We reluctantly left our travel companions and the heat of Argentina and cross over the border into Brazil with a view to catching a night bus to Florianopolis. Border crossing non eventful as the two lads in the office look like they have been left on their own for too long. After a few hours waiting in the isolated bus station we finally board our bus for the scheduled 14 hour journey to Florianopolis. We got seated on the bus which was surprisingly empty. When we booked the tickets the sales guy was only able to offer us the seats in [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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As time was running out for our gang of merry men we tore ourselves away from the sites and enjoyments of Buenos Aires to see what Uruguay had to offer. The 'Guays' seem to be the least well travelled countries in South America so we thought we should at least try to get to at least one. From BA we opted for the value ferry across the Rio de La Plata to Uruguay. After 3 hours we arrived at the picturesque town of Colonia. Sun shining and beaches empty it seemed the perfect place to chill for a few days before [View Full Entry]

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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. [View Full Entry]

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Our stay in Rurrenabaque was extended for an extra couple of days due to a blockade in a small town along the bus route. Apparently the locals had decided that they no longer favoured their Mayor and took to the streets to protest. The protest took the form of the towns inhabitants un-enthusiastically sitting on and beside the road and attempting to stop any traffic from passing through. We were told to expect delays or at the worst to have to get off the bus and pass through the town on foot. As it happens when we arrived at the "blockade", [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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With a real need to escape the altitude of La Paz (you really start to fall apart after a while), we book a very cheap flight (25 quid) north with TAM (Bolivian military) airlines to the jungle town of Rurrenabaque. We turn up for the flight with 30 other gringos at the airport. The airplane is a compact 30 seater which looks like it has served a fair few years to date. I chose the back seats firmly beleving that if we crash this is the safest place in the plane. Unfortunatley we have no window which pissed Debs off as [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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In getting from Lima to Cusco we are faced with a choice- a 30 hour bus journey over the mountains on largely dirt roads or a 1 hour flight for $100. So naturally we fly to Cusco direct from Lima arriving at 3500m altitude directly from sea level.. Kinda like getting mildly bent (in diving terminology) The flight is filled with tour groups, mainly Americans all dressed in North Face gear from head to foot. We escape from the airport as soon as we grab our backpacks and catch a local collectivo for a tenth of the price of the rip [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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