June 23, 2009
-
Brazil Trip May-June 2009Initially I wasn’t going to embark on this trip but factors at work contributed to a change of mind which I am grateful for because the experience of this holiday was amazing and exhilarating. Having visited nearly all the countries on my to-see list in Asia – with the exception of Laos and Nepal – my attention turned to Latin America. Costa Rica whetted my appetite last year and this opportunity to launch my first foray into South America was eagerly seized.
There were much personal apprehension about visiting Brazil due to reports of high crime coupled with my not speaking Portuguese. Latin America is nothing like Asia. Where my physical chameleonic appearance afforded me the luxury to blend in with the locals in Asia, it would be worthless here. The fact that I would be travelling with a friend from Holland and that he is also an experienced traveller, having gained mileage in several Latin American countries negated my unfounded fears somewhat.
Day 1 – São PauloArrived late afternoon. My Dutch friend, Marcel, had arrived two days previously and was waiting for me at our hotel. After collecting my receipt from the pre-paid taxi booth, I’d jumped into the cab only to discover that the driver was illiterate so cannot read the address of the hotel. Eventually, he understood the name of the hotel and got me there.
It had been two years and nine months since Marcel and I last saw each other. The last time was during my leaving do in Amsterdam. He definitely has changed during that period but playfully lamented my physical features have remained the same. It was late evening so we headed out to dinner where I tucked into steak, beans and rice.
Pic taken with mobile phoneThe Brazilian national fizzy drink
Day 2 – São Paulo
Art exhibition within a shopping mall dedicated to the great Formula 1 driver, Aryton Senna, who hailed from São Paulo and who was killed in the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.
São Paulo Museum of Modern Art.
Liberdade – essentially Japantown in São Paulo. The city has the highest Japanese population outside of Japan.
A Japanese restaurant in Liberdade.
Graffiti art in Liberdade
Stopping for a coffee inside this quaint cafe in Liberdade.
One of the many pictures adorning the wall.
Museum of Japanese Immigration in São Paulo
Public phone booths
A paulistano (São Paulo local) posing for the camera
São Paulo Cathedral in downtown
Day 3 – Foz do Iguaçu
We took a flight with the national budget airline, Gol, to Foz do Iguaçu which is the nearest city to the Iguaçu Falls on the Brazilian side. It is a small city with a population of around half a million so there isn’t that much to see.
Day 4 – Foz do Iguaçu
Bus heading to the Iguaçu Falls. Upon arrival at the National Park and after paying for admission you are ferried on another bus to the Falls.
First sighting of the Iguaçu Falls
The National Park is also home to the giant ant eaters. This one made a grab for my bag. And then attempted to snatch a woman’s handbag.
The Devil’s Throat – mouth of the Falls - straight ahead.
You can get very wet on the walkway. My camera got completely drenched.
The ant eaters like to congregate in the food court area for obvious reasons. There was a hilarious moment when a screaming girl was being chased by a pack of ant eaters after sniffing food in her bag. Cornered, she threw something out of her bag and ran off while the ant eaters tore apart a packet of…popcorn!
The Devil’s Throat. The Iguaçu Falls are truly a Natural Wonder of the World…easily eclipse the Niagara Falls for sheer majesty.
Day 5 – Puerto IguazúWe took the bus to the border with Argentina, cleared Immigration and waited for another bus to transport us to Puerto Iguazú, a much smaller town with a population of around 30,000. Puerto Iguazú is the closest town to the Falls on the Argentinean side and is a lot more charming.
Waiting for a bus to the Iguazú Falls in Puerto Iguazú (nearest town on the Argentinean side). Works of art right beside the bus stop.
Upon arrival and admission, one is transported to the Falls by train.
Walking trail to the Devil’s Throat of the Iguazú Falls.
First sighting of the Falls
The Devil’s Throat, mouth of the Iguazú Falls
One gets even more drenched on the Argentinean side as the view is closer but it is well worth it!
I could stay at the Iguazú Falls the entire day just immersing into the serene and tranquil sounds of the flowing water.
National Park officers keeping watch
On the Argentinean side, inside of ant eaters there are hordes of butterflies.
Marcel being attacked by one!
Birds are the other wildlife to inhabit the National Park
Relaxing in a cafe
Day 6 – Puerto IguazúWe decided to stay another night in the town as Marcel was suffering a massive hangover from drinking too many caipirinhas at the town’s only nightclub, Club Libre. A stage was being erected in the centre for live music on a Saturday night.
Night time in Puerto Iguazú
Pic taken with mobile phoneJust like in Brazil, Argentineans love their meat. Ribs, steaks, sausages and chicken being flame-grilled.
Pic taken with mobile phoneWe ordered ribs! On a sizzling hot plate!
Pic taken with mobile phoneWashed down with Argentinean beer!
What I discovered was that all the savoury foods in both Brazil and Argentina contain a higher level of salt than I am used to. My blood pressure was sure to be doubled! No, make that triple due to the huge amount of gorgeous women since my arrival in South America!
Heading back to our hotel.
The Blonde Guy
An Irishman, a Mexican and a Blonde Guy were doing construction work on scaffolding on the 20th floor of a building.
They were eating lunch and the Irishman said, “Corned beef and cabbage! If I get corned beef and cabbage one more time for lunch, I’m going to jump off this building.”
The Mexican opened his lunch box and exclaimed, “Burritos again! If I get burritos one more time I’m going to jump off too.”
The Blonde Guy opened his lunch and said, “Polony again! If I get a polony sandwich one more time, I’m jumping too.”
The next day, the Irishman opened his lunch box, saw corned beef and cabbage, and jumped to his death.
The Mexican opened his lunch, saw burritos, and jumped too.
The blonde guy opened his lunch, saw the polony and jumped to his death as well.
At the funeral, the Irishman’s wife was weeping. She said, “If I’d known how really tired he was of corned beef and cabbage, I never would have given it to him again!”
The Mexican’s wife also wept and said, “I could have given him tacos or enchiladas! I didn’t realise he hated burritos so much.”
Everyone turned and stared at the Blonde Guy’s wife. She said, “He made his own bloody sandwiches so fuck him.”
Barbie Table Football
Comments (9)
Looks like a great trip!
I like Diet Antarctica Guarana!
I’ve never seen the weather that nice at Igaucu. You were lucky.
I have pics of many of the same places.
Glad you had a good time!
Bring back fond memory of the Falls, the ant-eaters and butterflies. You are so lucky!
Several xangans I subscribe to have gone down there and each time, it looks more and more appealing. I, too, have been a little apprehensive about South America as I’ve never been there before. One of these days, though, I’m going to have to go see the falls.
Anteaters are also bag snatchers? Who knew about their criminal inclinations?
You got some great pictures of the falls! I never knew ant eaters were such voracious eaters.
Pictures are beautiful as usual…that was a hilarious story about the anteaters! I also like the yellow phone pod, they just pop out of the surroundings. The falls and the rainbows are really nice!
Some of the shots are just so breathtaking, like the waterfalls.
Some of them are just amazing, like the bird one.
The falls are so much more majestic than Niagra falls!!!
I am going to south America soon…hopefully it’ll be as amazing as your trip
Salty food and salty women, ha ha. Those falls really are spectacular. I’m glad you had a good trip and no issues.
Life is born, to live.
Post by nike’>http://www.shoxshoes.cc/nike_shox_saya/“>nike shox saya