Amusing anecdote about Rio airport. The announcer guy sounds like he's reading one of those late night 0055 Call Me adds. It's hilarious! He's so softly spoken it's hard to understand him but I love it anyway :). Helps pass the time. Btw The domestic departures are of Rio International is not exactly a hub of activity. One bookshop, no food stores, no wifi. I'm hoping Sao Paolo international is better as I have 4 hours there between flights. At least it should h...

Welcome to crazy town! I've come back to the hotel for a bit of a break as the streets are totally bonkers outside. There is a bloca (street party) going on all around the hotel. From about 9 this morning thousands of people began arriving. I went for a walk earlier, and it was nuts. People dancing and singing (some just dancing to the music playing in their heads), street vendors selling food, drinks and weird and wonderful things to wear, people in crazy costum...

Last night was another late dinner. I really can't get used to not eating until midnight. Food was good at least - I had a chicken breast in mango chutney with puréed potato and carrot (I think). Most of the other group and a couple of ours headed out to a club after dinner but having had a maximum of 3 hours sleep in any one stint over the last few days and knowing we had a 6am start this morning I headed back. (still only got 2 + 1 hours sleep - I think my bod...

Arrived in Curitiba (pronounced KooriCHEEba) around 5.30 this morning after a ride on the night bus that was interesting to say the least. I think the driver was trying to win some sort of time record - bus was almost on 2 wheels around the bends and watching him pull out to overtake on blind rises and bends was a tad scary. Not many people slept. Luckily we were able to check into the hotel early and get a couple of hours sleep. At 10 we met up again and did a...

What an awesome day! This morning we met our local guide Alex and headed to the Brazilian side of the falls. First stop was the bird park which was great. They rescue exotic birds from nightclubs etc and rehabilitate them. They had all sorts of things including several different toucans, macaws and parrots. They even had reptiles such as turtles and anacondas, and a butterfly enclosure. You were able to walk inside some of the aviaries and the butterfly enclosure...