Rio, September 2012

Flew to Rio De Janiero from Florianopolis on 31 August 2012. Arrived after night fall to a hotel which couldn't find my booking. Hotel was 45 reals for a dorm bed in a depressingly run down and dingy room. The location was it's saving, on the headland between Ipanema and Copacabana beaches.

Walked the entire length of Ipanema, lots of people taking exercise, joggers, roller bladers, cyclists and walkers like me. There is a wide paved walkway with regular beer stalls.

This is Copacabana with Sugarloaf mountain in the background

The beach is wide but the sea was very placid when I was there.

This guy charges $1.00 a picture.

Volleyball is the most popular beach sport.

And coconut milk the second most favorite drink (after beer)
Caught the main sites on a 70 real half day tour.

The view from the top was extensive but the air quality was poor.

Not  sure if it was heat haze or pollution.

Right near the top, an escalator!

Passed a favela (slum) clinging to the hillside on the way down.

Also visited the big football stadium being renovated to hold the 2016 olympics.

The local cathedral,

And the parade ground for Karnival

Florianopolis, Brazil August 2012

Arrived here in Florianopolis at 1100 on 26 August 2012 and found a bed for 44 Reals in the youth hostel not far from the centro. Had a haircut in town for 40 real

Caught a bus to stay in the Pousada Mar do Leste, a nice hotel with a pool near the beach for 75 reals.
There was a pleasant harbour with seafood restaurants.

And you could go for walks to smaller beaches.

Enjoyed a quiet stay here near this surf spot before flying to Rio.

Iguazu Falls Aug 2012

Caught a 2 hour flight fro Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguasu on 22 August 2012.

Booked into Residential Lola near the centre of town, directly opposite the Brazilan embassy for 100 pesos.
Spent the next day at the caratas (waterfall) taking lots of pictures:

The car park is well away from the water and unlike Niagara or Victoria Falls, there are no buildings to spoil the view. These photos are all taken on the Argentinian side looking towards Brazil.

There is a network of raised walkways on the edge of the cliffs, filled with tourists.

There are signs advising that you don't feed the coatis.

There was a huge queue to catch a train to another viewing site, looked like the wait would have been over an hour going and consequently another long wait to catch a ride back. I was happy with what I saw.

Got my Brazilian visa the next day for 175 pesos. Was at the door when they opened at 0800 and picked up the passport at 1200.
Crossed border and caught a 1750 bus through the night to Florianopolis. Policia Federale stopped the bus at 0230 and searched 90% of the luggage until 0430.

Uruguay Aug 2012

Crossed the river Plate estuary on 15 August 2012 in a heavy fog which blocked out all the view. Booked into a cheap backpacker place, Hostel Unplugged Centro (170 pesos0 in Montevideo about ten blocks from the centre of the city. most popular restaurants were parillas which are barbeque meat places.

Walked along the waterfront until I found the anchor of the Graf Spee, a German battleship which was scuttled by it's crew rather than sail out to sea to meet the British navy which turned out not to be present.



Montevideo is, like Buenos Aires a modern European style city with cobblestone streets and short dark haired inhabitants.

Moved to a more central hotel,  The Splendido for 1000 pesos with a view of the Teatro Solis from room 216. The rehearsal rooms of the Philharmonic were next door, practicing Fool on the Hill.

The weather was grey and overcast every day till I caught the bus along the coast to Colonia

Spent one night there in a room full of backpackers who came and went all through the night.

Buenos Aires Aug 2012

Arrived here on an Aerolineas Argentinas 15 hour flight from Sydney on 11 August 2012.

Stayed at Sabatico Hostel in a dorm room for 73 pesos a night. Woke at 4AM then again at 11'05Am, just missing the 11'00 cut off for the free breakfast. Walked out and crossed the eight lane road to the area of San Telmo where they have a Sunday market.

Argentina is the birthplace of the tango.

The streetscape was very European with apartment building lining the cobblestone streets.

This is the first time I have ever seen professional dog walkers

The next day I visited the tourist office and paid 120 pesos for a day ticket on a double decker bus which loops around the city, stopping at all the tourist spots like the Boca Juniors football stadium.

It was late winter and very brisk sitting on the open topped bus. Saw Eva Peron's tomb made famous by Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita.

Love these old cafes with the black and white chess board tile floors

Sabatico was a bit too backpacker for me. Breakfast was good with ham and cheese rolls, cereals, juice, coffee and pastries. Moved to a private room near the senate building, Hostel International 162 pesos.

My room was on the 3rd floor and had a window looking out to the side street where I could see all the office workers scurrying down the street.

This building was just a couple of blocks away.