Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Buen dia amigos, estamos muy bien. Santa Cruz is not that far-ar-ar-ar-ar. La la la. I'm sure that's a song. Anybody? By Keane perhaps? Hmmm. Anyway, so yeah, that's where we are, and indeed where we have been since Saturday morning. I'm afraid there are no pictures as of yet, but hopefully will be able to upload those tomorrow...before we leave to paddle with piranhas, cuddle some caimans and hump some hors...I mean go horseback riding in the Pantanal - and yes, we will be doing all of the above I believe. The pantanal is a vast area of jungly swampland that spans the borders of Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil, and we are just trying to sort out a four day tour there which will enable us to do some incredible wildlife spotting, and catch our own piranhas for dinner etc., which will then be prepared by the camp cook. That's the cook from the campsite, not an effeminate chef de cuisine. Shame really. Still, might be both, we can only hope. Anywho, so that's the plan for this weekend and the beginning of next week, then we'll have three days to head across the whole of Brazil to arrive in Rio on Friday, ready for el carnaval. Did somebody say part-ay? No? Just me then. Groovy. As for Santa Cruz....Saturday we pitched up at our hostel, one block from the main square (gorgeous main square, although apparently no busking or fabrication of bracelets and necklaces is allowed there, as I found out today....again, I wasn't really busking, just wanting to play a little...). We checked in with an English dude called Don (comes from Curbar, Peter and Jill - small world, eh?!) and then spent most of the day trying to find me some swimming trunks so we could head to the nearby water park the next day - a brilliant outdoor place of slides, wave machines and flumes etc. - check out the photos soon of the near vertical slide. Sweet. Got the cheapest pair we could find - it turns out Santa Cruz believes itself to be in the middle of London - prices for some things are phenomenal - i.e. 35 dollars for a pair of swimming shorts?! In the middle of Bolivia?! You what? (Granted, they a 'fashionable' brandname, but whoever heard of Quicksilver?Hmmm...). So anyway. Then we went out to the geniusly named Irish bar - "The Irish Pub", before heading to a jazz bar called Clapton's around the corner. Given that Don turned out to be a bit of a whizz on the olf keyboards, and I hadn't played the drums for a while, we asked if we could play a little before too many punters turned up, and ended up jamming with the seediest bassest I've ever met. Going by the name of Napoleon (said in a rasping voice and followed without fail by a laugh akin to that of any evil professor bent on world domination), his pony tail, hat and sunglasses at midnight were pure class. Still, sounded ok, and we left the stage to confusing applause (the place seemed to have started filling up while we were jamming, jamming, I hope you like jamming too...ahem) - were they applauding the music or the termination of said music. Who knowsh. So yeah, muchos funnos. Sunday was the water park with Don and an aussie girl staying at our hostel, Sarah - a little sun-burn for good measure, and a wickedy bo day. The rest of the time in Saint Penelope has been pretty chilled, with many visits to bars, parks and much sleeping in hammocks in the hostel. Oh yeah...as you'll see from the photos, there are a coupla toucans there too, which flap around the trees and tables as you haev breakfast in the courtyard. And yes, all puns involving two can and toucans have been made, but I invite you all to post any suggestions on the message board. You're not the only witty ones eh - toucan play at that game. Sorry, poor. And also apologies for the length of this entry, hope some of you have made it to the end! Keep the emails coming, will reply as often as I can! Be good and love to one and all, keep well, xxxx ps - Smokes - I believe they do have vaseline, thank you for your concern. pps - Boon. What can I say? pps - Tasha - ditto. You worry me ;) Anywho, much love again guys, x