Still dire out in the
field with no new Moths or Birds but plenty of rain,
but then of course we
always have the trusty archive to rely upon!
(The first in a series of a possible 3)
(The first in a series of a possible 3)
Travelling the World
brings with it an element of danger and it would be foolhardy to say otherwise,
but rule one is “watch your back”!
For me going on from
that was “travel alone” which on occasions was broken and just as importantly, “travel
light” just a maximum of 2 each of the essentials as you can always purchase
more en-route or turn them socks inside out. On my second of 5 adventures in South America my then boss Mike
Hughes invited himself along (not really but I didn't want the sack) and proved to be the very best of
travel companions, but it was not to become a habit. However both he, and one or
2 others were made aware of my insistence that the final rule on the list was
never broken. On any given day you do exactly what YOU want to do without redress
to “I don’t want to go fishing”, or “I don’t want to go bird watching” - just simply
do your own thing!
However, on the 4th
of these visits, which like the 2nd was to include
The Galapagos Islands
was followed by a
backdoor invader!
During the final week
of that tour I had arrived in the town of
La Plata
some 60 miles south
of the capital Buenos Aires with a quandary, should I venture the 1000 miles further
south to Trelew or just resign myself to the delights of the capital.
Trelew had only come
onto the radar as a result of some of the best wildlife footage ever seen,
where the Killer Whales were forcing almost their full body length out of the
sea to catch the gigantic Sealions huddled up on the beach. A hell of a long
shot and a long way to go but opening the trust laptop that evening found the
conundrum resolved for me.
An e-mail from Jim
the Medic asked simply “are you anywhere close to BA and if so can we meet up”
and there was me just starting to enjoy myself.
A rendezvous was
arranged and before continuing a word about the city itself!
It is a place of
culture, fine architecture, even finer food, Malbec and people who take great
pride in their chosen professions and know how to please, everyone should pay
at least one visit to one of the best, and probably overlooked, capital cities in the
World! We will present the story
punctuated with some of the Birdlife found across the whole of the trip from
Bogotá, Colombia to
Buenos Aires, Argentina.
PALE-MANTLED ARICARI
Having arrived in La Plata and finding yet another 'cheap' Guest House it wasthen imperative to soak up the ambiance of the town with a day long stroll.
The harbour presented, not unsurprisingly, much interest but couldn't pull my thoughts away from The Falklands War
as the Warships particularly looked so puny and ineffectual
NAZCA BOOBY
compared with out own craft and particularly the
EMPRESS BRILLIANT
(male)
SUBMARINES
a service I had been part of during my time in the
Royal Navy
GIANT ANTPITTA
and the backup logistics and surface warships looking a little weak.
I still ask myself the same question!
GOLDEN TANAGER
The following day it was the entertainment that came to me as befriended by a
Group of Young Lads who where as curious about Me
as I was of Them
It could not have been choreogrphed as they invited me to join them at their auditions.
SICKLE- WINGED GUAN
That invitation was extended to the full show the following evening
BLACK VULTURE
which was the
Southern Argentina Elimination Rounds
(jubilation here for some of those who qualified)
PACIFIC PARROTLET
for the countries
CLOWN TROUP of the YEAR COMPETITION
Yes, there was a langugae barrier, my only Spannish runs to
"dos servaser por favor"
The following evening we all got together to enjoy a few pints and the
SAN CLEMENTE
MARDI GRAS
The following evening we all got together to enjoy a few pints and the
I had only been in the town for 3 nights and already it was hoped it could be
FOREVER
"Viva la Gente de Argentina"!
Now, Where's Me Bus Pass?
