“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

For our one year anniversary, Katie and I took off on a 3 week adventure in South America.

We explored the time-stamped beauty of Buenos Aires. Learned how to tango. Watched the sunset in Colonia, Uruguay. Went bike riding along the cost of Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo. Rode horses at a quaint ranch. Took in the incredible sights of Iguazu Falls, home to over 200 waterfalls at the border of Argentina and Brazil. Drove speedboats into said waterfalls, which was insane. Drank too many Caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail, on a day-long boat adventure. Swam in the ocean off the coast of Ilha Grande, an island that was originally a leper colony, and then housed Brazilian prisoners. The island itself was the work of postcards. We then ventured into the Rocinha Favela in Rio de Janeiro, which is a slum home to over 200,000 people. (We even got caught between some drug lords with loaded AK-47s at one point.) And finished the trip by taking in a football match where FIFA happened last year, explored Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the rest of Rio.

All along we became fast friends with 15 fellow travellers from England, Ireland, Germany, the U.S., Poland, Argentina and Australia. A trip we will never forget.

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The Obelisco de Buenos Aires. A quick walk from out hotel.

That gorgeous Spanish architecture in Buenos Aires.

Kid playing with ball in La Boca, Buenos Aires.

Katie in La Boca.

Sunset in Uruguay.

Watching sunset in Colonia.

Sunset in Uruguay.

My boy Gurps being a model and whatnot.

Oceanside in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Beer with the mates oceanside in Montevideo.

Nik getting that Tinder game on.

Sunset in Uruguay from the hotel roof.

Uruguay is beauty.

Horse on our ranch in Uruguay.

Owner and dog following fishing.

Happiest guy, our horse trainer.

The epic beauty of Iguazu Falls at the border of Brazil and Argentina.

The epic beauty of Iguazu Falls at the border of Brazil and Argentina.

A wild racoon type of creature called a Coati.

Jamie taking in the sights.

The full perspective of Iguazu Falls.

A wild monkey on Argentinian side of Falls.

Taking boats into the falls. Slightly insane.

Taking boats into the falls. Slightly insane.

The peaceful calm of Paraty, Brazil.

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The peaceful calm of Paraty, Brazil.

The peaceful calm of Paraty, Brazil.

Sunset in Paraty, Brazil.

Once a prison island, Ilha Grande is a sight off coast of Brazil.

Ilha Grande, Brazil

Bola being awesome.

Ilha Grande, Brazil

The Rocinha Favela in Brazil. Unreal experience to explore this Favella of 200,000.

The Rocinha Favela in Brazil. Unreal experience to explore this Favella of 200,000.

Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

The Rocinha Favela in Brazil. Unreal experience to explore this Favella of 200,000.

Rocinha Favela at night.

Overlooking Rio from Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Katie and I at the end of our 3-week trip.

Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

Part of Team Cambio in Rio.