Paraty, Sao Paulo and Peurto Iguazu (AR)

There is nothing like an impromptu guitar session with strangers to liven up a room. On our last night in Paraty, we were just hanging around when we were surrounded by Leo, a native Brazlian (more to come on him) and some other hostellers. They banged out some pretty cool tunes late into the night and proceeded to the obvious next step of beach bonfire, which we only found out about after. Still loads of fun though.

Paraty to Sao Paulo is a 6 hour bus-ride. Sao Paulo is the biggest city in Brazil and South America. My assumptions of Sao Paulo were that it was big and dirty and not really for tourists. I was very wrong. What a beautiful city. Expensive, but a very nice city indeed. We spent two nights in a hostel called Casa Club, which funny enough, was run by Leo, the fellow playing guitar in Paraty. He was a great guy and helped us out with a lot. The only thing he f`d up on was the bus tickets to Iguazu, which I will get to. There was a Canadian couple in the hostel we stayed at. They were from Calgary. We were all anxious to watch the hocley game between Canada and the USA. As luck would have it, as soon as the game started, they lost the satellite feed. I went on a run down the street where there are plenty of bars trying to find the game. Not only did I find the game, they were showing outsside a sportsbar on a massive big-screen. Seriously, I have never even seen this size of screen televise a hockey game in Canada, let alone Brazil. When Canada scored, I was the only person n the street jumping and shouting. I got some laughs from locals as I pointed out to them that I was obviously Canadian.

Jack and I left Sao Paulo on a 18 hour overnight bus to Foz do Iguazu. Leo told us that we could show up at 6 and get the 8 o`clock bus no problem. As luck would have it, that was not the case. The 8 o`clock bus was full. The 11 o`clock bus was also full. We tried another company with one bus at 8:30 and again, no dice. We finally found a third company who said they had seats at 10 o`clock, but that we had to travel back accross the city to another bus station where we could then buy tickets. After running around the city on the buses, taxis and metro, we finally made it on the bus and left for Foz do Iguazu. These are the megafalls that are nestled between Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The best side to see the falls from is the Argentine side. So after spending 18 hours on the bus with crying, vomiting 1 year olds in front of us and then riding public transit sans air-conditioning, we finally arrived at our destination that is Puerto Iguazu, Argentina later Tuesday afternoon. When you arrive at a destination after a trek like that and get a nice shower and some food in you, it makes it all so worth it. The hostel is pretty cool. It is actually a chain of hostels called Che Lagarto and I plan on staying in them again as I cross South America.

Yesterday, we visited the Falls. Again, I will try to describe them to you, but I would only doing it a diservice. These falls are absolutely stunning. Jaw-dropping. Silencing. They make Niagara Falls look like a leaky urinal stall. No offence Niagara.
As you take one of the lower interior trails, you get up close and personal with the Falls and can only then truly appreciate how awesomely powerful and beautiful they are. Well worth getting soaked to get down there. It was pissing rain yesterday, but the sun did come up just as we approached the lower platform. This gave us an awesome rainbow arching over the bowl of the Falls, truly the silver lining of the day.

After visiting the lower trails, Jack had to take off. He left for Buenos Aires yesterday on a 20 hour bus ride. People in Canada cringe when you say 16 or 18 or 20 hour bus ride, but the buses here are very comfortable and all have reclining seats with air conditioning. It was cool to travel with Jack for a bit. Things are sometimes easier when in groups. So, I pushed on myself to see the other corner of the Falls. Up on top, you can take a train and then another 15 minute walk across the rivers to get to the main attraction, Garganta de Diablo (Devils` thoat). Again, the beauty of it is simply indescribable. I had a gold Brazilian coin in my pocket, so I flicked it over the edge as a symbol of gratitude and also as a wish.

Today was spent just hanging by the pool and chillng out before I embark on another long bus-ride, back up into South Central Brazil. This is Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sur states that include the Pantanal. The pantanal I consider as the Amazin`s younger brother. Campo Grande and Corumba is where I hope to organize a 3-5 day trek into the jungle and put my Algonquin skills to the test - No jokes please, Tim. Thanks.