September 15th, 2013 The Best Cities in South America

This trip was less eventful.  The highlight is really Rio de Janiero.
I came back thinking I might have had malaria because I suffered from cyclic fevers and pain in the right ear. Traveling enhances my resilience, durability and strength.  Sometimes one has to ignore what the elements do to one's body and focus on preservation of the mind.  I don't look around.  I look forward.

September 14th, 2013 Financials

My total expenditure was only $895.75, largely offset by the exchange rate in Venezuela, without which I would probably have it close to $1,200.

July 15th, 2013 Asuncion

6AM I woke.  I left around 9 to take a bus to downtown.
11AM I took some picture there and then walked to old palace before walking back.  I was done at 2 and got bored so I messaged Naida.  We messaged back and forth and she took her friend to drive me back.
5PM On the car, we first said to go to the expo but then I felt like going back to the nice downtown restaurant for some Paraguayan food was a better idea.  On the way, we picked up her friend who spent some time in Taiwan and knew some Chinese.

11PM After dinner, they sent me to the airport.  My flight left at 1AM, July 16th.

July 14th, 2013 Foz do Iguacu

10:30AM I arrived and took a bus for 4 BRLs to the central terminal. There, I took another bus to the fall, which took half an hour.

12PM I arrived and stood in line for 30 minutes. Iguassu is the biggest, by far, though I must say it isn't a continuous fall and it certainly isn't tall. But the rainbow that shows with sunshine works every time for a great photo.
3:30PM I left and it took another 30 minutes back to the central station. I took a separate bus to the bridge. Actually it is 2 bridges and immigration is on the opposite sides of both bridges.
6PM I arrived and waited for a bus for 45 minutes or so. Meanwhile, I changed 10 USDs for 60,000 PYGs. The man wanted 4,400 rather than 4, 500 per USD. So I didn't point it out to him also because I thought it was me who was wrong.
6:30PM There is an hour time shift and my bus left for Asuncion at 6:30.
11:30PM Naida gave me a ride to Doug's place at the university.

July 13th, 2013 Florianopolis

7:30AM I woke and Carla made me some breakfast before sending me to the bus station with her sister. 7:50AM I left for Florianopolis.
1PM I arrived and walked by the market. I bought a shrimp thing nearby bur didn't find the right bus until 2PM. I hung around waiting for the executive bus for more than 40 minutes but walking back to find the main bus station.
3PM I arrived at the lagoon and left in about 1 hour because people told me it is 40 minutes each way to the beach.
6:20PM My bus took off for Foz. Though the ticket says it is going through Curitiba. I never figured out whether it did or not because I turned off the GPS.  My Galaxy Note 3 doesn't last a day with GPS on.

 Shrimp is too salty!

July 12th, 2013 Sao Paulo to Curitiba

7:30AM Felipe woke me up and we went on to tour the city. He bought me some fried fish and drink. We finished around 12 and I got back to the station at 1:30PM. Before I left, I bought us some fruit smoothies. 2PM I left for Curitiba and the 6 hour bus actually took 7 hours. Carla was still waiting for me. I bought her dinner and she bought me ice cream. We had some nice steak. I went to sleep at 1AM.

 Dessert on Carla

July 11th, 2013 Paraty

7AM I left Mirella's at 7 and left for Botafogo. I took a bus straight to the central bus station.
9AM I left for Paraty.

1PM I arrived. It took 4 hours to reach here. Paraty is a small town and there is plenty of seafood. I had lunch for 88 BRLs.




4:40PM I left for Sao Paulo.
11PM I arrived at Sao Paulo.

July 10th, 2013 Rio de Janeiro

4:30AM I arrived at the bus station and waited until 6:30AM to take a cab to Mirella's home.

Breakfast

8AM We left her place. She showed me central. I went by on my own and visited central, Corcovado, Pão de Açúcar. Nichola and I had lunch together and showed me the way to Corcovado. The tickets were adding up here and there to be more than 100 BRLs.

 Ceramic Tile Street

9PM Botafogo was already dark. Meanwhile I changed my flight to the 16th to buy more time.

July 9th, 2013 Ouro Preto

4:50AM I finally finished my water and checked in.
8:30AM I arrived at Belo Horizonte and took a bus straight to the bus station.
9:50AM I bought a ticket to Ouro Preto and the bus left in about 3 minutes.
12AM I had arrived but there was no bus leaving for Rio de Janeiro until 10PM.

10PM There were lots of churches and stores here. I had a big buffet for 55 BRLs. The food is Portuguese salty. By 8PM, I went back to the hotel that held my bag. I waited at the bus station until it left at 10PM.

Salty Buffet