Blogs from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, South America

After a stop at the magnificent Iguassu Falls, we board an overnight bus on the morning of the 9th and cross the vast cattle ranches of Mato Grosso do Sul to Western Brazil. Bonito (“beautiful”) is a great place just outside the Pantanal area, this is water and jungle area where brilliantly coloured fish fill the area’s crystal rivers. Here we spend a lazy day by at the 'Natureza e Lazer para todos as ldades (Balneario do sol) a park by the river where we enjoy a local Brazilian bbq.... read more

It´s been a bit like waiting for a bus since I got back from the Pantanal. First the Italians left after we had a fun last night together. Next to leave was Mark. Another last meal. Yesterday, I was helping Joel and Laeso fish for tourists. They gave me a lift to the airport where I changed my ticket (at a cost of $100!). I spent the evening with Joel and two Slovenian doctors leaving on Joel´s tour tomorrow. Man, these Slovenians get around a lot, too! Rather than hang around here for a week in the sweltering heat, I´m heading back to Rio. When I was there at the start of the trip I felt like there were tons of things I didn´t get to do, so now is my chance. Mark, who lives in ... read more

After the thrills of getting lost, the grey dolphins, the pink dolphins, the sloth, the caiman, the giant lilies, the mother tree, the haunting forest dazzling with reflections that disorient completely, the next day starts a little disappointingly. The Brazilian family are leaving. I´ve spent some time chattting with Sami, who turns out to be my age exactly, and who has a life story almost identical to George´s from Noronya (the story that is at the heart of my 14 song Anam Cara thing). Strange coincidences. Their story is not exactly an everyday life story. To find two stories like this in two weeks is kinda odd! Grey dolphins are swimming right outside the lodge this morning jumping and flipping playfully. Our next mission is to visit the home of a local family and a local ... read more

I´m not going to beat around the bush - I´ve lost the camera. All the pictures from the trip are gone. I´ve taken over a 1000, plus videos. I went to Elso´s house when we got back to Manaus, the first gringo he´s ever invited to his home. I was quite honored. We sat together in the internet cafe while I did yesterday´s entry, then we got a taxi to his house where his wife, Paula, had prepared delicious food, and we sat around strumming guitars, watching the events in the street below as people came and went and danced in spontaneous parties till about midnight. I remember getting out my journal to swap contact info. I got another taxi from Elso´s house to the airport shortly after midnight for the 3:00am flight. I remember thinking ... read more

Journées des lundi 21 & mardi 22 Grasse mat' jusqu'a 8h30 ! Je pars me trouver de quoi déj dans un ti boui-boui, 1 salgado & 1 suco d'Acerola... Petite ballade dans les rues de la ville, sans grand intérêt... connexion 1h ou 2 dans un cybercafé de la rodovario pour illustrer et compléter mon blog puis taco en urgence pour chopper mon avion... 2 embarquements en même temps, 1 vol pour Brasilia et 1 autre, le mien, pour Cuiabá... forcement je me goure d'avion, les hôtesses ne vérifient pas mon billet... heureusement ma place est prise, je comprends que je pars dans la mauvaise direction... je quitte l'avion fissa pour prendre le bon ! Une mère et sa fille ont fait la même connerie que moi, nous en rions, discutons et sympathisons. La mère a ... read more