AN EXPERIENCE ABOVE ALL ELSE.

... So it has been 3 months since I have done my last post on Snob, and what a 3 months it has been. After saving my pennies and working my butt off for nearly a year I ventured overseas to America and South America with a group of friends I can safely say I will have for a lifetime. We knew we would experience new things, learn a lot about ourselves and each other and come up against challenges and tests...but little did we know it would change much more than that.

Los Angeles was our first stop and I think it surprised us all. Celebs walking the streets? Hollywood? A place to be and be seen?...Not really. It was a different world than I had always imagined. Having said that, we drank cocktails at Hotel Chateau Marmont, partied at Sky Garden and shopped on Rodeo Drive (Pretty Woman style). So I guess yes, we had a good time...despite the expectation of what you see in the movies.

Then there was San Francisco, an absolute delight to visit. Not only did it remind me a lot of Melbourne, but it was a city that had so much to offer us. We first visited the coveted street of Haight Ashbury, known worldwide for the best op-shopping in the world...and that it was. We visited the notorious Alcatraz prison, ate Clam Chowder on Fisherman's Wharf, biked the Golden Gate Bridge to the beautiful town of Sausalito and explored the wine country of the Napa Valley.

Las Vegas was exactly what it's been made out to be... bright lights and nightclubs and casinos sprawling the streets. NYC... well what can I say? What a magical city to be in, especially over Christmas time. We spent most of our time in Soho exploring the beautiful boutiques like Helmut Lang, Acne and Rag & Bone. My favourite meal in 'the city that never sleeps'? Buddakan in the famous Meat Packing District.

After the US of A came Mexico, Costa Rica then Peru. In Mexico we enjoyed driving Jeeps through the jungle, boating to Isla Mujeres on the Yucatan Peninsula, partying on a deserted beach in Playa del Carmen over the New Year and perusing the ancient ruins of Tulum. Peru was a different kettle of fish as we had nearly a month to discover what was on offer. We flew into Lima, travelled to a spectacular oasis in the desert of Huacachina, spent a few days in a fishing town called Paracas, loved the ancient city of Cusco, walked tracks of the Amazon jungle and trekked over 43kms to the Inca city of Macchu Picchu. It was truly indescribable. 

In Buenos Aires we stayed at the Milhouse Hostel which was a winner if you were interested in PARTY PARTY PARTYING. And that's about all we did until we made it to Iguazu Falls in the north of Argentina. While very touristy, the falls were a stunning sight to see and I would suggest anybody going to Argentina to see them. From Argentina we flew to Brasil were we spent the next week in a beach town called Buzios...a place I would love to revisit one day. Then it was to Rio for Carnival.

We ended our 3 month holiday in Santiago, Chile. We stayed in the trendy Bella Vista area which was packed to the brim with bars, restaurants and small art gallery's. 

While it is simply now a memory, this holiday was the experience of a lifetime and one that I will never forget. I can only hope that I have many more, similar, adventures to come.

Ella xxx