http://amirschricker.org Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:03:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Antarctica. The continent and the cruise were better than I could have ever imagined. Here is a recap for your reading enjoyment.  Day 1 Course: Ushuaia, through the Beagle Channel, then into Drake Passage Waters: calm. Morale: very high. We're on a boat! The cruise that motivated this whole trip has finally arrived. This will be our home ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/30/travel-journal-antarctica/ Hello from the southernmost city in the world! We arrived here in Ushuaia and were ecstatic to hear that our booking company found us another Antarctica cruise. This was extremely exciting news, especially since our new cruise runs close to the same days as our original one. Our new ship is named ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/18/travel-journal-ushuaia/ We've spent the last several days enjoying Rio in bright sunshine. Unfortunately it's been pouring rain non-stop for the last two days, but luckily we already got to visit Rio's main attractions. Rio de Janeiro's most identifiable landmark is Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), a 130-foot statue of Christ set atop a ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/15/travel-journal-rio-de-janeiro-3/ Holy crap. It began when a girl invited us to a street party at a favela. She was an American college student studying Latin American music and was invited by one of her connections, one who lives in a favela. Let's call him Christopher. And let's call her Laila, because, well ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/13/travel-journal-rio-de-janeiro-2/ Ola! We are now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My initial thoughts about this country were not pleasant ones, and it began as early as applying for a visa. First, they make all applicants apply in person, and if you have a family member or friend apply for you, they charge ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/11/travel-journal-rio-de-janeiro-1/ Still having fun here in BA, although our one complaint is that it's so damn hot here. The temperature is at least in the 80s or 90s every day, and the sun is bright and blazing until 7pm. I ran around the dikes today (that's not code for anything; I ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/10/travel-journal-buenos-aires-2-2/ Wilkie went to Uruguay for a day trip today, and I went on a surprisingly entertaining but interesting walking tour. It was put on by bafreetour.com, a great organization that puts on free walking tours of Buenos Aires. Tours are offered daily, and anyone who is interested shows up here, at ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/09/travel-journal-buenos-aires-2/ Hola! We arrived safe and sound to Buenos Aires, but not without Wilkie having his fun. At the airport he thought it would be funny to yell "terrorist!" near the security checkpoints. And ticket lines. And bathrooms. I was about to board my first flight, and even though we both checked ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/07/travel-journal-buenos-aires-1/ It's time to travel again, peoples. This year's destination? Earth's coldest, windiest, and driest continent ... Antarctica. However, before reaching the southernmost continent, we will first drop by South America and play around for awhile. The idea to travel to Antarctica was planted realistically in my head for the first time ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/12/01/next-trip-antarctica/ After nearly ten years, our crew (which now includes a few wives) met up in its entirety for an awesome reunion in Lake Tahoe. The weekend was filled with eating and drinking, as well as hiking, gambling, sleeping, and playing. Here we are the first night we arrived, going to town ... http://amirschricker.org/blog/2011/11/12/tahoe-reunion/