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Passing Cape Horn with winds to 70 MPH

Paul and the iceberg heading for a collision

Glaciers in the Chilean Fjords

Paul enjoying his first but not last Pisco Sour

The mountains in the Torres del Paine Chilean National Park

Diane about to discover South American King Crab - voila!

A rainbow off the coast of Chile

Diane with her Chilean Gaucho and his two white poodles

The wine growing valley between Santiago and Valparaiso

Our Chilean friends in Cuzco

The very steep steps that lead into Machu Pichu

Paul wandering the paths around Machu Pichu

The courtyard at the Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco

Our new friends aboard the Orient Express train

Diane with her guide Gary at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu up among the passing clouds

MadReviews.com

Paul & Diane Madden's travel reviews  SOUTH AMERICA

To celebrate our 40th wedding
anniversary, we headed south -
all the way to Cape Horn!!. Our
journey began with an overnight
flight to Buenos Aires,
Argentina where we checked in
the fabulous Hotel Alvear
Palace. This great hotel is
always on top traveler's lists
and we certainly can see why.
We entered into a beautiful
lobby with its celebrated bar
and shown a handsome junior
suite overlooking the River
Platte. The concierge
recommended his favorite guide
Eyeleen. She is a  good looking
bright gal in her twenties and
she really knows BA (as they
call Buenos Aires).  With a
good driver and a comfortable
Mercedes we had a tour of the
many different districts of this
beautiful city.  The architecture
reminds one of Paris - the
Beaux Arts style buildings built
in the early 1900's. The streets
and avenues are planted with
lush shade trees and we found
BA quite clean.  The waterfront
has been restored with many
restaurants and shops. Eyeleen
took Diane to a Jumbo super
market and I explored the local
Home Depot. The many
shopping areas abound with
excellent  leather goods.  

We dined at the celebrated Las
Lilas on the Puerto Madero
port, the hotel's French
restaurant and Sucre. Argentina
is known for its beef  which is
much leaner than ours yet still
very flavorful and tender. The
price of a huge T-bone entree
is $16. - what a bargain.  The
French restaurant in our hotel is
superb in every way.  The
breakfast at the Alvear Palace
is the perfect way to start the
day with an bountiful buffet set
in a beautiful sun-filled room.

One day with motored out into
the Pampas to visit a real
estancia (ranch) where we
spent the time visiting a very
special  family and enjoying a
carriage ride and a typical
Argentinian barbecue. It was a
wonderful day, especially  the
warm hospitality of Angel and
Lilli Mendez and family.

We boarded the Regent
Mariner Ship and headed to the
Falkland Islands.. On the way
we spotted icebergs heading
north - a very rare incident
considering the latitude.
The Falkland Islands are quite
barren and bleak but the
inhabitants are warm and
welcoming.  From there we
sailed around Cape Horn - an
exhilarating experience. We
visited Punta Arenas where we
embarked on a extended day
trip to Torres del Paine. This
famous remote park is a worthy
destination. Onward up the
western coast we stopped at
several Chilean ports to view
their historic sites. To see the
port of Valparaiso and Santiago
in one day is not long enough to
see all the fascinating sites.
Finally we arrived at Lima and
then flew to Cuzco. Our stay in
this high altitude  (12000 ft)was
at the Hotel Monasterio - a
beautiful rehabilitated 16th
Century monastery. Cuzco is a
remarkable ancient city filled
with great sites. From Cuzco
with traveled on the Orient
Express train to village of Machu
Picchu. We boarded a small
bus and made the hair raising
trip up the mountain to the hotel
Sanctuary where we spent the
night. The next day we visited
the ancient historic site  - we
certainly understand now why
they call this one of the great
places to see on earth before
you die !! Situated about 9000
feet (2000 ft above the river) it
blows your mind how it was
built and why. One has to be
there to experience its grandeur
- a truly memorable event and
certainly the "candle on the
cake" to end our remarkable
journey..