Sunday, April 25, 2010
The big day
Anyway, here's a picture of the venue:
and here's a piccie of the happy couple:
A lot of people have said that it looks just like England. I don't know how to take that really...we went a long way to find somewhere that looks just like home! I hope our guests from the UK didn't feel cheated.
What I would say is that I'm very very glad that it didn't rain.
There was a 7 km dirt track to the estancia, which turned into a bog if it rained, and it was completely impassable, unless you had a big 4x4.
Back in November, we had asked the guy who administrated the estancia what happened if it rained, would the track be ok. Yes yes, he said, there would be nooo problems at all.
Turned out, that was a bit of a fib.
All the guys (wine delivery man, florist etc) said they couldn't get there if it rained...and to prove a point, it threw it down for the 2 weekends before our wedding and we tried to drive down there in our rubbish little hire car.
There was no way that it would have made it. After a bit of wheel-spinning, we turned back before we got stuck.
Looking back, I suppose we were a little blasé about the whole rain thing. The whole wedding was outside: outside for the church service, outside for dinner, outside for the dancing. If it had rained, we'd have been inside watching DVDs...except, thinking about it, I didn't actually see a TV in the estancia.
Anyway, how could it rain? A meteorologist marrying into the Solé family (pronounced like the French and Italian for sun), how could it not be sunny?!
For other people thinking of getting married, I'd have this advice:
It's probably best if you don't choose a venue about 13,000 km from where you live.
It's also best not to leave just 3 weeks to plan it.
If you follow these 2 bits of advice, I think you'll find things a lot easier...especially if your chosen venue is somewhere like Argentina where doing paperwork is a national pass time.
However, if you find yourself in trouble in Argentina, remember you can always 'persuade' people with pastries.
We were a little late for our blood test (by about 3 hours, but that's not the point. We didn't know what time we were supposed to be there and we got lost. Anyway...)
We were told we couldn't have the test and without a medical, there's no wedding. The conversation went something like this:
-Please?
-No
-Please?
-No.
-Have some pastries.
-Come on in!
As we bribed ourselves through the medical and civil ceremony, I began to wonder if the currency was actually medialunas rather than pesos. The fact they were edible, probably made them even more valuable, not to mention more tasty. Imagine if chocolate coins were real currency...I bet they'd taste even better.
I seem to be digressing. Back to the point:
As with most couples, Felipe and I were a little worried about how our families would get on, especially as they can't speak the same language. Turned out we needed on worried, the words 'house' and 'on fire' spring to mind. As soon as we realised that by not speaking the same language, it was impossible for them to offend each other, we relaxed.
One of the nicest things about the wedding was how well everyone got on. It didn't matter that they spoke different languages; Sign-Spanglish came into play, tenses were all wrong, languages were butchered, but everyone had a go!
By midnight, we'd all danced for approximately 6 hours, and we were all shattered.
Shattered, but very happy.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Cape Town
Well, we did it - we got hitched!
I'm going to have to do this a little bit backwards, as I don't have photos of the wedding yet, only the journey home! I do have a memory card with 950 wedding photos on, but as you can imagine, I haven't quite got round to looking at all of them yet...
We got married in Argentina, which likes paperwork and not trees. To get to Argentina from Doha, you can either go via Europe or via South Africa. When we went to Argentina in November, we went via the UK, which took 39 hours. It was horrible. So this time we went via South Africa, which took 40 hours. We must be mad.
The advantage of this extra hour, was that we could stop over in Cape Town on the way home, to have a mini-psuedo honeymoon.
I can honestly say that Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is stunning; absolutely beautiful.
There was only one problem...as we arrived at our super-plush hotel the receptionist said, "I'm afraid your room's been cancelled."
Excellent.
Somewhere between the hotel and the holiday-booking website, there had been a miscommunication and the room had been cancelled. By a stroke of luck, there was a spare one, so major hotel-searching-hassle was avoided.
And by another stroke of luck, the weather was fantastic.
Table Top mountain was climbed (well...the cable car helped a little)
Bo kaap was checked-out
Penguins were viewed
Cape Point was snapped
and Ostriches were fed.
In fact the only real cloud we saw was on the last day, when we were leaving! Perfect!
In June, Qatar Airways are opening up a direct flight to Buenos Aires. This will take about 17 hours and therefore save around a day of my life. Thanks Qatar Airways!
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Taxi Scams
Taking a taxi in many parts of the world can be a trying task. The drivers aren't always the most honest and can spot a tourist a mile off. Once you're in the cab, they'll take their time, going the long way round the block or driving around in circles a few times, just to make sure the fare's nice and high by the time they drop you off. Sometimes they seem to find a button to make the meter click through twice as fast, and sometimes they switch your money, "Sorry love, you didn't give me a ten, it was only a five."
Doha's different though. It's so small, and everyone is so friendly and honest...
Last night my Karwa taxi driver dropped me off at my friend's house. I gave him a 50.
"Sorry ma'am, it's 14 Riyals," he said holding up a 10.
I hesitated. I was sure I'd given him 50. But was I sure enough?
As I thought about it, Felipe who was unaware of what was going on, handed him another 5...and the taxi vanished, speeding down the road like a bat-out-of-hell.
I looked at my purse again...and pulled out my cash. The driver was really unlucky. I'd just been to the cash machine, and in my purse were two 100 Riyal notes and now only one 50 note. The cash machine doesn't give out 10s. He had just swapped the notes.
The driver was doubly unlucky, as in Doha you can't get away with things so easily. I called Karwa, the taxi firm. Once they'd picked up the phone (which obviously took about 5 minutes, good job I love their hold musak) they were actually really helpful, giving me his name, his Karwa ID and his mobile number!
I called Mr Joseph, and told him he had 10 minutes to get back here and give me my money back, or I was going to the police.
...and 10 minutes later, I was in my friend's house, with the 50 Riyals safely back in my purse.
The days of not being ripped-off by your taxi driver may be over for Doha, but is there anywhere else in the world would I have got my cash back? Probably not.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Confused Cars
The lovely Industrial Area. My favourite place.
My little car is now 3 years old, so it was time to renew the Registration Document. Off to the Industrial Area with me!
I'd been advised to go really early, as the queues can be quite large. I was on the road by 7:10am. For me that is super early. Unfortunately I hit traffic, and didn't move anywhere for half an hour, but soon enough I was in the hell that is the Industrial Area.
I really cannot explain to you how horrific the Industrial Area is. It's a big dusty mess of pot-holed roads, none of it's finished, there are roadworks and lorries everywhere, hesitate at a junction and you'll be run off the road. It all looks the same, and it all looks like this:
What's more, it's absolutely massive. Here's the map I was following, with the Industrial Area circled:
The map looked fairly straight forward. It all went wrong at the end though: There was a big No Entry sign and a bloody great bollard. I tried the next road, but it was a dead end, so I went back to the bollard and ignored the No Entry sign. Bad in most countries, here I was just the 6th car in a row to do so.
The policeman on the gate watched all the cars do this and didn't seem to mind at all. I smiled and said I needed to test my car. He asked for my registration card and said I was in the wrong place. I needed building 2.
Off I toodled to building 2. The man at the front desk said I was in the wrong place. Apparently I wanted building 1...where I'd just come from.
Off I went back to building 1. The policeman looked confused, but smiled and gave me a number to wait in line.
I had planned this part quite well: I was wearing high heels and skirt. If you're female and dress up a little, they try to get you out of the building as fast as humanly possible.
My number was discarded and I was sent to the front.
The lady there said, "No need, no need! New car!"
"But it's 3 years old," I pointed out
"No need! No need! Just police - Go! Building 2!"
The police who issue the new registration cards are at the back of Building 2. As I walked back to Building 2, I noticed the front (where I'd been earlier) was the testing place for truckers. No wonder I looked out of place.
As soon as I walked near building 2, a man grabbed me and took me to the front of the queue, neatly by-passing about 30 people. A lady gave me my new plastic registration card and I left.
I'm still really confused though. My car is over 3 years old, why did it not need a test?!
I asked our External Affairs Office, they said it needs to be tested. In fact everyone I've asked says yes it needs to be tested...but it wasn't.
I have no idea what happened, but one thing's for certain, I'm wearing heels next year too!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
WHAT?!
See if you can make out what this is peering out of the window:
I promise you this is a real photo and I haven't doctored it in any way.I took this yesterday evening on my way home from work. I was stopped at traffic lights when I saw this animal in the passenger seat of the car next to me. I followed it to the next lights where I managed to get a photo of...
...a cheetah!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Potatoes and Suitcases
So, finally...it was time to test my Spanish, time to travel to Argentina to meet my fiance's family.
No pressure then.
After a million hours of travelling, we landed at Resistencia Airport. Felipe's Dad was there to meet us. This was it, first impressions are everything. I opened my arms wide, smiled my sweetest smile and shouted, "Potato!"
Apparently if you say PApa in Spanish (like you would in French) it means Potato. Only with the accent on the second syllable (paPA) does it mean Dad.
Did someone not want to tell me this before I got off the plane?!
The first thing I noticed about Argentina were the cars. It was like I'd travelled back in time:
This one has a blue light on top, so I guess it's classed as a police car:
And something strange was going on in the petrol stations too:
You will probably have to squint to make this one out, but inside (through all the reflections) is me...at a bar...!
The other thing you can't fail to notice was the crazy weather. Resistencia is in the north of the country and one day it was reported in the papers to have a "feel-like temperature of 58C"; It was horribly sticky and hot. The next day it flooded and the day after I was still cold despite my thick winter jumper.
Now the main reason we were in Argentina was to celebrate Felipe's brother's wedding. Here's a rather blurry photo taken at the wedding:
Now the astute amongst you may notice a couple of rather strange hats. Apparently this is traditional in Argentinean weddings. Don't ask me, I've no idea, but when in Rome...
Anyway, other than renaming the man of the house, it all went surprising well with the soon-to-be-in-laws. Communication was a mixture of Spanish, English and Sign-language, which I think is Sign-Spanglish, and they decided I was quite Latino in my mannerisms.
I told my mother and she said, "Yes you are, I suppose."
It must be my dark smoldering looks and excellent Tango skills.
After a few weeks in the tropical north with mosquitos bigger than my hand (and bites even bigger than that) it was time to head to the chilly south.
We had a feeling the penguins were close...
In fact they were everywhere!
Funny things really, the way they scurry around like they have a vitally important mission...and then they'll suddenly lie down:
How random!
Anyway, here are some more photos of penguins. You'll be pleased to know that this is just a small selection, the other 2484572 photos I'll keep to myself...
Anyway, that's probably enough Penguins for now...
The next day we drove about 4 hours to see some other animals. When we arrived, we were greeted by this sight:
We were miles away from the creatures we were supposed to see and Felipe wasn't convinced they were seals. In front of nature-lovers from around the world he shouts out, "They're not seals, they're dead fish! They are! They're big dead fish! Look!"
To be fair, they were seals, they were just seals that were a long, long way away. We had driven 4 hours for this!?
At this point, my sister decided to join us. She was lucky to miss the dead fish.
We took her off into the ocean to meet some whales. At the start of our journey we were all looking lively.
However, then the engine broke:
...and some sealions on the Isle of Wight.
Oh no, my mistake, I mean Patagonia.
Right, enough animals, I should mention suitcases.
When Vicky turned up in Argentina, her suitcase didn't; Iberia chose to leave it in Madrid. It took them 3 days to get it to Trelew. Unlike other airlines, they refused to courier it to our hotel and we had to contact the airport ourselves.
As no one ever answered the phone at Trelew airport, we had to drive there to see if the case had shown up. That was torture. The airport was a 70 kilometers away, and the scenery was all like this:
In the end I drove there 5 times. That's a total of 700 kilometers with no scenery. Each time they said the case hadn't arrived, I started to sob.
It did eventually turn up...just as we were leaving for Mendoza! ...and when we landed in Mendoza, this time it was me who didn't have a suitcase!
Statistically, that's 67% of travellers to Argentina who lose their suitcase. At least Aerolineas Argentinas were much better than Iberia - they sent my suitcase directly to our hotel.
Mendoza is the wine-growing region of Argentina, but most of the vineyards are shut on Sunday, so we decided to check out Chile. We took a coach to Santiago, stayed there for approximately 5 hours, and then set off for Mendoza again.
This might sound slightly mad, but the coach from Mendoza to Santiago goes over the Andes and the scenery is stunning:
The Andes in Argentina
The Andes in Chile!
Once back in Mendoza, it was finally time to taste their famous wine. Firstly we went to a lesson to tell us what to look for:
Then we went on a field experiment to see what really happened.
There were fields of grapes...
...and fields of olives...
But oddly enough, not a potato to be seen.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Platinum Tripod
Another year, another Tripod holiday. This one was called the "Platinum Tripod" in honour of my newly engaged status, but more in a later posting...
This year's destination was Copenhaaaaagen.
The day before the holiday I mentioned to a friend where I was going.
"Copenhagan?! Why Copenhagen? I went there a few years ago...for 2 days, and that was 2 days too long. It's rubbish. There's nothing to do there."
How to crush someone's holiday spirit.
Then he added, "Oh and it's one of the most expensive places in the world."
Thanks for that.
I met the other 2 Tripodian's at Heathrow, and off we went to find out for ourselves.
We decided that we could get over one of the hurdles very easily. Denmark isn't in the Euro, it's uses the Krone. If we don't ever find out what the exchange rate is, we'll never worry about it being too expensive.
Job done.
To this day I still have no idea what the exchange rate is, but I am now dodging calls from my Bank Manager.
As for boring, we definitely had a laugh, but you do have to search for sights. It's not like Sydney where there's a bloody great Opera House shouting at you, or the Harbour Bridge asking for a climb. Tivoli Gardens were shut and the Little Mermaid was disappointingly little.
The closest we got to Tivoli Gardens.
The Little Mermaid. Little being the operative word.
However, a boat trip round the city was good.
as was a trip on the London Eye...I mean the Copenhagen Wheel...
The Ice Bar...now that was fun!
You dress like Papa Smurf
The glasses are made of ice,
and so are the tables and chairs
Dilster just sat on an ice chair
...but the highlight had to be a trip up the tower. As you know, I am a complete wuss with heights and the idea of climbing a building which had the stairs on the outside didn't really appeal.
Initially I had to be dragged to the building (where we tried to gatecrash a child's Christening before we realised the entrance to the tower was round the corner)
But at the top, I turned into the champion!
Much happier on the way down:
Back on terra firma. They still look rather shaky:
Hopefully this will have discouraged them from dragging me up and more towers in the near future!!
