tangerinepenguin

The falls at Foz do Iguaçu are incredible, and with the three-way border between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay – plus Itaipu Hydroelectric (for now, still the largest hydroelectric dam in the world) just up the way – there are tons to do. In retrospect, we should have traded time on the Argentine side for the package shopping trip to Ciduad del Este, but it’d come so highly recommended by the Brazilians I was working with.

I spent a week on holiday in Salvador while working in Brazil, splitting my time between activities and side trips that had been set up as part of the vacation package, and activities and side trips that we set up ourselves, usually through the hotel.

The lesson? Don’t bother with the package trips; just arrange accomodations and then make plans once you’re on the ground: easier, more interesting, and often cheaper.

I daytripped down to Phillip Island while in Melbourne, for the famous Penguin Parade (of course). But the island itself was gorgeous and relaxing, and (since it was a bus tour) we were rushed entirely too quickly through everything. Next time, I think I’ll need to take more of a weekend to make it more relaxed.

I’ve wanted to go to a Worlds Fair every since reading Babar’s Fair, and in 1998 I still knew some Portuguese from being in Brazil, so I jumped at the chance. I spent a couple of days at the Expo itself, which was incredible, and the rest of a week exploring the Lisbon area. Highly worthwhile.

Just over the border from Brazil, I spent much of a day in Ciudad del Este as part of a popular package tour through the hotel while in Foz do Iguaçu. Unfortunately, the main attraction for most tourists was the comparatively cheap shopping. If you aren’t looking for a cheap TV, there’s too much else you could be doing or seeing in the area for Ciudad to take up a day.

I’ll admit to being a castle buff, but this is still an incredible place to visit. I went late-season, so some of the touristy stuff had shut down, but the crowds were also almost non-existent so it was more than a fair tradeoff. Many people do Carcassonne as a day trip from the coast, but I recommend taking a couple of days there and seeing the surrounding countryside as well.

I spent several weeks in Eindhoven in the late 90s during a project for Phillips Medical Systems. Very walkable, much to do, with effortless rail access into Germany, Belgium and France for weekend trips.

I lived in Curitiba for six months in 1995, while working on a project for Banco Bamerindus (before it was bought out by HSBC).

But already I get ahead of myself. This is actually closely tied to a later goal on my 43things.com list, “lose weight.”

I’m not normally the sort to to look at a travel destination in terms of the shopping. But, in addition to being part of one of the few remaining continents I haven’t been to, Hong Kong is well known for being one of the places you go to get custom made men’s wear. So I figure – once I get down to goal weight – I’ll need some new suits that fit, and what better way to get them than someplace that just happens to require exotic travel?

Not that I suspect I’ll be able to stick to just clothes fittings once I get there…