Next stop, Iguacu. After a teary farewell to Jana, Daniela and Lydia we boarded what was to be a truly luxurious coach journey. As we sipped champagne and fully reclined in our soft seats, we couldn't have been further from our Indian experiences.
Although Iguacu town was more than underwhelming (as we walked the deserted streets we half expected a group of zombies to appear traipsing amongst the wild dogs and abandoned roads), the waterfalls however were a different story altogether. Making our way to the very edges of the walkways we were overwhelmed by the power of the monstrous falls and got soaking wet in their spray. Truly EPIC. WE LOVE NATURE.
With rucksacks full of sodden clothes, we arrived in Rio to various emails from Jimena informing us that the weekend was NOT the time to arrive as protests were spreading through the city. But being the hardcore rebels that we are, this did not put us off and we spent three nights in Botafogo where we made new friends and braved the beaches despite the stormy weather.
Finally the day came when we would be transported to the much anticipated luxury pad in the jungle belonging to the Gomez-Paratcha Page familia. After climbing the mountain in the taxi we pulled up at a jungley heaven: views of the far off ocean and green mountains towering over the garden and pool. For 4 nights we made the most of our seclusion, watching numerous films and gorging on fresh avocados picked by Luiz the housekeeper. Bloody fantastic. We were overwhelmed by how the art of football seemed to unite the entire city and as we sat in the garden enjoying the peace and the hummingbirds, we became aware of a goal having been scored as a roar echoed from the city up to the mountains.
On our return to Rio we stayed in the more central location of Lapa. We met Katie, an English girl working on a documentary for the BBC in Rio. We chatted over caipirinhas discussing everything from the current protests, the nature of the police and our ever looming uni lives. Great gal. Our last night in Rio arrived and we went to the Lapa street party to pass the night away with the rastas of Rio. We returned to our hostel sufficiently high and looking disgustingly hippy having all got beaded braids and various wooden rings and feather earrings. #gapyah4life
And we're finally up to date blog wise! We sit in a cafe in Bolivia half an hour before we are to board a bus to Sucre. The sun is out, the coratdos consumed and perhaps a sun tan isn't wholly out of the question......
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