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Published: February 23rd 2006
So the reason we haven´t updated our web site recently is for the little 3 day trip we made to the Pantenal, which is half the size of France, 4-5 hours from any other civilisation like a highway, and just an absolutely massive mosquito infested national park, with a loadsa cool other animals.
In fact we were pretty lucky with the mosquitos, I only got about 15 on the 5 hour journey out of the place and we discovered that either mosquitos really really hate Eric, or that he is a super quick mosquito killer - he had no, I repeat
no, bites!
So after the 11 hour trip into the Pantenal we arrived exhausted to a dark and rainy campsite. Shamefully, we haven´t been in shoddy hostels as you might expect, as our first one in Rio was pretty good and since we started the tour we have enjoyed basic, but luxury to us, hotels. This was all to change, yes we were definitely roughing it here! Our bedroom consisted of a hut with a straw roof, a narrow bench for the rucksacks, a sandy floor and 4 mosquito nets for walls!Instead of beds there were 15 hammocks,
Me and Toothy
Our guide Paolo found this little fella swimming in the marsh!but that was cool. 3 other straw huts made up the showers, toilets and eating area. On the first night everyone was knackered so we quickly settled down to sleep as we had a 3 hour walk to do the next morning
before breakfast!
5 o´clock on the dot we were woken up the next day. With sleepy eyes we could make out the sunrise through one of the nets. I may not be able to see very far but I did my best to appreciate it at the ungodly hour. As we left our hut we discovered that we were actually next to a lake - like 20 metres. On our last day we discovered it was full of alligators, but by then we weren´t scared of them at all. They´re nothing to be afraid of! Honestly!
Got ready and then I left Eric to go and get the camera. When I returned he wasn´t alone... sitting on his shoulder was a green parrot! Pretty cool! Paolo, our amazing guide for the weekend, had found it and passed it on. By the time I got there Paolo was playing with his new pet, a baby anaconda! So
Look at the size of this fish!
Not technically a piranha, but still a meat-eater! Eric tried him on for size as well!
That afternoon we went swimming with alligators! Luckily they are more scared of us then we are of them (they must be terrified!) so we didn't see them, though we know they were in all the lakes nearby! Eleni was a bit of a chicken, but someone has to take photos!!
And then to the Piranha lake! In we waded, piranhas occasionally nibbling at our bare toes, with nothing but a simple fishing rod and a few pieces of meat! (Note, try not to drop any meat at your feet, it causes a frenzy!) I managed to catch 2 fish, although one got away, but at least I had something for that evening's dinner!
Then on the way home, it took Paolo a mere 30 seconds to spot an alligator, jump off the jeep, capture him, and bring him back onto the jeep for a host of photo opportunities. What a guy!
The evening was spent on a moonlight safari, minus the moonlight. The darkness made it surprisingly difficult to spot any wildlife, but fortunately the odd fox, capybara, and armadillo were kind enough to wander into our
guide's torchlight, so as to prevent a wasted evening. As if to make a point, Eleni actually fell asleep, not easy to do on a noisy bumpy truck ride!
Before leaving the Pantanal for good, we spent the following morning on a gentle horse ride to enjoy the area one last time. Although we only saw a few animals, the highlight was definitely the angry snake I spotted as it tried to bite my horse's leg off! Naturally, I informed Paolo, who immediately galloped back towards the boa, waving his shirt in the air, and captured it before bringing it back to the campsite as his showpiece! We took a photo of him with his new friend.
Next stop, Bolivia, one step closer to the Carrot!
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Stanley
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I love the website this is better than eastenders. Glad to see Ezza Dolittle enyoying himself! Take it easy guys xx