Welcome to Buenos Aires. Argentina's big, cosmopolitan capital city, also known as the Paris of Latin America, is home to 13 million. Buenos Aires (BA) is also the second-largest metropolitan area in South America. Buenos Aires is often described as a Minestrone of culture; it's decorated history of immigrants and settlers from wide and far; you have the best of everything due to the worldly influences over the years; over 6 million Europeans moved to Buenos Aires. Day 5 - Buenos Aires, Argentina Upon arriving last night from El Calafate, Exploration Journeys organised for us to be picked up by our local guide and delivered to the Hilton. It was dark, so we only saw the city at night. Today was our first light, so we could open our blinds and see the city; we always love this part, unveiling a new view! Our lovely guide, Claudia, was waiting for us bright and early to take us on a city tour. First up was a visit to the city square Plaza de Mayo, lined with stately 19th-century buildings, including the parliament. Claudia shared all the juicy details of the city's history, including some sad information. They have been under six dictatorships, the last from 1976-1983. After the city square, we visited the impressive cathedral. From the exterior, you would be none the wiser, but on entering, you are overwhelmed by the beautiful design and collection of sculptures honouring those of importance. It was also the last home for the pope, who is now, of course, at the Vatican. The next stop was the neighbourhood La Boca, a working-class area with a cluster of attractions near the Riachuelo River. The main attraction is Caminito, a narrow alley flanked by brightly painted zinc shacks that evoke the district's early immigrant days; it is full of colour! Tango and football are up there with the president in this country. La Boca is also painted blue and yellow, as this neighbourhood hosts the football arena for their leading team. We stopped in the most colourful, cobblestoned and bright streets to explore the original abodes of those who came to Argentina from Spain, where up to 20 families would share the joint space (kitchen and bathroom) whilst all living in a small room—the introduction of yellow fever. Following this, Claudia was very insightful; she was getting to know our style and took us for our morning coffee in San Telmo market; it was fascinating, a food market full of restaurants and fresh produce stalls; you could easily spend more time here, we were just before the lunch hour so fortunately, we skipped the craziness of the crowds. Once our coffee fix was in play, we stopped by to visit another old home that was initially for the wealthy and their family, but as the people migrated from the south to the north of the city, the rich would rent the rooms. It would then become a shared living space, and yellow fever grew with even more families sharing. Our final stop was to visit Eva, where she rests. We will share the story about how she ended up there, which we will share on the weekly blog. We were a little apprehensive about visiting the cemetery, but this soon changed once we saw all the mausoleums where all the influential people of the city were laid to rest. The enormity of the expense and design was fascinating. Although we did start to get the chills shortly after, it was time to head home. Can you believe it is only lunchtime!! We thanked Claudia for the morning, and it was time for Wayne and Sal to enjoy Friday afternoon with a slow lunch. We found the perfect Italian restaurant, Sorrento, with a lovely view from the terrace, and settled for the afternoon. The food, wine and service were impeccable, and the friendly atmosphere was fun. Following lunch, we popped into a floating bar, hosting a jet ski competition in the city's heart and pulled up a pew and cocktail to join in the fun. A great first day in Buenos Aires! Tomorrow is a Tango show! Fun facts: The Travelling Corpse - learn all about the bizarre events that unfolded after Eva Peron's death and why it took over 20 years for her body to rest. Pesos exchange rate - Argentina is unique because they have two exchange rates. One is the official rate, so when using your credit card or ATM card, you are charged the bank rate, nearly half the blue dollar rate (the informal rate). Cash is best at this stage, as you get almost double for your dollar! For example $1USD = 163 pesos (official) or 280 pesos (blue). The government just announced that foreigners will receive the blue rate when using cards from last Friday to drive tourism, although it seems the world's banks haven't received the memo yet. (Update: Our Wise card now issues refunds a few days after as the initial charge is official, but you receive the blue rate a few days later) Football team colours were chosen by the players who worked in the port years ago based on the flag of the next ship to arrive in port, Sweden! Day 6 - Buenos Aires, Argentina Today was Saturday, and we had the day to ourselves until the evening. After a much-needed sleep-in, we were up to explore the city. We decided our first stop would be to exchange some cash. After we were cashed up, we headed to the fabulous San Telmo market for our morning coffee. Why try to find another when you have already seen the perfect coffee? We watched the city wake up; we were considering lunch there, but it was pretty warm as the weather was topping 30 degrees, so we jumped in an Uber and visited a restaurant we were impressed with in Recoleta the day prior. The restaurant 'Fervor' was on a leafy tree-lined street in the post area known for Paris-style townhouses, lavish former palaces, and boutiques. It was also home to the Recoleta Cemetery, which we visited yesterday, where national icons rest in extravagant tombs. A beautiful terrace table had our name on it. We spent the afternoon enjoying more fabulous food and wine and the mouthwatering pasta from the Italian influence in Argentina. This evening, we were treated to a Tango show at 'Gala Tango', so on with our Saturday best, and we were ready to party! By 8 pm, we were seated in a beautiful dining setting, treated to wines of our choice and a three-course meal. We enjoyed the company of our tables alongside us and swapped many travel stories. The big event, the Tango show, kicked off at 10 pm, and for the next 90 minutes, we were all mesmerised by the talented musicians, singers and dancers. It was quite the show and very impressive; you can see it in the videos! The speed at which they could dance was mind-blowing! Following an adventurous and fun few weeks exploring Argentina, indeed a country that has filled us with joy every step of the way, a special thank you to the most incredible travel agent, the excellent Fred Schejtman at Argentina Exploration Journeys. In a nutshell, we started in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. After our North to South Pole journey, we experienced the icy wonders of the world and the incredible glaciers of Argentina, including ice-trekking inside and on top of glaciers in El Calafate. Next up was Argentina's Patagonian region called Bariloche; this picturesque gem borders Nahuel Huapi, a large glacial lake surrounded by the Andes Mountains. We then immersed ourselves in Mendoza to experience those fine Argentinian wines and saved the best for last, the magnificent waterfalls of Iguazú Falls, unlike no other destination. After the perfect introduction to Argentina, we were back to explore more of this vibrant and colourful city and live as a local for a few days before embarking on our next adventure. Day 24 - 30, Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina We had booked a perfect Airbnb in Buenos Aires, located in a beautiful green and leafy neighbourhood, Palermo. After our research, this was the ideal neighbourhood for foodies like ourselves, so we booked immediately. It did not disappoint. Our Airbnb was located within a beautifully restored 1931 historic building, Palacio Cabrera and the apartment was immaculate. Our lovely host left no stone unturned in this prestigious apartment and ensured your stay was as comfortable and effortless as needed. You had everything you needed and more should you wish to cook at home; you were also welcomed with some treats. The interior was faultless with stunning design furniture, balconies were spacious and great to watch the street life below you, and a pool and laundry were also on the complex. The building was very safe and secure, with 24-hour security, reassuring when leaving at 5.30 am on a Sunday. The neighbourhood Palermo was precisely as researched; it was full of tree-lined streets, cafes & dining establishments, and all your essentials. We couldn't be happier with this stay and wished we had more time! We spent the first few days with our heads down and caught up on our work and some home-cooked meals. Fortunately, within a five-minute walk, we had a wine shop on our doorstep with an excellent selection of local wines, a butcher to satisfy our meat cravings, and a local produce store. We also loved visiting the newly opened organic deli for treats, La Juana Mercado, and quickly became local customers at the coffee shop around the corner, Elocuente café y Libros. The coffee was incredible, and we loved living local life again for a few days. It was the perfect way to practice our Spanish, and we can now order coffee (it's a start)!! When the weekend arrived, we explored the tree-lined streets, loving all the local designer stores and getting lost amongst the cobblestoned streets and alleys. The neighbourhood has a beautiful energy, and you can easily be in awe of the gorgeous stores. You won't be disappointed with the dining and bar scene too. We stumbled on a perfect restaurant for our slow, lazy lunch with the best team, food, and wine; it was a true find! Thank you to Lo de Jesus for having us and welcoming us back as we returned over the subsequent few visits to Buenos Aires. You always made us feel at home, and we left with satiated bellies full of delicious Argentinean beef and wine! We have both left a little piece of us in Buenos Aires and Argentina with all the wonderful new friends we have made and experiences we will carry with us on all future travels; we can't wait to find our way back (which is soon on the cruise a few times)!

Door 27-Yarra Valley Resort Style - Two Nights This property is a fabulous getaway located a short drive from Melbourne. Shirley & Robert have been fantastic hosts and have made sure you didn't have to think for yourself. The fridge is fully stocked with all you need for breakfast daily (even freshly warmed croissants) and plenty of treats to snack on. They have gone above and beyond to ensure we had an enjoyable and relaxing stay. The property has a stunning view, an excellent pool and a cosy, relaxing home. The days seem to slow down here. Recommend a quiet, relaxing and rejuvenating getaway any time of the year.

2 Easy on Chapel - Two Nights This property was a great find in Bendigo; it is very well located and easy to walk everywhere—immaculate and well presented, with a great modern feel and a well-themed home. It was a pleasure staying, and I would book again — excellent cafe Percy and Percy, nearby for your coffee fix.

Galaxy Property Consultants If you are looking for peace of mind and for a property manager who understands you and your needs, then Garry at Galaxy Property Consultants is for you. To have someone who cares for your property investments as much as you do is very comforting. Garry takes on the complete management of the properties and tenants, paying bills, doing regular inspections, making annual increases, and releasing. The tenants love him as much as we do and never leave) you can be assured everything is in safe hands. We have all dealt with real estate agents that cause you more pain than it is worth and trust me; you will not be disappointed in moving to Garry. We have a portfolio of five properties and have been travelling for three years. It has been a dream. Garry understands how you need to be communicated with and when to contact you (which is when it is necessary). Keep up the great work, Garry and we are truly blessed to have you in our lives, caring as much as we do about our homes.

Kayak Melbourne A fantastic perspective of Melbourne. A group of us hit the waters of Melbourne in a kayak. It was great to see it from a different perspective, watching the sunset over our beautiful city of Melbourne, enjoying fish and chips from the waters of Dockland, kayaking under the Bolte bridge, and finishing with the spectacular fire display at Crown Casino. It is an excellent experience for friends, family or a team-building event. The crew was fantastic, made the evening fun, and was also great company!

Rosetta - Too many visits to count Fine dining Italian food. Rosetta will exceed your expectations. If you are looking for a special evening out or a nice, long, relaxing lunch, then Rosetta is the place to be. The Italian menu, both food and wine, will not disappoint; the pasta dishes are perfection! The Rosetta team are a family, and they welcome you in and ensure your dining experience is not forgotten.

Gorgeous City Views at Freshwater Place - One Week This apartment is in a perfect location, and you are minutes away from many fabulous bars & restaurants — only a short walk to the CBD. The apartment is ideal for one person or a couple. You do have a fantastic view of Melbourne City. Dining Recommendations Recommend this home, and visit the cafes/restaurants nearby for excellent service and food. Rosetta, Left Bank, Soho and Kirks Wine Bar.

During our week settling back into Miami after our 110 days at sea to explore South America in April, we had planned the obligatory topless drive to the Keys with our dear friends who were visiting from Brazil to the end of the road, as some may call it to transport ourselves into the homes and architecture of New England… We are all too familiar with the long stretch of road that we see decorate the southern tip of Florida from the US box office hits we have seen over the years. The Keys are a coral cay archipelago, a string of tropical islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of the U.S. state of Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Would you believe you are just 93 miles from Cuba once you reach the end? Home to the third-largest coral reef in the world. The Keys are a destination for fishing, boating, snorkelling, scuba diving, vacations and retirement. We were picked up bright and early in Miami by our friends visiting Miami from Brazil; spending time together again after meeting a few months ago in Santos while cruising Brazil's beautiful coast was precious. Miami skies had decided to take a breather after three days of torrential rain, so it was the perfect day for a long drive. Four and a half hours later, we arrived in Key West; the waters along the way were the classic clear turquoise, scattered with fishing boats and marine activity as we inched our way to the end. However, as we arrived in Key West, the four-by-two-mile island on the tip of the Peninsula, the hues had migrated into darker tones. The buildings and homes were all charming and beautiful. Duval main street screamed tourism, and as we walked the hot paths in the midday sun, we soon realised it was going to be challenging to find the dining experience that we were hoping for, a beautiful seaside view restaurant with white tablecloths, a place you could sit back to relax and enjoy a slow lunch devouring delicious overpriced food and wine. This dream of ours soon became a false reality, as all the culinary venues we hunted for only opened from 5 p.m. Still, you had an abundance of options with plastic chairs, paper napkins and casual-style bistros, pubs, and cafes to peruse. We settled on a simple place that also guaranteed air con to nourish our bodies and continue our way. With Key West being the birthplace of key lime pie, this was on the list; unfortunately, after consuming a burger, space was limited, so we had to bypass it. With the impending long drive home, our friends stopped off for a tour of the Hemingway Residence whilst Wayne and I felt our USD36 for the entrance fee was better spent on an afternoon beverage. We enjoyed visiting a local hotspot, Moondog, to chat with the team and visiting regulars to learn more about the small town of Key West. This was tucked a street back from the heavy tourist Duval Street. The sacred Rooster was of interest; as you drive into Key West, you oddly notice the colourful roosters roaming the streets and strutting through the traffic. The story goes back in the day when the chickens served their purpose as a source to provide an endless quantity of eggs and Sunday dinners for the residents, and cockfighting was also legal and was a favourite gambling activity of many southern men. The chickens started escaping the backyards and soon became known as the Gypsy Chickens around town. Then, in the late 1980s, when cockfighting became illegal, the Roosters were released to join them. Key West chickens roaming the streets are descendants of jungle fowl originating in Cuba and the Caribbean islands. Due to the vital part, they played in keeping everyone with their daily nourishment, and the island has a no-kill policy, they are protected, and now the local mascot and you will find the rooster as inspiration amongst all the local designers from artwork, jewellery, clothing on and so on. The Florida Keys definitely deserve an overnight stay and thorough research. We honestly went with the flow, which damaged the experience. To truly appreciate the vibe, you need to have a plan; there are more than 800 keys in southern Florida, and the coastline changes dramatically. Therefore, you might also find what you are looking for earlier in the road trip. The locals were very friendly with lovely energy; the dining scene was focused on evenings, and with the live music exuding from most venues, the evenings were designed to provide a wonderful and lively experience for visitors. We were blessed all the same to spend a day with our gorgeous friends and relish the moment we are both in the same city, the same country at the same time after only having met in Brazil a few months ago; our hearts are full 💛

Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida, USA The odds of experiencing a real-life rocket launch were not in our favour, with only two days scheduled in Cape Canaveral during April when we were reunited with my lovely parents from Australia after five years to prepare for the transatlantic crossing to Europe for Summer. Lo and behold, a rocket launch was organised on the day we had planned to visit the Kennedy Space Centre (KSC). Wayne was tickled pink, being the space nerd that he is! We road-tripped our way from Miami to Cocoa Beach, just under four hours drive, nice and easy in the gigantic truck we had leased through our trusty SIXT. They upgraded us from the X5 to a GLS450. I am sure to feel part of the big American dream! Wayne was a legend in navigating the beast, as we called it, along the eight-lane highways. The morning was upon us, and there was no encouragement in getting the boy up early. The rocket launch was scheduled for 8.18 a.m., so we popped to the rooftop for front-row seats whilst most other hotel guests lined the beach for the viewing. We had the countdown on, and it reached 0.00, and we all stilled and watched, but no action! The launch was aborted! We quickly refreshed our countdown, and lo and behold, we were still in luck. The new launch time was 10:30 a.m., giving us ample time to jump in the car for the KSC and watch the launch from a viewing platform. After arriving, we quickly scoped out the viewing platform and found our positions; the visitor centre organised live commentary to walk you through the launch. He was valuable in helping you fully appreciate the experience, especially for launch virgins. The countdown crept to 0.00, and it was on. We all looked up in the launchpad direction, and within milliseconds, we saw this blindingly incredible bright flame flying rapidly in the sky. You felt the roar of the engines; the crackle was intense, and the power of the speed as it quickly disappeared out of sight. It was an incredibly surreal experience and one we will hold with us for time to come. (See video above). After the adrenaline of the launch settled, we took to the exhibits for a history lesson on the real-life tales of rocket launches. You will find the Saturn V and Atlantis Space Shuttle on display, which were quite the sight to see; the size is overwhelming, along with simulators for all to experience, although being a lunch day, it was busier than expected, and queues are not our thing, so we skipped out. Mars rovers were also available for all to get their little eyes on; they were the same models currently crawling around Mars, with live streams of their findings as they crawled around and explored Mars. The KSC is a fully visitor-funded complex, costs USD 80 per person, discounts are available for the seniors, and would you believe Wayne forgot he was over 55, total price for him! Since December 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch centre of human spaceflight. About 700 facilities and buildings are grouped throughout the centre's 144,000 acres, of which less than 5% is used for the operations of KSC and shares a boundary with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on Florida’s east coast, where nature and technology co-exist. The space centre uses only 6,000 acres, leaving the remaining land for the wildlife to enjoy in their natural habitats. The species of bird life was spectacular, with over 1500 species of plants and animals. We caught a glimpse of a bald eagle who has been nesting in the park for 30 years, and we even caught sight of a few alligators whilst driving by. After a full day of exploring the centre, we were beaten. We skipped meeting the astronaut as we were fortunate to visit the KSC in 2014, so this was the second time around, and the rocket launch was the penultimate and has completed the space nerd's dreams!

We are no strangers to Istanbul, in Turkiye, after spending one month here over the last two years and travelling Turkiye for five months, so we couldn’t let this wonderful city escape us on the way to our month in Georgia. First, we hit the jackpot with Homie Suites , our Airbnb; we opted for views, and we achieved them! We have a terrace the size of an apartment overlooking the Bosphorus, Galata Tower, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, to name a few, and sunsets! We are located in a new little neighbourhood just moments from Taksim. We have yet to explore it fully, making it perfect to continue building our familiarity with the intense but layered city of surprises. As soon as we checked in, we were busy sourcing a local restaurant to enjoy the incredible flavours of Turkish food again. Our trusty Michelin guide app came to the rescue with Cuma , delivering a beautiful hidden gem just five minutes away, and the food definitely hit the spot. We followed this with a nightcap at Babel Cafe & Restaurant , a local bar we had visited previously to enjoy the parade of Halloween party lovers before settling in for the evening and taking in the last of the magnificent night cityscape of Istanbul, feeling blessed and excited about the days ahead to be back in this incredible city. We woke up on Sunday to Republic Day, which is the celebration of the Republic of Türkiye. One hundred years ago, on 29 October, Türkiye declared itself an independent republic, and in commemoration of Republic Day, ceremonies, parades and other events will occur throughout the country. We were here two years ago on the same day, and the city is painted red with flags of Türkiye becoming the decoration of each household and establishment. We strolled the streets to join the buzz of the celebrations and loved the energy and joy we witnessed. It is a day cherished and the most celebrated and important public holiday of the year. We finished the day by trying a new restaurant, Aheste , and it was superb. Each dish was elegant and perfectly balanced, and the flavours were delightful. When in Istanbul, you must try as much lamb as possible; it is mouthwatering and melts in your mouth. Our dinner was full of laughs, incredible food, wine, cocktails and the warmest, infectious energy from the team, five stars all the way. Post-dinner cocktails were at an inviting bar called Ernest’s , which also houses a fine-dining Thai restaurant. We enjoyed the evening getting to know the staff, practising our Thai and sampling some delicious cocktails. We’re super impressed with Hemingway! We will be back! We escaped home to enjoy the fireworks display from our terrace overlooking the Bosphorus, but it was a low-key evening due to the unrest and respecting the tragic events occurring in nearby parts of the world. The views were still magical, and we appreciated them all the same whilst feeling blessed to be back in Istanbul, which is fast becoming another favourite city of ours! Our final two days in Istanbul. Monday was the time to get blonded, and being back in Istanbul, I scheduled an appointment with my friend Kadir from Nisantasi Hair Studio , who took great care of me during our last visits in 2021/2022. Once back to my former self, we took the opportunity to revisit a Turkish restaurant called Nişantaşı Başköşe to not miss out on our favourite pides (basically Turkish version of pizza, and delish) and shish kebabs, amongst more traditional Turkish dishes. Food in Turkey is delectable; you can’t go wrong, and you can’t get enough! We loved being back in our old neighbourhood, Macka . We spent over one month in Nisantasi previously and loved it! Our Turkish cuisine fix was followed by getting our steps up and walking the city back to a nearby cocktail bar called Flekk , which we had on our list to farewell the evening. Super impressed with the quaint bar where you could sit by the street and watch the locals go about winding their day up; it was the perfect relaxing spot! Our final day was spent working and savouring the incredible views from our Airbnb, whilst enjoying Gramaj , our local coffee shop and neighbourhood. Republic Day brought us front row seats to the F/A-18 celebratory flyovers in the skies of Istanbul. Our final evening was spent at a local Thai restaurant called Az Cok Thai , the sister to the cocktail bar Ernest’s. It was buzzing with locals and visitors also wanting the same. We had a great selection of dishes, precisely as we had hoped and more. The team were incredibly warm, friendly and kind, and we all had so much fun chatting about Türkiye and their must-visit places, being Kurdish they shared their beautiful home towns which we hope to visit on future trips. It was a pleasure and great to satisfy our Thai cravings! Istanbul, you continue to provide joyful gifts, and each time you steal more of us, we are super excited to visit again in a few months and see what you have in store for us next time.