and where are we now...

Actually were back in Argentina once more, we just cant seem to get enough of this country!
Whose been visiting... Suddenly the number of visitors have shot up?

Since leaving you last in Montevideo on the 3rd, we moved on further through Uruguay onto yet another small town, this time Mercedes, yet again another fantasticly small little place filled with people more than eager to get to know that little bit about you, and just for the sake of being friendly. Spending the night at a youth sports centre, and after catching yet another amazing sunset we went to bed in a room with about 30million beds, and all for just the three of us, while Miika and Cherry updated their diaries (something i still need to do) down in the main foyer i was challenged to a hybrid game of pool, a sort of cross between that and skittles played on a tabel without any pockets, with only three balls and five miniature skittles... Heading into the land of nod to the sounds eminating from the basketball court joined onto the other side of our wall late into the night, we again awoke to the sounds of a basketball match mid game in the morning... Had these people not slept?

Initially intending to return into Argentina, are plans were scuppered as when we arrived in the land of Fray Bentos we found the bridge between uruguay and Argentina was out of action, so heading further north after whiling away our time waiting for an evening bus to salto we arrived at about 10pm, too late to make the border point to Argentina. Spending the night at the 1star hotel Danilay we set off the next morning for our return to Argentina.

Spending some time floating round the Argentinian town of Concordia killing time we caught our first overnight CAMA bus to Iguazu... Now for the benifit of you guys back home where ever that may be almost all of the bussed wed travelled overnight on since arriving in south america have been semi-cama that only partially recline and with some amount of padding to make the journey more bareable (and if you were really lucky you got food to), this journey being in Cama is the bus equivilent of flying first class, and being in cama meant we were in for a treat, Massivley comfy leather bucket seats, pillows, blankets, a huuuuuge hot meal, and not only did we get drinks served we even had the option for a bit of the old Vino to all you had to decide was if it was tinto or blanco. The best bit, just when you think it couldnt get any better and before you head to bed, the loverly stewardess tending to our needs appears and serves us a rather enjoyable glass of champaigne... GET IN!!!!

Back to the main feature anywho, arriving in the town of Puerto Iguazu, we hopped on a little yellow bus that swiftly whisked us off to the Hostal inn iguazu (yup thats also the name), dumping the bags and grabbing a quick round of breakfast and showers we soon found ourselves wandering round iguazus main call as a tourist stop off, the Iguazu Falls. Viewable from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay we opted to explore the Argentinian side, and what a sight it was, wandering over meandering rusted walkways we couldnt help but be amazed at the sheer sight of the falls. Spending the day walking the many routes and experiencing the falls from as many vantage points as possible, the day eventually drew to a close (after finally catching the Coaties raiding the organic trash) and we headed back to Iguazu town for foodstuffs. Served by the Argentinian equivilent of Amy Winehhouse, and only managing half of my mamoth mango and pineapple pizza we departed back to the hostal via a rather interesting bus that took a rather drawn out route through all the local litttle residences.

Yesterday (sept 8th) saw a quick trip through the Argentinian border into Brasil, The first thing we noticed after getting thorugh immigration without either a visa or passport stamp (were we illegal immigrants, who knew) was the already drastic rise in temperature, it was HOT! Eventually finding a cash machine, the reality sank in of how little ooney we have left to sustain our last two weeks in South America, and after following a helpful Brazillian lass clad in purple to a shopping centre it was time for a rethink of plans... Looks like a return visit to Bolivia was no longer an option... Amigo, no mas mixto por tu!!!

Dining at Giraffes, on what quite possibly could have been giraffe (sorry Gerry) we set back off for argentina to book tickets direct ro Rio De Janerio and the on to our hostal and the bbq that awaited us. It seemed the whole hostal had jumped on the bbq bandwagon and as the food began to flow first from the salad bar, stomaches began to fill... then came the arrival of the mean feature, the bbq`d meat. Now, in Argentina they dont really have a nacional dish, for them an Asado (or to you and me a BBQ) is how they prefer to cook when theyre not feasting on steak, and tonight was no exception, mound after mound, wave after wave of cooked to perfection Chorizo (sausages) Bife (steak) and even Pollo (chicken but said like poh-jo) was shared out amongst the residents... No matter how much you ate, more was soon to follow. A carnevours paradise! "This is the best sausage ive ever had" (Cherry). Needless to say the Huge bucket loads of free alcholic Comparinas (?) kept the mood on a constant high, and yet there was still more to come.

After most were saturated with more meat than could possibly be imagined a tango show performed by two couples (one of whom looked like a proffesional pirate) legs and bodies flying everywhere faster than could be followed, it truly was quite a performance, but still there was more, being privelaged to dance floor seats, Miika was the first to be plucked form his seat by one of the short Tangoing ladies for a lesson, needless to say it was quite funny for us to watch, a rather intoxicated Miika trying to concentrate on the steps being tought to him, he did however do well considering his inhebriated state. Chuckling away at his return, it was then my turn on the floor as the short tangoing Argentinian then plucked me from my perch and began teaching me thje Argentinian art of the tango, and what a pair we made... Legs flying everywhere to the beat, stepping in time and even managing to throw a few twirls in, she was more than impressed with my ability to keep up. Not bad for someone who has never dance before, let alone danced the tango. Bowing out with dignity, it wasnt long before Cherry was plundered by the tango dancing pirate for her lesson.

Tango dancing frivolity over, we managed to claim a right to the ping pong table for slightly drunken ping pong before eventually realising that we were far to weary to keep up the fast paced miniature tabel tennis action.

Feeling nice and rosy after a once more large breakfast (cereal, fruit, tea and lots of dulce de leche smothered bread) were just having a bit of a chilled out day at the hostal, ping pong, diary writing and even sipping mate along the poolside are all activities that are on the agenda today.

Hey the weathers nice enough, why not!
feel free to comment.
(¨p)