Argentina, Puerto Iguazu

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Glad we're in Argentina now. It's a lot cheaper than Brazil, and has steak and wine aplenty. A highlight was taking a boat right under the falls and getting completely soaked. Apologies about the amount of the waterfall photos over the last 2 posts, we've been getting a tad trigger happy - it's hard not to in this place. Photos taken so far on trip between us are around the 4000 mark. Check out the photo of Clare on the bus to BA, we were traveling like royalty - champagne, food, beds. It's like traveling first class BA to New York (not that i'd know what that's like). [Tom]

Brazil, Foz do Iguacu

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The Brazlian side of the Iguazu Falls - 275 waterfalls cascading through rainforest with the odd vulture flying overhead and a few coati (racoon like animals) milling around. We also spotted a tarantula, which was cool. And did a helicopter ride over the falls, which was even cooler. [Clare]

Brazil, Bonito

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After our Pantanal adventure, it was time to relax and float down stream. But first we needed some good old junk food, rice and beans can only do you for so long. The river snorkelling was fantastic with crystal clear water and currents so strong you didn't have to kick. It felt like we were flying. Except for the fish. And water. And snorkel. We then stumbled onto the set of Jurassic Park, a little lost world with scarlet and hyacinth macaws swooping overhead and a T-Rex sauntering past. Ok it was just a praying mantis, but it felt like there should have been a few dinosaurs strolling around. Our last stop was a blue lagoon at the bottom of a cave, where we spent too long trying to get good shots and nearly missed our bus. [Clare]

Brazil, Pantanal

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The Pantanal was amazing! It's a wetlands the size of France jam packed with animals. We saw so much but only really scratched the surface. Here's a summary: herding cattle with local cowboys on horseback, fishing for piranha, trekking through jungle swamps barefoot, spotting tons of cool wildlife, unknowingly swimming in piranha and caiman (croc) infested rivers, girl getting leg mauled by caiman and our guide catching caiman Steve Urwin style (not the same one). [Tom]

Brazil, Rio Carnival

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Wow! Enough said.

Brazil, Rio De Janerio

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The guidebooks made out we'd be mugged and pillaged within the first 30 seconds of stepping foot in Rio. A huge exaggeration. The people were really friendly and the most threatening thing that happened was a cat hissing at us. Scary stuff. Carnival was magnificent. We were blown away by the costumes and floats. Nearly on a par with our Hoddesdon carnival outfits of 1991. Christ the Redeemer was cool but not as impressive as expected. Too touristy, like it'd been built just to make money. Sugarloaf mountain was better with stunning views over the whole of the city. The beaches were beautiful but it rained loads so we didn't get to spend much time on them. Really liked the little monkeys hanging around the trees. Every city should have a monkey. [Clare]