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[Quicky]

It's pretty super crowded but for all I know that could be normal.

I've been through chile which was really great! Unfortunately have to head back home after the World Cup for my studies so not seeing anything else this time but definitely coming back.

Quicky is here?!? Come to the fanzone on copacabana tomorrow, that's where il be!

Have you based yourself in Rio?

I've just done a week in Buenos Aires and four days split between Puerto Iguazu and Foz du Iguacu. I managed to get into Iguazu falls the day before they closed the Argentine side and a day after they reopened the Brazil side. It was madness. It was receiving 30 times its normal flows. Hard to comprehend so much water.

I'm in Cuiaba right now, took the punt I could source tickets and managed to get cat 1 seat last night. Cuiaba is a bit of a shithole otherwise, but I'll be visiting the pantanal wetlands after the game which makes it worth it - plus the game itself!

I also have tickets to the Netherlands game but will be doing the fanzone for the Spain game in Curitiba if you're there?

Are you still in Rio between 25-28 or will you have left by then? Where in Rio are you staying? In the south zone is it called? Near Copacabana and Ipanema?

 

[Quicky]

P.S. Magpie Girl I think you would love Buenos Aires! It is very European, great food and a lot of energy.

 

[ppoiter]

Have you based yourself in Rio?

I've just done a week in Buenos Aires and four days split between Puerto Iguazu and Foz du Iguacu. I managed to get into Iguazu falls the day before they closed the Argentine side and a day after they reopened the Brazil side. It was madness. It was receiving 30 times its normal flows. Hard to comprehend so much water.

I'm in Cuiaba right now, took the punt I could source tickets and managed to get cat 1 seat last night. Cuiaba is a bit of a shithole otherwise, but I'll be visiting the pantanal wetlands after the game which makes it worth it - plus the game itself!

I also have tickets to the Netherlands game but will be doing the fanzone for the Spain game in Curitiba if you're there?

Are you still in Rio between 25-28 or will you have left by then? Where in Rio are you staying? In the south zone is it called? Near Copacabana and Ipanema?

Based in rio for the moment yeah, heading up north to salvador and recife soon for a couple weeks then coming back down for the business end of the cup. I'm with people who are only marginally football fans so location was prioritised over games, so not seeing australia. I think wel be in recife on the dates you mentioned unfortunately.

Great work with the ticket! That's for the chile game yeah? I was actually in valparaiso last week when chile played Northern Ireland, didn't quite manage to get in (narrowly avoided getting robbed by a guy who was scalping tickets) but watched the game with locals. FWIW they're not feeling great about their team, not sure how worried they are about Australia but still, I reckon funnier things have happened. Whatever happens most Aussies I've met are more here for a good time than to actually see their team get far.

We're staying in Lapa at an airbnb apartment, I haven't been to ipanema yet but Lapa is a 20 min bus away from copacabana, which is where the main fanzone is. Apparently they set it up for 20000 and up to half a million could show up today, some swedes at our hostel left at 9am for a 5pm kick off. Not sure if wel get in but there must be thousands of places to watch. Can't wait!

 

[ppoiter]

P.S. Magpie Girl I think you would love Buenos Aires! It is very European, great food and a lot of energy.

I might be going there after the cup! Any hostel tips?

 

[Quicky]

I might be going there after the cup! Any hostel tips?

We were actually staying in a student residence which was pretty cool. Lots of locals mixed in with some Americans and other assorted foreigners (us). Can't give you hostel tips but if you get the basics right from the web, good reviews etc. you should be fine. I recommend San Telmo as a wicked suburb to stay in and very central to the city. Palermo is also awesome but further out, but a quick train ride.

Stick to radio taxis when you are getting around, they are cheap and safe. The other taxis are prone to ripping you off and giving you conterfeit money.

Also make sure you go out to Siga La Vaca at least one night you are there. They serve the best Argentinian steak you can get, all you can eat, for about 170 pesos. It's ridiculous. Just book in advance if you are planning on eating after 9pm (Argentinian dinner time) or else just rock up earlier and you will be fine but look like a tourist!

 

[Vicky Park]

I was in Buenos Aires last year. Loved it. Fabulous architecture, and a good walking city. Especially good if you like steak. Beef, beef, beef everywhere, but they do it so well.

And there's the tango of course...when done well it's mesmerising.

I also spent time in Rio, staying at Copacabana. But I preferred Buenos Aires as a city. Rio was bright, colourful, dramatic, spectacular, vivid. But BA was darker - both in its architecture and history - more layered, richer, yielded up more interesting places. Also visited a ranch on the pampas, with gauchos, and more beef. The gauchos - wow!

 

[Magpie Girl]

I went to Parma for the day today. It's a very likeable place.
Apart from the exceptional prosciutto and parmigiana I found this treasure tucked in the back corner of the museum.
A small painting by Leonardo da Vinci that's over 500 years old and there was only a piece of glass between us.
It is exquisite.
Other treasures in this museum (that hardly anyone goes to) are several paintings by Correggio.

The da Vinci is about 30cms square



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[Pera]

View from my hotel room of the strip. Looks much more glamorous at night, especially with the fountain show.

A night photo from below the Bellagio.

A great city to visit but don't spend 8 nights here like I did.

 

[Magpie Girl]

I visited the Ferrari museum yesterday. Fabulous building. And right next to the house he grew up in


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[Magpie Girl]

The above is the Maserati section. The Ferraris are housed in his dad's workshop.
This was one of my favourites.
1964 model. Only 36 produced (one of these cost more than 2 rolls Royce's)




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[76woodenspooners]

Anyone know of any bars you can watch AFL in Chicago? I will be there for two weeks for work, including two weekends and I'd love to a) watch my beloved pies somewhere and b) show some of my 'merican mates a real sport

Hey KrakFiend , drop us a postcard?

 

[76woodenspooners]

Hey Arizona , drop us a postcard here?

 

[jerry springer]

View from my hotel room of the strip. Looks much more glamorous at night, especially with the fountain show.

A night photo from below the Bellagio.

A great city to visit but don't spend 8 nights here like I did.

yeah I did 10 nights there 2 years ago and it nearly killed me

 

[Babylove]

Hey Babylove , are you still travelling?

Drop us a postcard here?

I am indeed still travelling, for about another week.

 

[SnakePlisskin]

View from my hotel room of the strip. Looks much more glamorous at night, especially with the fountain show.

A night photo from below the Bellagio.

A great city to visit but don't spend 8 nights here like I did.

Stayed at belagio 4 yrs ago , going again in October , staying at planet Hollywood this time . 7 nights .

 

[Pera]

Stayed at belagio 4 yrs ago , going again in October , staying at planet Hollywood this time . 7 nights .

Planet Hollywood was actually one of my favorites. Daily poker tournaments and one of the only casinos to comp johnnie black. but just a really good vibe throughout. Have fun!

 

[76woodenspooners]

...Will be watching the next few games through the AFL website while I am travelling.

Hey Morganashlee ... Drop us a postcard here?

$25 for the month isn't too bad, waking up at 5am isn't ideal though

That'd put you around east coast US? ... Seems to be a bunch of us scattered around the states at the moment!

 

[76woodenspooners]

The pier at Santa Monica, California

 

[Morganashlee]

Hey Morganashlee ... Drop us a postcard here?



That'd put you around east coast US? ... Seems to be a bunch of us scattered around the states at the moment!

Struggling to add a pic but currently in Miami watching the game. Will be off to the Caribbean this afternoon

 

[Mars II]

Been shooting with my polaroid. This shot got some light leaking action.

 

[Magpie Girl]

This is my 3rd week in Torino. It's a beautiful city, well laid out and full of palazzos and enormous piazzas.
And surrounded by mountains.

On Saturday I went for a drive to Barola, the famous wine making area of Piedmonte.

Absolutely beautiful area, strictly controlled and only producing 7000 bottles per hectare, in a good year.

The wines - all red - are beautiful.

There had just been a massive storm




One of the palazzos. Stunning gardens


Palazzo Reale, in the main piazza


And Torino on Sunday afternoon



Most of the architecture is baroque, with wide streets, and no skyscrapers
Hard to do it justice in a photo

 

[Magpie Girl]

Time for a short update
Been in genova for the last 3 weeks.
It's actually a really big port and not quite what I was expecting. But it does have the advantage of being able to get on a boat and explore the coast line

Going to the beach in Italy is quite a different experience. No such thing as sand, and on the weekends people lie on any rock and sun themselves.
The water is beautiful though



This is a lovely small town to the wet of Genova. It's called Arenzano



Sunday afternoon at the beach



The stunningly beautiful Portofino. I did an 8 km walk along the coast and over the hills to Santa margherita.
Rewarded myself with the inevitable aperol spritz!



This is a little sample of the Ligurian coastline, on my way to the cinque terre

The weather has been warm to hot every day, good fine and wine, and new friends everywhere.

Looking forward to heading to the south of Italy (Puglia) next week.

 

[Mars II]

You're getting some good pictures Magpie Girl

 

[Nightowl]

True Mars II.
The pics are stunning.

 

[Maggie5]

Italy and France, my two favourite destinations. Never tire of the beauty and the people.