Journey to Iguazu Falls

The last 36 hours may have been the least inactive of our entire life! Armed to the hilt with our heavy packs we baked in the soaring Rio heat as we waited nearly an hour to catch our first bus (it was pushing 40oC yesterday) to Rodoviario Novo Rio - the international bus station which was to be our way out of Brazil and into Argentina. The bus went through some very down and out areas, and as Bi and I grew increasingly nervous, we suddenly arrived at the station but it was much safer as it was full of fellow backpackers, all getting on glitzy coaches.

After a short wait our coach materialised. My heart sank! This rusty 15 year old hulk of a so-called 'coach' was to be our home for the next 22 hours. The air con was dodgy, the suspension non existent, and it came with a complimentary nutcase driver, who must have still thought he was driving his Ford Escort. The bus stopped every 2 hours, even throughout the night, and amen for taking the BA eyemask and a bumper bottle of anti-bacterial wash. We even had to get out at Sao Paolo in the middle of the night for about an hour whilst they took on extra passengers. When we woke up this morning the packed bus felt damp and really smelled bad, as the air con wasn't working properly and we were breathing some pretty stale air! Yuk!

Our breakfast this morning was in a very tiny service station in the middle of nowhere. We were starving so decided to get some cake for both of us. We took it and sat down and it turned out to be crawling throughout with insects, but only after Bianca had taken a big mouthful. For those of you who know her, you can imagine the panic/disgust/near-violence that ensued!

Anyway we got here safely, which is what counts and took a taxi across the border into Argentina, as we were pig-sick of buses! We arrived in the quiet, hot town of Puerto Iguazu and found our hostel easily, checking in to our first dorm room, which is surprisingly comfortable. We spent of the rest of the day exploring the town and planning our visit to the falls tomorrow.

I write this in the glorious tropical heat, in a little wood cabin with palm trees outside, hummingbirds buzzing about and am about to go and drink a beer and lie in a hammock, so it's not all that bad! Tomorrow, we visit the giant Iguazu falls.