A lot of the wet stuff

I´ve got to hang around until 6 tonight to catch a night bus to central Brazil (Campo Grande), so I thought would give a quick update on what I have been up to.

Buenos Aires

After the Marathon I hung around BA for a few more nigths and basically ate Steak and drunk Quilmes (Argy beer). Also meet a cool ozzie called Anne who is moving to the mighty Clapham Junction to live for a couple of years if it all goes to plan.

After 2 weeks in BA it was time to move on. I was meant to catch the bus on Friday night, but being the complete the idiot that I am, I managed to miss my bus. It had nothing to do with me being late, just a lack of common sense and severe lack of Spanish. The guy on the info desk said the bus was running late, and said just keep a tabs on the screen. I was transfixed on it for about 3 hours, it was like looking on ceefax in the olden days for baragin holidays to the Costa del Grim. I kept watching, but my bus never appeared. So I asked the guy, and he said the bus had already left 2hours ago!! They had annouced it on the tannoy, but I had no clue. Wasnt a biggy, and the staff at the bus terminal were really good and just let me jump on the bus the next day. I just had to spend the night in Pat Butcher type bedsit, as it was the only place with a room on a Friday night at 10.

I´d heard a few reports about how good Argy buses were, and everything thing about them is spot on. Easily better than anything I have caught in England. When you can fully stretch your legs out, and they chuck in free wine and whiskey you really cant argue.

Iguazu Falls (argy side)

So I arrived at stupid O´clock´in Iguazu, and went straight to the Argy side of the falls with an American girl called Jenifer. The first time you see the falls it really is jaw droppingly awesome. I think the falls were used in the recent Indiana Jones movie, and you can understand why. The only problem was the fact I had just arrived after a 20hour bus journey and the weather wasnt the best, hence why I kept my shades on for most of the pics.

It was very touristy, but it was actually nice to be able to get my camera out safely without having to worry about it being pinched like you do in BA. Managed to stand right underneath the waterfalls, and the force is unreal. You could do helicopter rides and also a boat that take you right up close. But I decided to save the peso´s for other things. Plus not sure how many photos you can take when your that close.

The next day i was going to nip across the border to Paraguay, as its reallty close. It would have purely just to get another stamp on the passport. Plus an Ozzie guy called Pete told me you could buy guns there!! Not sure where an AK47 would fit in my back-pack though. In the end I choose to just chill by the hostel pool, and work on the tan before I hit the beaches of Rio.

Iguazu Falls (Brazil side)

I wasnt sure about going to the Brazilian side of the falls, as a number of people had said the Argy side was better. Personally I thought the Brazilian side was way better. It was less busy (I think because its a big hassle visa wise for Ozzies & yanks). It was more panoramic and you could still get just as close to the waterfalls. There was a really cool black and white exhibition on how the falls were originally, and how they installed all the viewing points. Unfortunately we were a bit pushed for time, so didnt get a chance to read all about it.

There was also a lot of wildlife around, with loads of beautiful birds, and strange looking insects. I tried my best to capture a few, but my pointing and clicking skills let me down.

One of the funniest thins I´ve seen so far was a Brazilian lady who clearly didnt think what she was visiting the day she woke up. She was caked in masacara, and after about 5mins of waterfall spray she looked like Amy Winehouse. Slightly regretting the fact I didnt get a pic.

Next Stop - The Pantanal

I am catching a bus tonight to Campo Grande, and then I will head to the Pantanal. Its meant to be a fantastic place to view wildlife. i am sleeping in a hammock for 4 days. Where we are meant to go piranha fishing, horseback-riding (defo not keen on that), and also hunt for anaconda´s and Jaguar. Although the chances of seeing both are pretty rare.

They said bring a wide rimmed hat. So I bought one y/day, its not really broke-back mountain, more "Ah ambassador we have been expecting you"

Speak soon when I have the ferrero rocher´s in hand

Jim
x

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