Brazilian Big Adventure

Y'ola peeps!

We're in a place called Bonito, way, way inland in Matto Grosso Sul. We're en-routage to the Pantanal to spot giant guinea pigs and anacondas. More on the Pantanal tour next blog as we're leaving tomoro. In the meantime here's what we've been up to between les whales (so canny and so cute for a mom of 17m and baby of about 7m) and now...

We left Praia de Rosa and headed back north to an island called Isla Catarina. It's main city is Florianopolis which can be reached by a bridge from the mainland. The island is pretty vast and has numerous enormous inland lakes and lots of gorgeous beaches on the other side of the island to the city and mainland. We headed to a place called Barra de Lagoa, a pretty little fishing village sitting between one of the big lakes and the Atlantic. We hired a little apartment belonging to a crazy old bird called Dona de Floripar Pousada. Gav kept calling her Rosa in durh Brit can't be bothered to learn your name even tho it exactly the same as an English one. But she didn't mind. Has a bit a of a soft spot for him methinks....

Our apartment had a nice little kitchen and balcony that was next to the river which ran from the lake to the sea. We also has a pretty view of the sea and the mountains that seemed to spill into it. All in all pretty magical for next to nowt a night. The mountains seem standard fare for coastal Brazil methinks as they have around in most places that we've been to by the sea to date. Beach wanted! Must have - beach, salt water and er...big rainforest covered mountainous backdrop. We had a few chilled out days cooking fish out of the sea/lake/river??? Who knows and lots of walks along the beach including one to Mozambique beach which was further along the same stretch as Barra de lagoa. As per we were told it wasn't far. A hours walking later we decided to turn back. The other end of the beach still wasn't in sight and we were hungry.

Three days later we flew from a airstrip by Florianopolis to Foz Iguacu. The planes in Flo airport literally jetty right up to the floor to ceiling glass door. You (the passenger) just hand in you boarding pass and walk less than 10m to the steps taking you up your ride. Nice! We arrive in scorchio Iguacu and had a lush couple of days (one in Brazil and one in Argentina) seeing the most amazing waterfalls. Rainforest boardwalks and water thundering down countless falls so loudly you can barely hear yourself breath.

We left Iguacu a few days ago on our way to Bonito. The only bus taking us in the right direction left at 6am (nice) taking 9hrs (oh we're loving it), with a change in Dourades. Our expected ETA was 2.50pm, and then another bus to Bonito which would take us 5 hours. Woo Hoo! Buying the ticket in the morning should have been a sign. We got to the bus station early but had to wait an absolute age because each one was being written by hand and the 5 people in from of us took 40 mins to purchaes their tiket one by one. The bus left late. At 12pm we're still only halfway and the bus drivers have stopped for lunch. For 45 mins! Don't fret boys, you make sure you've got a full belly for all that strenuous bus driving activity. The roads beyond the lunch stop are dirt and we get to Dourades for our change at 6pm (nearly three hours late). There is no other bus that day. Oh well, taxi then anyone?

Angela and Tom a nice Aussie who shared our lovely journey agreed. A friendly chat with the local taxi dudes, 30 mins of chin scratching and discussing the options later. We're off. The taxi massive were pretty gutted we didn't fall for the 'there are only two seat belts in the back so you have to take two taxi's for four people' trick. Durh lads we counted them when we got in the taxi, there are three in the back and two in the front. Fours of us plus one of you, thats one per person. Sheeeeesh!

Bonito is another rip off, but a damn pretty one. The water here has limestone in it so all sediments calcify and sink to the bottom. That scientific speak y'all. Anyhow it means the water is crystal clear and you can snorkel around in irridescent blue water seeing lots of fish and on occassion scarier things like caimen and anaconda. Yoikes! We had one day at the Municipal baths which are on a river just outside town. There were shoals of fish swimming right up to you and we thought things couldn't get much better but they could! Today we headed out to a Fazenda (ranch) with access to more river action. It was a tour with guide only but the water was ten times more beautiful and we saw even more wildlife. We hired some attractive wet suits (Gav got a discount for his childs one)and an underwater camera and have some amazing and not so amazing shots/film footage of us and the underwater massive.

So yeah, we're a bit over excited today and overstuffed by the inclusive ranch Brazilian enormous running buffet so its our dedication to you, all our loved and not so loved ones at home that has got us in this cyber cafe typing up our blog. Tomorrow it's bye bye Bonito and up into the Pantanal before heading to Rio. Bring it on! More news soon.

Laters gators!

mx and GJG Huge

ps we have our photos on CD now and up loaded to Flickr so we'll get them on here too soon so you don't think this is a scam and we're really staring a new life in Rochdale.