RIO - Caipirinhas and skimpy cossies...

After braving 24hrs on another bus I made it to Rio de Janeiro... home of caipirinha cocktails and skimpy cossies...
I stayed at the Mango Tree - a hostel 1 block from Ipanema beach and owened by an Australian! I was so greatful to see museli, fruit, youghurt and VEGEMITE for breakfast!
I met a few girls at the hostel and went with them to see the sights of Rio - Sugar loaf, Lapa steps and Christ the Redeemer (which was covered in scaffolding!! they are cleaning it in time for the 2012 olympics)
Went to a local soccer match, Fluiminese v's Vittoria. Locals were selling beer to us in the van on the way to Maracana stadium (you cant drink alcohol in the stadium - as a way of curbing fanatical behaviour). It was the second last game in the world biggest soccer stadium before they close it for renovations for the soccer world cup in 2014.
Our group managed to find a spot in the stand amongst the home team behind the samba drums and massive team flags. The atmosphere was amazing! Supporters were chanting the whole time (too bad I couldnt understand what they were saying!), flares were lit amongst the crowd and people were crying when goals were missed. Think we were the only ones in the supporters section who werent wearing jerseys!Finally the weather cleared up and I took advantage of the Rio sunshine! Ipanema beach reminded me of home. Clear water, white sand. The only things setting it apart were the men in speedo shorts (put it away...) and people walking along the beach trying to sell you things... food, beer, icecream, swimmers, towels, sarongs, jewellery. It was great being served on the beach and not having to move!
I went on a Favela tour (shanty towns/slums in Rio) to get a different perspective on the city. The people living in favelas are living there illegally and in extreme poverty. Generally they have no infrastructure such as electricity, garbage or sewage. The houses are self made and irregular with tiny alleyways seperating them.The favelas have the best views of Rio - they are located right on the sides of the hills overlooking the beaches.
The favelas are also home to the drug lords of Rio. During the tour the guide would tell us where and when we could take photos - he didnt want us accidently taking photos of the drug lords to then be chased down the street by them with guns!80% of the renowned Brazilian soccer players grew up in favelas.

A place where I shouldn't have bothered wearing a rainjacket

Argentinian buses are the best.. hot food.. wine.. champagne and a seat that reclines into a bed. There would have been no other way I'd wanted to spend 18hrs on a bus.
After meeting a great bunch of people on the bus we made our way to Puerto Iguassu, the Argentinian side of Iguassu falls. A span of waterfalls that intersect at the Brazilian and Argentinian border.

First I went to the Brazillian side to view the falls.. It was amazing, you could get a real sense of how far the Iguassu falls spaned the earth.This night we were supposed to see the falls by full moonlight. It was overcast but we didnt think much of it as we pilled into the bus. When we arrived at the falls.. the busdriver - who spoke very little English blerts out "oh no! No moon!" laughs.. and turns the bus around.We all thought that he was taking us to another access point to the falls only to find ourselves back at the hostel with no explaination. Obviously because of the clouds we weren't able to do the tour.. but instead we got to see a Brazillian dance show at the hostel - which turned out to be us the tourists dancing like strippers with the 2 Brazillian ladies wearing practically nothing and a crazy Brazillian guy with a tambourine.
Woke up the next day to see the Argentinian side of Iguassu falls and there was torrential rain.
I thought that covering my backpack in a rainproof sac, wearing a rainjacket and then an 'emergency poncho' over everything would keep me dry.. boy would I be wrong.

The Argentinian side put you right into the middle of "Devils throat". The amount of water and the speed at which it was flowing was incredible. It was very dramatic. From this side we were able to take a speed boat right into the falls.. the sun came out at just the right time and a rainbow spanned across the landscape. No raincoat or poncho could keep me from getting absolutely soaked.

Celebrating Argentina's independance in a mosh pit

When I arrived to Buenos Aires... everything was shut... the dorm was empty.. and I was eating Sao's for dinner. Not quite what I imagined to be doing in such a lively city.
It wasn't until the next day... the 25th of May that I discovered it was the Bicentenary of Argentina's Revolution. I made my way down to the 9 de Julio Avenue - the main avenue in Buenos Aires and saw the swarm of Argentinians celebrating their independance - and could not walk a step without being trodden on or shoulder barged!It was amazing to see how patriotic everyone was... most carrying their nations flag on their back.

The celebrations continued into the night.. everyone lined the main avenue and waited for the parade to begin - which we all thought was to start at 8pm. By 10pm the music and dancing finally started!The parade represented various moments in Argentinian history - the British invasion, the crossing of the Andes, the arrival of the Immigrants and finally their democracy. There were hundreds of dancers and it was more spectacular than any parade I've ever seen and managed to get covered in foam, confetti and water..
After 2hrs the parade finished and the celebrations continued with bands playing and fireworks lighting the sky.
The Obelisk was erected in the center of Buenos Aires to commemorate the founding of the city, and can be seen from afar towering over the city.I also saw the Recoleta cemetary... a cemetary full of family crypts. Evita Peron is laid to rest here.