Blogs from Brazil, South America - page 593

Buzios (Feb 20-27) and Buenos Aires (Feb 27-March 6) Buzios... muy tranquilo- as the locals would say. I was last seen at a Rolling Stones concert in Rio celebrating my 19th birthday preparing to head south to El Calafate. It was such a good time I missed my flight the next morning to Buenos Aires and down to Patagonia where some friends I was supposed to meet were heading to tackle the cold southern mountains of the world. I couldn't make it down so I had to figure out what to do; that Sunday was one of those hungover days trying work things out while feeling like dirt for messing things up in the first place- but things always seem to work out. I needed a break from the hectic pace of Rio and a destination ... read more

30 hours after leaving Campo Grande, I arrived in Florianopolis. A bizarre town with an attached island. The island is amazing beaches with a lake in the centre. I tried to get a taxi to the hostel as it was 10pm and I was shattered but got confused again. The taxi driver kept trying to point me to it and I was trying to say, I don't care if it's close I want to pay. Then it finally clicked he was saying it was too dangerous and I have to take a taxi! Got to the HI hostel, worst hostel so far. The room stank of piss and had 3 very loud German girls in my room. They didn't seem to know the hostel rule where you don't turn the light on if someone is sleeping. ... read more

We've now been in Brazil almost exactly two months and leave tomorrow for Argentina. We're in Foz do Iguazu to see the waterfalls on the Brazil, Argenitian, Paraguan border. Rather than attempting to describe them myself, you can see them described much better here and save me lots of typing. We did the Brazlian side yesterday and are off to the Argentinian side tomorrow. We were hoping to get into Paraguay as well, but it seems the border is closed, nobody is very sure why, but that's South America for you. ... read more

So, with teary eyes and muitos saudades, I left beautiful Brazil! I whiled away my days in Rio seeing more of the tourist sights - Cristo Redentor (the famous Christ Statue overlooking the town), the Tijucu Forest (the largest urban forest in the world), lazing on Copacabana and Ipanema beaches, going out in the funky suburbs of Lapa and Santa Theresa (with a gorgeous view over Rio), going to blocos and participating in Carnaval! I was also invited to some BBQ´s (Brazilian food is always the same staple of rice, beans, meat and maioca!). A group of Bruno´s friends play in a band, so I went along to hear them practice, and they invited me to a Sunday BBQ in the outer suburbs of Rio, about 1hr from the centre. The owner of the house also ... read more

If I would have only two words to describe Rio de Janeiro then I would use "not impressed". Yes, yes I know everyone claims that Rio has the most beautiful setting in the world, is full of girls in little bikinis laying on beautiful city beaches but I still think it’s not that great. I did the usual tourist things like going up and say hello to Christ, view the city from above from the Pao de Azucar (Sugar Loaf Mountain) and have a look at the admittedly exceptional setting the city has. A mandatory stop at Copacabana and Ipanema beach (which were more or less deserted when I was there) were also on the program. My problem with the city is that it lacks flair and has apart from the well known sights not that ... read more