http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Scottp/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Scottp en-us Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:57:08 +0000 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:57:08 +0000 After a six hours on the bus we arrived in Caracas froze to the core. The air con on the bus was ridiculous and the only restbite was when we stopped for lunch which I used to heat up in the sun We also had chance to taste our first Arepa similar to a pita and filled with roast pork cheese and salad very filling. Once at the bus station we tried to haggle for a taxi but they all wanted dou http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Venezuela/Capital/Caracas/blog-234440.html We headed further north to Cumana a city on the coast not really knowing why we headed there We were just heading closer to Caracus and hoping to see some nice places on the way. One thing I was hoping to see was the Guacharo oilbird which is a nocturnal bird and every evening about 1015000 leave the cave similar to bats looking for food and can imagine this being a amazing sight. Unfortun http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Venezuela/Guayana/Santa-Fe/blog-234439.html We had a day of manic sorting more money exchanging and trying to get some flights and trips arranged for the next few weeks. We then headed further north to Ciudad Bolivar the jumping off point for Angel Falls. After another 11 hour bus journey we arrived at our hotel at midnight. Not the best time to arrive in a strange city and it did feel a bit dodgy and it did get a bit worrying when the ol http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Venezuela/Guayana/Ciudad-Bolivar/blog-234382.html So that was it for Brazil and we booked a 15 hour bus journey to Santa Elena Venezuela which turned out to be 18 We left sweating our backs out in the bus station and then got on a freezing air con bus for 12 hours north to Boa Vista. I would like to say we just slept through the night but with the bus being freezing stopping every three hours and all the pot holes it was very tiring and irrita http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Venezuela/blog-234381.html Once again it was another flight It doesnrsquot feel like were backpacking any more with all these flights. This was another cheapish one at 160 for a 5 hour flight. Problem was that we had to set off at 4am for our first flight to the capital Brasilia and we finally arrived in Manaus at 4pm after load of delays because of it pissing it down or electrical stormsAs we were coming to land int http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/blog-234379.html We had to head back to Recife as this is where we were getting our onward flight to Manaus. We had planned to go along the coast to Belen and maybe flyboat it to Manaus as usual we spent too much time dawdling and was running out of time as we were due to meet my Mum and sister Dawn in Caracas on the 12th November. We stayed in Boa Viagem the beachy area of the city it has the dubious honour o http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/blog-234376.html After Rio we decided to head north to the city of Salvador and it worked out cheaper to fly and a hell of a lot quicker. By bus it was 58 and 2528 hours by plane it was 55 and 2 hours We didnrsquot have to think long about that one The flight was easy enough and had no problems and shortly after landing we got a bus in to the town centre. We stayed in the Pelourinho area of Salvador and w http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/blog-213677.html After yet more travel combinations bus metro bus mini bus wersquod arrived in a little beach town called Praia da Pipa. A few people had recommended this place to us so we were looking forward to it. We eventually found our little pousada which we had pre booked on the internet for 12 pound a night which was cheap as it had ac t.v and breakfast included so were glad to get decent value f http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-Grande-do-Norte/Pipa/blog-234374.html We continued with the easy option and took another cheap flight 2.5 hours north to Maceio for 30 It was another beach city which we shouldnrsquot have bothered with. The beach was ok but nothing as nice as others we have seen in Brazil. Instead of being like a nice quaint fishing village it was more like Benidorm The beach was not the only thing we came for as the place is famous for its l http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/blog-213678.html We stayed an extra few nights in Rio for more football reason as Brazil were due to play Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier at the Maracan. We had to stay as how often are we going to get the chance to see Brazil play at home and to see all their star players and it was the first time they have played back here in 2 years. Once again we went down to the stadium for the tickets but we left it too la http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/blog-227608.html The Maracana what can I say this is the stuff of boyhood dreams and everybody who likes football knows of this colossal stadium and is one of the most famous in the world and only second to Wembley for fame. When I first thought of South America as a destination football was always one of the main reasons and couldnrsquot wait to see this stadium and even better to watch a few games. Over th http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/blog-209579.html We gladly left Sao Paulo and headed for Rio de Janeiro a place so many people have loved and has been classed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We couldnrsquot wait It didnrsquot start well Like most Brazilian cities they are useless for public transport and have most of the bus terminals at least 10 km from the city It doesnrsquot make any sense and just makes everythin http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Rio-de-Janeiro/blog-209581.html Our next stop was Florianopolis 15 hours south on the coast and the most expensive bus journey we have been on for 30 pound. To top it off the bus was shit and as Michelle said must have been made for Eskimo midgets No leg room and the bus was freezing Lucky for us the bus changed after about 10 hours and we managed to get some sleep for the last 5. We finally arrived but still a bit half a s http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/Sao-Paulo/S-o-Paulo/blog-209578.html Finally in Brazil a country we have been looking forward to since we first stated planning this trip 2 years ago. Unfortunately for us we didnrsquot plan our time very well which means we only have 6 weeks here and with a country only slightly smaller then the U.S that is no time at allOur first stop for Brazil was Foz do Iguau to see the Iguau falls from the Brazilian side. We managed to g http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Brazil/blog-206741.html A lot of people we met before and after our trip to Paraguay asked the same question Why Paraguay After going there we were thinking the same. Once again it was the same reason why we went to Uruguay because it was so close and we are travelling South America and you canrsquot expect everywhere to be amazing For me football reasons were also on the agenda as we tend to get drawn against the http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Paraguay/Encarnacion/blog-205236.html After such a great time in BA we decided that we bet a get move on and next up was Misiones on the Brazilian and Paraguay border for the spectacular Iguazu falls. People have raved about it and said it was one of the highlights of their trip. We had to pay 25 pound for the 18 hour bus journey which we thought was a bit steep compared to what we have been paying. It turned out to be worth it we http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Misiones/Iguazu-National-Park/blog-205233.html I will always remember the Simpson episode when Homer is looking at a globe and spots Uruguay and says He he URGay. I think it was the episode when they were going to Australia. Going from the guide book and fellow travellers there is not much to Uruguay and nothing that stands out as a must see compared to its neighbours but with us being so close and traveling around South America it woul http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Uruguay/District-of-Montevideo/Montevideo/blog-205235.html We decided against another long bus journey and to fly from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires. We didnrsquot fancy the long bus journey and there was not much difference in the price 110 pound to fly for 4 hours or 80 pound to get the bus in 50 The flight it self had some amazing views over the Beagle Channel with the mountains reflecting on them like a mirror as we took off from Ushuaia we then passe http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Buenos-Aires/blog-201646.html Ushuaia the southern most city in the world and the furthest south we have ever been It feels such a long time ago since we landed in Cancun Mexico and been traveling south ever since and from now on will be traveling north until we reach Salford back in December The northern most point on this trip was Chihuahua and that was near enough 9000 miles away Shit we have traveled far and thatrs http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Tierra-del-Fuego/Ushuaia/blog-196687.html Buenos Aires a perfect place to catch a few games of football as itrsquos very similar to London as in there are shit load of teams that play in the capital about 12 from a league of 20 so wasnrsquot too worried about seeing some football. I have heard it can be a bit of hassle for Boca and River so would just have to see how it goes. I wonrsquot be leaving until I get to see both the t http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Argentina/Buenos-Aires/blog-201648.html