my photos but as soon as I do, I will do a special blog post on the Safari Adventures Zodiac Boat Tour, complete with my a video of the soaking, I mean ride. :) I'm excited that my sis will be coming to town today and I am looking forward to their visit and our upcoming road trip.

I want to wish you and your families a very Happy Holidays and a Safe and Healthy New Year!

Saturday's PhotoHunting: Trees

While walking the trails at the Iguazu National Park in Argentina last month, I learned to look up among the beautiful trees in the park, so I can see some of the many species of birds inhabiting the jungle. 

Trees provide shade and a nice resting place for us and our animal friends and they are such an important part of our environment.  I learned a lot about them on my Iguazu National Park Jungle Safari Adventures Tour.  The tour guide was very knowledgeable and made sure to warn us to look out for low hanging tree branches.  Sure enough, there were a couple of near misses while on the 45 minute drive. :)  Check out my quick video:

Trekcapri's Travel Adventures: Iguazu National Park Jungle Safari Adventures Tour, Argentina 2012 from Kathy Colobong on Vimeo.

To see more PhotoHunters, you can visit Gattina's Kehole Pictures website HERE!  

2012 South America Adventures: Muchas Gracias Argentina

Tomorrow, I will catch an early flight back home and leave this amazing country of Argentina. Reflecting on my time here these past three weeks, there are so many emotions and visual images that race through my mind and trust me I tried to capture a lot of them with my camera. He, he.  

I have to confess that prior to my trip I had read about increased incidents of crime in Buenos Aires from other travelers. Since safety is an important factor for me, I began to approach my upcoming trip with cautioned excitement. After being here for three weeks, I can report that I am so glad that I came and I did not let the negative reports from other travelers dissuade me. I was very lucky that the only crime I fell victim to was being given a fake $100 pesos from a taxi driver at La Boca. I was actually more surprised than upset that I had fell for the switch. But I have to say that during my stay here in Buenos Aires, there were four other honest taxi drivers who went out of their way (knowing that I was a tourist and susceptible to taxi scammers) to point out the fare before I got out so I would know what “should” be the correct price of my fare for my return trip. Then there was the taxi driver that didn’t want to accept my tip saying it was too much. So for the one bad apple, there are many more that are good.

On my first night I bumped into a family (mother, son and daughter) trying to push this huge bundle of recyclables onto their carts. One of the bundles rolled back down and it made them break out into laughter. I smiled and said hola and they smiled back. Yes, some of the people here are poor, but they are honest and hardworking and I hope that the economy in Argentina improves for them. One of the things I love about traveling is how it allows us to experience all aspects of life and also how it can make me appreciate the things in life that I too often take for granted.

In all my travels I have loved the things that I have seen and experienced, the history, and in my case the drenching of Iguazu Falls, but mainly I always treasure the experiences I have with the people that I meet. I am talking about fellow travelers, vendors, tour guides and my apartment manager, housekeeper and driver, Aldo. I draw inspiration, knowledge and joy from each one of them which will shape who I am forever.

Here are some of the things, people and experiences that I will remember the most about my trip:

- The city of Buenos Aires and country of Argentina itself is a highlight for me. Argentina is a beautiful and very diverse country. There are so many things to see and do here and I tried to do as many of them as I could. :) I didn’t get to do everything, but I managed to do the things that were the most high on my must see and do list.

  

- As always, I am happy to be returning back home again, but at the same time I am sad to be leaving my wonderful neighborhood. Palermo Soho has been a great home away from home and I will miss my ice cream shop and all the cafes around Plaza Serrano most of which I have sampled during my stay. I felt very comfortable here because it is in an awesome location, there are people (locals, tourists and families) walking around throughout the day and evening that I never really felt unsafe going out and exploring around. I am so glad that I chose this neighborhood to base here in Buenos Aires.

- Love the street café culture here. On practically every block there is a café with outdoor seating serving everything from sushi to pizza to those famous Argentine steaks (sadly I don’t eat beef so I cannot report on their reputation, but I can see on the faces of their customers that it is a good reputation).

- Connection via the internet is important for me and I think for all travelers and here in Argentina it seems like every establishment has free Wi-Fi connection for their customers. Other countries should follow Argentina’s lead on this, because it has become more of a necessity rather than a luxury for travelers.

Most of the apartment rentals I looked at in planning my trip offer free Wi-Fi. Finding “how to get there” tips helped in planning my El Tigre Day trip and also helped with booking for my Uruguay Day trip. A Wi-Fi connection allows great flexibility to travelers who tend to do their planning on the fly. I’m sort of half and half. I like to have a set base schedule and a list of must and potential want to see and do list. Then once I’m here I tend to wing it day by day. Except for my Day trips to El Calafate & Iguazu, which required the purchase of airline tickets and lodging confirmations), most of my itinerary was done day by day and on the fly. I think a good balance between the two fits me perfectly.

- Visiting Plaza De Mayo, Casa Rosada and the Recoleta Cemetery to see the resting place of Eva Peron. It was pretty cool to pay my respect to Eva who did so much to further the rights of women in Argentina and who helped the poor.

- Street Art is around every corner in the City and some of them are pretty creative and cool. Some mornings I would just walk around and snap at anything that looked out of the ordinary and cool. Buenos Aires kept me pretty busy.

- La Boca, Caminito and my La Boca Jrs. soccer game was also another highlight. La Boca is very touristy, but I have to say that it was such a great place to photograph because of the bright colors of the houses. It is a walking museum with displays of the old days when immigrants from Spain and Genoa Itlay came to Argentina to find a better life. And if you visit Buenos Aires, don’t miss the opportunity to watch a La Boca Jr soccer game. Even if you are not a big soccer fan you will be moved by the experience. La Boca Jr. fans are the best in the world. So much enthusiasm and devotion. I loved it the experience.

- I also loved watching a tango show performance at the Porteno Tango venue. The dancers are extremely talented and I was amazed at their fast leg kicks and moves. There is this intense sexuality in this dance style and I totally enjoyed the experience.

- My long overnight day trips were awesome. First, to see the magnificent Glaciers in Patagonia was a great experience. I learned so much about glaciation and this natural wonder. Observing the glaciers up close and seeing some of the wildlife that inhabits this part of the world was also pretty cool. Second, what can I say about Iguazu Falls. The zodiac boat ride which I took to celebrate Thanksgiving Day was the most fun thing I’ve done. It was so exciting and cool to get a "taste" of Iguazu!   And let’s not forget the train ride and hike to see Garganta del Diablo in the pouring rain. Amazing and unforgettable!

- The All Glaciers Tour in Patagonia took several hours and I met the most wonderful people who were seated next to me.  First, a gracious lady from the Netherlands who was also traveling solo in Argentina.  And a really cool couple from a small town near Barcelona, Spain.  We enjoyed great conversations.  In fact, I saw the couple again the next day as they were doing the same Perito Moreno Glacier tour too (with another group).  I crashed into them on the catwalk.  He gave me his website so I hope to visit and see their photos.  I'm going to email them photos that I took of them.

- I also took a couple of last minute short day trips to El Tigre on the Delta and also the charming old town of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay (which gave me a second stamp in South America). Both exeriences were great. 

Somewhere before my trip I had read that arriving in Buenos Aires was like jumping onto a moving Train. Well, I think it was more like jumping onto a jumbo jet just taking off. And on the jet you have a little cafe area to plant yourself along the way. :) The city is both fast and slow mannered.  Unlike my slow laid back Amalfi Coast trip last year, on this trip I have been on such a fast paced itinerary that combined with a few days of sketchy internet connection, I have had very little spare time to blog like I usually love to do. And you know that I love to blog. Ha, ha. I’ve been using my iTouch to record my thoughts and will hopefully do some post trip blogging about more when I return.

I actually managed to get at least 98% of the things on my must see and do list so I’m leaving with very few regrets. In fact, today I contemplated not visiting MALBA (Museo de Arte Latino Americano de Buenos Aires), but after getting most of my packing done by noon, I decided to hop in a taxi and go. I just knew that if I hadn’t of made an effort I would have regretted it. And it turned out to be a very relaxing and contemplative time spent.  The art exhibits (which are more modern and contemporary) were very beautiful.  

I want to say a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to read my blog and tweets and who commented. I have appreciated your support and kind words so much. I am looking so forward to catching up with all of your blogs when I get home. I have really missed reading your blogs and participating in photohunt,

I will definitely post more photos when I return home, but here are a few images I'd like to share until then: 

Near Teatro Colon.

La Boca (I went back a second time for better light).

Around my neighborhood.

I saw this dog walke the other day but he was walking so fast I couldn't whip out my camera fast enough to take his photos. But today, I saw him walking in my direction and from a block away, so I pulled out my camera and asked if I could take his photo which he was glad to oblige.

This is the train you have o catch to get to Garganta del Diablo in Iguazu Falls.

I had the first seat on the Zodiac boat ride and had  really great view as well as soaking. :)  Great fun.

Perito Moreno Glacier from the Catwalk in Patagonia.

I took a free tour at Casa Rosada. Here is a photo of Eva Peron's desk in her Salon.

This is the view from the balcony that is right next to the Balcony that Eva Peron addressed the citizens of Buenos Aires.  The real one was not open to the public.  Still, I got chills standing here and looking out onto Plaza de Mayo.

A cool vendor at the San Telmo Antiques Fair.

Dancers at the Feria de Mataderos. They were all dressed up and even locals joined in.  There was food, live music and crafts. It was really fun.

El Tigre on the Delta. 

The lighthouse at Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay.  For 8 pesos you can climb the light house for a wonderful view of the old historic center.

I really loved watching a Tango Show performance.  This was my favorite couple.  

I've been to sports events but this was a unique and amazing experience and I would recommend anyone visiting Buenos Aires to attend a La Boca Jr. Soccer match.

Muchas Gracias Argentina for a fabulous time and for all the wondeful memories that you have given me which I will always treasure.

2012 South America Adventures: iguazu Falls, A Natural Wonder

Devil's Throat

Let your soul be satisfied

with the odd beauty of this landscape

that although the world walk in truth

you'll never find, like this, nothing.

Good and bad, dynamic and changing

find here, from its name,

keep in your heart of man humble

a true and consistent message

Meditate and feel the deep emotion

contemplating the vibrant climax

eternal mist that is circled.

And do not try to describe it in your voice

only he leans his forehead against the abyss

is the mirror of the word God.

~ Alfonso Ricciutto

Yesterday, although it was raining heavily I decided that I just had to see Devil's Throat Falls, which is the largest falls in Iguazu.  To get there I had to walk about 15 minutes from my hotel to the Cataratas train station.  Here you hop on this small train (which is free) to this drop off point.  From here I had to walk along the metal catwalk which was about 30-40 minutes or so because it was really slippery in the rain.

As I got closer, I could sense something very special.  Well, I could hear it too! :)  Garganta del Diablo was letting me know that I was about to see something that I have never seen before. And Garganta is right. 

I simply have no words to describe what I saw so I thought I would allow Alfonso Ricciutto and my video to do it for me.

Trekcapri's 2012 South America Adventures - Devil's Throat Iguazu Falls Argentina from Kathy Colobong on Vimeo.

Today, I will catch a flight back to Buenos Aires. And tomorrow I really have to do some laundry, catch up on my blog and then get ready for my La Boca Jr. Soccer game tour.  I was sent an e-mail with instructions on what colors not to wear as they are the opposing team's colors. I'm pretty excited about the experience and am glad that I am going with a tour guide. 

I want to say thank you very much to everyone who have read my blog and who have commented. I'm sorry that I haven't had a chance to comment back regularly but I do appreciate your kind words...Annie, Sandra, YTSL, Marta and my twitter friends Girasoli and Maya and to everyone who follow me. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying your long Holiday weekend.

2012 South America Adventures: Don't Cry for Me Argentina - Visiting Evita

Last Thursday, I decided to visit the famous Recoleta Cemetery located in the swank Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires.  Presidents, Nobel prize winners and many other great intellectuals and leaders are buried here but for me the most famous of all is Eva Peron.

Entrance to the cemetery is free to the public and they also run free tours.  The tour guide brings you to some notable monuments and elaborate mausoleums, some of which would cost $1 million dollars to construct today.  Some mausoleums have built in chapels so when the families come to visit they have a place to pray.  Some have magnificent statues and beautiful frescoes and then there is the mausoleum for Eva Peron.  It is by comparison to others in the cemetery, pretty modest.  It is located in a narrow aisle and tour groups have to take turns visiting as there is not enough space for large crowds.  I'm not a really big fan of visiting graveyards or cemeteries, but being that Eva accomplished many important things to help women and the poor in Argentina's history, I just had to pay my respects.  And I did find the tour very informative.   

First, you should visit the Church of Our Lady of Pilar, which is located next to the cemetery.

You here at the main entrance and you then catch the next tour group leaving. No reservations are required.

This mausoleum belongs to Rufina Cambaceres Bacichi who died at only 19 years old in 1902.  There is a story that Rufina was thought to have suffered a Catalepsy.  One day a worker found the top of her stone casket moved open and inside the cover they found scratches.  The family insists that she did die, but stories surfaced that she may have suffered some kind of coma and was buried alive.  Her family insists that the latter is not the case.  I sure hope that it wasn't.

There is a story that good luck will come to all those who rub the nose of this dog and that is why his nose is so shiney.

And the last mausoleum we visit is the one for Eva Peron.

Fans of Eva visit and leave flowers and rosaries on her mausoleum, which is very endearing.

After my visit here I hopped in a taxi and went to visit the Japanese Gardens. This garden is located in the Palermo neighborhood and is quite impressive. 

  

Hard to believe that this place can exist in the middle of such a busy city. But to be honest I have to really credit the city of Buenos Aires for having so many wonderful parks and plazas throughout the city. In every park I see people hanging out, jogging or just walking about. I've even spotted a few of those very famous Buenos Aires dog walkers. In fact, in the park right by the Recoleta Cemetery I find this happy group.