South America Trip in one book

I was terrible at blogging while we were travelling! 
It was hard to get time to work, let alone write it all down here. However, I did manage to take notes on my phone while at parks or museums or when we were sat at the top of mountains!

These notes have now been jotted down together with photos for everyone to see in my book 'EVERYWHERE'.

We were supposed to leave again two weeks ago for a second adventure but with the spread of Covid-19, we are in isolation along with the rest of the world. 

We would like to send out some virtual hugs to everyone during this stressful and scary time and wish you all a happy outcome.

Links to both my books are below (affiliate links)

Chile to Ushuaia

It's impossible to write everything we've seen and done but I want to share our trip along the Carretera Austral and boat crossing from puerto Yangay to puerto Natates.

Carretera Austral views

Crossing into Chile (chile chicho) proved rather tricky with our dog. We had all the necessary documents but failed to get a document from SENASA the Argentinian sanitation department (the website we had consulted had not mentioned this document). When we arrived at the border, we were refused entry with Barney. Unfortunately, it was a bank holiday so we couldn't get the document anywhere and traveled back to Perito Moreno where we had stayed the night before to spend another night before getting the document. The next day we went to the SENASA office but it was closed for a week due to staff shortages! We drove to the next city (Rio Mayo) some 125 km away only to find it closed until the next day due to staff shortages! We returned the following day and managed to get the document but we had used three extra days and the pressure was on because we had a boat to catch. Crossing the border took 2 hours and was the most invasive crossing we have experienced on this trip. They removed everything from our car and trailer to scan it all and search through. 

But, we were finally in Chile and set off towards Puerto Guadal for the night. The roads to get there were hair raising, steep and cliffy! We arrived at night and luckily found a cabana to stay at for the night.

The next morning we headed to Peurto Yangay. The roads were really difficult to drive and it was first and second gear almost all the way. The roads are narrow, stony/dirt tracks with little space to pass oncoming vehicles and a sheer drop on one side if you were to steer off path. Definitely a road I would be reluctant to drive again, but the views were spectacular and even the boys enjoyed the scenery. We arrived in Puerto Yungay at dusk and were shocked to find nothing there! It is not a big port and luckily one little cafe was there to serve food!

The next day we hung around the port until the boat departed at 8pm. The boat is simple with reclining seats and onboard movies. We got ourselves settled and watch a film before sleeping. The next day we explored a bit more. There was a little playroom for the boys to wear off some energy and the food was good. We spend some time on deck and were fortunate to see huge ice chunks in the water. The snowy mountains and sea lions along the route made it a lovely journey and the boat is fully heated so we enjoyed our ride. Barney had to stay in his kennel by the car which he didn't like very much but we managed to go down and get him out several times each day but he was very happy to get back in the car as we left the boat!

We spend the night after in Puerto Natales which is a good-sized city with plenty of campsites and hotels. The next day we headed to Rio Grande back in Argentina which involved another short boat trip (20 mins) and a full day driving. 

Glaciar Martial

After we drove to Ushuaia. We stayed in an Airbnb with a lovely host and enjoyed 5 days exploring the city. The highlights were visiting a Siberian Husky centre and stroking 142 huskies and drinking hot chocolate, and climbing Glaciar Martial. The boys found icicles to suck like ice lollies and snow to slide down on their tummies - just like penguins! We had a fabulous time at the end of the world and enjoyed the natural park which has some good trails and lots of birds to see.

Uruguay

Chiu - Barney enjoying his trip!

We have traveled from Florianopolis to Uruguay. We're 10 days into our trip and well overdue a post about our adventures!

We came into Uruguay from Chiu/Chuy and spent a couple of nights on the Brazilian side at Del Lago Camping. We took a trip to see the divide between the two countries and the boys enjoyed jumping between Brazil and Uruguay on the road which divides the two!

Native guinea pigs

Once we were into Uruguay we traveled down to Montevideo where we found another great campsite in the forest at a nature park (Parque Municipal Punta Espinillo). We had the place all to ourselves and saw loads of wildlife. Even though we had wet days we managed to explore the capital city and the beach.

The lighthouse in Colonia

Finally, we traveled to Colonia del Sacramento, a beautiful historical town. We have spent four days exploring this quaint town and seeing all the sights. It is easy to drive around and we have found a paleontology museum and a small aquarium with electric fish!

Aquarium

The old bull ring

Paleontology Museum

Sunset in Colonia

Colonia

Travel games

As we're about to set off on our trailer adventure I thought it would be good to jot down all the travel games we're taking with us. The boys are really getting into games now so we can have hours at a time usually after dinner as a great TV alternative. 

Here are our favorites!

Dominoes are great and this is our current top game. The boys are learning new strategies and getting better at not winning!


Kanoodle jr is a fun game with plenty of 'levels' for the kids to work through. The pieces are big and chunky so hard to loose and the games are fast so turn taking isn't a problem.


Pairs in pears and bananagrams are very similar and have a few variations that can be used depending on reading level. We sometimes just see how many words we can make.

Rush hour is one that I really enjoy and again has plenty of 'levels' so even adults can have a challenge. We usually work as a team to solve the traffic jam.


Shapeometry is fun but still a bit hard for the boys but they manage a few of the first levels and enjoy making weird pictures or shapes with the pieces. Me and my husband have been known to have a few games after the boys are in bed and we can get quite competitive!

If you have any good suggestions for us, please leave a comment below.

If you're looking for more info on books or apps try these posts:
Apps for fun and learning
Chapter books 2018
Chapter books 2019

Chapter books 2020

Best book we read 2019

I've decided to write another post on the books we are reading this year. During this time of lock-down, we're reading a bit more than normal. There is also a definite dragon theme going on but I am always on the look out for more ideas!  

Last year I didn't have time to write in all the books we read but one stands out that I must add here in this post. We read it together and it was one of the best books I think I've read with the boys. They give it five stars and have spoken often about things from the book. I think we will re-read in the next weeks but here it is for you now in case you want to start The Secret Garden gets 5 stars from these boys:

The Christmasaurus
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: finding him

Brilliant sequel
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: everything!

Rise of the Earth Dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: worm destroyed the
rocks of the cave

Saving the Sun Dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: When they meet
the moon dragon

Secret of the water dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: when the dragon stone
glows

Chill of the ice dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: when rori came back

Flight of the moon dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: the prime dragon
stone

Song of the poison dragon
Boys rating:5
Best bit: the poison

Roar of the thunder dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: thunder dragon

Search for the lightning
dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: the baby dragon

Power of the fire dragon
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: when worm takes
them to places

This set of three was a huge hit with the boys who give it a five star rating and love the fact that dragons come from dragon fruit (we now have a dragon fruit tree in our garden!)

Bubble boy
Boys rating: 5
Best bits: when he goes outside

Mildred is a favorite here.
Boys rating: 5
Best Bits: When she gets star back

Now we're reading all the how to train the dragon books.
Although they are very different from the films the boys give them a five star rating and want to read them all day everyday!

This is a great continuation
to the dragon series. It explains
most of the dragons in the books
Boys rating: 5 stars

They have read this whole 
series and highly recommend it
5 stars 
Best bits: They defeat the baddy!

Now we have begun the
Harry Potter saga!
5 stars from both boys
best bits are the animals 
and magic!

Another fun series they are enjoying
5 stars again and the best bits are
when they meet a skywing.

The fourth in the series and just as good
5 stars and we cannot wait for book 5!