Filzmoos is a town within the St. Johann Pongau district in Salzburg, Austria. Its primary income comes from tourism: winter skiing and summer hiking. The city is approximately 1 km above sea level.

Welcome to Bolivia. Travel doesn't always go as planned! How did we end up in Bolivia en route to Miami? We were scheduled to leave Buenos Aires (BA) for Santiago, Chile. We are fully aware Aussies now need a visa to transit, so we applied over one month ago. The authorities confirmed it was received, but that was all we heard! As we were in Chile last month for a few weeks whilst on the cruise, we thought we would try our luck again; we already have the stamps from Chile accepting us and still have plenty of time remaining on our tourist entry of 90 days. Airports have much tighter border control than cruise ships (we have since realised this is not the case upon arriving in Chile on another cruise ship), and we could not check in to our flight! It was 6 am, and after an hour or so of chatting with the accommodating airline staff, who went above and beyond to help us, they confirmed they would be fined. They would have to fly us back to Buenos Aires if Chile didn't accept us for the two nights to transit to Miami; we had no choice but to skip the flight and lose our money. The flights were about AUD1000; fortunately, our accommodation was fully refundable. It was now 7 am, and we were packed and ready to leave Argentina, so we were out with the laptops searching for flights from BA to Miami! Boom, we found one; we would fly to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, for a few nights and then bounce to Miami. Thank you, Chile, you did us a favour! We quickly cancelled the Oneworld flight from Santiago and jumped an Uber to the international airport in BA to wait for the mid-afternoon flight to Bolivia! We both wished we knew Chile would be a pain, and we could have avoided the 4 am wake-up call and hanging out at airports all day! Fortunately, the flight was on time. We had landed row 1 for our 3-hour flight, boarded, and were in the air bound for Bolivia. Never have we seen or heard so many dogs and cats flying (I am sure I even listened to a bird at one stage); other than the additional pet passengers, we had a very comfortable flight and caught up on some sleep! Santa Cruz is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world and has grown from being a small outpost town to having a population of over 2 million, mainly due to the expansion of agriculture (notably soybeans, sugarcane, and rice) and petroleum and natural gas mining in the surrounding valleys. The city produces soybean oil, dairy and meat products, refined sugar, wood, leather, and alcohol. Oil refining is also essential. Unlike La Paz and the other major cities of Bolivia, located high in the Andes, Santa Cruz lies at an altitude of 416 meters, and its climate is distinctly tropical. It is also known for its exciting nightlife and as a base for a wide range of exciting tourist attractions, namely the salt flats. We safely arrived in Santa Cruz, thankful for the cooler weather, about 10 degrees less than BA, which was welcomed. Upon arriving at the airport, we gambled on the local taxi after converting some cash without asking for a price; 20 minutes later and not being ripped off, we were in the hotel enjoying a cocktail on the rooftop, celebrating country number 63! We opted to stay in a five-star hotel unfamiliar with the country, as there was no time to research when you book on the morning you arrive. Marriott Santa Cruz de la Sierra Hotel was located just on the edge of the centre, but it was modern, clean and perfect for a short stay. The team was warm and friendly, and the hotel bounced back from the past few years. On our first night in, we enjoyed a quiet dinner in the hotel's restaurant, and the food was delicious; we were also happy to know we were still in the land of empanadas, as you couldn't get enough of them! With only three nights to enjoy our new country, it was a fly-by visit as we needed to be in Miami to embark on our next cruise, but we managed to catch up on sleep, visit the city centre, and experience the dining scene, which is very impressive, including the local wine; we even squeezed in a morning of hair cuts at Peluquería Marco Tulio and shopping for new outfits! Our first day was spent exploring the centre, just roaming around Plaza 24 de Septiembre, the city's central plaza, where locals and tourists alike gather to hang out and observe each other and experience the local vibe; we feel it is a city of two tales, the old and the new. Parts were relatively poor, and then you would come across a modern and contemporary landscape with many quality restaurants and apartment buildings. We even checked on some pricing of an apartment off the plan, approx USD50k. After getting lost amongst the local life, we googled and Ubered our way to a steak house, BRÍOS Restaurant, that was highly recommended and enjoyed our afternoon with what we do best: wine and dining! The meat was exceptional and nicely complimented with a favourite Malbec from Mendoza. The next day, we ticked off the essentials in the nearby shopping mall called Ventura Mall and followed this with another slow lunch. After reading the reviews on Piegari Restaurant, we had to squeeze it in; we don't like to miss out on dining opportunities. It was nice and quiet, with stylish decor, friendly staff, and outstanding food. We were very grateful we chose Italian for our last meal in Santa Cruz and also sampled a Bolivian red wine, which we were super impressed with. Our stay in Santa Cruz was short and sweet, but our little teaser of Bolivia has won our hearts, and we will find our way back to appreciate you truly! We walked freely; taxis and Ubers were plentiful and cheap, we felt safe, the people were warm and friendly, the food was delicious (and of excellent value), and the little we saw, there was so much more to discover and enjoy! Fun facts and travel tips: Card payments were used in most places; we even found it interesting how the keypads were laid out; the numbers were all jumbled and different on each console Uber was very inexpensive and easy to use to get around Santa Cruz People are super friendly and kind The quality of food and restaurants was impressive Santa Cruz is the unofficial Sloth Capital of the World; these charming and iconic animals can still be seen frequently climbing trees on the city's outskirts today. Bolivia is home to the most incredible salt flats (the largest in the world); we have heard repeatedly from fellow travellers that the Uyuni Salt Flats are one of their favourite places in the world.

Follow us on a three-month epic expedition with Hurtigruten of discovery as we cruise up to the North Pole and then down to the South Pole. Our basecamp at sea is the world's first hybrid expedition cruise ship, the comfortable and stylish MS Roald Amundsen, named after the first explorer to reach the North and South Poles successfully.

Fini A quaint cafe in a treeline side street of Vračar, Belgrade, where your coffee is made with love, they take their time to make it perfect. It is an excellent and authentic little cafe with a selection of divine cakes. With a savoury selection of delicious croissants, we filled our croissants with goat cheese, prosciutto, and fresh spinach. Very warm and welcoming service, this is not only the ideal place to enjoy a morning break but would also be perfect for your catering needs.

Let's talk about Champagne. We finally made it to the champagne region in France, a destination on our bucket list. With only a few days, we needed to select the champagne houses we would visit for tours and tastings, and Mumm has always been a favourite and consistent champagne of the Schmidts, so it was on the list. G. H. Mumm , situated in Reims in northern France, ranks in the top three champagne producers. Mum m is pronounced as 'Moom'. Mumm is also the first to launch a bottle of gravity-defying Champagne, enabling it to be consumed in outer space. Mumm became part of the Pernod Ricard Group in 2005, which owns an extensive portfolio of spirit producers, wineries, and Perrier-Jouët . Mumm cellars in Reims were founded by three brothers, Jacobus, Gottlieb and Phillip Mumm, German winemakers from the Rhine valley, and G. Heuser and Friedrich Giesler, in 1827. The tour is one of the more technical, which dives deeper into the production of Champagne. We learned a lot about our favourite beverage whilst being escorted through the 25kms of cellars beneath the champagne house. The harvest - The grapes are picked by hand between August and October; after picking the grapes, they are pressed carefully to keep the juice clear and white. The First fermentation - The juice is put into an open tank (allowing the carbon dioxide to escape), and the first fermentation occurs. The result is an acidic still wine that has been fermented dry entirely. The Assemblage - White wines are combined with some reserve wines to create the base wine for Champagne; Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay are blended. The assemblage starts in the early spring, about five months after the harvest. The Second fermentation - A mixture of yeast, yeast nutrients and sugar (liqueur de tirage) is added to the wine in the second yeasting; the wine is put in a thick glass bottle and sealed with a bottle cap. The wine bottles are placed in a cool cellar to ferment slowly and produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. This is the most crucial part; the carbon dioxide cannot escape from the bottle and dissolves into the bottle. The Aging - As the fermentation proceeds, yeast cells die, and the fermentation process is complete after several months. However, the Champagne continues to age in the cool cellar for several more years resulting in a toasty, yeasty character. The best and most expensive Champagne is aged for five years or more. The Riddling - The Champagne bottle is placed upside down in a holder at a 75-degree angle. Each day, the riddler gives the bottle a 1/8th of a turn whilst keeping it upside down. This procedure forces the dead yeast cells to float into the bottleneck, subsequently removing them. The bottles are placed in racks, with the bottlenecks facing downwards. The Disgorging - The Champagne bottle is kept upside down while the neck is frozen in an ice-salt bath. This procedure results in forming a plug of frozen wine containing the dead yeast cells. Finally, the bottle cap is removed, and the pressure of the bottle's carbon dioxide gas forces the frozen wine plug out ("disgorging"), leaving behind clear Champagne. By doing so, a little bit of wine gets spilled out of the bottle. The Dosage - A mixture of white wine, brandy and sugar (Liqueur de tirage/Liqueur d'expédition) is added to adjust the wine's sweetness level and top up the bottle. This procedure decides whether the Champagne will be Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Dry, Semi-Dry or Doux. The Corking - The bottle is corked, and the cork is wired down to secure the high internal pressure of the carbon dioxide in the Champagne. Once you are fully educated on the champagne-making process, you are treated to a tasting based on your preference. We opted for the Grand Cru tastings and were treated to the members-only champagnes that are only available to purchase from the champagne house in Reims. The tour w as €45 each, including the tasting. Fun fact - it takes approximately four years to produce one bottle of non-vintage Champagne,

As Pole to Pole guests on Hurtigruten Expeditions, we were fortunate to be on an organised excursion of Colon before the Panama Canal transit , which we were grateful for, as after researching online, it isn't recommended to do it independently. Below is the local prison, which was in dire conditions but reflects today's reality in Colon, for a city home to the Panama Canal with a revenue of approximately 15 million per day. Colón is a city and seaport in Panama, on the Caribbean Sea, near the Atlantic entrance to the Panama Canal; it has traditionally been known as Panama's second city. The vast Colón Free Trade Zone offers tax-free shopping, and there are over 3000 stores in a nearby pocket of the city. It is the distribution centre of all goods in South America. A bus awaited us on an excursion to popular sites near Colon. With Carlos, our guide and Jorge keeping us safe on the road, we drove through the streets of the outskirts of Colon. Seeing the reality of the living conditions for the people and the city was quite disheartening. Carlos was describing to us only yesterday the areas we were going through were one metre underwater, so they were dealing with the remnants of the flooding. First up was a surprise visit to the Northern entrance of the Panama Canal, Gatun Lock, where they have a visitor centre and viewing platform to watch the ships in transit. We were excited to hear one was leaving the last chamber and another entering the first. We got the whole experience from the viewing platform, the chamber gates opening and closing, and seeing the power of gravity as the water rises and releases in the lock chambers. It was genuinely fascinating, especially as we would all experience the transit on our ship the following day. Information overload As we learned all about the Panama Canal and the country of Panama, here are some fun facts below. As we were heading back to the bus, we were surprised to see a visitor out front, a Coatis, part of the racoon family. He was familiar with having humans in his presence, so we all took the opportunity to snap some pics of our first Coatis sightings. Next, we visited Fort San Lorenzo. To access the fort, you drive through an abandoned US Army training base during the Vietnam War, a dense jungle rainforest and mangroves, hearing stories about the crocodiles who cross the roads at night to hunt; therefore, no night walking is recommended unless you are keen on being their appetiser, to also the road we travelled on being nicknamed 'crunch road' when the crabs are migrating, as millions come to the area to do so. It becomes impossible to avoid them as you drive through. We arrived at an 18th-century, well-preserved colonial military structure within half an hour. UNESCO seaside ruins with sweeping views of the mouth of the Chagres River. We strolled through the historic site and admired the panoramic views. We even encountered an army of disciplined little ants delivering food and shelter to their home. The little things, we were all enthralled by the ant's trail. Upon leaving, we were also treated to another Coatis visitor as we departed. Carlos was an excellent guide; his insights were just the right amount, and we picked up many fun facts. We were whisked back to the ship whilst getting a drive-by tour of Colon and the sites; also advised to steer clear and stay in our bubble of safety on the ship. A fantastic morning, a bucket list item was checked off, and after a quick duty-free shop, we were back in the safety of our floating home for a delicious lunch at Fredheim. Our new fellow passengers were embarking, and everyone was excited to kick off their vacation. They have all been an absolute delight onboard, sharing travel stories and the new segment as we explore the West Coast of South America.

It was fascinating, especially as we experienced the visitor centre of the Gatun Locks chambers of the Panama Canal from the shore the day prior in Colon. Fun facts: Until 1979, Colon was part of America. US citizens can retire back in Colon and receive 20 years tax-free. 80% of Panama City is Chinese due to the railway building, and 80% of Colon is from Barbados and Jamaica due to the canal. Every little town has a different influence. Ships transiting through the canals pay for all containers/cabins, whether occupied or empty. On average, it is 350k per ship to transit the canal. The canals make an average of 12-15 million daily in revenue, and the minimum wage is $600 monthly. A dry canal refers to offloading containers in port and then using rail to transit the cargo, and another ship waits to collect on the other side to continue the move. Some companies want to save dollars and opt for a dry canal. Panama Canal was inaugurated in 1914; for 85 years, the US operated and had government control. In 1999 the canal was transferred to Panama; they now operate and manage the route; a new lock was built to transport more cargo and more than 40,000 workers to make, and the larger canal was inaugurated in 2016. The old canal does not recycle water; the new one uses the same water three times, then refreshed to avoid pollution and only recycles in the dry season. Fifty-two million gallons of water are released from the lake each transit in the old canal. Up to 10,000 people work in the canal today; the best salaries in Panama are from the canal; the top level is 500k a year for pilots. Panama Canal Transit Today was the transit through the Panama Canal, an experience both Wayne and I have had on our bucket list for over 15 years. We booked a cruise in 2009 but decided to change our plans and postponed the cruise (which never eventuated). We were advised we would be entering Gatun Lock (the Atlantic exit) at 8.45 am, so we set the alarm and were up and ready. The ship was on schedule, and we commenced our entry into the first chamber (as we are a smaller ship, the old canal chambers were for us); there were three in total, and we were supported by a tug boat at the front and rear, along with the mules (locomotive trains). It takes about one hour to go through the three chambers as you experience the waters in the chambers using the force of gravity to raise you and bring you to the same level so we can continue our transit to the South Pacific. The day was spent cruising through the Panama Canal, luscious green jungle scenery for the next five hours. We enjoyed this from Lindstrom Restaurant on the ship, followed by our balcony; it was warm and humid but a once-in-a-lifetime experience; we captured many videos and pictures! We arrived at Miraflores Lock (the Pacific entrance) around 5 pm, and the same process to enter, lower and exit the chambers; this was perfect timing to call my Mum and Dad in Australia, who also wanted to share this moment with us, they were also able to enjoy it over the wifi. However, some video images were blurry but didn't ruin the moment. Once through the last of chambers, we had completed the entry into the Pacific Ocean; it was a beautiful evening, blessed with a vivid and colourful sunset, over a backdrop of ships all waiting their turn to cross into the Atlantic Ocean. After experiencing the Panama Canal locks from both outside and inside the ship, we felt the visit to watch the ships transit the locks was much more enjoyable; once on the ship, it is difficult to understand the full power of the process due to visibility, but all the same, we loved having the chance to experience both sides.

Welcome to our new adventure, the 'Argentina Chapter'. Over three weeks, we have pre-booked our travels with Exploration Journeys for the highlights of Argentina. We have five destinations, and all transfers, flights, accommodations and excursions have been handled by the lovely Fred at Exploration Journeys. We only need to show up and enjoy; let's hope we don't get too used to this. During our second week in Argentina, we explored El Calafate, a town near the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. It's mainly known as the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, home to the massive Perito Moreno Glacier (below), whose ever-shifting icy landscape is popular for hiking and sightseeing. Day 1 - El Calafate, Argentina You will need to bear with me as we describe our day. Today was honestly one of the best excursions we have experienced, and we are no strangers to excursions, especially after the last three months. The whole experience with Solo Patagonia was exceptional and flawless. This morning was an early start; we were ready by 7.30 am to be whisked away by our private driver to a nearby port, Puerto Bandera, to board an all-day boat cruise on Lago Argentino, the largest lake in Argentina, up to 200 meters deep and to navigate the largest Patagonian glaciers. About 40 40-minute drive from our hotel in El Calafate, we enjoyed the dramatic change of landscapes, surrounded by the Patagonian landscape, as we went alongside the great Lago Argentino. We arrived at the port and jumped in the queue, as our driver kindly queued up inside to ensure we had been checked in. It's great to see tourism back strong; there were about 200 people ready to visit the glaciers today. We approached the end, and as we were seated in the Captain's Club, we were escorted to the VIP cabin to see we were amongst 14 other passengers and the Captain, along with a spacious cabin with excellent views and a dedicated crew. Wayne and I were impressed and even more excited about the day ahead. It was time to depart; we navigated the lake, taking in the awe-inspiring views of Patagonia, and were mesmerised by the volume. Everywhere you looked, it was so big! We soon approached the scattered icebergs and flows as we inched closer to the glacier; we were incredibly spoilt with a morning cappuccino and local delights as we soaked up the majestic scenery. The boat remained stationary for half an hour to enjoy the panoramic views of the massive icebergs from the Upsala glacier, the largest in South America (60 km long and 70m high). The crew even fished out some 600-year-old ice from the glaciers. The bar opened at 11 am, never too early to enjoy a Johnny Walker black scotch or wine with glacier ice, accompanied by cheese. The next stop was the Spegazzini Glacier, the tallest in South America, up to 125m high. We disembarked for lunch in Glaciers Bay, treated to a VIP service in a captivating panorama restaurant. Our backdrop was the Spegazzini glacier. We opted for the local cuisine and tried guanaco meat, part of the llama family, for the first time; it was tender and delicious. After a slow lunch enjoying the atmosphere, we were back on the boat for an up close and personal cruise by the gigantic glacier. It was a perfect opportunity to capture the day. Being at the glacier's edge is a surreal experience; we have seen many glaciers from Alaska, Greenland, and Antarctica over the past few months. Argentina is up there with the best of them, second to Antarctica. The afternoon was spent cruising back slowly, navigating the channels of Lago Argentino to the port. We even had the opportunity to take pics from the Captain's throne. The team were excellent, and customer service was five stars. Our lovely driver was waiting to transport us back to our cosy hotel for an evening of rest and to prepare for our next excursion and an early wake-up call to visit another glacier, including a glacier trek. Day 2 - Moreno Glacier, El Calafate, Argentina Our Argentina chapter starts with so many incredible moments that are hard to describe! This morning was like no other; we were picked up by our lovely Luis and a local guide, Cesar, bright and early at 7.15 am. We were back in the same direction, but a bit further south to the National park for a half-day ice trek on the only glacier growing, Moreno. Once we arrived in the park, the glacier soon presented itself; it was very intruding, and the size was something else. Our tour started with a short boat trip across to the face of the glacier, where we all experienced the resounding roar of the calves and saw first-hand the ice tumble down to the water; it was the most surreal experience. We were soon docked and greeted by our ice trekking guides, who popped us into groups; we were in the English group. We all had a few minutes to pack our bags and prepare for the trek. Fortunately, they spotted that my shoes were not the safest (my hiking boots have a wedge heel), and they geared me up with some flat hiking boots, which was impressive! We started for the next stage towards the great glacier (another resounding roar from the calving) and were fitted with our safety hats and ice spikes! Now, it was getting real; we were at the foot of the glacier, ready to embark on a 1.5-hour trek on the glacier! After a quick 101 on how to walk on the ice with the spikes and tackle the ice's ups and downs, we all lined up neatly for the trek. It was quite the experience we had yet to be part of, so there were many wow moments, and we made our way deeper and higher into the glacier. We often stopped to take in the natural surroundings and capture the moments for our picture books! Surprisingly, it was quite the easy trek, especially for two novices like Wayne and myself; we usually avoid any strenuous exercise unless it involves wine or cocktails… so we patted ourselves on the back for participating in such an activity. As we reached the summit peak of the trek, low and beheld, they surprised us with a scotch on the rocks with over 500-year-old glacier ice and a little pick me up to congratulate us; such a lovely moment! We descended to the bottom of the glacier, and, another surprise, we had the unique opportunity to experience an ice cave; it doesn't happen often, but one has formed over the past few weeks and has a life span of four weeks, so one week to go. It was breathtaking, the colours and being beneath the massive glacier, what a moment!! This was a perfect ending; we removed our ice spikes and trekked back through the forest on the sidelines to the refuge to enjoy a little lunch; we had to bring this with us. Fortunately, the hotel prepared us with a packed lunch for the day. Next up for the afternoon was a visit to the balconies with panoramic views of the other side of the glacier that we trekked on, so we stopped for a quick caffeine fix and spent some time strolling the balconies to take in the magnificent glacier and listening intently for the calvings as they roared. What a day Argentina is continuing to surprise us with its gifts and share with the world. To have access to such glaciers is astounding. Safely home around 4 pm by the ever-efficient and safe Luis to enjoy a celebratory drink and bask in our incredible photos of the day! Thank you El Calafate! Day 3 - El Calafate, Argentina Today was a day for Wayne and Sal, so we took advantage of our free time and jumped online for the morning to catch up on work; this left us the afternoon to explore the town of El Calafate. The sun was shining, and as the afternoon welcomed us, we set out on foot from our cosy hotel to walk into town; it was only about 20 minutes and being surrounded by the magnificent landscapes of Patagonia, you need to make the most of it. It was the perfect time for a lazy lunch; after our Patagonian lamb experience in Ushuaia, we were keen on replicating, especially as the home of the first restaurant, Casimiro Biguá, is here in El Calafate, so we settled on a lovely table out the front and a local chardonnay to soak up the afternoon rays. Once the lamb arrived, we had made the right decision; it was succulent and delicious, even better than Ushuaia. After our bellies were content, we strolled the streets to take in the local vibe; it is a busy tourist spot, so many visitors were finishing their adventures for the day and looking for a bite to eat. We spotted a Gin bar on the way, so we thought a nightcap was in order and perched ourselves on a street table to watch the town come to life. We started chatting away with a lovely mother and daughter from Brazil and realised our following two destinations in Argentina we will be visiting, so we exchanged numbers to meet up for more drinks along the way (it was surprising how many times we randomly met up). A gorgeous stroll home to the lovely quaint family-owned hotel Roble Sur as the sun was disappearing, with a magical backdrop as we navigated the dirt roads home, providing a sense of home, as growing up on a farm, we are no strangers to the dusty road walks! Day 4 - El Calafate to Buenos Aires, Argentina Today was check-out day, so it was another leisurely morning while waiting for our flight to Buenos Aires. Our trusty driver, Luis, picked us up and tipped us off at the airport. The airports in Argentina all appear to have queues for miles, so we quickly checked to see if we could upgrade, and we were in luck; for a fee, we could fly business, which contained us through quickly and was a nice treat for the 3-hour flight to BA. Impressed with the flight, we were given a snack to make the time go faster, and before we knew it, we had landed in BA. Our local guide picked us up, and we soon were checking in to the Hilton by the river; usually, they are nothing special, but this Hilton had a charm and a beautiful welcoming from the staff; they were all very excited to meet two world travellers, so we had lots of conversations. The rooms were spacious, and after checking in, we enjoyed a Pisco Sour and early to bed; our weekend ahead was busy with the highlights and exploring of Buenos Aires (BA). We look forward to sharing our next destination in Argentina with you soon.

Our next exciting segment of our 'Argentina Chapter' adventure with Exploration Journeys was Patagonia's Natural Beauty destination. Welcome to Bariloche, a beautiful town in the Patagonian region of Argentina, known for its natural beauty and pristine landscapes, and after one week, we completely understand why. Bariloche is nestled among deep-blue lakes and set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Andes mountain range. It's an excellent place for hiking in the mountains, traversing forests, navigating across lakes and embarking on exciting adventure tours such as rafting or horseback riding. It is also home to the breathtaking view from atop Cerro Campanario, one of the ten most beautiful panoramic views in the world, as rated by National Geographic), a nature lover's paradise. In 2020 Bariloche was selected by Forbes as one of the best 20 places to visit in the world, placing it in position number 4 on their list! Day 8 - Bariloche Let's meet some Gauchos! Day one in Bariloche was all about horse riding, one of our favourites! Ironically the last time we rode was precisely one year ago in Cappadocia, Turkey! We were picked up bright and early, along with our guide Juan of Che Patagonia, the lovely Fred of Exploration Journeys organised to ensure no language barriers throughout the day. We instantly clicked with Juan, and after sharing all our travel stories, we felt like lifelong friends, so it was great fun having Juan join us for the day. The horse riding ranch was located about 40 mins south of the city, where we all enjoyed the majestic scenery of the Patagonian landscapes and great lakes of Bariloche; this is definitely the lake district. November is the perfect time to visit Bariloche as one month a year, all the Scotch Broom is bursting with yellow flowers absolutely everywhere, so a constant pop of canary yellow borders the roads! We arrived at the campsite, which was also home to the horses, positioned by the beautiful lakeside. Everyone was matched up with a horse to commence the trail ride. As we had a bunch of beginners, it was purely a trail ride, whereby the horses would only follow the lead and were so disciplined they would not adhere to any commands; therefore, it was a very calm ride. Fortunately, we were surrounded by Patagonian snow-capped mountains, native trees and the lake, and we were lucky enough to go water's edge and ride alongside it for a moment. Our ride finished about two hours later, and we bid our new four-legged friends and gauchos goodbye. Next up, we were treated to a home-cooked lunch by the lake, with local dishes such as empanadas and BBQ, followed by a brownie with the Argentinian favourite Dulce de leche, which is similar to caramel, basically caramelised milk with sugar. It is delicious, although in small doses. The afternoon took us back to the hotel for an afternoon of rest and to prepare for the next few busy days of adventures in Bariloche. Day 9 - Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina Bariloche is captivating; you are fully immersed amongst the Patagonian mountains and emerald green and turquoise lakes. This morning was the perfect start to our day, with mesmerising panoramic views over Bariloche. Our lovely guide Facundo (who we had some fun with and his name!) and fabulous driver Pablo, picked us up and ensured we were the first on the chairlift to avoid the queues and the tourists. Pablo was kind enough to skip the football as Argentina was playing. However, in hindsight, we might have done him a favour if you followed the World Cup. It was a peaceful experience as the chairlift rose us up Campanario Hill nearer to the skyline, where we could take in one of the world's top ten best views as rated by national geographic! The lakes with backdrops of snow-capped mountains and green meadows flush with vivid yellow scotch broom; the views were like no other! Next was our hike; we were tasked with a 2 1/2-hour hike to the top of Mount Llao Llao to enjoy more sublime views! As you know, Wayne and Sal avoid this type of activity, but we assured it would be worth it, so we geared ourselves up and thought of the afternoon reward, a slow lazy lunch! We walked the same path as Barack Obama on his visit to Bariloche; Facundo shared his secret spots with million-dollar views and was void of humans! Perfect! Thank you, Facundo, for capturing some magical moments for us too! The views were worth the strenuous activity; we pretended to take a few pics along the way to catch our breath as our Facundo was a little speedy mountain goat. We were very impressed with ourselves; we even completed the hike in less than two hours, whereas most we were told take just shy of 2 1/2 hours! Go, Wayne and Sal, the steak and wine will be well deserved! After our hike, our lovely driver Pablo was waiting at the foot of the mountain to deliver us to a local coffee shop set up for hikers alike. We all enjoyed an excellent coffee and treat; thank you, Llao Llao Coffee Shop. Once caffeinated, we completed the picturesque circuit for a final stopover at the scenic summit for more breathtaking views of this stunning town of Bariloche. Pablo and Facundo delivered us back to our hotel, and we quickly cleaned up and rushed out to secure a table for a slow lazy lunch at the best steakhouse in town Alto El Fuego. It did not disappoint; the team were a delight, the atmosphere was beautiful, and the steaks and wine were divine! Although next time one steak to share with be plentiful! We finished the day exploring Bariloche and with a late afternoon cocktail back at our favourite new scenic bar. What a day, and kudos to us for completing our very first hike! Day ten - Bariloche This morning was about navigating the Nahuel Huapi Lake of Bariloche and exploring the myrtle forest and Victoria Island. Early pickup by Facundo to make sure we could stop at a local coffee truck for our morning fix; it was well worth it! Coffee was followed by a cruise, where we would navigate the lake and take in the magical scenery with a few stops throughout the day. We were seated on the terrace deck, which was for VIP ticket holders, and we were fortunate it was quiet, so we had an entire section to ourselves. We were kept hydrated with plenty of local foods to keep our energy up. Our first stop was Peninsula Quetrihue, an enchanted forest; it had a wooden walkway to guide you past the exquisite saffron-coloured trees of the forest, and it was unique. Facundo skipped all the crowds with his shortcuts and found more secret hiding spots for those uninterrupted photo opportunities. It was interesting to see the pumice surrounding the beach due to a volcanic eruption. The second stop was Victoria Island in Nahuel Huapi National Park, originally a nursery for exotic plants and trees. Still, now the focus is on natives, so they have been removing the pine trees to make space. It was also home to a secluded boutique hotel with the most beautiful views, and we could see ourselves spending a week here and enjoying the peacefulness of the surrounding nature. Previously the island was also set up for park rangers in training to prepare for their new occupation. There was also a school historically used for the park ranger's children, now repurposed as a home for kids who need a safe space and a break from their current situations. It was an island that provided a sense of tranquillity and being at peace with nature. We enjoyed walking around and relaxing by the water's edge, a hidden gem. Today was another magical day in Bariloche, and we thank you, Facundo, for all the laughs, photography tips, and advice and for showing us all your secret spots. Day eleven - Bariloche Our final day in Bariloche was a relaxing day; we took the time to catch up on sleep and work. We then treated ourselves to another slow lunch at the best steakhouse in town Alto El Fuego, it was great to revisit the team, and we were just impressed with the food. You always go back when you are lucky enough to find a hidden gem! We followed this with cocktails at a beautiful spot in the sun, enjoying the local life and catching up with Juan for farewell drinks; we always leave a piece of us in the magical places we visit and always look forward to reconnecting with the special friends we make. The next adventure is the wine region Mendoza; we couldn't travel to Argentina the home of Malbec, without missing Mendoza.

Welcome to Iguazu Falls, one of the seven natural world wonders and the widest waterfalls in the world - Iguazu Falls. The falls lie on the border of Brazil and Argentina, sitting at the northern tip of Argentina. This is the next and final segment of our 'Argentina Chapter' adventure with exploration journeys. (Warning: you might need a bottle of wine, not just a glass, to get through this blog). Day 17 - Iguazú Falls Arriving late during the evening at the airport in Iguazu, we were immediately whisked away by our local guides to the only hotel, 'Gran Melia', in the middle of the National Park with panoramic views of the falls. As soon as we entered the gates of the park, our driver switched the headlights off as we drove gently through the National park to appreciate and immerse ourselves in the jungle - all the sounds of the night and wildlife, the rainforest scents accompanied by the open sky and stars, it was a perfect introduction to this wonder of the world destination. We soon arrived at the hotel, had a very efficient check-in and chuckled when guest relations reminded us the monkeys love to rack up our mini bar bill, so be sure to lock our balcony when leaving the room. They will pop in for a party and leave you with the check; this was a first! We checked into our room and were impressed; we loved the welcome champagne and treats. We could only appreciate the gushing sounds of the falls, which was already thrilling; we were very excited for the morning as our room had views of the falls! As soon as we settled into the room, we were on an email asking our lovely tour operator, Fred, to extend our stay for six nights; we needed to enjoy this slice of natural paradise. The water volume is the highest in over 20 years, from 1500 to 2100 cubic square litres every second, so you can imagine the gushing sounds we were already hearing, the thrill of travel and being in the unknown; we couldn't wait for daylight to be upon us. We popped up to the rooftop bar for a nightcap drink and to celebrate a new bucket list destination and the adventures ahead over the next few days, catching a glimpse of the falls under the evening sky. Day 18 - Iguazu Falls, Argentina A bucket list item is checked! The morning was upon us; we were so excited to see the falls from our room. I was up with the sunrise; no words describe the falls. They are majestic and enormous; a total of 275 falls over 3km wide. Today, we were booked on a jet boat experience to experience the falls from the water's edge, appreciate the falls, and feel part of the magnificent water flows. Our lovely guide, Veronica, met us, took care of our entry to the experience, and ensured we were safely on the truck. She also ensured we had water, repellant and SPF; we have started to call her Mum, and she is taking the best care of us. After a short ride in an open-air truck through the national park, learning all about the sub-tropical jungle, we arrived at the water's edge. You walk down 300 steps to the pier and join the boat. The team were experts, and everyone was quickly kitted out with a vest and waterproof bag and seated on the ship. We navigated and sped through the Iguazu River and rapids to the falls. The three musketeers were first, and our captain put on a show. We were soon close and personal with the falls and hearing the roars. The mist and gushing waters soon drenched us; it was quite the experience. Everyone had a blast and was on cloud nine. Although there was more, we soon sped along to the next set of falls, San Martin, where it was time for another shower, although once we started with the Aussie, Aussie, Aussie chant (with a boat full of Latin Americans, and the big game on Saturday is Argentina and Australia - remember football is the religion of this country), the captain decided to make sure we were well and truly drenched with another few showers in the falls, it was a load of fun and laughter amongst us all, and we were soon telling them Argentina is No.1;-) After 25 minutes of navigating, we were back at the pier to be transported back to the meeting point within the national park. The stop was only a few minutes from our hotel; the experience took about 2 hours. As you disembarked, you were also offered the video footage of the fun (below), which was great as it was challenging to take vids whilst being showered with the falls. We spent the afternoon basking in this gorgeous hotel, with access to a VIP lounge with complimentary drinks, food, and panoramic views of the gushing falls. We were also treated to a visit from the monkeys during the evening. Families of monkeys come to search the rooms for treats, so you must keep your balcony doors locked. We were all in awe of seeing them so close and how cheeky they were. We now understand why your mini-bar bill can be higher than you expected! What a perfect introduction to Iguazu Falls! Day 19 - Iguazu Falls, Brazil Today marks our 62nd country. Welcome to Brazil! This morning, we started with a slow breakfast, followed by an 11 am pickup with our lovely local guide, Veronica and her hubby, Fernando, behind the wheel. Three excursions were scheduled today, so Wayne and Sal were anxious about the day ahead and whether we would manage to tick them all off. Kudos to us. It was a successful day, and we achieved all three activities in Brazil and were still back home in Argentina by 4 pm. We made our way to the Brazilian border; 30 minutes later, we were being checked in by border control; it was a bonus: no stamps on the passport as we would return to Argentina within the same day. Passport pages are precious. The bridge across the Iguazu River (the border between the two countries), halfway across it, is painted yellow and green, the Brazilian flag colours. Our first experience was a helicopter flight over the falls and the devil's throat to see the falls from the sky. We were most excited about this, as we love our joy rides and visiting landmarks from a new perspective; it truly helps you understand the scale of the falls. After a short wait, we were up and away; I was fortunate to be seated up front, so I was in the best position to capture this incredible flight, short and sweet, but we looped over and around a few times the falls, a total of 10 minutes. Still, it was magical. We were on a natural high after landing. Next up, we were whisked across the road to the bird sanctuary 'Parque das Aves', a very well-structured bird park; it is home to many bird species that have been rescued and provided a safe space to recover in a more natural habitat, in an Atlantic rainforest, to enjoy a better life. We loved it; your proximity to the birds was enchanting as you walked the park. We especially loved the Macaw enclosure; you could relax amongst the birds as they went about their day. There were also a few close calls as they flew up above you. After about two hours, we completed the guided tracks, listening intently to Veronica, who was full of rescue stories and passionate about this project. A husband and wife set it up in 1994; unfortunately, he passed away two years after the opening, but his wife and daughters have continued with the sanctuary and should be very proud. The skies were beginning to rumble and open up as we were to embark on our final experience, seeing the falls from the Brazilian side. 80% of the falls reside on the Argentine side, so to fully appreciate them and capture magnificent photos, you should see them from Brazil. So far, we have seen them from an aerial view and the water's edge, so this was a new experience. As we entered the Iguazu National Park in Foz de Iguazu (Brazil), the skies opened, and the rain set in. Still, we were waterproof (no need for those environmentally damaging plastic ponchos) and presented an excellent opportunity to see the falls with fewer tourists as most avoid the rain. Fortunately, local guides could drive in the park, so we were delivered to the two viewpoints easily and quickly. The first viewpoint was terrific, but the second was like no other. The volume of the water gushing down and being meters away from the falls was mind-blowing! Just below 2000 m2/s at present, it usually is 1500 m2/s. Iguazu translates to Big Water in the native language, and you can fully appreciate this being in such proximity! You can also experience the falls from a walkway suspended over the river; here, you are fully immersed in the mist from the falls; with the rain settled in, we were again drenched, but a treasured moment. Thank you, Brazil, for sharing all these cherished moments during our visit; we look forward to exploring more of what you offer in the next few months. We returned to our hotel, ready to freshen up and enjoy a slow dinner! We had to celebrate this wonderful day of exploring with a delicious (and huge) Argentinean steak, a tomahawk paired with a fabulous Malbec. Day 20 - 23, Iguazu Falls, Argentina I enjoyed the beautiful hotel and magnificent falls for the remaining few nights. You truly can't get enough of them: the sound, the views, the volume of water. It is one of the most magical places we have visited, and we recommend everyone to pop Iguazu on their bucket list. Argentina has truly impressed us and has become one of our favourite travel destinations. Dining at Melia Grande Hotel, we enjoyed indulging in Argentinean Malbecs and meat. Sunsets from Melia Gran Hotel are mesmerising each evening. Iguazu Falls Fun facts: Only sub-tropical National park left in South America Iguazu translates to Big Water Venezuela has the tallest falls at 930m, and Iguazu Falls is 80m tall Iguazu is the widest, with a total of 275 falls. 3km in width, 80% in Argentina and 20%. in Brazil Brazil uses the water from the falls for electricity with power plants, and Argentina uses it for drinking.