Blogs from Pantanal, Brazil, South America - page 2

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South America » Brazil » Pantanal January 26th 2012

A terrible thunderstorm overnight meant we had to get up even earlier than intended so that the estancia 4x4 could drive us the 5 miles of mud track to the main road. Pick up car was waiting and we arrived at Buenos Aires airport at 08.00 for a 10.20 flight. Then it all went wrong! We knew to wait at gate 4 for our flight and assumed that the seats next to gate 5 were for gate 4 – how wrong we were! Gates 1-4 were downstairs and we only realised at 10.22, we fled downstairs to an empty departure lounge – our flight had left! We were so angry and to make matters worse there was no-one to blame but ourselves. So back to check in and we got on standby for the next flight ... read more

South America » Brazil » Pantanal January 26th 2012

Now have wifi access so have added photos to some previous entries - enjoy!... read more

South America » Brazil » Pantanal January 25th 2012

Crossing by three buses and three lakes through spectacular scenery. Although it was a long day it was well worth it with green lakes and blue lakes, fjords and tall trees growing out of near vertical rocks. First experience of horse flies – Deet 1-flies 0! The good day continued with a room upgrade in Bariloche – suite with lake views from two sides. Day finished with BBQ restaurant and Malbec.... read more
Osorno volcano
First lake crossing
Second bus journey

South America » Brazil » Pantanal June 10th 2011

This morning we were all really exciting about going piranha fishing because we had been told that if we caught some we could have them for lunch, so our motivation was something different to eat! We walked for a couple of km’s and sat off the side of a bridge with bamboo rods waiting for bites. We did pretty well and managed to catch about 15 piranha’s, we caught more but some were too small to keep. Rach was champion fish catcher, managing to catch 7! After a couple of hours, an alligator came along and scared most of the piranha’s away. One of the girls in our group managed to hook the alligator on her line briefly! When we got back from fishing we ate the piranha we had caught for lunch. They were quite ... read more
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South America » Brazil » Pantanal June 9th 2011

This morning we were all pretty tired because it was quite a long night with people snoring, lots of mossies...and bats! They were only small but there were quite a few of them living in the roof and flew around the ceiling all night. After breakfast, which was really average and consisted of stale rolls and watermelon, we got set up to go horseriding. We went riding for about 2 ½ hours around the Pantanal, through swamps and trees. Alot of the time we were having to guide our horses around branches etc so that we didn’t get stuck. About halfway through one of the guys in our group rode pas a wasps nest and the wasps stung two people and the horses started to go crazy. Luckily we were a bit further back so we ... read more
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South America » Brazil » Pantanal June 8th 2011

Today we were up early cos we had to get to the Pantanal by midday for lunch apparently. We had a 5 hour ish drive to the Pantanal and arrived about 12.30. The weather was pretty good which we were thankful for, but mossies were out to get us all. Thank goodness for deet! We did a short walk to lunch in the middle of this kind of water/swamp area and got fed a relatively good meal of beans, rice, meat, noodles with holes in them (pretty much like snorkelling with your food!), cabbage and tomatoes. After lunch we hopped on a 2 and a half hour boat ride which to be honest was pretty boring! We just got our tan on a bit, slept a bit and saw a few crocs lazing in the water. ... read more

South America » Brazil » Pantanal April 20th 2011

The following morning we were up and feeling a little sad that our time in the Pantanal was almost over. After brekko we wandered over to find our steeds for the morning - a bunch of skinny, fly-ridden horses, underfed due to the flooding. It was clear that they were not given much extra food and we all felt bad and wished we had brought something over for them from the Posada. Lisa had told Marcelo that Ian likes riding the little ones (referencing unlucky yet hilarious occasions in Banos and Tupiza when Ian got given little ponies to ride, check out the photos) but he forgot (unfortunately for us!) and so for once Ian was riding a medium sized horse, called Snow White (can’t all be perfect hehehe!). Lisa got the broken one, Troncho, who ... read more
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South America » Brazil » Pantanal April 19th 2011

Tuesday morning came round far too quickly and everyone was pretty hanging from the night before, Sara especially who was like a dead woman walking compared to her usual bubbly self. Brekko kind of sorted us out and then it was off for a jolly morning of swamp walking! 2 Canadians joined us for the walk which was all good until we went deeper into the swampy, tree-covered darkness, barefoot, and disturbed an ant’s nest, which resulted in everyone jumping around like crazy fools as ants crawled up their legs and had a feast. Rhonda’s sensible sandals that she still had on, came back to bite her in the ass as well, as the ants got stuck between her feet and the sandals, making the most of some tasty toe action. We did see some monkeys, ... read more
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South America » Brazil » Pantanal April 18th 2011

Monday morning rolled around and we were up early doors for a brekko of fruit, cake, juice, eggs and proper coffee, before setting off at 8am for a morning of riverside fishing. To get to the river though we first had to wade through waist-deep water crossing what would normally have been fields, to get to the campsite and the river. The campsite was totally flooded with everything stored up on tables to keep it dry and you couldn’t actually tell where the campsite ended and the river began as it was all submerged in 3 feet of water. The sun was burning hot even at that time of the morning and so we stood in bikinis (Ian of course was not wearing a bikini but boardies instead, being the only guy in the tour group ... read more
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South America » Brazil » Pantanal April 17th 2011

We slept well, got up early on the Sunday morning and had a surprisingly good brekko – lots of fruit, random baked goods, cold meats and cheese, fresh coffee – which we took advantage of by making up a few sandwiches for the trip. The truth is that our tour organiser, Gil, had encouraged us to take some away for the journey but that we had to be sly doing it. We fully embraced this and went into heavy undercover agent mode in the guise of tourists while in fact a breakfast heist was at hand. We are proud to say that we got away with about six sandwiches, four or so pieces of cake and a load of fruit, with the waitresses seemingly impressed by the volume of food Ian had apparently consumed. Good job ... read more
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