Hey peeps! 

Hows it going? Vic, glad your gradually getting things sorted, bet there will be a hold now its leading up to christmas! Although isnt Ian off for some of January? Paul, hope your walk went ok and calf is recovering and Vic really does hate ironing!! As for the French guy, I never told him how gorgeous he was. But in my hostel here there is yet another gorgeous frog!! So the French may be obnoxious, but they are definately the best looking!! Oh and Vic, there may be lots of guys but no funny business, just cool people! 

So, I spent the rest of Tuesday afternoon chilling in the hostel. I got chatting to a nice English couple- Laura and Peter who´ve been living in Oz and a NZ guy called Glen. We had dinner at the hostel and it was an impressive 3 course meal- all really fancy food and well presented! Shocking for a hostel! Plus, it was nice because they laid up the table so everyone sat round to eat and there were about 20 of us all chatting. One of the hostel staff ran through everything to do with visiting the falls, which was handy!

Wednesday: A hearty breakfast at the hostel, then me, Laura, Peter and Glen got the local bus to the National park of the Iguazu Falls on the Argentinian side. Laura and Peter went to do a boat ride, so me and Glen walked round the couple of different trails you could do which allowed you to see the falls from all angles. We walked over the top of some of it and around the side, up high and down low. It really is immense! Its huge and there are about a dozen big falls- it is impossible to catch it all on camera! Devils throat is the biggest and most powerful fall- it just looks like a cloud! Me and Glen ate lunch, while pestered by the coatis- racoon like animals. The falls is situated amongst lush rainforest, so loads of wildlife! Unfortunately, it was really busy with tour groups though. I then went off to do my own boat trip- a short ride that allowed you to view the falls from the water and then took you underneath the water of two of the biggest falls! We got absolutely drenched!! But it was fantastic! Its so powerful, but was refreshing! I soon dried off in the sun and then bumped into two English guys and a Dutch girl from my hostel who were going to do a final trail that took you through the forest to another tiny waterfall where you could swim. It took about an hour to walk there- very scenic and saw armadillos!! The waterfall was lovely and the two guys swam, but it was too cold for me and I didnt have my bikini. We then walked back and got the bus back. At the hostel we all had the big 3 course meal together- I got chatting to two guys from Birmingham and caught up with Laura and Peter.
Thursday: >I checked out of the hostel, possibly the best Ive stayed in so far! I got the bus about 10am to take me across the border to Foz do Iguazu on the Brazilian side. The first bus took me to the Argentinian border where there was a bit of drama at the sight of my passport, but after much discussion and to and froing, I was stamped out, however the bus had left without me but kindly left my rucksack. I jumped on another bus which took me to the Brazilian border where I got a stamp no problem, but I had to wait for yet another bus to take me to the town. I found my hostel ok, it was more like a hotel, great facilities but with a homely feel. However, it was empty and the staff were not overly helpful or friendly. I dumped my stuff and went to hunt down a cash point to get Brazilian money. Slight panic as the first few cashpoints I found wouldnt accept my card!! Fears of being stuck in Brazil penniless! But eventually Santander worked! I got the bus to the national park on the Brazilian side. There I bumped into LAura and Peter who were over in Brazil doing a dollar run. So I walked around the trails with them. Most people had said that they preferred the Argentinian side, so I wasnt >expecting much! But I am sooo glad I done both! If anything, I preferred the Brazil side as you can see the whole range of falls and you get really close to the huge devils throat- there is a walkway that takes you out under it- again I got soaked! Plus, a staircase that goes up beside it and then you can walk over the top! Amazing! Plus, we were lucky as the weather on both these days was warm, but slightly overcast. We got the bus back and I bid them farewell! I enquired about where to eat, but they werent overly helpful at the hostel so I ended up at a kebab place as it is soooooo expensive in Brazil. I went to the supermarket to buy some stuff to cook, but its more than at home!! At the kebab place I got a falafel wrap and then ordered what I thought was a salad, but it was the side dish they have made out of crushed herb, onion, tomato and oil. Im not sure its healthy to eat that much of a herb, but it was tassty and cheap!! I must admit it has come as a shock coming here and not knowing Portuguese! I took for granted how good my Spanish had become and stupidly thought that in Brazil they would understand Spanish and that it was almost the same as Spanish- not the case! They get offended if you speak Spanish and they sound like they have a cold with their nasally sounds. So I am a bit lost and pointing and guessing. Quiet night alone in the hostel- most bizarre! Friday- >Good buffet breakfast- just for me?! I booked a bus for 4.30pm and so had the day to kill. Not much to do in Foz do Iguazu, so I just wandered! I wandered up to the big shopping mall- just like being at home, but better than the malls in Ipswich. On the way there was drama as there was a big fire in one of the blocks of flats- could see the fire and smoke billowing out the window and all the fire brigades come rushing and the road was shut and tv crews arrived. I killed time in the shops, but didnt buy anything. On the way back I bought a new little rucksack from a street stall- I had got my current one after a girl left it in my dorm in Santiago, although it was falling apart so I needed a new one. I found a reasonable restaurant for lunch- everything here is pay by kilo buffet. A few nice salads and fish, but not great. I walked a bit more- nice and hot. I got a coconut water- wow!! They take the coconut from the fridge and pierce a hole in it and you drink it through a straw! I love this stuff, but at home it costs a fortune and isnt fresh!! I also sampled the acai berry dessert that is really popular here- again another superfood that at home costs a fortune and is rare. It was like a sorbet with banana and granola- very tasty. I laid in the hammock in the garden of the hostel reading in the sun until my transfer to the bus station picked me up. My bus was at about 6pm and no where near as nice as some of the Argentinian and Chilean buses. I was in the window seat next to an old, smelly Brazilian guy. He tried speaking but I didn't understand. I read and finished my book- I am Red, by Orhan Pamuk. A 660 page novel based on the history of art in the Ottoman Empire- not my usual choice, but English books are rare and I actually really enjoyed it! He is a very talented writer, hence why he is Nobel prize winner in literature. The rest of the bus had settled to sleep and I noticed the old guy next to me touching his crutch! I hoped he was asleep or had an itch. But then I turned my light out and got comfy and felt something on my shoulder! I thought it must be his shoulder or possibly his head fallen in his sleep. However, I then felt it stroking me! I thought maybe I was imagining it, so I pretended to be asleep. But then he grabbed my hand and tried to stroke it! I was shocked but pushed him away. He tried putting his arm round my waist so I pushed it away and touching my leg! To be honest, I just wanted to laugh! But I couldn't sleep really until he got off as I felt a bit uncomfortable. My conclusion is men are perverts! Remember the guy walking home from Bergholt! And the groper in Paris and 'one armed' customer in Tesco!
I got to Florianopolis and managed to navigate two local buses to the island where my hostel was. It's a pretty little beach resort- a village surrounded by lush forest and sandy beach with clear waters. The hostel is cool but it is a bit of a party hostel. I checked in, then went to eat- more coconut water and acai berry!! I walked along the beach- a bit busy with lots of Brazilians coming for the weekend. I needed a new book, but the only English book in the book exchange was shutter island, which I've already read, but I enjoyed it so will read it again til I find something new.
I got chatting to two Irish girls and French guy. Then lots of the others come back really drunk from a pool party! I went to bed about 10.30, while the others went out again. Xavier, the French guy, didn't go out either and we ended up laying in bed (he was in the bunk next to mine) debating politics, religion, spirituality, science and love. An Aussie guy come back from the party and joined in the discussions and then the others got back about 2.30am and luckily we were still awake and chatting because it went a big crazy in our dorm. Music, dancing, nearly a fight and the Irish girl and English guy shagging. So a funny, entertaining night!
Sunday:
Breakfast with Xavier and more debating, while the others slept off hangovers. Then we all went to the beach! So hot and sunny! There was me, the Aussie, the English guy, another Aussie guy and Xavier. I must admit the others were not the sort of people I usually hang around with- they were on the beer and cocktails again at 11am and talked. I continuously for two hours about their shagging conquests! I've never heard anything like it- more proof men are perverts! Xavier left to get the bus to Iguazu at 2, I might see him again in Peru, but nothing happened! I lasted another hour or so, before going to have a coconut water and more acai berry! Plus, it was wise not to sit in the sun too much longer.
So all is still good! Heading to São Paolo next I think. So sad that I am halfway through, but lots more adventures I'm sure! Vic, I am going to India in my summer holiday from uni. Although if I didn't have uni I probably wouldn't come home so good job I had that organised.
Look after yourselves! Keep me filled in on the gossip!