We had just a couple of hours in São Paulo in between buses but Julio was able to take us for a very quick run around some of the sights, which was great. After negotiating the underground system, we visited the tall gothic-style Cathedral and saw the impressive mosaics and stained-glass windows. We wandered around some of the market stalls and shops near there and also saw the beautiful old theatre building (which was closed for refurbishment) before grabbing some lunch and then back to the bus station.

We were on a very tight schedule and there was a moment of panic when it looked like half the group was going to have to take the bus to Paraty without the others because some people got lost in the station just as our bus was due to depart - Julio had to run around all over the place looking for them (it was actually his fault for giving them the wrong directions, not that he would admit it...), thankfully everyone made it just in the nick of time!

Bizarrely, in São Paulo bus station we bumped into Helena who had previously travelled with us from La Paz to Buenos Aires and then carried on separately with her friends. It turned out that they were going on the same bus as us - what a crazy coincidence?! It was really nice to see her again and catch up.