Around South America...
and the Caribbean
Recently I was lucky enough to make an incredible journey around South America and into the Caribbean Sea. I visited such a diversity of places; from the Atacama desert in Peru to the fjords of Chile, from the rain forest of Costa Rica to the exhilarating city of Cartagena in Colombia, from the sophistication of Buenos Aires in Argentina to the bleak simplicity of Nature in The Falkland Islands, from the intense dramatic Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to the chilled Caribbean island of Barbados. Whenever it was possible I stopped to sketch. Below are some of the pictures I made while travelling.
Red Poisonous Frog
I saw this little frog on a walk through the rain forest in Costa Rica. He looks cute but apparently has enough toxin inside him to kill five men!
Street Scene in Basseterre, St Kitts
After visiting the National Museum in Basseterre, I walked out into the street on this beautiful Caribbean island and found the people in the street fascinating. They were calm and smiley yet poor and resigned.
Inside the Walled City, Cartagena, Colombia.
In this oddly shaped 'square', near the clock tower, was where slaves were once traded. The energy of the Past seemed to hang over this modern bustling place.
Beach Scene, Paracas, Peru
Peruvians at the beach. A row of cheap and cheerful restaurants, people parading up and down, warm seas, sun umbrellas and tame pelicans.
Seated in Plaza de Armas, Lima, Peru
A couple share time, under an umbrella for shade from the sun, in this beautiful central square in Lima. The Cathedral and the Presidential Palace occupy two sides of this square. A military brass band, inside the palace grounds, was playing as I sketched this picture.
Pink House in Peurto Limon, Costa Rica
This grand old colonial house, painted pink to catch your eye, stands on the edge of the bay in this Costa Rican Caribbean city.
Faces at a Bar in Curacao
Early evening and I was in a busy local bar near Queen Wilhelmina Square in Willemstad. It was "Happy Hour". At a table nearby, this handsome young man sat down opposite these two rather frumpy women and ordered two large cream filled coffees. They seemed to know each other but they never spoke. I was intrigued and had to draw them, in the process spilling beer over my sketch book!
Woman Sitting on a Grave, Basseterre, St Kitts
This middle aged lady, wearing bright coloured clothes, was relaxing and having her lunch. I found it intriguing that she was sitting on an historic tomb.
Street in Ponta Delgada, The Azores
It's quite a bleak street in Ponta Delgada but it had just rained, making the buildings shine and the colours bright.
Houses in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
A more bleak and isolated part of the world than the Falkland Islands it would be hard to find, so it was heart warming to see the pillar box red roofs of these houses. A reminder of 'home'.
The Atacama Desert from Arica, Chile
Arica is the driest place on Earth. It never ever rains. After climbing to the top of the large rock in the town, called El Morro, the view of the never-ending desert stretches before you.
Above
Chacabuco, Chile
It rains 304 days of the year in this part of southern Chile but I saw it on a fine and sunny day. It was so pleasant being there and able to sketch. The mountains form a dramatic back drop to a lush valley full of wild flowers.
Below
Sketching in Chacabuco
Leaving Chacabuco
The magnificent Chilean fjords just seemed to go on and on and on...no wonder I needed two pages to try to depict the unspoilt natural beauty I was sailing through.
Trying to capture the beauty of the Chilean fjords while slowly sailing through them
View of the Replica of Magellan's Ship, Punta Arenas, Chile
Of course, Magellan is famous in Punta Arenas. He discovered the straits which bear his name, the short cut from the Pacific to the Atlantic. This replica ship, at the Nao Victoria Museum, shows the size of the vessel he and his crew travelled in for all those years. No wonder not many of them survived the journey. I was standing on a replica of Darwin's ship HMS Beagle when I did this sketch.
The Chilean Fjords
No signs of human habitation. Just snow capped mountains, pristine glaciers, clear skies, a light breeze and very chilly temperatures...an exceptional summer's day in this remote and gob-smackingly beautiful part of the world.
The Atacama Desert from Arica, Chile
The desert, in northern Chile, stretching in a different direction. Completely arid conditions punctuated with tiny oases of green.
Salvador, Brazil (Above)
Throughout this vibrant city there is evidence of Catholicsm imported and imposed by the colonial Portuguese.
Mr Muscle and His Big Cocktail
This Brazilian hunk, who obviously thought he was God's gift to women, was relaxing on the beach with his girlfriend in Ilhabela, Brazil. Well, not all parts of his body were totally relaxed!
The Slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The favelas stretch their way up the hills. I kept a safe distance and sketched from afar!
Fishing in Punta del Este, Uruguay (above and below)
On the pier near the wobbly bridge, these two scenes aim to depict a harmonious connection between humankind and nature
Street scene in Salvador, Brazil
A long view of the street showing the colourful houses
Sketching in an old bar in central Lima, Peru. On this occasion, two local beers helped!