Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls & Rio de Janeiro

Arriving in Chile, we enjoy the atmosphere of the small town of San Pedro de Atacama. Here, travelers coming from the salt desert shake hands with those going into the salt desert, and in between, the breathtaking lunar landscape and, with clear visibility, a great night sky are admired.

I also take a trip to the nearby desert and marvel at the Valle de la Luna, but unfortunately, I don't get a clear view of the stars.

And here I am - literally - in Argentina, full of excitement for good Malbec wine and a great steak 😋. I have come to love crossing borders by land, as it gives me a different feeling than landing by plane; somehow, every airport is the same, but every border crossing that you do on foot is definitely different.

To get a real sense of Argentina, I start with a horseback ride and a typical BBQ in Salta, in the north of Argentina.

And off we go with a domestic flight from Salta to the metropolis of Buenos Aires 😍. After four weeks in Central America and now over two months in South America, I fall in love with this city, which could also be in the heart of Europe. On the last evening with my travel group from the past five weeks, we attend a salsa event, and then it's time to say goodbye in the coming days as our paths separate after a great time together - until we meet again somewhere in this beautiful world.

Buenos Aires has everything from the slums of La Boca to the nightlife district of Palermo. It also has an impressive cemetery and great markets - definitely the largest Sunday market I have ever been to. A bottle or two of Malbec wine with a good steak completes the visit, and the week I spend there flies by way too quickly.

Packing my backpack again and off to Brazil - Foz de Iguaçu. On the first day, I visit the Brazilian side, and the first view of the waterfalls is definitely impressive! And the best view is back in Argentina... taking a speedboat ride under the falls provided a refreshing experience given the temperatures.

Thrill-seeking - ever since my visit to New Zealand four years ago, I've been thinking that the next opportunity I get, I'll also jump out of an airplane 🙈 So, at the border between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, I take the plunge. I also have a great view of the enormous dam in front of the waterfalls 🙂. The moment when the door opens at an altitude of about 3000m is quite intimidating, but it is definitely a unique experience.

Next stop, Rio de Janeiro. Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana, and Christ the Redeemer are definitely worth a visit, although even I thought the city was a bit too dangerous to feel comfortable, which is a shame.

Now it's time to say goodbye to South America and head to Australia, with a brief stopover in Dubai, at least that was the plan. When I arrive at the airport at midnight, I am told that there is a strike in Buenos Aires and the plane cannot take off to fly to Rio... so I am taken back to Copacabana and fly the next day. Due to the time difference, I naturally miss my flight in Dubai and end up with seven hours instead of three hours layover. However, I use this time to visit the shopping center of my dreams 😍. After my first attempt to fly on Monday night (December 19th), I finally manage to arrive in Australia before Christmas 🤗

Dubai