Epic Family Adventure

    Yesterday we climbed up the devils throat  which was great fun 🤩.  I wanted to climb to the top but mum said  no and she was right I could hardly get  down even from less than half way  but it was still great fun. Finlay

  After epic travels of flying to mendoza then 2 x 7 hr  drives we have been in the most stunning scenery in the world.  Here is absolutely mind bogglingly beautiful.   We visited Ischigualasto national park with its moonscapes,  giant cacti and dinosaur fossils.   The next day we visited Talampaya national park,  a massive red rock canyon.  Yesterday we drove the quebrada de las conchas,  a section of road from cafayate to salta with  amazing rock formations.   Today much more relaxing having a vineyard tour on horseback.   The driving is unreal.  Straight sections for 100km,  with mirages of water on the road, going through desert.   Up above you think it’s clouds then look closely  and realise its layers upon layers of mountains  with snow on top!  Other sections just dirt roads, or so  dippy feels like a rollercoaster.  The scariest part was  when google ...

  On the second day of being in the desert 🏜️ Mum took us to a valley  where there was twelve places that google suggested to stop at.  The first place we stopped at was a sand dune where we played  and buried each other in the sand and there was a huge cuddlie  dog and magnetic sand stuck to my tag. 🏷️  We stopped at a river where we took our shoes and socks off  and went into the river it was not very deep it was warm and  nice 👌 we waded up stream then we went back to the car Then we went to a house for lunch at a bar place where  we got to feed some lamas there was 1 dog 2 parrots  3 lamas 4 cats we had 12 deep fried empanadas the  empanadas were delicious 🤤 1 cat 🐈 was really cuddlie  and cute 🥰 🤗🤗.

      I am pleased to be leaving Buenos Aires.  It is a massive sprawling filthy city.   There are so many dogs leaving a lot of 💩 everywhere.  There were a few  friendly people but most were not and we got ripped off several times which  really puts a downer on your day.  There are a couple of tourist sites but  they literally take hours to get between using buses.   It was also very difficult to navigate.  You need cash for most things but the  majority of  ATMs are empty and those that aren’t charge 14000 pesos  to withdraw a maximum of 30000 pesos a day!! (£20)  With no cash we  treated ourselves to an uber taxi to get home at midnight after a tango  show - then uber demanded cash! So we had to walk the streets of  Buenos Aires in the middle of the night searching for a working  ATM with 2 very tired children advising them it’s not a good idea to  tell men with facial ...

        We flow into Buenos Aires in a luxurious aeroplane. 🛩️ In the middle of our trip to Buenos Aires. Me and  Dad went to the park  there was norts and crosses.  Me and Dad played norts and crosses the  first two times we taid then Dad won 🏆. Then we had a wee walk around the park then we  went home to our flat. Charlie   

         We were staying in cocacobana.  Rio is absolutely enormous spreading out in all directions.   We didn’t really explore elsewhere other than cocacobana, which is a city in itself.   The beach is incredible, very sandy for literally miles.  The boys played for hours in the waves.   There were red danger signs everywhere with massive waves but that didn’t stop us nor the  hundreds of others playing in the sea.  It was quite scary.  I went a little deeper to swim  properly and quickly realised it was very hard going to get back.  It is known for its  dangerous rip tides.  We all got knocked over and sucked under by the waves in the  shallows resulting in grazed knees.   Rio is so full of energy and diversity.  All shapes, sizes, ages, colours and creeds of  people hang out at the beach.  The one thing everyone has in common is how little  clothing i...

  This morning we went up sugar loaf mountain when mum said we’re  going up sugar loaf I thought we we’re climbing but then mum said  we were going up the cable car.  On the way there I thought I would be terrified but I was only slightly scared . On the way up the view was beautiful but very high. I brought loads of fruits to feed to monkeys but I couldn’t find any  on the first island although I saw a sign saying “do not feed the monkeys;”  I  on the way up the second one I was a lot more scared and we  saw some vulchers “that didn’t help,”  At the top we took some pictures and looked at the view then  we went for a wee walk, pretty much immediately we saw some  super cute lizard on the side of the path sunbathing. Me and  Charlie tried to catch them but we weren’t even close whielst  me and Charlie trid to catch the lizards dad went to have a  look at the trees suddenly dad said “look!” we immediately  ran ove...

  We go on a tour in a bus to get to crist the rideemer .   Where we got on a train to go see Monkeys and crist the rideemer.  I saw a monkey on the train to crist the rideemer when we got up there  it was crazy with tourists and then the monkeys and Finlay and me w ent crazy for the monkeys.  And then we went up to crist the rideemer.  And there were lots of MONKEYS🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And Finlay tried to feed a monkey a fruit the monkey regected him.   🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒 Charlie    

  When we landed in Rio Charlie said it felt like we had just gone into the  butterfly house at landmark - which i thought was very cute.   Our first day, Sunday, had torrential tropical rains.   We walked all the way up and down cocacobano beach.     Had an amazing buffet lunch.   Then returned to the less enjoyable cooking on a budget in a  1950s miniature oven and hob.     Even had to get out Dave’s leatherman to open a tin of sweetcorn.   Today (Monday) we had a pre booked tour round the city and  up to see Christ the redeemer which is spectacular.   When I suggested to the boys to be quiet and consider how massive the Christ is,  they replied they were considering how cute the monkeys were!     Their favourite part of the day was definitely the monkeys.   We are off now to explore the night markets.  Buenos noches.     Mary  ...

  I am surprised how good the food on the aeroplane was it was delisus  and there was bread and cheese for pudding we had a raspberry tart.     

  Last few weeks I haven’t felt like we’re were going and now we’ve gone.  Currently on the plane. Feeling very excited and bit nervous.    The first plane from Inverness to hamsterdam 1.45hour second from  hamsterdam to Rio is 14.00hours long.  Not looking forward to that.   Finlay 10/5/25      

  2 years in the planning and we are finally on our way.  I can’t believe we are actually going.   So pleased to have found Michak and Ashley, without them our trip wouldn’t have been possible.   I have felt more stressed than excited for weeks.   Unbelievable number of lists created and scored off.     Some days the prospect of 92 days without my lovely washing machine,  dishwasher, bed and greenhouse seemed a very daunting prospect. But today it’s all come together, fully packed and we’re off.   Feeling very lucky to be going on a trip of a lifetime a real adventure.     The nerves have changed to excitement.   Can’t believe will be in Rio tonight, staying in a self catering  apartment near cococabana beach for 4 nights with nothing  on the to do list for tomorrow other than painting my toenails.   Adios.  Mary 10.5.25

 We're setting off on our adventures on Saturday