If you do look further into Argentina, let me share one place that really piqued my interest while I was planning an aborted trip (went to Tanzania instead).

http://www.cavaswinelodge.com/index-flash.html

Maybe four nights in Buenos Aires at the Four Seasons or Alvear Palace and a visit to the wine region?

Dr. Andrea-
We have incredible weather (mostly...) in August here in Vancouver - you could do a luxury week long trip here (6 hrs flying time from NYC - direct)for a lot less than 5-6000.00! With that budget you could pack in an incredible day or two of sailing.
And I could show you my pictures of Africa (in June) for that 'fix' you need.....

Thanks mkhonzo and your eloquent account of African fever was great.

Would you consider going to Alaska since you have so much passion about wildlife? Would you be interested being a few inches from animals? Bear watching day trips from Homer would deliver no less amazing excitement than seeing a lion few inches away. If you want to find out more there are many great posts on the U.S. board. Just do a text searches under bear watching and/or Emerald Air. We went on several safaris in Africa and at least 14 bear watching trips in Alaska. Just another idea but if you want to be close to wildlife maybe Alaska is the answer. I agree, Africa is addictive but once we went on bear watching trip now we feel the same about Alaska as well.

Dr_Andrea, check out these photos
http://www.emeraldairservice.com/photo.htm

Alaska is a great thought!

7-8 days would be enough for bears. I have a free frequent flyer ticket and only 6 nights and am making an Alaskan getaway to the bears this July.

The Alaskan weather is not as predictable as it would be in most of Africa in August, but the bear encounters are on par.

You'll have to let us know, Dr. Andrea, just where in the world you end up for that week in August.

Some thoughts on Costa Rica if you should decide to go there:
1. Watching Arenal Volcano erupting with the red lava flowing during the night is a great experience.
2. Hiking in Monteverde Cloud Forest in search of the Quetzel---a beautiful bird with a long flowing tail is exciting.
3. The Trogon Lodge in the San Gerardo de Dota Mountain area is a small lodge in a beautiful setting and great food.
Also can see the Quetzel in that area.
4. Corcovado National Park on the Osa Penninsula in southern Costa Rica has many hiking trails and great dolphin viewing boat trips.
5. Tortuguero National Park (haven't been there) is home to one of the largest turtle nesting sights in the world.
6. Manuel Antonio National Park has much wildlife...monkeys, sloths, iguanas, etc.
As mentioned above, the Latin America board has much info on Costa Rica. It is a beautiful place.

A few thoughts: Turkey (including Istanbul and the Aegean coast); Guatemala (Tikal is incredible, and Antigua is an interesting, colonial city); Buenos Aires (and if Peninsula Valdes, which has lots of wildlife, but not sure about August); Chile (lots of wildlife in Torres del Paine); Croatia (great beaches, historic sites and coastline -- I'm headed there at end of August).

I'm writing this from Vancouver, which is nice, but I was only here for the weekend, so don't know what to do with a week here, as suggested.


Michael

You guys are seriously so helpful. I am really liking the idea of brazil. It seems to have everything: cheap, animals, short flight, somewhat exotic.

Details, details please. Have a great time planning your trip.

Michael, you were here in Vancouver and didn't call? Hey, didn't I offer you up BBQ steaks on the deck on another thread???? E-mail me if you are still here,
[email protected]
and we'll do that!

Lynda, sorry, I'm now back in New York. We did a very quick trip to Vancouver to see a show at the Commodore, but mostly to eat sushi at Tojos -- a friend in the movie business just returned from Vancouver and raved about Tojos, so I decided to try it myself (absolutely great). Vancouver was very nice -- we rented bikes and did the loop in Stanley Park yesterday, visited the Anthropology museum at UBC, ate fried halibut cheeks at Old Seafood (or something like that on E. Hastings, right near skid row).

Had a great time in Vancouver, but I need to get back when its warm, and I'd like to see the orcas and also visit Squamish to see the eagles.

Now that I have your email, I will give advance notice and take you up on your kind offer next time I'm in Vancouver.

You could come to Napa, pitch a tent in back yard and then spend all you save at wine from one of the wineries I manage :)