Valparaiso

Spent the weekend in the small coastal city Valparaiso, inspired by Isabel Allende who writes a lot about it. Parts of the city is built on steep hills, making you wonder how they managed to build their houses. Being a major port and a natural stop before the Panama Canal was made, it was a quite wealthy town, as is possible to see today in all the old elevators scattered around, saving you the exercise of taking the stairs. That is, if it's not during the siesta.

Several bohemian neighbourhoods are nice just to stroll around, admiring well done, creative graffiti and the view of the bay. One of Nobel-winner Pablo Neruda's houses are found in one of these areas. It's not big or impressive in any way, just very nice and.. hm.. interesting. With a magnificent view.

Downtown is more chaotic, and has some of the feel I expected and missed in both Santiago and Buenos Aires. I like this city!

For those in the need of beaches, they are close by. At the moment I'm still not really there after my Caribbean overload. And knowing I'll spend christmas on a Caribbean paradise, I'm still prefering city life.


-- Posted from my iPod
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Argentina

Three weeks in Argentina has passed. With short trips to Brazil and Uruguay. The country is huge (the worlds 7th biggest?), in order to really see it you'll need months. Guess I have to go back one day to see the rest. As well as doing some serious shopping in Buenos Aires.

The country is wealthier and more similar to Norway than I thought. Maybe the last because of the climate? It's a perfect country for travelling. Safe, easy and cheap with plenty of things to do and see. But because of the distances time is an essential thing to have plenty of. And warm clothes if travelling south.

Recommended? Oh yes!


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Liten avsporing

Dette er egentlig en reiseblogg, men må nesten bare kommentere et par ting.

På reisefot er det ikke så lett alltid å oppdatere seg på nyhetsbildet i verden. Når jeg har hatt muligheten, har jeg lest en del norske aviser. Finnmark Dagblad er flinke på nett. Nordlys er bedre på iphone-utgaven enn ellers (de har nyheter!), selv om noen burde ta seg et kurs i norsk rettskriving. VG og Dagbladet er dessverre helt håpløse. Joda, de kan norsk. Mangler bare dessverre nyheter. Moland, svineinfluensa (her jeg er nå er dengue-feber den store faren), Skal vi danse, Jakten på kjærligheten. Vel, ingen av disse sakene har noen større interesse for meg. Og ut fra avisenes stadig synkende opplagstall, burde det kanskje være en antydning om at disse "sakene" har liten interesse for "folk flest"?

Uten å ha satt meg inn i saken og uten å ha hørt noen debatter om emnet, var det som utløste denne lille avsporingen den siste tåpelige store saken, som dessverre ikke er så tåpelig om mediene klarer å skvise enkelte populistiske politikere: Det høye sykefraværet i Norge.

Dette minner meg om en annen debatt for et eller to år siden hvor bl.a. NHO hylte høyt om de like lønningene vi har i Norge. Det å ta en utdanning betalte ikke nok (Norge var DET landet i verden hvor utdanning lønte seg minst), lønnsforskjellene burde økes. Med tanke på alt arbeidet som ennå legges ned for å utjevne lønningene (de er dessverre ikke helt like), forstod nok de fleste etterhvert at dette ikke nyttet og debatten døde ut.

I tillegg til lik lønn, har det de siste årene vært jobbet mye med å få til et inkluderende arbeidsliv, samt at vi er blitt fortalt at pensjonsalderen må økes. Vi må jobbe lenger.

Et inkluderende arbeidsliv innebærer at alle skal kunne gå til en jobb og føle seg nyttige i samfunnet vårt. Vi skal ikke stue bort syke slik vi gjorde for noen årtier siden. "Alle skal med" som vi hørte tidligere i år (før september). Et "problem" med dette, vil være slikt som økt sykefravær. Men hvor mye mer koster det samfunnet om en person er sykemeldt f.eks 14 dager et år, fremfor å gå på trygd hele året?

Pensjon. Skal ikke skrive for mye om det, uansett hvor fristende det er. Tanken også her, har vært å få flere i jobb fremfor kun å motta penger. Nå er det normalt slik, at etterhvert som årene går vil kroppen krangle litt. Så for å gjenta meg selv: Et "problem" med dette, vil være slikt som økt sykefravær. Men hvor mye mer koster det samfunnet om en person er sykemeldt f.eks 14 dager et år, fremfor å gå på trygd hele året?

Og så til det som fikk meg til å skrive nå, en liten tweet fra Ap: "Jens Stoltenberg varslet idag ekstra innsats mot sykefravær i helse- og omsorgssektoren". Hvor mange millioner har vært "spart" de senere årene innen denne sektoren? Alle har hørt om stoppeklokkeomsorgen. Ikke bare en myte, mange steder et trist faktum. De som jobber i disse yrkene er mennesker, hvor lenge er det mulig å jobbe under psykisk og fysisk høyt press uten å bli sykemeldt? Jeg hadde en ung, godt trent, sportslig aktiv kollega i hjemmetjenesten som tok et år fri fra skole for å jobbe. Det gikk to måneder så var hun sykemeldt. Et av alle disse lavtlønte yrkene hvor ingen holder ut til pensjonsalder. Det mest sannsynlige er sykemelding, jobb, lenger sykemelding helt til du blir uføretrygdet. Med videre innstramminger og effektiviseringer vil ikke noe endre seg i forhold til sykefraværet. Vel, annet enn at det nok øker.

Nå har vi mange andre arbeidsplasser i landet, hvor det burde være mulig å få ned sykefraværet. Men det moderne effektiviseringsspøkelset har en tendens til å øke akkurat det. Sammen med statens utgifter og bedriftens inntjening. Posten konstaterte sjokkert etter alle sine effektiviseringer at sykefraværet deres var skyhøyt.

Men var det egentlig så rart? Hvordan ønsker vi samfunnet vårt? Arbeidet vårt?


-- Posted from my iPod
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Mendoza and Rosario

Arrived Rosario in the morning, left my backpack at the terminal and grabbed a bus downtown. Rosario has about one million inhabitants, and is famous for being Che's hometown. Apart from that it is economically very important for the country.

Didn't get to see too much of the city. Half my day disappeared in buying a small camera (christmas present from my parents) and finding a place to send my big camera back to Norway. Have hardly deared taking pictures here, and as Argentina is the safest (and richest) country I'll be travelling through, it felt good to get rid of the 3.5 kilos drawing attention from potential thieves.

Walked a bit sround in the city. A nice thing is that in the main street, it's free, open wifi. The weather was very nice, therefore I decided to go to a park to read some before returning to the terminal. My bus was leaving at 23:30. Barely got to the parks outskirts before I started looking for a bus. The mosquitoes were doing their best to eat me alive (you should be here Merete! Now they are eating me instead).

Another night at a bus, next to a very nice Uruguayan lady that really had the urge to talk. Learned a lot about both Uruguay an Mendoza, where she had lived the past twenty years. And where she has two pretty grand daughters (yes they were pretty, had to see the photos she had in her purse).

Finally at the hostel and ready for some sleep in a bed, they coudnt't find my reservation. Took an hour before I got a bed. Heading for the shower, opening the bag from the laundry, I discovered that my clean clothes was not mine. A wonderful day! Didnt't manage to sleep either, so went out for some food and new underwear.

Had a headache the entire day, which got more imtense in the evening accompanied with a running nose. The hostel seemed as a bit of a party place, so I found another one with a private room where I went in the night. Heaven to have a private room and a private bathroom!

Mendoza is famous for it's wineries. I don't exactly hate wine, so saturday I had booked a tour around the wineries. It could have been wonderful! If I just had felt better. Back at the hostel I went to the supermarket to buy food, and then I've stayed in bed since.

But if you want adventures, wine or great parties, Mendoza would be the perfect place to stay. As for being sick, I would prefer to be home. Today I'm a bit better, and right now in the Andes, my next stop Santiago de Chile. Probanly should have stayed one more day in bed, but booked my ticket on friday, so had to go. Hopefully I will be even better tomorrow, so that I can explore some of the city.


-- Posted from my iPod
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Puerto Iguazú

Got a bus with a bed from Buenos Aires at 5 p.m on monday, arrived the small village Puerto Iguazú yesterday at 11 a.m. Delivered my laundry and grabbed a bus to Brazil. The falls are spectacular, and nature's power just breath taking. Recommended!

Back at the hostel and ready for a shower (it's warm and humid, again), there was no water in the shower. Turned out the plumber was changing something, so the cold shower turned into a cold beer instead with the german girl I met in Buenos Aires.

Today I decided not to go the argentinian side of the falls, as I got both the overview and close-up in Brazil. Instead relaxed and tried to book plane and hotel for christmas. My bus for Rosario left at 2.45 p.m. Had to pick up my clothes that I forgot yesterday, then I discovered they were closed for siesta until 3. Frantical knocking on the door helped, eventually a lady appeared so I got my clothes. And reached my bus. So know I have another overnight bus, this time for Che's hometown Rosario.


-- Posted from my iPod
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Montevideo

Took the ferry on saturday to Montevideo where I've spent two nights. Been nice to relax in the old city of a smaller place (well.. small.. only 1.3 million inhabitants..). Haven't been able to see or do too much as most things were closed for the weekend. Most people goes here to see the beaches, but after more than two months in the caribbean beaches still don't really attract me. Have wandered around, tried their pancakes (looks like a pizza), beer (ok), wine (not good), and yesterday I went to the old, magnificent Teatro Solis to see Macbeth. Have to admit that Shakespeare in spanish got a bit too heavy, mainly had problems staying awake.

Now I'm on the ferry back to Buenos Aires where I hope to get a bed in a bus for Puerto Iguazú later today. Have a reservation there tomorrow, and are supposed to meet a german girl there tomorrow. So I'm crossing my fingers that everything works out.


-- Posted from my iPod
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Buenos Aires II

Have had a wonderful week. Changed my hostel on saturday, as the one I stayed in was impossible to sleep in. A party place, not really my thing at the moment. Now I'm at a hostel located in an old building with high ceilings over five floors, including a very nice roof top terrace/bar. It has people in all ages from all over the world. Suites me a lot better.

When I had dinner on saturday a giant gay parade appeared out in the street. Took me by surprise as so many countries down here are still very conservative. But truly nice to see that some places are different! When I had lunch yesterday, a big union demonstration passed on the street outside. With all their drums impossible not to hear them. Paid in a hurry and ran after them to find out what they were demonstrating for. Was against the hopeless labour ministry.

I have had three tango classes, tango is incredibly difficult! But oh so elegant. Have learned the basics, though not feel quite secure dancing too much yet.

Have taken another spanish course this week, meaning I'm back to trying to get control over all the different times they use. Just as difficult as the tango.

Apart from that I've been wandering around in this amazing city. Spent sunday reading in the botanical garden with some delicious pastries. They have plenty of bakeries and delicious food here. A mixture of several european kitchens, both french, spanish and italian food are found everywhere. And wine, something I've missed in the other three countries. A good thing as well is that they fill up the glass completely. Plus that wine is usually cheaper than soda or water in restaurants. Back to sunday, I also visited some museums. The Evita museum was very nice. Just as the two art museums I went to. Saw a collection of Andy Warhol, new, experimental latin american art, old european paintings and so on. They had a lot! A surprise for me was that the National Museum of Art was free to visit.

Today I had an experience for life; skipped class to go sky diving. It was amazing! 10,000 feet straight down. The first 40 seconds' free fall was a sensation of another world. If you ever have the opportunity to try, seize it!

Tomorrow I'm going with a german girl, my room mate at the moment, to a tango show. Mandatory in this city, and hopefully a nice end to a great time in the South American capital before I take the boat to Uruguay on saturday.


-- Posted from my iPod
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Buenos Aires

One thing before I forget it; as I said it is difficult for me to tell about Dominican republic as I've stayed there too long. Quite true, just remembered a few very typical things I totally forgot. Rhum, cigars and a game of domino is the way most males spend their afternoons on the streets. Just as in Cuba. Dominicans are very proud of their rhum and cigars, which they claim are the best in the world. Another thing they are very proud of, is merengue that originated in the country. Music you can hear absolutely everywhere.

Then I can continue with my trip, as you might know I'm at the moment in the wonderful, elegant and giant capital of Argentina. Arrived yesterday early, early in the morning. Slept away half the day, as sleeping on the plane was impossible. Got a few hours in the afternoon strolling through a tiny part of the city. Those hours was enough to make me fall in love with this city, and I've already expanded my stay here with one week.

Delicious beef accompanied with a completely full glass of red wine, dessert and coffee for 5 USD. Followed by a very tasty beer in a small Plaza with tango dancers. No wonder I like it here! The city is very different from both Havana and Santo Domingo. It feels like being in Europe with a Latin American touch. Small boutiques (lucky for my wallet I can't bring anything with me) and nice cafés all over. It's also very nice to have normal air humidity again, with a touch of fresh spring. And a temperature it's possible to do things in.


-- Posted from my iPod

Dominican republic

Been three weeks since my last update, guess it's time for a new one. I'll start with some basics about this country.

Dominican republic shares the island La Hispaniola with Haiti, located in the exotic vacation paradise the Caribbean. Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries, Dom.Rep. is "only" the third poorest in this continent. Needless to say, both countries face big problems. Yes, this is a country where tourism are growing. The huge, luxurious all-inclusive resorts are popping up all along the coast-line. The country is rich on minerals. It's lush and perfect for growing everything from oranges and bananas to rice and sugar canes. Unfortunately, not much of this benefits the main population. Corrupt politicians selling everything to foreign companies accompanied with crisis after crisis for the past years have done their job in partly erasing the middle class, making the lower class bigger and bigger and the difference between people huge. The devaluation of the currency haven't made things easier, as the salaries for many are still almost the same. Today the informal sector is the biggest here, increasing every day as the unemployment raises. And of course, as poverty raises so does crime.

The public schools are still bad, if you can't afford to pay for a private school you will be more likely to work than go to the public school. There are exceptions. But as an example, for weeks at a time the teachers won't get paid, and naturally won't go to work. What use it is to go to a school without teachers? That's why it outside rich areas and the most touristy spots can be impossible to find anyone who speaks english. Or that understand a map if you're asking for directions.

As most of you know, I speak some spanish after my year here. And the one week with a spanish course was very useful, I needed to refresh and learn some more verbs. In my opinion the most difficult part of spanish, as they conjugate every verb in endlessly many ways.

But, it's nice to be able to travel wherever I like here. And to be able to talk with locals everywhere. Roger arrived to visit me two weeks ago, so we rented a car and have been driving to almost every corner of the country. It's a small island, but diverse. You have picture-perfect white sand beaches, mountains (the highest peak 3,100 metres), mangroves, lagoons, coral-reefs, cactuses and so on.

We've been to Samaná, a small tourist-town called Las Terrenas, where we visited several beaches where we were practically alone. Had one night in Puerto Plata, with a stop at the rhum-factory. Then Monte Cristi almost at the Haitian border in the north. A quiet village with the beach El Morro, more similar to greek beaches than how you usually imagine Caribbean beaches. A small stop in Santiago at the tobacco factory and a bakery I love. Then a trip to the south-west, just south of Barahona.

We arrived back to Santo Domingo yesterday, where we have checked in to an idyllic guest-house, a former nunnery, in the old town. It's a bit expensive, luckily I've managed to get the price for dominicans, making it affordable. And very cheap for this standard and location. We also delivered the car in one piece, almost unbelivable considering the way people drive and some of the roads.

Spent some hours yesterday in a big mall finding christmas presents to my family. The earliest ever, but have to send them to Norway with Roger on monday. So the last days we'll spend relaxing here in Zona Colonial, before he leaves monday and I head for Buenos Aires on tuesday.


-- Posted from my iPod