Debsfudge

The rumours of the best hostel in Argentina were luring Debbie to Iguazu Falls, which was destined to be our last chance to see some of South America’s stunning waterfalls. We had seen Angel Falls, the highest in the world at the start of our trip so it seemed fitting to see the largest? widest? nicest? in the world before we left for good. The trip from Uruguay to Iguazu was lengthy and tiring taking 2 overnight buses. We gasped at the heat when we finally go off the bus. After the worse night journey (actually bar one but more on that later), where Debs had to sleep beside a women with a baby of no more than a month old, sleeping on the armrest and me sharing with a old man who snored infrequently and ... read more

After too much parting and one particularly mad night at a Salsa style nightclub, freaky dancing and getting physically thrown through the doors at 6am. Once again it was time to move on... It’s too big a leap for Buenos Aires directly, so the second city, Cordoba, makes perfect sense. When we arrive the usual process of locating the 1st and / or 2nd choice hostels begins. I'm convinced I can get us there on foot but in true hostel flyer style, the map is greatly simplified and we end up retreating to the tourist info point in the bus station. So much for that, looks like it’s a taxi after all. We get to our hostel in about 5mins. As usual it bears little resemblance to the fantastic flyer super-dooper backpacker vibe. We end up ... read more

Arriving in Sao Paolo was somthing of a chore when you consider we had been in the city for 6 hours before we even got off the bus. Traffic jam apparently, however we entertained ourselves by counting minor traffic accidents, rocking in our seats like morons after a ridculously long bus ride, the frustration of not even moving was senting us a bit weird. WHEN WE EVENTUALLY arrived, in probably the worlds largest bus station. We disembarked and frantically began looking around for my sister as we were hideously late. It turns out she was fully aware of the major traffic pile up on one of the main motorways and had wisely stayed out of it. When I finally got her on the phone she sugested we get the tube, change at such n such a ... read more

After a few days rest, our moods and health have improved, we are leaving Copacabana on a bus for La Paz. Apparently there have been incidents in which the drivers of small collectivos have pulled guns on a few tourists and asked them for gifts, with this in mind we pay the few extra pounds for the larger bus. Approx 50 kms later we stop at the ferry port to cross the lake to continue. The gringos are put in a very small boat to cross the choppy waters to safety on the other side. Meanwhile the bus and the elderly locals are driven on to a poorly constructed raft for the 200m journey. The lake is rough and we nearly get swamped by a big wave. A French girl grabs Debs arm in terror. At ... read more

Cuenca, Equador. Another run of the mill Equador town but with the addition of nice architecture, not very much to see, plazas far from stunning and churches are churches the world over. Found a comfy hotel with a bar and restaurant attached- always a bonus when you need to stagger the 10 yards to your bed after consuming stupid amounts of rum and beer. We stayed for 3 nights then made a break for the coastal border crossing into Peru. The border crossing near the coast has only reopened in the last 3 years and instead of the usual 5 minute stroll across the frontier this crossing is basically 10kms of "No-man´s land", due to an apparently minor war between Equador and Peru around 1997 (they still are huffing with each other). We get on the ... read more