The final chapter

  Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District, Argentina
Saturday, October 25, 2008

So back to Buenos Aires for our final week in South America. Who would have thought it would be over already!? We sorted out another apartment and managed to get another discount which was nice considering our financial position! There isnīt really a whole lot to say about this week.



We have relaxed and strolled around much like the first time. We finally managed to meet up with Chrissie and Caleb after 5 months of missing each other. It has been great to see them again, to talk about the places we have visited and to remind us of the things that we have enjoyed so much on the trip at a time when it would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves.

We visited the Zoo here which was pretty good, although having seen so many animals in the wild during the trip it was a little sad to see so many caged up. We also went out to see a tango show and have dinner, which was a great night out. The tango show was brilliant and was performed at the incredibly atmospheric Cafe Tortoni; a beautiful and very stylish old school cafe. The show was really well done with the crowd sitting at tables enjoying a drink or some food. It had a bit of everything. Theatre, some singing, an incredible band and, of course, some fantastic dancing. I am no expert on dancing but the standard seemed pretty good to me and we really enjoyed it. After the show we wandered down the road to get some dinner, and found a nice cafe/restaurant where we chatted away and drank red wine until we realised that it was half past midnight and we had managed to outstay the Argentinians! We felt proud of ourselves, we had become locals!














I guess that is it really. Itīs all over for our epic adventure. Almost 5 months, about 8000km, 5 countries and 2 cameras later the trip has come to an end. It is amazing how quickly it seems to have gone now. It is funny how looking back foreshortens time in the brain. I can remember midway through Ecuador looking forward and wondering how 5 months would be be possible, it seemed like an eternity away. I remember telling other travelers that we were in our first week and thinking how scary that sounded. Now we are here, the final two days before we return. I have mixed feelings about coming back. Obviously, I am looking forward to seeing friends and family who I have missed, but the thought of routine is a little unnerving to say the least.

People asked me before and during the trip: "why South America?" and I have struggled to give them a reason. It has always been somewhere that fascinated me ever since reading "Tintin and the Prisoners of the Sun"! The trip has easily lived up to my expectations and, in places, far exceeded them. I am so glad that I challenged myself to do this in the first place and that I have allowed myself to enjoy it. I am glad that George and I are still talking and getting on well with each other. Of course, there have been difficult, stressful times and cross-words have been spoken, but they have been few and have never lingered for long.

As for me, will I be coming back a changed person? Only time will tell I guess, but I doubt I will have changed that much, I think I am too old for that. I think that I will come back a little more of a patient person and I hope that I am able to take things a little less seriously, after all I donīt have to work down a mine in Potosi to support my family!

So was it worth it? Hell, yeah! I have seen the most gorgeous, take-your-breath-away natural wonders, challenged myself mentally and physically, I have glimpsed into South America's history, experienced different cultures, and come into close contact with beautiful and interesting wildlife. Yet I feel like I have only just scratched the surface of the hugely diverse continent. I will miss Ecuadorīs incredible diversity, Peruīs proud Inca heritage, the struggle of Bolivian people in their beautiful country, and the surprisingly welcoming people and great steaks of Argentina. If I am forced to choose a favourite country or a place I would most like to revisit; it would have to be Ecuador. The trip to the rainforest was an incredible and truly unforgettable experience. The rich diversity of both people and geography makes it a special place. Above all the trip has made me realise that although it might be true that there is no place like home, there are certainly some other places out there worth seeing.

It most definitely has been "The Trip of a Lifetime".