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Published: September 3rd 2009
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So, from Rio i joined onto an organised 21 day overland tour ending in Buenos Aires. The tour had 20 people on, and you paid upfront so didn't have to worry about booking hostels or buses, as it was all in, as was most of the food! The vehicle is a huge mercedes truck converted to carry people and supplies, pretty cool thing actually.
I arrived to the first meeting 40 minutes late as i was held up at the Favela tour (not held up, but caught in traffic). Anyway, i walked into a group of people i hoped it wouldn't be. It looked like a bi-annual accountants who like to collect stamps and socks meeting. We were roomed in a decent hotel the first night, and i was luckily paired up with a fellow Mancunian the same age, who thought the same thing as he walked in. Everyone went out for some food, and a few of us stayed out very late for a good few ales.
Up very early the next day for the drive in the truck to Paraty. Its a bumpy ride in the truck but you soon get used to it. We also got
chatting to a couple of Doncaster lasses on the bus who shared our reservations about the trip. Arrived in Paraty early evening and was told that evening we were having a bin bag BBQ on the beach. Hmmmmmmmm, the idea sounded rubbish (ha, no actual pun intended there), but a lot of the group thought it sounded great.... Anyway, a few of us snuck off into town for a few drinks and a look around. By the time we got back, the group were making their bin bag outfits, which consisted of them cutting a hole in the top of a bin bag and putting it over their normal clothes. For a bunch of people excited by it, they made no effort. So, we thought we'd go for it, few beers down we grabbed some bin bags and created the outfits you see in the pics!!
Quite a heavy drinking night with good food, and, suprisingly enough, me & the other Manc lad were quite poular with other people knocking about. We got chatting to a group of girls who were staying at the hostel, and quickly discovered they were from Manchester, result! Very similar sense of humour, i've
missed that particular Manc wit! Anyway, you may have noticed some photos of me lying down. Well, they'd been doing it for a few days and explained to us that you basically pose, lay on your front in random situations. Apparently most people ask why.. i instantly thought it was the greatest idea i'd ever heard. Expect to see a lot of this type of picture in the coming blogs, each more daring! I should know better at my age, but there you go!
Anyway, after the hostel bar closed, we thought it would be a great idea to all sprint into the sea. Not the best idea, it was freezing and our bin bag outfits didn't stand up to it......... so we skulked back, got changed and us & the Manc girls got a lift into town off our barman. He dropped us at a really small local bar, with a live band playing. Great night!
After about an hours sleep, we were up early with the rest of our group to go on a cruise of the many many islands around Paraty. Stunning place, clear waters, beautiful islands, and we got the perfect weather. I was
one of the designated barmen, along with the other Mancunian lad, so we had to buy tons of beer & ice to keep the coolers stocked for the cruise, no worries!
We stopped at loads of beaches, and managed lots of jumping from the top of the boat, lots of drinking and great food on board. Brilliant day. After the cruise, the slightly sozzled barmen had the job of carrying the leftover beers back to the hostel.... 30 minutes walk away, up steep cobbled hills. No taxi in sight we flagged down 2 kids with a horse and a rickety carriage. We half explained where we wanted to go. The first 10 yards of the journey are across a little bridge. Horse couldn't make it, so he motioned he would go around! It took 30 minutes of agony to go around and get to the other side of the bridge, at which point he said he could go no further as it was too steep! He wanted a tenner for basically moving us 10 yards...we were gutted, and had to carry the beers back, in the searing heat, drunk, up cobbled hills!
Quick shower, and we met up
with the Mancunian girls again, our group were sleeping i think. We all headed into town for more live music, and a little tour of the local clubs.
Me & Matt (Manc Lad) got up the next day and headed into town with the hope of catching the first game of the new season. United were playing so we thought we'd be able to watch. Only 1 bar in town had sky, and it took 45 minutes to find it. Its a tiny place, but very mazy. We eventually located it, and settled for the Liverpool game, good choice, they got beat.
Straight to the beach from there for some beach volleyball with the group, in which we managed to beat a bunch of locals. We then convinced the Manc girls to hire boats head out to sea. We got a boat designed for 2 and wedged 4 of us in it, and a couple of canoes. Pretty scary to be fair, not a great lover of the open water, but i think Paraty has helped, was never out of it. We managed to find an island, but it was rubbish, so went back to the beach for
a large chilled beer!
The group had already gone for dinner by the time we were ready so we headed out for a big Mancunian feast at a pay per kilo place. Basically pile everything on your plate, weigh it at the till, and off you go! Great concept, and cheap. We had a good few beers in town that night, but nothing too daft, as we were up at 5am on the truck for the next leg. The rest of the tour group were suprised to see the Manc girls up at 5am to wave us off. So we had that journey to win over the group and slot back in, it took about 20 minutes due to our wit & charm, so they now love us...nice work!
We drove all day to a place called Brotus, and arrived at night, piched our tents, went for a quick dip, pool was freezing, then cooked a great meal. You get assigned cook groups, and one of the lads cooking that particular night is an Executive Chef. So, normally the cooked food on these tours is poor; he cooked prime beef cooked in coffee & lime with potato rosti,
2 sauces, and a variety of starters. Really nice food. The night descended into a huge party around a big speaker system we had on board the truck. We got back to our tent and a silly hour and forgot to close the door. We were woken by torrential rain, and a flooded tent, ah well, another couple of hours sleep & back on the truck!
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