Prestige, elegance, charm… This are attributes Tahitian pearls are famous for all around the world. Before visiting French Polynesia I knew nothing about those gems. Now I’m not so sure that it’s diamonds that are women’s best friends.

     Yes we did it! We entered the open waters of the Pacific Ocean in the place where more than fifteen sharks and rays were swimming around us. It was one of the most amazing experience so far! Simply unbelievable!

     Visiting French Polynesia came to us as a bonus during this trip. We didn’t plan to stop there but it turned out that the only way of crossing the Pacific Ocean from Rapa Nui without coming back to South America was with a landing on Tahiti. Well, in this situation… Let’s enjoy!

     Early in spring all tribes from Rapa Nui gathered in Orongo village to begin an annual competition of Tangata-Manu. The aim of the ceremony was to chose the birdman for the coming year. It begun when a rare migratory seabird arrived from oversees to nest on the island.

     The log books of the first ships that reached Rapa Nui in the 18^th century don’t mention anything about moai – the mysterious monolithic figures the Easter Island is famous for today. Well, it seems that the first European explorers simply didn’t see them.

     Rapa Nui, which can be translated as Navel of the World, is the native name for the Easter Island. This is how the indigenous people call their home, the world’s most remote of inhabited islands situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Mate and asado. Lamas and toucans. Tango and football. Crowded buses and vast space. Deserts and glaciers. La Boca and Valparaiso. Ceviche and wine. Inca Kola and a backed guinea pig…

     Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace). This is the full name of the true capital of Bolivia. Officially the country’s capital is Sucre yet the seats of government are in La Paz and, from what we have learnt, here is the heart of this country.

Potosi, a city founded by the Spanish in 1546 as a silver mining town, is one of the highest in the world. Located at an altitude of above 4000 m and surrounded with the nearby mountains it has a unique look.

     We saw Salar de Uyuni for the first time four years ago during our first trip to South America. It made such a big impression on us that we decided to come back one day. We didn’t expect that this day would be so soon. This time we arrived during the rainy season.