Glen and I are now on our 7 week Budget Expeditions tour. It is kind of weird thinking that this is our last leg of our eight month odyssey, and then we go straight home. I have been trying to savour everything around me, from what I am seeing to what I am feeling, and trying to hold it inside my mind so it doesn´t slip away when I am back in Perth.
At the same time I am looking forward to our homecoming. I have missed our families so much, I wish sometimes I have a Star Trek teleporter for the day just so I can nip back to hug my parents, chat to my sister, and eat some of Mom´s kuay teow!!
We met our Budget group for the first time on Tuesday night. There are 32 of us in all, most of us are from Australia, Canada and Ireland, which is fabulous because this happens to make up the world´s best travellers and fun people to hang out with (in my opinion anyway..). It is a huge group to get used to, and I can´t even remember all the faces, let alone their names. To play it safe, I have been greeting and saying hello to everyone on our campsite (there are 4 other tour groups staying there!) and getting a few confused looks in return.
Our tour leader´s name is Val (like Val Morgan from the cinema ads!) but I have decided that his full name is Valmond. I think he thought I was a little strange when I suggested that to him, but he is Australian so he is cool by default. He has been running tours through South America for about four years now, and can speak Portugeuse and Spanish (but of course!!). His head is very round, he could definitely be the lovechild of Bert Newton and Moonface from The Faraway Tree books.
Then we have our driver Andy. Andy is from England, and a friendly approachable guy. He has tattoos up both his arms, and on the first night, informed us that he was with the British Army for 10 years. He has a shaved head, and a hammer dent on the back of his skull. He bears an uncanny resemblance to Uncle Fester from Addams Family. Val even calls him Fester as a nickname.
Both guys are really friendly and approachable, but it does make me giggle to think that our lives are in the hands of Bert Newton and Uncle Fester leading us across South America.
At the moment, we are in Paraty, a colonial town 4 hours inland from Rio. It is definitely a refreshing change to the dirt and seediness of Rio, and breathe some fresh air that is not polluted with a trash smell or pee. It rained all day yesterday which was a bit miserable, so we spent our first get to know you session on Doris, our truck. Glen´s body has decided to go on strike after being pushed through non-stop travel, and four days of no sleep, and he has fallen sick with the fever. Since last night he has been lying in our tent groaning with a temperature. Luckily today is a free day, so he is not really missing out on anything.
We go on a cruise around the bay tomorrow, and head off to another town called Bonito on Saturday. I am guessing that for the next 7 weeks, we probably wont be able to upload any more photos, so you guys will just have to wait until 27th March.
Take care everyone, Happy Chinese New Year, and I love you all!
Sandra
Hi Sandra and Glen
Great to know that you have safely arrived at the last leg of your trip. Also that is great re mixture of your tour group.
I hope you have some panadol or equivillant for Glen to ease his fever. Also of course it is important to keep his fluids up - and lots of showers / baths / sponge baths to try and keep the temp down.
Take care.
Love MUM
Posted by: Julie | February 07, 2008 at 01:59 PM
The wanderers are on the last leg of their epic journey. Yes I am looking forward to seeing you guys - I am missing you plus the day you get back you can have gypsy back - I get contemptous looks from her if I dare push her to another spot on the bed! Love you heaps and keep those fluid levels up! See you on the 27th
Posted by: Nigel Innis | February 07, 2008 at 05:43 PM