Thought I'd pop through an update before an early night (by SA standards). I spent yesterday in Montevideo. During our irientation walk we came across some sort of music video shoot outside the main theatre which we watched and danced along to for a while. Went and checked out the soccer stadium where the soccaroos played, and walked along a nice beach. I was somewhat in awe of the women (of all ages shapes and sizes) in VERY skimpy bikinis. (I do admit when some bent over in front of me I did wish they were a little more self conscious!).

Also met another of our group last night. - Don is Micks mate who didn't get a Brazilian visa before he left Aus so has spent a week in Montevideo trying to sort one out. Poor guy hasn't done a lot of travelling and was a bit pissed off after getting the run around. I think he was relieved at having some English speakers to talk to as apparently he's usually quiet and reserved but last night we couldn't shut him up! I was his new best friend and got told all sorts of things he's 'never told anyone else'. He is a sweety though so hopefully his visa gets sorted out and he can meet us in iguazzu.

It seems Montevideo is not the safe town it used to be known for. One of the guys in the other group had his daypack snatched at another beach but managed to get it back after chasing the guy down and last night our group had its own incident. We were walking along together (9 of us) through the old town when I heard a scream behind me. When I turned around Nella was on the ground. It seems a guy had come up behind her and grabbed the strap of her handbag. Since she was wearing it across her chest he then kicked her legs out from under her and knocked her down to try and get it over her head. All this when she was walking along less than 30cm from one of the bigger guys in our group. Her scream alerted the rest of us and the would be robber ran off. Luckily Nella wasn't seriously hurt - just a few grazes where she fell to the ground and she managed to hold on to her bag. She handled herself really well I thought. There were a few tense moments where we had to walk past the thief and his mates but luckily nothing happened ( there were a lot more of them than us!).

We all needed a drink after that so jumped in a cab to another part of town (except for Colin and Lon. I think she would have liked to come out with us but Colin doesn't seem to like late nights). We had a couple of drinks in one bar before it closed and then headed to a dance bar. I think I'm getting old. By 4am I'd had enough of being trodden on, spilt drinks on, elbowed, and bumped in a crowded room with no aircon and listening to badly mixed Spanish music. The others seemed to be having fun though, and I didn't feel like trying to find a cab on my own so I stuck it out till 5. In the end though I couldn't take the lack of oxygen anymore so asked tony to help me grab a cab which thankfully he did. I got back around 5.30 and left them to it. (they'd pretty much paired off by then too so I was glad to go). Nella got in around 7.45 and was not in the best of shape when I had to wake her up at 9.15 to pack and check out.

Luckily for us the bus to salto was pretty comfy apart from Mick and I being subjected to icy blasts from the air conditioner and demister, and most people managed at least an hour or twos sleep. Salto itself doesn't seem like too fascinating a city but there are thermal springs (with massages, facials etc!) and a water park that we are going to check out tomorrow. I'm so looking forward to a massage after camping on the ice and carrying my pack!