Now in Buenos Aires

Well, Im now in Buenos Aires at the World Federations of Societies in Intensive and Critical Care Medicine.
It is winter in Argentina now so it is cool. The city itself strikes me as very Spanish in its style and not at all Latin American as I had expected. I dont think that is because I am in the touristy area also. Really busy, lots of traffic, and as for crossing the road I just dont get it - they seem to step out in fron of cars which strikes me as a bit risky especially on this nice little 20 lane road...

Made the trip along with every other tourist to Maria Eva Duarte Peron's tomb (Evita), which is suprisingly small and non-descript. The cemetry was interesting in that all the tombs are little rooms which people obviously attend regularly.
The cemetry.....

Evitas tomb...
Also visited the Teatro Colon to see the ballet Romeo and Juliet. It was a free ticket from the conference organisers and was worth the trip. Amazing theatre not that dissimilar from the StaatOper in Vienna, although a little more dischevelled. The ballet was OK but my seats were restricted view.

Ever since spent most of my time in the hotel room writing the three talks I have to give. Dont know many people here so having a quiet time in the evenings.
Today had another walk around Buenos Aires to take in the formal sights but starting to think that I should have spent longer here and travelled out of the city.
The Casa Rosa (pink castle) in the main square... the balcony in the Evita movie was the one on the left lower down..
Anyway, final talk tomorrow morning, and then straight on the plane home!

Simon

The final week

A lot happened after Jasper....

The Icelands Parkway took us to Lake Louise and Banff National Park. Camped again (becoming very hardy).
Lake Peyto on the Icelands Parkway...

Lake Louise....


Had a quick walk aroung Lake Louise, and then the following morning hiked up to Sentinel pass which overlooks the neighbouring (and some say more beutiful) lake Moraine.At the bottom of the trail we came across a sign saying we had to be in a group of six because of the Grizzly bears in the area. We waited and ended up hiking very quickly up 3000 ft with some mad and very fit Canadians (apart from one - Colin - who gave Alison and me an excuse for a few breaks). Amazing views from the top.
Lake Moraine....

The top of Sentinel pass....


Alison went a bit mad on the way down....must be the altitude



That afternoon we drove to Banff, very touristy but went for dinner in the very posh Banff Springs Hotel - we changed in the car, but then found a table right at the front with a fantastic view down the valley and a platter of food to match. Well worth the 30 UK pounds.

A long way from home...

From Lake Louise, we travelled to Nelson via Golden where we went whitewater rafting - all grade III and IV rapids. I went swimming twice (once through a class III rapid) and fell in once. Alison saved my life on all three occasions by pulling him back into the boat (even hit a poor Dutch guy over the head with her paddle during her exceedingly enthusiastic rescue). Alison found it exciting but a bit scarey, I couldn't get enough of it.

It was a long drive to Nelson through an amazing thunder and lightning storm, we stayed in a motel just outside the town. I (Alison) was able to show Simon around Nelson at a particularly hippyish time when there was some strange market going on - lots of long-haired people moving very slowly, crystals and the smell of joss sticks and dodgy stuff in the air. We had a lovely walk along the lake and a paddle at the beach before I introduced Simon to the little old fashioned Dairy Queen and Strawberry-banana cheesequakes were the order of the day. We spent the afternoon in the very hot Ainsworth hot springs. We stayed with my old neighbours Janice and Mike in their brillian B&B and all had a wonderful meal and evening at a tapas bar in Nelson and Simon finally got his Canadian Salmon.

Kelowna was are next destination, not a very picturesque place but close to some of the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagon Valley. Needless to say I made Simon buy lots of wine for me me me.
The Okanagon valley, very mediterranean....


The next morning was an early start so we could drive to Vancouver in time to enjoy our final whole day in the city that I've decided to buy a second home in (just after winning the lottery). Simon 'felt tired' while we looked at the shops but revived enough after a snooze on the beach in Stanley Park to enjoy Granville Island and an evening swim in the sea at English Bay before a very extravagant meal and lots of Singapore Slings at the very plush 'Diva at the Met'.

The day we went home was my favourite day of the holiday. Simon was very keen to go to the beach one last time before we went home. It was early morning and we were sitting in the sun on a rock on the beach in Kitsilano and everything was perfect and Simon asked me to marry him - life couldn't get any better!
Next week, at the ring shop!.....

Jasper National Park

In Jasper we did a fantastic hike up the Bald Hills, it was pretty hardwork but worth it because as you cleared the tree line you got the most fantastic view of Maligne Lake and the surrounding mountains.


Unfortunatley once we reached the top cloud came over and there was a brief hail storm which stung our bare legs and we were forced to beat a retreat, but the hail quickly turned to rain and then sun and we were treated to a wonderful rainbow.

The next day was spent driving the Icelands Parkway to Lake Louise which gave Simon some wonderful views of the Rockies. We made several stops along the way including the amazing Athabasca Falls and Wildfowl lake which is meant to be a favourite hangout of moose, unfortunately the moose count remains at a big fat zero, but we had fun anyway and just as we arrived into Banff National Park we saw a baby black bear cub (its location given away by lots of other tourists stopped and gawping at it).

Vancouver to Jasper

The road trip is now well on the way. We left Vancouver and headed for Jasper. We started late due to a brief interlude in camping store as Alison's boots are still drying in the back of a van in Alaska. On the way we went to Hells Gate - a raging waterfall that was meant to be unmissable but we werent very impressed. The weather has completely changed from Alaska and is now dry and hot - lots of sun cream needed and Alisons cowboy sun hat very useful. Stayed the night in a motel in Kamloops, the midway point to Jasper.

The following day we set off for Jasper (440 km) and stopped at Clearwater for a hike in the Wells Grey National Park. This was fantastic. We drove up a dirt track and then hiked up to meadows above the treeline on Trophy mountain. It was steep, hot, but worth it for a walk through a meadow in full bloom with lots of wild flowers for miles, with mountains and glaciers in the background.



Then we drove the final bit to Jasper and the first night in our new tent bought in Alaska. Typically arrived at the campsite at midnight so had to put it up with the help of the car headlights and our very trendy head torches).

Current Wildlife tally - Elk, Humpback whale, Grey whale, sea otters, sea lions, seals, eagles (lots of). NO moose yet!

Back in Vancouver

We arrived in Vancouver on Tuesday to a wonderfully warm sunny evening and got a free upgrade on our car (yipee!). We went up Harbour Centre Tower and got an amazing view of the city before a cheap and cheerful dinner. Yesterday we went to Granville Island which has the most wonderful foodie market and got supplies for a picnic lunch and tea, then it was on to Stanley Park and its beautiful beaches and even a swim in the sea. I love this city! In the evening we joined about 300,000 Vancouverites on a walk to English Bay to see the Chinese entry for their fireworks competition - a truly spectacular display. We're now packing up our room (amazing what a mess we can make in 2 days!) and heading off for our BC tour.

ps Simon thinks no-one loves him because he hasn't had any text messages!

Paddling

Three days of kayaking around the Prince William sound was execellent fun....


We set out from Whittier in torrential rain and paddled for half a day to our camp. Had to put up tents in the rain and struggled to keep anything dry since the air was saturated with water vapour. Saw eagles and sea otters on the way. Amazing however was the salmon spawning, literally thousands of salmon swimming/jumping upstream to their previous spawning grounds - the stream was literally solid with salmon - difficult to walk through.

The following day we maddled 10 miles to out next camp, and luckily the cloud lifted, it was kind of sunny, but best of all it stopped raining (they get 180 inches of rain a year here). We demonstrated our type A personalities, got the knack of paddling and sped along super speed to be ahead of everyone. Tents up in the dry today.
Following morning we paddled to the glacier (see below the thick white thing behind my head is an enormous chunk of ice falling off the glacier) and had to paddle through water with thousands of mini icebergs to the base of the glacier. Poured with rain again but fantastic.


Finally water taxi back to Whittier, drive to Anchorage, for beer and Halibut pizza at the Moose's tooth. Vancouver tomorrow....

Back from the Fly-In

Well, we are back (in Palmer, Alaska) after flying in to the Takeetna mountain range on a little two seater plane (one of us and the pilot at a time - so he had to make three trips). The plane had huge bouncy wheels so that we could land on the tundra. Exciting or what? The plane....

The view from the windows....

The camp....


We were 160 miles from the nearest settlement, no communications at all, and grizzly bears everywhere (although we didnt see one). We had pepper spray/mace in case one approached us (and was downwind) otherwise we were meant to pretend to play dead so it wouldn't think we were a threat. The plane came back two days later to pick us up but was late because there was a bush fire (miles away from us) and the smoke prevented it taking off. Some people had apparently been waiting over 24 hours to be picked up. Went hiking out there and the weather was glorious sun one moment and then hail and thunder and lightning. It was mountains, gorges, and flat tundra all mixed up, with lots of bogland to tramp through (and get our feet wet in). Camp food was excellent (especially the Baileys and hot chocolate to finish with), sleeping in a tent moderately comfy, and keeping our kit dry very difficult since the relative humidity was so high. We had a fantastic time and some excellent fresh air. Thinking of buying a tent for use in the Rockies!

It was wet.....
Im currently in a Laudromat washing all the clothes before starting the three day kayak trip tomorrow in Prince William Sound. Didnt expect to find a computer here so have no camera to upload the photos... but will do soon. Alison trying to wash off the hiking grime in the hotel before we swap over duties. Dinner tonight will be in the hotel (looks a bit like a motorway cafe to me) but we are famished and tired.

Well we have time to blog this morning. Alison left her phone on Canada time (although we are now not in Canada) and set the alarm an hour too early. We went to the movies last night and went to this cinema where you eat at tables in the main auditorium. Ate truely enormous burritos.....still not hungry. Packed and ready to go on our fly-in hiking trip. Simon hoping that it will be a sea plane as cant imagine many landing strips out in the national parks. Very excited.

Will edit posts and upload photos in a few days when we return (unwashed, unshaven, and generally grubby) from our trip but not encountered a computer with a USB port yet to connect the cameras too (and this is the United States of America!)

Already in Alaska

Well we have made it to Alaska already... Seems to be whistling away the trip.

We met up at Vancouver airport suprisingly easily, and hired yet another massive "micro" car. We then caught the ferry to Nanaimo on Vancouver island and drove to Ukuklet (we didnt make it to Tofino on the first night as accomodation was hard to get hold of) and stayed on a rather basic (to say the least) old ship.

A quick drive to Tofino (most Western part of Canada served by paved roads) and a trip out to see some whales (2 humpbacks and 1 grey) and a visit to some hot springs. Simon missed every single whale on camera. Went out in a boat called a zodiac which was basically a dinghy with two enormous engines on the back, we even had to wear special protective suits as it went so fast the wind would have frozen us. The boat trip alone was worth the money.

Since driven back to Vancouver via Victoria (nice, meant to be very English but seemed a little fake to us) but we had some glorious weather, not managed to burn like in Spain, and wandered around the harbour.

Three hout flight up to Anchorage (we didnt realise it was so far) and a very bizarre place - flat surrounded by mountains with snow on the top. Still really sunny and hot - it was meant to be cold and wet here! Simon a little anxious about the trip wondering if he is going to be fit enough and have the right kit.

Currently in a coffee shop - Alison finishing off the Da Vinci Code and Simon finishing off some stats so he can ignore them for the rest of the trip.

Basically having a brill time.

One day left in Nelson and then I fly back to Vancouver to meet Simon - I'm VERY excited. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. The last couple of days in Emerg have been quieter but still interesting. I took this photo of a couple of the nurses (Louis and Maralyn) in a quiet moment.














I'm really shocked that there were more bombings in London so soon, at least nobody was killed this time - lots of love to you all.

Well, just call me Little Miss Sewing Machine - I've sutured 3 fingers, 2 heads and 1 hand. Luckily for me the people of Nelson are an active lot and keep on going out in that sunshine and hurting themselves.

I rented a bike on Saturday, the hills here are a complete killer, much to my embarrassment I actually had to get off my bike on one road and push it the last 20 m, which wasn't much easier - at least I've seen others doing the same thing and no they weren't all grannies. The trip back into town was easy - I literally didn't have to pedal once.

On Sunday I went for a stroll with James, a nurse in the 'Emerg', his wife Sasha and their very cute little son, Sam.

Then, I discovered Dairy Queen ...MMMmm!

As promised I wondered up to Pulpit rock, a trip that was made a good deal longer by me missing the turning TWICE! But it did afford some beautiful views over Nelson. Whilst it was glorious sunshine in London it poured down with rain here on the way home - which tested out my waterproof jacket a treat, I just wish I'd been testing out my waterproof trousers as well. In the evening I went to a fundraising dinner with the neighbours who help fund a sports scholarship. Sunday was dominated by finding out that Grandad had broken his femur when he tripped down some concrete steps - an accident that would have left anyone with broken bits, he's now in traction waiting for his operation on Wednesday. I had another walk on Sunday this time along a disused railway track which is now only used by walkers and mountain bikers and again some disappointing views.

Well, all the big news is in London. I was really pleased about the Olympics and completely shocked by the bombings - it doesn't seem quite real from this far away. As far as I can tell everyone I know is fine, but poor Ron was apparently on the train behind.

I plan to go for a couple of short walk/hikes over the weekend which I am assured are quite do-able for the chronically (?sp) unfit and are very popular so hopefully I will be able to post more pictures on Monday.

Big hugs to everyone.

More pictures to make you jealous - the hospital and the view out of the back of the emergency room - both pretty dreary I think you'll agree. Everybody is so fit here, they all mountain bike, run, hike, kayak and anything else you can possibly do outside. The nurses don't go for a smoke at breaktime, they go for a run, and these are 50 year olds and it's hot outside and there's a hill in every direction and yes they do 12 hour shifts. All in all they make you feel like a great lump of a couch potato that's never been outside before! By the way, if you want to add a comment you just click on comments.

I arrived safely in Nelson on Saturday after my epic journey and was immediately invited to dinner with the neighbours, who also had me over for breakfast the next morning and took me on a shopping tour of Nelson. Nelson is beautiful, the countryside reminds me of Switzerland but with lots of huge American-style cars roaming around. The little house is very comfortable and Oscar and I are getting on really well. Although, he was sick in the lounge yesterday evening (and then just hopped out of the window without making any attempt to clear it up, which I thought was a little rude.) I spent my first day in the hospital today, the 'emerg' has about 6 beds and one doctor - but it was more interesting and busier than any of my time in A&E at Welwyn Garden City I've already seen a chainsaw injury, an OD and lots more. I will try and keep the blog updated, please add your comments. Love to you all.

She's there... and already off to meet the neighbours for some wine. Meanwhile, we've all been watching the tennis and Live 8. A weekend of television has limited the work somewhat. I wanted Roddick and Davenport to win. neither of whom did. Robbie, Madge, REM, and The Killers were the stars of Live 8 for me. Needless to say Im behind on the work now....

Simon

Well, the blog starts today… Alison left Heathrow at 08:40 this morning destined for Vancouver, Castlegar, and ultimately Nelson in British Columbia. Oscar the cat is waiting nervously….

Simon