The mighty Iguazu

Sitting by the pool relaxing after exploring the huge Iguazu Falls over the past two days! We arrived in Foz do Iguazu early Wednesday morning after a 15 hour bus from Sao Paulo. The bus was huge and very comfortable. The bus conductor kept patting my head, giving me the thumbs up and chatting to me in Portugese when I was awake. Arrived in our hostel armed with all the information about how to visit the falls, what to do there, what buses to get for the Brazilian side and the Argentinian side and decided to go visit the Brazilian side first, after we had rested.

When we arrived at the national parks entrance we had to catch a bus to the falls and our bus was full of Japanese tourists all with cameras out taking millions of pictures even though the bus hadn't started yet and it was a 10 min journey through trees to start the trek to the falls!
Our first glimpse of the waterfalls came as we walked down a path and even though we'd tried to lose the Japanese tourist behind us, they came running after us and practically knocked us over trying to get photos of the first view. Every single of one them was snap happy. Posing infront of the falls, different angles, different group shots. And as fast as they had arrived they were running on to the next view. We left them off!

The path along the waterfalls is about 1200 metres or something like that and is like the over view of all the falls. Brian and myself walked slowly through it all. We came across loads of creatures along the way. And there were butterflies everywhere. It was amazing, all different colours and sizes. The waterfalls just kept getting more and more impressive as we walked along too. Everytime I thought we were getting to the end of it there was more to look at. Got up close to one side of the falls and let them soak me as i stood for a photo! Took loads of photos and Brian had his Canon Eos out too so he got some amazing photos. Check out our flickr over the next few days cause we'll have everything up soon.

Day two we headed for the Argentinian side with a tour group. This side is the close up of the falls. They picked us up at the hostel, drove us to the boarder, helped us get our exit and entry stamps etc. Headed into the national park with the group and straight away our guide was pointing out the wildlife we were passing. As we walked throught the forest we could hear the roar of the falls but we could only see small streams and rivers heading in its direction. Then we were standing on the edge of the falls, looking over. It was amazing. The path followed all the way along the hundreds of waterfalls by their edges. The power of the water was increadible. Standing on a small bridge with the water rushing past right under you, was intense.

This place was really amazing, loved it.

We're off to the jungle now tomorrow, can't wait :) x

Lesson learned in plans changing

So far a farily easy first few days where most things we've planned to do have run smoothly. I was begining to wonder when things might go wrong. Not that I was being negative or anything but everything was going so well. On our first night in Rio we were able to hagle our airport taxi down from R$65 to 50 and found out later a girl in our dorm paid over 70. The other day in Ipamema we escaped another scam. I think it started when one guy threw a pidgeon (!) at Brian as he threw something in the bin, then two seconds later his friend came running over with a toothbrush and some washing up liquid and was shouting 'Dog shit, dog shit, sir.' We just kept walking telling him it was fine but he persisted 'Look Sir, dog shit on your shoe.' Finally got away from him without stopping and there was indeed a little blob of greeny yellowy goo on brians shoe... definitely not dog shit though. These scam arists have good aim!

In Parati at the moment, four hours south of Rio. Cute village that's by the sea with beaches and islands close by. The centre of the town is the original colonial village from around 1660 with cobbled streets and cute little houses and a few big churches. Cars can't travel down the streets anymore cause it's a preserved village. Really nice. It's right on the water too with loads of colourful boats.

So back to when things don't always go to plan. Heading into the centre of Parati to catch a bus to a nearby town called Trinidade which we were told had gorgeous beaches, great waves and nice little treks through jungle. So that plan was bikini, towel, book - relax (in the shade), go for a swim, watch the world go by and plan our next move. It was 40 degrees as we waited for our bus with hundreds of school children running around and all I was thinking was that I'd better get a window seat or I'd die of the heat! The bus journey to Trinidade took about 45 mins and it was mainly though jungle landscape, up one side of a mountain and down the other. On our decent our bus didn't sound too good and about a minute after I'd said 'auw, poor bus' to Brian it cuts out! And as the bus cuts out I notice that it started to rain outside!

Our bus driver had the bus working again after 5 or 10 mins but by that time the skies had opened and the rain was torrential. Made it to Trinidade and without much thought got off at the last stop but as the bus drove away realise that there was nothing to do! And the rain was getting heavier and it was freezing :( Loud, long rumbles of thunder and a flat grey sky make it look like the rain was out for the day. So that was the relaxing on the beach plan gone. Thankfully two Israeli couples had got off the bus at the same time and under some shelter we all tried to play cards and successfully drank beer while we waited for the bus back to Parati.

Oh and Brazil have taken teleshopping to a new level... cattle for sale anyone? (bad photo - its hard to take a photo of the tv!) 

Escape from Sugar Loaf Mountain

The past two days we've spent exploring more of Rio. We headed for one of the highest points in Rio, the Sugar Loaf Mountain to get some views of the city. As it had been raining all morning, Corcovado (which has the Christ the Redeemer on top) was closed so Sugar Loaf was kind of our second choice.



Got the bus out but just like Ireland you've no idea what stop to get off, so we ended up getting kicked off the bus at its last stop and being told that 'Sucre' was way back! So we wandered the streets, looking up at the peak for guidance. Stumbled apon a cute little beach so wasn't all bad. Getting lost is fun.




To get to the top of the Sugar Loaf we got on the cable cars. Half way to the top we stopped off at a smaller mountain, Urca Mountain, and took lots of shots of the city below. And even though it was a crap, overcast day the rain had stopped and we actually had great views. Saw a sign with a drawing of a monkey which said not to feed the animals so I got all excited and started looking up in search of the monkeys :) No luck.

Jumped on the second cable car and made our way to the top. The views were absolutely gorgeous. Rio is impressive to look at. Golden beaches, lots of hills and mountains, jungles and trees, skyscrapers and favelas.

Wandered into a jungly part of the Mountain where, after looking for them for so long, I finally found the little monkeys. They were so cute! Their little faces were like little old men and they had gorgeous black and grey stripey tails. Was so happy after finding the monkeys I wasn't ready for the amount of wildlife that popped up after. We spotted gorgeous green humming birds, pure black beas, grey lizards, brown lizards, butterflies, small spiders, tiny ants, bigs ants and two different large birds that were circling the island. I was very impressed!! Not to mention the hundreds of different types of trees, leaves and flowers.

After our little jungle safari we headed back up to where the cable cars were to find a large crowd staring at one of the cable cars stuck on the tracks. They were stuck for two hours. Better them than me! So we got stranded up the top with nothing to do but admire the view. Can't complain. Could be stuck in worse places. And we got a free can of something fizzy and some crisps to boot :) YUM! All in all a good day, even though Brian did freak out when he thought we were going to have to leave the Mountain by way of a little tub that held about six people and ziped down cables just under the cable cars!

And then today we just wandered around Ipamema Beach. Way nicer than Copacobana by far. No annoying people trying to sell me things. Police with their own gazebos, relaxing on the beach. Felt a lot safer than two days ago. Still stood out with my mik bottle skin!! Rambled trough a Hippy market too. Not much to do on Sundays. Loving the nothingness.hehe. Leaving Rio tomorrow. The only thing I think I missed here was going on a tour of the favelas, would have been very interesting (and maybe Christ the Redeemer but he was covered in scafolding!) but other than that I enjoyed my time here. Very, very relaxing.

I'll leave ye with a gorgeous shot of Corcovado and 'O Cristo Redentor' AKA Christ the Redeemer and his temporary suit of scafolding. Enjoy :) x

rain, rain go away. come again another day (preferably next april!)

So it's day two and I woke up at about four in the morning to the sound of serious torential rain. Hurray. We knew it was coming cause we had tried to book a tour of Rio but the company cancelled cause they knew the rain was coming. And sadly, the Christ the Redeemer statue closes when its raining. I think it has something to do with the fact that its covered in scafolding at the moment and is dangerous when it rains or might have to do with the heavy rain that Rio saw last month. Oh well. We're still going to try get out and do some sight seeing today with our rain jackets. Woo hoo :-)

Yesterday we had a lovely day. Roasting with a slight breeze. And even though every one keeps talking about the humidity I'm not feeling it so that's great. As it was our first day we took things really slowly. Had breakfast in the hostel at about half eight and just hung around the area of Botafogo where the hostel is. Just strolled around. There are VW camper vans everywhere. Brian is very excited :-)

After lunch (fresh bread and fruit from the local supermarket) we headed for Copacobana beach. It was packed. But was hard to find the tourists - well hard to find people as pale, pale white as me. Every one is tanned! Every few seconds we had people up to us asking if we wanted to buy stuff, towels, flags, perfume, teddys, jewellery, peanuts etc. Sat at one of the little huts by the prominade and decided to sample some of the local drinks - Caipirinha (Cachaça, limes and ice) for me and coconut water with rum served in its original packaging for Brian. Just did more strolling around.

Got the metro back to Botafogo, got a bit lost for a while, found Botafogo beach, got a bit lost again, asked a very old Brazilian man for directions but he had no english so we just smiled and nodded. Found our way back eventually and did a bit more relaxing for the night.

So think we are off to see the Sugar Loaf mounatin today... it's the one in the background in this photo taken on Botagofo beach. Even though it's raining and overcast, fingers crossed we'll get a few photo opportunities.

Packing for a year away

So a lot of people have asked me what I'm bringing with me and wonder how I'm going to fill it all into one bag on my back. I didn't know a few months ago either. Well I first started doing a lot and a lot and a lot of research. (nerd!) Then being a list person I stared making lists - clothing lists, gear lists, lists about what I'd need in my first aid kit, a list of misc items, a list of expensive bits of equipment I needed to buy, lists of things I might need, lists of things I'd read other travellers couldn't live without... you get the idea.

So I started by buying the backpack, a Berghaus Jalan Womens 55 + 15l and I ended up with...

What I'm packing

Clothing:

• Merrell Siren Sport - my 'sensible' walking shoes
• Merrell Siena - sandals that are kinda cute
• crappy flip flops - for icky showers
• Cons - an extra pair of shoes may seem silly but if I'm heading out for a drink at night in a big city I'd rather not have to wear my lovely Merrells! These are super old so if I'm not using them I'll throw them out.
• 6 tank tops/string tops (ones a dressy one)
• 2 t-shirt
• 1 long-sleeve top
• 3 shorts
• 2 dresses
• 2 bikinis - I plan on buying lots more along the way :)
• sarong
• a pair of jeans - most people/travel forums/blogs say don't pack these but I can't imagine a year without jeans. And after not packing them when I travelled around Europe a few summers ago I regretted not having them. So they are coming, end of!
• light full length pants
• North Face micro fleece
• rain jacket
• crappy shorts and string top for Pjs 
• micro fibre towel
• mini micro fibre towel for hair

Misc stuff

• 1l water bottle
• sunglasses, seeing glasses, 4 month supply of contacts and solution
• Sporkff
• mini LED torch
  
• silk sleeping sheet
• notebook and pens
• tiny 2010 diary
• small atlas of the world
• Lonely Planet 'South America on a shoestring'
• washing line 
• padlock
• first aid kit - painkillers, tiger balm, plasters, motillium, immodium, savlon, rehydration sachets etc.
• mini sewing kit
• toiletry bag - suncream, aftersun, insect repellent, toothbrush, toothpaste, deoderant etc. 
• some make-up - mascara, eyeliner, blush
• hairbrush with bobbles around handle
• pack of playing cards - they have a different picture of Ireland on each card 

Electronic stuff

• iPod
• iPhone - unlocked waiting for Oz
• 10.1" Asus Eee PC 1001HA netbook
• Nikon Coolpix camera
• chargers

It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside!

8 days to go.
3 left in work!

If you said to me this time last year that I only had one week left to go I think I would have exploded with excitment. But right now I really don't know what I'm feeling. Well I know I'm definitely happy. And I know that I'm definitely looking forward to the next year... but I don't know where the excitement is.

I think it's because I've been planning this for so long I might have used up all my excitement. I was excited when Brian and I decided we would start saving and planning for this trip. And I was unbelievably excited the day we booked our flights! As was I the day I bought my backpack. And my shoes. And all the other things we organised and booked and did over the past few months, but now it just feels surreal. Like I've been planning a fake holiday that I'll never be going on!
It's a bit strange alright.
And, yes, it is only 8 days away!
Why doesn't it feel like there's something major about to happen in my life?
I'm guessing this surreal feeling is at least going to last until I don't have to get up next Monday at 6:40 am for work... but it might last till I'm waking up early for my first flight on the 22nd.

Guess it's just not sinking in.

random thought

Every now and then when I'm doing normal stuff during the day I do something or use something or eat something and I go 'Wow, I'm gonna miss that when I'm gone!' So some of these things include - Barrys tea, black pudding, high heels on a night out, ... but the thing I think I'm going to miss the most, and don't mock me, is nail varnish! Ya, ya, shh... let me explain. I'm not a girly girl and I'm not going to miss make-up (90% of the time), a full wardrobe of clothes, etc. but this nail varnish thing is really gonna get to me. I hate looking at my hands when there's no nail varnish on them. They are just crap! They chip, crack, rip, are dull, boring, uuuhhhhhhhhhhh!

I'll get over it - don't worry, but I'll be sad doing it!

oh and I'll miss the sound of my hair dryer, couldn't care less about styling or actually drying my hair, I'm really gonna miss curling up under my blanket while the hairdryer is on!!

yup!