10 latest experiences http://www.hereorthere.com/members/seema en-us It was a warm summer’s day in Buenos Aires and like all tourists there was no way I could come to this amazing city and not visit Eva Peron: “The Spiritual Leader of the Nation”, which she really is now, ironically. I entered the grand gates of Recoleta Cemetery where Argentina’s elite are buried and was overwhelmed at the size of this place: it’s enormous. It actually covers four city blocks and is located in one BA’s plushest neighbourhoods. The tombs are stunning – more than 6,000 of them all ornate and unique. Some are built to resemble chapels, temples and mansions; one is a miniature replica of Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. After exploring the cemetery for an hour I was getting anxious, I couldn’t find Evita’s tomb. Suddenly I spot a herd of tourists, some clicking away and others trying desperately to look over the selfish tall guy’s shoulders. There it was: the First Lady’s resting place. It took her 17 years (after her death) to finally land a spot ... Buenos Aires, Argentina seema Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:41:19 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/seema/experience/171 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/171 On a recent trip to Rio I visited one of Rio’s largest favelas (or shantytowns). Since they are such a big part of the fabric of Brazilian society it was important for me to visit at least one. The first thing you notice while driving around Rio is that they are everywhere - even in the most affluent residential areas. In fact, one of the favelas is perched high above the city with the best view of Sugar Loaf. The only way to get inside a favela is with a guide and there are only a couple who offer this service. The reason our guide was even allowed inside is because his company donates a percentage of their income to the favela and over the years he’s made friends with some of the residents. As he took us around, I couldn’t help but notice that this was actually a city within a city. They had a post office, a McDonald’s, hair salons and markets. The streets were lined with garbage, some in the bags and some spilling out. The houses were all built by the residents thems... Rio de Janeiro, Brazil seema Wed, 30 May 2007 09:16:15 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/seema/experience/121 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/121 Last summer while visiting Naples and the Amalfi Coast, we took a drive to Pompeii – the ancient city buried after the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. We arrived at around 2pm, which we later discovered was a big mistake since the scorching sun was merciless and there was no chance of buying water or food for the next two and a half hours. The minute I stepped foot in this fascinating city I immediately felt like I had been transported back in time – 79 AD to be precise. The villas still had colourful frescoes on the walls depicting their once normal lives, one sign even read “beware of dog”. The quaint little homes with their gardens all lined the labyrinthine cobbled streets (with their sophisticated drainage systems) that led to the forum, an important meeting point and marketplace for the townspeople. A short walk from the town close to the gardens is the Teatro Grande, an open-air theatre where thousands of spectators would watch gladiators battle animals for ho... Napoli, Italy seema Mon, 28 May 2007 18:03:36 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/seema/experience/117 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/117 As I read the disclaimer (poorly translated from Portuguese) and signed my life away, I had no idea how those 20 minutes up in the sky would be almost life-changing. Ok, maybe I’m being overly dramatic, but seeing the lush, green city of Rio from high above is definitely one of those experiences you never forget. We drove up the steep mountain - a drive that felt like it went on for hours - till we got to the Pedra Bonita jump site. There were other instructors setting up with their brave mentors watching eagerly (or were they just terrified, hard to tell). The instructor and his assistant unpacked the glider and harness, proudly displaying them in front of the other instructors. I waited anxiously till it was my turn and waved goodbye to my husband who so chivalrously said he’d go first. After I was snugly strapped in, I looked up and realised that he was gone, and it was now my turn. It suddenly occurred to me: I’m going to jump off a cliff. As I was about to panic, I... Rio de Janeiro, Brazil seema Wed, 09 May 2007 14:24:03 +0100 http://www.hereorthere.com/members/seema/experience/60 http://www.hereorthere.com/experiences/60