The massive earthquake in Chile strangely by-passed hostel-dwellers in Salta, Argentina.
Most fellow hostellers were completely unfazed by the news. The live coverage of a potential tsunami in Hawaii did elicit some interest, but only once the hockey was finished. Obviously dude!
But then something happened...the earthquake you didn't hear about on the news: the Salta quake! 6.1 on the richter scale, two deaths and a lot of shaking. There I was minding my own business - sitting on my bed in fact (WORKING, before you say anything Puja, you smutty little fox you) - when the sky started to rumble with a dull thunder.
The cleaner outside my room continued with her work and it occurred to me for a moment that she must be scrubbing very hard to make such a racket. Then everything started to shake. Seriously, it was like the room was a tin can being rattled in the wind. The earth didn't part but it certainly did move some.
It didn't really hit me what was happening at first, but then the panicked look of the cleaner registered that perhaps all was not well. And then... Well, then it was over as quickly as it began.
Other hostellers later confirmed that panic had stricken the streets of Salta. In the supermarket there was a en mass charge for the exit as products toppled off the shelves in spectacular style and the streets were filled as people fled from the potential death-traps of buildings.
The Salta quake made the Argentine news but was otherwise unreported in the wake of the Chilean tragedy. And to be fair, by comparison, it was not note-worthy.
But still...
Saturday, 27 February 2010
The South American Dream
So whilst Puja keeps the fire burning in London, this is what happens when a post-quarter-life-crisis female quits her job and abandons life in London for a South American adventure.
The challenge - to become as rich in experiences as I am poor in cash.
First stop: Buenos Aires
I've got £20 a day to live on and a back-pack bursting at the seams with unsuitable clothing. Did I mention my 4 1/2 inch black sequinned stilettos? Who said backpacking can't be glamorous?
So far I'm hardly slumming it. In Buenos Aires I've been residing on the sofa of a Canadian friend - the lovely Julia - in the achingly hip Palermo district of Buenos Aires. Dinner on my first night was bife de lomo (apunto por favor) accompanied by a bottle of Malbec, naturally. Cliched? Probably. Why fight it.
Since then, the past week and a half has flown by. From hip-hop clubs to swinger's clubs (we didn't go in by the way), 5am hot dogs to 6am hotties (turns out the locals are very friendly), champagne and dancing. So much dancing: my South American dream is actually happening.
Next stop: Salta. A mere 20 hour bus journey away.
The challenge - to become as rich in experiences as I am poor in cash.
First stop: Buenos Aires
I've got £20 a day to live on and a back-pack bursting at the seams with unsuitable clothing. Did I mention my 4 1/2 inch black sequinned stilettos? Who said backpacking can't be glamorous?
So far I'm hardly slumming it. In Buenos Aires I've been residing on the sofa of a Canadian friend - the lovely Julia - in the achingly hip Palermo district of Buenos Aires. Dinner on my first night was bife de lomo (apunto por favor) accompanied by a bottle of Malbec, naturally. Cliched? Probably. Why fight it.
Since then, the past week and a half has flown by. From hip-hop clubs to swinger's clubs (we didn't go in by the way), 5am hot dogs to 6am hotties (turns out the locals are very friendly), champagne and dancing. So much dancing: my South American dream is actually happening.
Next stop: Salta. A mere 20 hour bus journey away.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
The 3 D's
While my trippin partner, Natalie is gallivanting around Buenos Aires (getting ready for the 20 hour bus ride to Salta today - ay caramba!) I'm making the most out of being in London, before I jet off for 6 weeks myself.
Well...when I say "making the most of", I know visits to museums, galleries, parks and theatre would probably spring to most people's minds - London being one of the world's leading hubs of culture, and all. I actually mean going out for dinner, drinks & dancing!
The 3 D's!
It's not my fault though! The release of Avatar has made 3D all the rage! Everyone's talking about it, raving about it and trying it...I just gave it my own little (cheeky!) spin.
And it's working out a treat - as my friends will vouch for! As we all know, London is not only a rich source of culture, but it's also one helluva place to eat, drink and party - if you know where to go, of course! I'm mean, just because we're backpackers, it doesn't mean we slum it! Not when it comes to our social life, anyway!
If you're stuck on where to have a 3D time in London, feel free to drop us an email, or leave us a comment and we'll we'll reply with our suggestions.
We promise you'll have an intoxicating time!
Well...when I say "making the most of", I know visits to museums, galleries, parks and theatre would probably spring to most people's minds - London being one of the world's leading hubs of culture, and all. I actually mean going out for dinner, drinks & dancing!
The 3 D's!
It's not my fault though! The release of Avatar has made 3D all the rage! Everyone's talking about it, raving about it and trying it...I just gave it my own little (cheeky!) spin.
And it's working out a treat - as my friends will vouch for! As we all know, London is not only a rich source of culture, but it's also one helluva place to eat, drink and party - if you know where to go, of course! I'm mean, just because we're backpackers, it doesn't mean we slum it! Not when it comes to our social life, anyway!
If you're stuck on where to have a 3D time in London, feel free to drop us an email, or leave us a comment and we'll we'll reply with our suggestions.
We promise you'll have an intoxicating time!
Tuesday, 16 February 2010
Day of Departure
Want to know what happens when two city girls from London pick up their backpacks and head to South America?
We're pretty sure the answer is yes, so let us welcome you to the Trippin Chicks travel blog. This time we're trippin over to Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. Actually, my best mate Natalie left for Buenos Aires tonight, but I am counting down the days til I meet her in Santiago at the end of March!
It's been 4 long years since we last went backpacking together - it was around Brazil, where we celebrated Carnival with the locals, trekked the Amazon, dived with sea turtles, drank caipirinhas in Hotel Copacabana and topped up our tans on Ipanema Beach - so dusting off our backpacks for this latest adventure was the best bit of cleaning we've done...well...ever!
So while i'll most likely be writing about the 'joys' of London and counting down to March 29th, she'll be showering us with fantastic travel tales of her escapades in Argentina - no pressure! ; )
We're pretty sure the answer is yes, so let us welcome you to the Trippin Chicks travel blog. This time we're trippin over to Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru. Actually, my best mate Natalie left for Buenos Aires tonight, but I am counting down the days til I meet her in Santiago at the end of March!
It's been 4 long years since we last went backpacking together - it was around Brazil, where we celebrated Carnival with the locals, trekked the Amazon, dived with sea turtles, drank caipirinhas in Hotel Copacabana and topped up our tans on Ipanema Beach - so dusting off our backpacks for this latest adventure was the best bit of cleaning we've done...well...ever!
So while i'll most likely be writing about the 'joys' of London and counting down to March 29th, she'll be showering us with fantastic travel tales of her escapades in Argentina - no pressure! ; )
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