Bus - Day 8 - 07/10/2012 (Sunday)
Not going to say much about the bus. Our first bus dropped us in São Paulo at the main bus station and we connected to another bus for the next 19 hours. It was very long and very boring (a bit like this blog). Managed to get a little bit of sleep.

Foz Do Iguacu - Day 9 - 08/10/2012 (Monday)
After dozing all night on the bus we stopped about 9:30am. The bus broke down 2 minutes from the bus station... We all jumped off and grabbed our bags and started to walk to the bus station. A taxi went past so our leader (Alberto) flagged it down (and 3 others) and we got to the bus station a bit quicker. From there we transferred to a mini bus which took us to the hotel. Luckily our rooms where ready so we had half an hour to freshen up.
We jumped back on the mini bus and headed off to the Iguacu falls. we were going to see the waterfall from the Brazilian side which you get to see the pure size of the falls and then tomorrow from Argentina where you get right up close. I was so shocked by the size of this waterfall. It must have been over half a mile wide. There was a main section where most the water was going over and then hundreds of smaller falls (and when I say smaller they were still huge). We walked along a track to take everything in. The pictures really don't do the place justice. One of our group got attacked by this weird ant eater slash raccoon thing. The last part you walk along this large walk way right into the middle and you look straight over the edge. We got a little wet from all the spray.
We then headed back to the town and had a late lunch. Didn't do a lot that afternoon. Just went for a walk around town, went for a swim in the hotel pool and read a book.
That evening we went to a buffet BBQ place. These guys came round with every meat imaginable on spits that they then cut off what you wanted. All freshly cooked. The weirdest thing I ate was chicken heart.
After dinner we all went back as we were shattered from the bus journey.

Foz Do Iguacu - Day 10 - 09/10/2012 (Tuesday)
Had an early start for our second day at the falls. We drove to the border and sneaked out of Brazil. No one checks on this border so it's easier just to leave and come back later. We had to get stamped into Argentina however. Once we arrived at the national park we jumped on this jungle lorry thing and headed to the river. The women was trying to do a commentary but I couldn't understand a word of it. At the end of the trail we jumped into a rib speed boat and were given water proof bags knowing. We knew then we were about to get drenched. The boat sped up the river and before we knew it we were at the base of the falls. We got a few pictures before we were told to put the cameras in the water proof bags. Next thing we know the whole boat is under the waterfall. It went in and out a few times under we were soaked. It then sped off round the corner to another part of the falls and did the same again to ensure we were wet from head to toe.
The next part of the day was walking around the tops of the waterfalls. From here you could see more of the falls that we didn't see from the Brazilian side. After lunch we caught a train to another walk. This was all on a platform and was about 1100 meters long. Below us the whole time was fast flowing water. It looked like a lake. At the end of the platform was the best part of the whole waterfall. The biggest part where the most water goes over and we were standing right on top of it. Good job our clothes were wet from the boat ride as we got soaked from the spray again. We got the train back, jumped on the bus, got stamped out of Argentina, snuck back into Brazil and went back to the hotel.
That night we went to one of Alberto's "friends" place for another BBQ and some drinks.

Foz Do Iguacu/Paraguay/Bus - Day 11 - 10/10/2012 (Wednesday)
We decided to take a bus over the border to Paraguay just to say we have been. It wasn't far on the bus and once again we snuck over the border. Once there all there was to do was to look round the shops and markets. We had an hour or so doing that and then headed back to Brazil. We had a little wait around before our next night bus. We got in the mini bus and cross the border to Argentina as for some reason it's quicker to travel down through Argentina to get to Uruguay that it is through Brazil. This time we official went through to get our exit stamp and like yesterday got another stamp for Argentina. Once over the border we got on a really comfy night bus and set off for our 12 hour journey. Sarah and I got the front seats on the top of the double decker.