Friday 5 April 2013

Iguaçu and a bit of BA

February 26th - 28th 2013

Tommy, how the hell are you giving all these blog updates, it's been a month with nothing?!
Guys, I'm writing this having spent 23 out of the past 24 hours on a bus, I might as well do something practical.

So yes, I arrived and ditched the poshies and got a local bus in to Foz. There's definitely a lot of money to be made in Foz in the club scene, there's literally zero to do other than the falls so most people just stay there a day.
I found my hostel and after freshening up I was out to the falls. It just takes a local bus that costs about 40p to go direct to the falls, and I met two German girls on the way who'd just started their trip who were a year in to their studies.

Most people that you meet will say the Argentine side of the falls is better, however I personally prefered the Brazilian side (Foz do Igaçu). On this side you pay to enter and you can stop at mutilple places for extra activities, but I'm on a budget so I enjoyed the 1.5 mile walk along the falls, where you see some of the most remarkable panoramic views of falls - so great that Eleanor Roosevelt remarked 'poor Niagra' on visiting them. I had an amazing time there, the view is simply astonishing and you even have oppurtunities to go white water rafting and in a boat beneath them. The image of them was enough for me, so astonishing.
I spent the entire day there, some times just say that looking in to the falls, I'd hope that I got some pretty good shots.
Got a bus back and picked up some food for dinner that night. The hostel was really nice, it had a pool and the social area was like a beach hut, so cool. So I had a swim and later cooked, and afterwards collected my free Capirinha (official cocktail of Brazil) and got chatting with the social circle that included the entire hostel.
I had a really goodnight and met so many interesting people - and a few losers like the girl who arrived the same time as me, spent the whole day by the pool and was to spend the whole of the next day there also. The night was pretty funny actually, this American got drunk and threatened to beat us all up (not me, for some reason I was an ally!) and he was crushing his beer cans to show what a badass he was!! Then the best bits, he claimed to be a partof the Hells Angels - to which I queried 'hey Dan, why is there no aostrophe in 'Hells'?' he definitely didn't see the funny side. Then an Aussie threatened to attack him for the offensive comments he was making to women (an Aussie!!! Complaining about sexism! I know!)
So I got up early and as I rose I saw Alex, James and Jack from Floripa, and we were all booked in to Millhouse Ave so would hook up again on the weekend. I had my fry-up that was a part of the package and went with the German girls to get some argentine pesos for my reals. After that I had my bags and got a local bus to Argentina (how cool is that! Another country for 40p!!) 
The way it works is, unless this is the standard (regular commute from Foz - Puerto Iguaçu) then you are dropped off at the Argentine border, get a stamp, and wait for the next bus that takes you to customs (however they wait for you at customs). I met an American girl who went to USC (Univeriaty of Spoilt Children/Southern California) and we got chatting a lot however she, being an American with visas, was in customs so long the bus left and I didn't see her again. Upon arrival at the bus station I bought my ticket for that night to Buenos Aires, dropped my bags and got a bus to the Argentine side of the falls (sounds like I'm moving fast, huh? I departed from the Etonians 26 hours prior).
The Argentine falls are absolutely spectacular and even more tourist-y and packed than the Brazilian side. I was pretty sad to be out of Brazil actually, I love that country so much, and I can't wait to come back in July!
I was also pretty pissed off when my camera broke (yeah, it broke at THE place to take pictures) and maybe that's why I never loved Argentina as much.
I was at the falls for hours and hours, and when I returned I had a little over an hour till my bus to BA, so I christened my first day in a different country with a steak and chips. No lie or even exageration, the steak was probably as big as my head. It was good times but a bit of a waste of money seeing that I then was introduced to Argentine buses - champagne (not a lie) and 3 meals. 
The journey was fine and Buenos Aires welcomed me with it's slums that are conveniently situated next to the bus station, or 'rodivario' if you're ever in need of the word. I was pretty disapointed with Millhouse's (my hostel) directions so I ended up getting a cab that was kinda nice cos I wanted a shower and I got to see some of the beautiful city. I was about to meet friends here from home and enjoy the most visited city in South America for the next two weeks... Let's hope it didn't disapoint!

Iguaçu and a bit of BA

February 26th - 28th 2013

Tommy, how the hell are you giving all these blog updates, it's been a month with nothing?!
Guys, I'm writing this having spent 23 out of the past 24 hours on a bus, I might as well do something practical.

So yes, I arrived and ditched the poshies and got a local bus in to Foz. There's definitely a lot of money to be made in Foz in the club scene, there's literally zero to do other than the falls so most people just stay there a day.
I found my hostel and after freshening up I was out to the falls. It just takes a local bus that costs about 40p to go direct to the falls, and I met two German girls on the way who'd just started their trip who were a year in to their studies.

Most people that you meet will say the Argentine side of the falls is better, however I personally prefered the Brazilian side (Foz do Igaçu). On this side you pay to enter and you can stop at mutilple places for extra activities, but I'm on a budget so I enjoyed the 1.5 mile walk along the falls, where you see some of the most remarkable panoramic views of falls - so great that Eleanor Roosevelt remarked 'poor Niagra' on visiting them. I had an amazing time there, the view is simply astonishing and you even have oppurtunities to go white water rafting and in a boat beneath them. The image of them was enough for me, so astonishing.
I spent the entire day there, some times just say that looking in to the falls, I'd hope that I got some pretty good shots.
Got a bus back and picked up some food for dinner that night. The hostel was really nice, it had a pool and the social area was like a beach hut, so cool. So I had a swim and later cooked, and afterwards collected my free Capirinha (official cocktail of Brazil) and got chatting with the social circle that included the entire hostel.
I had a really goodnight and met so many interesting people - and a few losers like the girl who arrived the same time as me, spent the whole day by the pool and was to spend the whole of the next day there also. The night was pretty funny actually, this American got drunk and threatened to beat us all up (not me, for some reason I was an ally!) and he was crushing his beer cans to show what a badass he was!! Then the best bits, he claimed to be a partof the Hells Angels - to which I queried 'hey Dan, why is there no aostrophe in 'Hells'?' he definitely didn't see the funny side. Then an Aussie threatened to attack him for the offensive comments he was making to women (an Aussie!!! Complaining about sexism! I know!)
So I got up early and as I rose I saw Alex, James and Jack from Floripa, and we were all booked in to Millhouse Ave so would hook up again on the weekend. I had my fry-up that was a part of the package and went with the German girls to get some argentine pesos for my reals. After that I had my bags and got a local bus to Argentina (how cool is that! Another country for 40p!!) 
The way it works is, unless this is the standard (regular commute from Foz - Puerto Iguaçu) then you are dropped off at the Argentine border, get a stamp, and wait for the next bus that takes you to customs (however they wait for you at customs). I met an American girl who went to USC (Univeriaty of Spoilt Children/Southern California) and we got chatting a lot however she, being an American with visas, was in customs so long the bus left and I didn't see her again. Upon arrival at the bus station I bought my ticket for that night to Buenos Aires, dropped my bags and got a bus to the Argentine side of the falls (sounds like I'm moving fast, huh? I departed from the Etonians 26 hours prior).
The Argentine falls are absolutely spectacular and even more tourist-y and packed than the Brazilian side. I was pretty sad to be out of Brazil actually, I love that country so much, and I can't wait to come back in July!
I was also pretty pissed off when my camera broke (yeah, it broke at THE place to take pictures) and maybe that's why I never loved Argentina as much.
I was at the falls for hours and hours, and when I returned I had a little over an hour till my bus to BA, so I christened my first day in a different country with a steak and chips. No lie or even exageration, the steak was probably as big as my head. It was good times but a bit of a waste of money seeing that I then was introduced to Argentine buses - champagne (not a lie) and 3 meals. 
The journey was fine and Buenos Aires welcomed me with it's slums that are conveniently situated next to the bus station, or 'rodivario' if you're ever in need of the word. I was pretty disapointed with Millhouse's (my hostel) directions so I ended up getting a cab that was kinda nice cos I wanted a shower and I got to see some of the beautiful city. I was about to meet friends here from home and enjoy the most visited city in South America for the next two weeks... Let's hope it didn't disapoint!

Thursday 4 April 2013

16 hours with the Etonians


February 25th - 26th 2013

Yes, I am devoting an entire log entry to the bus journey with my best friends. Buy then again, I'm typing this whilst on a 24 hour bus up the coast of Chile, so not every journey is enjoyable I guess.

So I see my buddies and I ask the one who had claimed to be a 'Hammer mate' whether he knew the score of Tottenham vs West Ham, but he didn't and therefore he was totally useless to me. However he then stopped to ask what seat I was in and if I could 'be a massive ledge'. 
'Do you mind swapping seats with my mate Rory? He's on his own and if you move then the boys are all together!'
'Is it a window seat?'
'Can't guarantee you a window seat mate!'
'Oh okay i'm not gonna move then'
'Fair enough mate.'
Fucking bender. So I had my window seat and I was sat with Tobes, he was beyond posh. So he'd been rejected by Oxbridge twice, he went to Eton, he was 'making the most of my gap yah mate' oh, and of course he rowed... And played Rugby Union. He couldn't understand how I preferred league.

So Tobes mate, what did you all do to save up? Well Chadders worked in a prep school, in fact all of them did. But he's such a liability mate he got fired like twice so I imagine he's living out of the pocket mate. 
Oh okay, that sounds amazing. What did you do Tobes? Oh well I worked as a Maths asistant in a 'state school in Chalk Farm'. Ah man, sounds tough. Yeah mate like I just didn't get it, people there were not at all driven like us Etonians..... 'But that was actually volunteer work so my Dad paid me'.
Oh I see.
So what did you do mate? Oh me? I just worked on building sites around London, some sites I arrived at 7am and left at 7pm - I was a labourer for 6 months. 
Mate I can imagine that was absolute banter, like breaks all the time and just all the lads at the cafe?! No, actually most were pretty poor and a lot couldn't speak English very well.

Anyway, they were gonna spend like 3 days at Foz (you need less than one) and Tobes had a cousin who owned a ranch in Argentina so him, Chadders and Hugo ('cos we all ride' of course) were all 'gonna be riding round the ranch for two weeks pretending to be Gauchos!'

This was the end of my conversation and I said goodbye as soon as I got off the bus. They all seemed to be going to universities that I'd rejected.  I wonder if I'll see them again...

Wednesday 3 April 2013

From Curitiba to Florianopolis

February 22nd - February 25th

Well, long time time no speak! (on my behalf) I don't think anyone even really remembers where we left off, so now I'm to backtrack a whole month and let you know what went dowwwwn.

So yes, I left Curitiba at 5am after being at the gaybar (cos Gasper prefers gaybars in Curitiba) till 4am and ate my apple in the waiting area to sober me up for my 7 hour coach (believe me folks, that is nothing.)
I arrived in sunny Florianopolis, or as the well-cultured call it: 'Floripa'. It's a beach town and when I woke up it was light and I slightly regretted sleeping after seeing the green scenary that surrounded me. Upon arrival I only knew the name of the hostel I was staying at, and that Florianopolis was so big it really did matter where you stayed, so I waved a taxi and was told it would be R$40 'mas o menos' (more or less) - gotta keep up the essexisms even when speaking in another language. Not gonna lie I was pretty pissed off at this point and slightly regretted coming, but when I arrived I was happy to see the lagoon and my hostel was fabtastic. I dropped my bags, showered, saw my room and walked in to town.
Floripa is very nice, it's like Newquay (obviously not as good) and it's full to the brim with Ozzies 'that jus wanna go to the fucking beach, crack open some beeers wiv me mates, get drank and maybe fight some cant!' that is my general view of Ozzies so far. And I don't think I'm that far off!

Didn't do much on my first day, I bought some food, fell asleep on the lagoon for like 3 hours in the sun and met Rochy. Rochy is a lovely Mexican girl who was in my room with her brother Polo, and that night after I'd made my pork chops with mash potato and fried onions we went out for a drink in town with the gang (who consisted of two protein junkies, mexicans and brazilians) and that was about it, didn't say much as the general conversation was in portugese, but I did learn Rochy was gonna live and study here - day one done.
The next day was probably one of my most enjoyed trips so far, rochy had invited me to the beach and we had formed my most international gang so far - me, two mexicans, two Germans and a Brazilian. Quite a bit of hand signing going around the table to say the least. We decided to get a boat that took us out in to the bluest sea and afterwards (for a discount) the shallow lagoon. I had a really good day, it helped that Florianopolis put the 2 week storms on hold for the 4 days I was there :) the tour was done by a Swiss grandad, his Dutch daughter and with his 4 year old Brazilian grandaughter! It was brilliantly done and they even drove the boat the whole way across the lagoon to drop us to our side (what a ledge). That night we all helped cook a dinner of a large aray of vegetables and a selection of meat - for R$6 each I thought it was a steal! However none of the team fancied going out to the club (which in hindsight I don't know if I regret, financially) so I got chatting with some new arrivals, 3 British lads, a kiwi with 4 fingers and a girl who was the image of someone on their travels. The club was a short walk away and it was where I met Faith, a Californian girl who's studying in Buenos Aires and after a bit of a de tour for ID, we went in. The club was good, not exactly my style and was certainly pricey and was what I imagine China White to look like. I had a good night, favourite moments are either when the Swedish guy at the hostel who was pissed out of his head (leaving the next morning) told me I could live with him in Oslo - no you're right, he didn't know my name - or either when two Stortford girls started chatting me up (no lie) and then they tried to act like they were the ting and so I just walked off mid-conversation and found Faith (as my new buddy, not Christ). The night ended around 6am with Tyler, the protein junky, who had paid R&150 so that he could get that much in drinks, so after some cufuffling he got his 6 heinekens, gave me three and we smashed them on the ground as a statement of 'I'm Tyler, and I'm a badass'. This is the same man who told me he drank 6 bottles (normal sized) of Jack Daniels in one night and then drove a truck! 
Didn't get much sleep and I joined Alex, travel girl and 4 fingers to the beach where we'd planned to do surf lessons but instead laid on the beach for hours. On the way to the beach I met people who I believe I was destined to become best friends with - 6 private school lads who were on there gap yah. Wasn't too bad though, we only got 15 minute bus with them as we listened to there 'absolute lad banter' night on the dunes (word for word how they described it), it wasn't as though they were gonna be sat next to me tomorrow night on a 16 hour bus to Iguazu or anything....
The day at the beach was pleaseny, we enjoyed a fresh fruit smoothie at the beach bar and sat and chatted (well, I just slept really). That night we all went out on the free bikes the hostel offers (seriously good hostel) and flossed away our money on a sushi buffet that I really shouldn't have got. The night out was funny though, I joined two 8ft ozzies to a 'samba night' at this beach hut and had a really good night, where I met some really interesting people, like Abo the Mexican and his mate who was travelling for 2 years. I chose not to chat to the posh kids as they arrived, I disliked them even more when they sat there singing Niggas in Paris (have you ever even met a black person?) The taxi home made the night though, as Adrian had taken a shit load of cocaine and was on a universal buzz, demanding to find a club on this humble Monday morning at 5am. I think I laughed the entire journey! I got back about 5am and, despite going over budget I was happy that I'd come to Floripa.
The next day I just did the usual, put on my Essex vest and short shorts (which in that weather - 34 degrees - I really can't understand why I would look odd going in to town, just in them and a red vest with a big ESSEX on it. I seem to always meet new people wearing that vest, and they find it confusing that i'm not actually from Essex.
So yeah, booked my ticket and saw the poshies again - surely they were gonna book another bus, surely. I went out got lunch with Alex and co. and when it began to rain I too that as a hint I was leaving at exactly the right time. I said my farewells, to the lovely staff as well as Rochy, Faith and I was to see the boys again and again. Got a cab to the bus terminal and arrived with 5 minutes to spare only to be welcomed by the posh kids! Oh well, only 16 hours till Iguaçu....