The Trip 2013 - Mercedes to Itacare

Note: This is a condensed version of the pictures I took with some added narrative. The rest of the pics can be viewed in the album Trip 2013 - Mercedes to Itacare. Each picture can be clicked to see a larger version and comment / like.



After chilling out at the ranch in Mercedes for a few days we were ready for the next spectacle. So what could be more spectacular than the Iguazu falls.







We spent two days at the falls, first exploring the Brazilian side when we first arrived then the Argentinian side on the second day.





Both sides were absolutely spectacular, the sheer volume of water that cascades from one section of it just boggles the mind..



On the second day we all hopped in a speedboat and headed up the river right into the maw of the falls itself



While we were there some of us took the opportunity to visit a bird sanctuary.







Definitely well worth the visit for the sheer number and variety of feathery (and some not so feathery) creatures on show





All in all the Iguazu falls was an incredible place and one of the (many) highlights of South America for me!





After the two days we had to move on. An early flight and bus found us in Paraty an old Portuguese colonial town on the southern coast of Brazil.





Its a quaint little place that I really enjoyed for the two days we were there. On the second day we took a cruze out around the coast to a number of beaches and snorkelling spots.







Unfortunately the water wasnt particularly clear for swimming but the booze on the boat was free so it wasnt all bad ;)



The following day we took a short bus ride then ferry across to the island Ilha Grande.



The first day we spent walking around the island exploring the jungle, beaches and waterfalls





Despite it raining hard that evening we had a good time bonding with our GAdventures tour group





Next up was a long drive up to Rio de Janerio where we had just one day to see the city before saying goodbye to our GAdventures tour group for the last time :(





Im going to miss most of this bunch of awesome people, they made everything so much more interesting, thanks guys!

Kelsie and I didnt explore the city too much while we were we would be back again in a few weeks for NYE and then a further 14 days so we would have plenty of time to see the sights then. Instead we hopped on a flight he following day and headed north on a taxi then two planes then another taxi and bus and taxi until we eventully reached our Northern Brazil beach destination of Itacare.





We had three awesome days there soaking up the sun sand and Caipirinhas





On the second day we decided to go on a hike in search of "one of the best beaches in Brazil". To get there we had to hike along several beaches, then through dense jungle..



.. past several waterfalls which I had a lot of fun cooling off in ..



.. until we finally reached the beautiful, remote beach ..





On the way back we stopped for a beer and relax as the sun went down..







All in all it was a great start to our Brazilian beach adventure and the start of the end for trip!

The Trip 2013 - La Paz to Mercedes

Note: This is a condensed version of the pictures I took with some added narrative. The rest of the pics can be viewed in the album Trip 2013 - La Paz to Mercedes. Each picture can be clicked to see a larger version and comment / like.



We left our tour group in La Paz and continued on our own for the next week, time was tight as we had to be in Buenos Aires in just a few days to meet final tour group. I knew that no trip to South America is complete without a visit to the salt flats of Uyuni, Bolivia so we crowbared in a 3 day excursion into our schedule.



The first day we visited the famous salt flats along with a train graveyard just outside of the dusty desert town.







The salt flats were an incredible place. We had previously visited a salt farming company waaay back in Mexico some 6 months ago so I thought I knew what to expect, however I wasnt prepared for the sheer vastness of the salt plain.



Another fact I didnt know was that just a few feet beneath the surface is a huge salt lake which is the cause of the salt plain above



I attempted to excavate a souvenir from the lake but ended up cutting all my arm on the sharp crystal.





As almost fascinating as the salt plain was the the skittles miracle.. I had the most incredible luck, not 1 not 2 not even 4 but 5 orange skittles came out at the same time!



That evening we stayed at a nice little ranch style hostel just outside of the salt plains



We were up early the next morning and back in the cramped 4x4 for another day of Bolivian marvels of nature











We spent the evening in one of the *ahem* "best" accommodations I have ever experienced. Just look at the attention to detail with the decoration:



Also its hard to complain when the room comes with free peanuts in the wall:



Well thankfully we got a good nights sleep as we were due to leave at 5 the next morning. After seeing the other 4x4's leave one by one however we started to wonder where our driver was. Turns out he needed some more beauty sleep so I had to wake him up with some loud cries of "Vamos!" (lets go), grumbling he finally awoke and we were on our way.

First up that cold morning was some thermal vents:





Next warmed ourselves up in a hot spring bath



Then it was a long, bumpy and dusty 8 hour drive back to Uyuni. We stopped a number of times at scenic places to take pictures





All in all it was an interesting and incredible experience but not the most comfortable. Fortunately next up was the beautiful and comfortable city of Buenos Aires







Buenos Aires is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities I have visited on this trip (at least on the days we were there), the combination of the large number of blossoming purple trees, verdant green parks and old architecture made me fall in love with the place.





Just before joining up with our fourth and final tour group we met up with the parents of my good friend and "german sister" Tina who just happened to be in Buenos Aires at the same time





That evening we met our new tour group, another GAdventures tour of 16 people that over the next 17 days would take us from BA through Uraguay and the Iguazu falls to Rio in Brazil.

We kicked things off by taking a tour around some of the districts in Buenos Aires stopping off for lunch at a typical Argentinian BBQ place





On the way back we visited the famous artistic flea market of San Telmo





The following day we took the ferry across into Uraguay and the incredibly picturesque town of Colonia







We were there for just one night before we were forced to move on, it really was a beautiful little town though and totally not what I expected from Uraguay







After Colonia we spent a night in the capital of Uraguay, Montevideo. We didnt do a whole lot there other than a visit to a cultural centre where we saw some kids play some traditional Candombe music



Then it was onto one of the highlights for me, a two night stay at a ranch out in the Uraguayan countryside





I really enjoyed my time there with all the animals







We had beautiful hot days that turned into yet more beautiful evenings





We didnt do a whole lot on our 3 days there, mostly resting and relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty







One thing we did however is gather wood and have a big bonfire on the last night. Dinner of T-Bone steak with red wine and bonfire with friends is my idea of heaven, all that was needed to make it perfect was a kitten..