Hello,
Well after my last entry I met my group. Consisting of two Danish girls, a danish Man, two Austrian lads, an Austrian older couple and an older Austrailian couple, a young Janpanese girl and an Irish girl. All seem nice.

On Saturday we left Rio, which was abit sad as I did like it there! Didnt manage to see everything, wish I would have gne to the football match, seen San Thersa and i couldn´t decide whether to go viist a favela or not, these are Brazilian slums that you can do tours around but somehow that didn´t sit right with me, going to look at poverty, I mean they say they give them some of the money back to the community but it still seems abit wrong. I saw them from afar and that was unpsetting enough!

Anyhow after a bit of shopping in Copa and one last walk alon the beach I met the others and we got a private bus, for 3 hours to Angor from there we took a private boat (a tiny little tug boat!) to Ihle Grande, a large island off the coast, hence the name! It was dark by the time we were on the boat so myself and Paula, (pronunced Pow-la) our funky Argentinian guide, laid on the bonnet and chatted for a couple of hours, the stars were amazing, you could actually see the milky way! I even saw a shooting star!

Got to the island, and walked to the hotel, the island was beautiful! Like a cross betwwen Jamaica, cowboy town and yangshou in China (Mick and Sam) but set in tropical surroundings! Very small and qauint! The lodges were even better, all individual chalets, little ones, with hammocks outside (spent alot of time swinging as I LOVE hammocks).
We went for a late dinner in the village and it was an amazing atmosphere! In the church square which is on the beach practically, bands were playing, people doing the samba, drinking chatting it was cool! Very hippy-ish and bohemian! Stayed out till abut half two (which is very early out here) but I needed soe sleep and no hangover for the boat trip tommorrw!

The boat trip was on the same tug boat... it was cool, we stopped and all jumped off for a swim. We did some snorkeling and you could see tropical fish around your feet! i even saw a really big star fish! Wish I had got a picture of it! Then we got back on board where they were doing a BBQ... but then came the tropical storm!!! It was absolutly chucking it down!We all ended up under a little cover, sheltering! All the others eating a the meat from a plate! It was quite scary! thunder and lightening and very rocky sea! It took us about an hour and a to get back to shore and then after a ten minute run to our hotel! Absolutly drenched (probably as much as new year-Phil). So i spent the rest of the day in the Hammock (under cover) and went out for dinner in my raincoat!

the next day was pretty none eventful really. i went for a walk, wrote my journal (in the hammock) was abit homesick! I think this was because i was ready for some proper travelling and we have been spending alot of time around beaches! I know you will all be thinking how ungratful when we are all at work!!! But i want to see some sights and even though the beaches are lovely I have had a week of them! Anyway I went around the the village and had a coffee, then was abit bored! Bumped into Nahoo the japanese girl and we went for lunch, i had a few caprihinas and got abit drunk! It was hard conversation as her english isn´t too good... but better than my japanese! So i think i babbled on for too long! After that I was abit typsy so went for a nap.

That night we all met for dinner on the beach and then went to a bar... it wasnt as busy as it wasnt a weekend which surprised me but it was nice none the less. We were all sat around then the (drunk) Austrians decided that we should all do a national dance. Paula did the Tango, the Austrian boys did their dance, then after some persuading the Danish did the conga (coz they dont have a national dance)... it was getting to my turn and I was panicking! The Irish girl, Catherine just wouldnt do one nor would Myself or the japanese girl! I would have if we had one but there was no way (like some english guys on the next table were trying to persaude me) was I going to do the morris dance!!! In the end i had to do the Limbo... with everyone chweering and clapping! How embarrasing! I wasnt even drunk! Then a young Brazilian from the hotel was chatting up nahoo... anyway he asked me and Catherine our names... He had great trouble saying hers so when he came to ask me I said `my name is Emma... it´s easy!`so then he thought i was called EASY! And he kept calling me it all night! I kept trying to correct him and say that in England that is NOT a good name! So after that me and Catherine left as we had a big day of travel the next day!

After a public ferry and a six hour boat ride we were in Paraty, nothing much happened on these days, walked around the town, went jewelrey shoppimg in the stalls, went to a gorgeous beach and had some nice food! Went to a good bar with live Brazilian music and watched people doing the tribal brazilian dance! i cannot spell it but its like martial arts and dance mixed up... started by the slaves! And also watched some bands getting ready for carnival! Interesting.

Then we left Paraty on a six hour bus ride, very comfey reclining seats (like bussiness class on planes) and then a three hour wait in Sao Paulo, then an over night bus to Foz de Iguazzu (splelt wrong too)! I was dreading the over night bus but it was fab! massive seats which turned into a full on bed and blankets etc! This was like first class! the journey was fine and we arrived (this morning) in Foz. No time for rest we were straight off to the waterfalls, some people got a helicopter ride but i can´t really afford it! It was 50 quid for a ten minute ride! We then visted the Brazilian side of the falls which was fantastic! So amazing so much water and rainbows in the water! Saw massive lizzards and raccon typr things really nice! got accosted by a bus load of Brazilian school boys who wanted their picture taken with me (?) random!

Then we were back to the hotel.. its a nice one with a pool and a gym! Which i nwas going to use but i went to the supermarket instead! I am sad I know but I love foreign supermarkets! Anyway decided not to do the group thing tonight and just went to the hotel bar with Catherine... i had two very large vodkas and decided I better do this blog as other wise i will have too much to write! Sot this is the time which I apologise as I am slightly drunk and probably have written a load of rubbish but hey i usually talk it so you are all used to it! Tommorrow is an early start and we get a boat ride under the waterfalls themselves! i cannot wait! this is on the Argentinian side! Sunday we go to the borders of all three countries where the waterfall meets! Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil! Which will be cool then it´s another over night bus to Uruguay! but first tommorrow night it´s carnival! yippee!

Ok everyone wake up! I cant be bothered checking for spelling/boringness of all this so I do apologise!

Keep emailing, thankyou for all your emails, sorry if I can´t personally reply all the time but do like getting them!

Take Care Love Emma.xxx.