Clare writes: So here we are in Rio - only two more days left of our Big Trip and what a city to choose for the big finish! Crazy place - vibrant and a bit edgy with stunning scenery and an astonishing variety of people - all shapes, sizes and colours! We arrived on Friday after 23 hours on a bus - which was late arriving, messing up plans for a churrascaria lunch with Sheila's old friends from Manaus... but we caught up with them later and spent Saturday with...

Clare writes: Here's a new record: shortest amount of time spent in a single country = Paraguay, coming in at just under 3hours! You might accuse us of stamp-collecting (though we didn't get a stamp - the border with Brazil was a bit of a free-for-all) but we went for a reason... we were on a day trip from the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls to the Brazil side and to the astonishing Itaipu Dam which is jointly owned and run by Brazil and Paraguay. It's a truly ...

Clare writes: Here's a new record: shortest amount of time spent in a single country = Paraguay, coming in at just under 3hours! You might accuse us of stamp-collecting (though we didn't get a stamp - the border with Brazil was a bit of a free-for-all) but we went for a reason... we were on a day trip from the Argentina side of Iguazu Falls to the Brazil side and to the astonishing Itaipu Dam which is jointly owned and run by Brazil and Paraguay. It's a truly ...

Clare writes: They should rename it IgWOWzu!! We arrived yesterday on one of those flash Argentinian 'cama' buses which was 18hours of hell - snacks, three course dinner with wine , movies, pillows and blankets!! It's the only way to travel! It was strange to leave Buenas Aires - which was cool and rainy -and wake up back in the tropics! Except that after one afternoon in shorts, we woke up today and it was cool and rainy here too!! But still it's a fantasti...

Clare writes: I had to visit Montevideo... it all dates back to when I worked in a bank and if people rang for their balance I had to ask loads of security questions so I felt like i was grilling them: What's your DOB? What's your mother's maiden name? What was your postcode before last? First pet? etc tec.... so I always used to finish with: What's the capital of Uruguay for a laugh. Well, it made ME laugh!! Never was cut out for banking! And I liked the city...