South America wrapped up...

We've been back in South Africa for a month now and whilst its been busy and great fun it has also given us enough time to sit back and reflect on the last 4.5 years in the UK and particularly the final 2 months in South America.

Whilst 'constructing' the recent blog posts in South America I was often rushed for time and/or hampered by limited resources - a dud machine, painfully slow internet access, faulty USB ports etc etc. So I've had a look through Robyn's pics, which I often aluded to, and here is a small collection of them that I definitely would've published had I not been in such a hurry. Enjoy.

Where it began, Copacabana beach, Rio, complete with hardcore stud in the background

What do you do when the truck breaks down one evening? Find somewhere that sells cold beer.

Caiman in the Pantanal

One of the world's largest storks and emblem of the Pantanal - The Jabiru

The Red-breasted Toucan

The '2008' butterfly at the Iguazu Falls

Stick insect

Amantani Granny and Grandson

'Teething problems' at a Potosi internet cafe

Two Aymara women trying to catch a glimpse of the President of Bolivia doing his rounds in Potosi

Class photo in the Plaza de Armas, Cusco, Peru

Me and a Black-chested Buzzard Eagle in Colca, Peru

The 'Rest of the World' versus England, Puerta Inca, Peru. We lost this one 3-2, but won our first encounter in Brazil 5-4, leaving it one apiece in the series.

A bird flew into our left engine on takeoff forcing an emergency landing and an extra day in Lima.