Gabrielle

Journal Entries

London to Buenos Aires

  • 3
  • 0
Locations: London , Madrid , Buenos Aires

My Host Family - La Lucilla

  • 4
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

First Day at Language School!

  • 7
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

Alone in Buenos Aires

  • 3
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

First Day at Shelter

  • 0
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Locations: Buenos Aires

Frustrated & Fragile - Thank God for Happy Hour!

  • 0
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

My Second Week in Buenos Aires

  • 6
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

Weekend in Uruguay

  • 8
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires , Colonia del Sacramento , Buenos Aires

My Third Week in Buenos Aires

  • 0
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

My fourth week in Buenos Aires

  • 0
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

Schools out!

  • 11
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

Off to Nashville

  • 24
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Locations: Buenos Aires , Nashville

Memphis by bus

  • 33
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Locations: Nashville , Jackson , Memphis

Memphis to Amarillo by bus - 20 hours!

  • 0
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Locations: Little Rock , Oklahoma City , Amarillo

Amarillo to Denver / Pueblo - by bus 9 hours

  • 6
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Locations: Amarillo , Clayton , Pueblo , Colorado Springs , Denver

Pueblo to San Francisco - by bus

  • 10
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Locations: Pueblo , Los Angeles , San Francisco

San Francisco - Great Night, Missed Flight!!

  • 4
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Locations: San Francisco

Dallas to Buenos Aires

  • 13
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Locations: Dallas , Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires Christmas, New Year & My New Home

  • 15
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Locations: Buenos Aires

Bumming around Buenos Aires

  • 31
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Locations: Buenos Aires , Tigre , San Antonio de Areco

Mendoza

  • 9
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Locations: Buenos Aires , Mendoza

Uspallata - and getting adventurous!

  • 21
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Locations: Mendoza , Uspallata

Back to Buenos Aires

  • 2
  • 0
Locations: Uspallata , Mendoza , Buenos Aires

Iguazu Falls

  • 31
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Locations: Buenos Aires , Iguazu , Foz de Iguassu

Gualeguaychu Carnival

  • 6
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires , Gualeguaychu

Last Days In Buenos Aires

  • 0
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires

Santiago Chile

  • 12
  • 0
Locations: Buenos Aires , Santiago

Santiago to Puerto Montt

  • 4
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Locations: Santiago , Puerto Montt

3 Day Boat - Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales

  • 24
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Locations: Puerto Montt , Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales and Torres Del Paines

  • 15
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Locations: Puerto Natales , Torres del Paine, National Park

Perito Moreno Glacier - El Calafate (Back in Argentina!!)

  • 11
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Locations: Puerto Natales , El Calafate

Ushuaia

  • 15
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Locations: El Calafate , Ushuaia

Off to Bariloche

  • 14
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Locations: Bariloche , Rio Gallegos , Comodoro Rivadavia

Back to Santiago

  • 0
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Locations: Bariloche , Osorno , Santiago

San Pedro de Atacama

  • 18
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Locations: Santiago , Calama , San Pedro de Atacama

3 Day Jeep Crossing Chile to Bolivia

  • 39
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Locations: San Pedro de Atacama , Uyuni

Uyuni to Potosi

  • 4
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Locations: Potosi

Overdose! in Potosi

  • 2
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Locations: Potosi

La Paz to Lake Titicaca - Copacabana

  • 12
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Locations: La Paz , Copacabana

Isla del Sol Copacabana

  • 6
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Locations:

Copacabana to Cuzco

  • 4
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Locations: Copacabana , Puno , Cuzco

Machu Picchu

  • 13
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Locations: Cuzco , Urubamba , Ollantaytambo , Machu Picchu

Back to Cuzco

  • 0
  • 0
Locations: Cuzco

Nightmare Journey - Cuzco to New York

  • 10
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Locations: Cuzco , Lima , Quito , Bogota , New York

Washington DC

  • 8
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Locations:

Off to Chicago

  • 5
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Locations: Chicago

Chicago to Milwaukee

  • 0
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Locations: Milwaukee

Milwaukee to Philadelphia

  • 6
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Locations: Philadelphia

Atlantic City

  • 7
  • 0
Locations: Atlantic City , New York

Flight New York to Manchester

  • 2
  • 0
Locations: New York , Shannon , Dublin , Manchester

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Solo World Backpacking (Part 1 - Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, USA 2005/06)

London to Buenos Aires


Guestbook Videos Photos Animated Map
Saturday 15th October

Well, I’m finally here, sat on a plane bound for Madrid on the first leg of my solo, scary but exciting, world backpacking adventure starting in Argentina‘s capital Buenos Aires. Yes, I have a one way ticket to South America!

I’ve said all my goodbyes, some more memorable than others such as the ‘couple’ of glasses of red wine with Victoria that turned out to be five glasses resulting in a short nap in the ladies toilet and an escort home!! Oh well, that didn’t put me off as I said „hasta luego“ to my dear friend Betty over a glass of port. We had a lovely evening as always and it was sad saying goodbye.

I was also sad to leave Manchester, particularly saying goodbye to my aunt who I speak to nearly everyday. I’m sure I’ll find away to keep in touch with her on a fairly regular basis. Maybe I can encourage everybody to learn how to use the internet so that they can keep in touch with me - we’ll see.

I had a lovely meal with mum, dad and my brother last night. They travelled from Somerset to London to say their goodbyes. I will miss my brother Graham too, but hopefully we can keep in touch through letters and maybe both of us will feel less alone.

It has been great staying with my cousin since selling my flat to fund this long awaited dream. His home is so relaxed and just what I needed to plan all the last minute details.

I will also miss chatting to my friend Jimmy. He is has been great these last few months helping me move out of my flat and storing furniture. But, I shall be catching up with him in the states in six weeks because he also wants to visit Graceland and Nashville. So he asked if he could tag along. It will be great to see some of these places with somebody who shares the same interests and good to see a familiar face.

So, I am finally alone and have really started my adventure. I am scared, excited and at the same time looking forward to all the unknown. I decided to start my trip in South America and work my way west so that I end my trip in Europe.

When choosing which country to visit first, I decided on Argentina for two reasons. First of all, because I love the Argentine Tango, and what better place to see it than Argentina itself. More importantly, I had seen a volunteering programme that I wanted to get involved with, which also offered a language school option, as well as an online TEFL course, and a host family stay option. So, I decided that this would be the best way to start my trip, adapt to being away alone, and to learn some basic Spanish to help me on the way. So, I booked the four week programme and a one way ticket to Buenos Aires.

I started my online TEFL course six weeks ago; when I booked the programme, and I am now three quarters of the way through it. I can continue this along the way, and then hopefully, when completed, I can teach English when volunteering or possibly earn some pocket money as I travel.

After a very bumpy flight we landed in Madrid, but immediately had to board our on-going flight to Buenos Aires. Already I am feeling like ‚a fish out of water‚. Hardly anybody in the airport, or onboard was English or spoke English, so I had to quickly adopt my ‘I’ll get by mode’. I decided to take out my Spanish phrase book and tried to quickly swat up on my language skills. It didn’t help; I got embarrassed and nervous, and ended up with a coffee instead of tea because it was easier to pronounce properly.

The twelve hour flight seemed much longer. I continued to flick through my phrase book, and then tried to catch up on some of my TEFL study. Later, I listened to a little music, and when I finally felt exhausted, I made use of my new travel pillow and earplugs, and managed to get a couple of hours sleep.
Locations Visited: London , Madrid , Buenos Aires

Guestbook Videos Photos Animated Map

Comments

Hola!! That means 'hi' in Spanish just in case you didn't know. Anyways, I love your pics; they're adorable. Yep I know Spanish. I took it for about 5 years and still don't know much but enough to get me by. --Amber

Posted By: Amber Diaz on 05 Nov 2006

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