Crossing The Line
We’ll be crossing the equator on Monday night this week as we head out for our first ever visit to South America, arriving in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday morning. Perhaps surprisingly this will be only our second ever foray across the equator, our one previous destination south of the line was our honeymoon trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar back in 2013.
Given that Rio will be the furthest point south we have so far visited, our thoughts have turned inevitably to the extremities of our previous adventures. The furthest point north so far is St Petersburg, a beautiful and majestic city which we visited in the depths of its freezing winter, experiencing in the process a temperature of -27C, our coldest to date. We are pleased to have visited here in earlier times as any trip to Russia is clearly off the agenda for the foreseeable future.
In terms of journeys south, Rio will surpass Dar Es Salaam/Zanzibar as our southernmost destination. Westwards, our historical extremity is the magical and thrilling city of San Francisco which we visited on our 2022 road trip around California.
The Vietnam coast around Hoi An and Da Nang represents our furthest point east, visited during our lengthy South East Asia tour last year.
And so to Brazil. By the time we make our next post we will, all things being equal, be experiencing the carnival atmosphere in one of the World’s most vibrant cities. With the high point of the “carnavale” due next Sunday, the 11th of the month, we will spend around ten days revelling in the atmosphere and exploring the city before we move on.
From Rio we have a planned route to explore much more of Brazil, including the Iguazu Falls and perhaps a brief sortie across the border into Argentina whilst in that region. Eventually, somewhere around early to mid April, we plan to wind up in the Amazon rainforest before we leave South America and head north to our next destination where we will indulge in our second USA road trip, this time around Louisiana and Tennessee. We have New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville on our radar.
Our plan then is to complete this adventure with a visit to my daughter’s home in the mountains above Los Angeles. This promises to be an exciting and enthralling trip.
But first….Rio de Janeiro.
26 Comments
restlessjo
Carnaval happens here too, but not on quite that scale and certainly not so warm. Enjoy the party!
Lookoom
I’m sure there’ll be some exciting times ahead, with so many projects in the pipeline, including several places I’ve already been to that I’d love to see again. There’ll be plenty of material for great photos and encounters, as always you will make the most of them for the pleasure of your readers.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you so much for those kind comments. Yes we are very much looking forward to this one.
wetanddustyroads
You have toured to many corners of the world – what a privilege! At least I can say tomorrow: Welcome to this side of the equator (and hopefully, enjoy the sunshine weather)! Oh yes, and have fun at the word’s biggest party!!
Phil & Michaela
I am sure we will!
Suzanne@PictureRetirement
Have fun at the party. Just you two and a million new friends. Can wait for your stories and photos.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Suzanne, it’s gonna be massive!
Toonsarah
I’m amazed that you’ve only once before been south of the equator, given how much you travel! You’ve got me reaching for the map to work out my travel extremities although I knew already that the furthest south is the Antarctic Peninsula and the furthest north must be the North Cape in Norway. It seems the westernmost point is Telegraph Cove at the northern end of Vancouver Island and I think the furthest east is Port Macquarie in New South Wales. Maybe I’ll do a post on these lines one day!
Meanwhile I wish you safe and wonderful travels and will look forward to reading all about them! I’ll be especially interested in your US road trip as we’ve never been to those states 🙂
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Sarah. We are very much looking forward to every bit of this trip!
Parks and Planes
So excited for you and we can’t wait to follow along on your adventures in S. America!
Phil & Michaela
Thank you guys!
Monkey's Tale
Have a caipirinha for me!!
Phil & Michaela
We will!
Travels Through My Lens
You have some great destinations coming your way soon! Safe travels and enjoy every minute. Hopefully, the torrential rains will have left California by the time you arrive. My sister in San Diego is keeping me posted.
Phil & Michaela
Flooding in downtown LA but not in the mountains where my daughter lives, thankfully
WanderingCanadians
Safe travels! We’ve never been to South America before either, so are looking forward to hearing about your experiences and adventures.
Heyjude
Bon voyage! I shall enjoy my next virtual adventure with you on a continent I have never visited, nor likely to. Safe travels.
Phil & Michaela
Thank you Jude x
Alison
You really are both so intrepid, I wonder you don’t do videos also. All points covered. What an amazing itinerary you have planned, looking forward to following along
Phil & Michaela
Cheers Ali x
grandmisadventures
I’m so excited to follow your adventures to Brazil but even more so that you’re coming to Nashville! Safe travels to Rio! 🙂
Phil & Michaela
You live in Nashville?! You better prepare to meet a couple of retired backpackers then! 😂
grandmisadventures
We live just south of Nashville. So we will find a day and we will take you around town and be your tour guides!
Phil & Michaela
Wow that would be sooooo good! We’re likely to be near Nashville sometime towards the end of April, maybe early May. In the meantime we’ll stay in touch, of course.
grandmisadventures
Wahoo, cant wait!
Annie Berger
You should call yourselves the Intrepid Travellers with what you’ve done and now planned! I enjoyed reading about your choice for your honeymoon destination and then the other corners of the globe you’ve explored. Bon voyage!