10 April to 10 May - From Brazil to London

After the spectacular Fernando de Noronha island I went back to Natal. From there the day after I rented a buggie and went driving with other people to Pipa, my next destination. Pipa was nice, lovely beaches and good atmosphere, even I was alone there for 2 nights but I enjoyed it very much. The best thing was the posibility of swim with dolphins. The water was again very blue but wasnt transparent, but once in a while you could see a dolphin at 2 metres from you! that was amazing!
From Pipa I went to Recife... rough city and ugly, so I decided to spend my time there going to visit the neighbour Olinda. I arrived when was getting dark, so I only had the chance to see a bit of the beautiful city.
Day after I arrived to Rio de Janeiro. I went to my friends Alistair Penthouse in Ipanema! that was so great, 5 minutes from the beach, my own room and Alistair showing me around and taking me out at night! I spend 6 days there and I loved it. Rio is just great, and the fact of being in a flat there and having the freedom to do what I wanted! I loved Rio. The landscapes are amazing, the sugar loaf, the Christ, Ipanema beach, Copacabana..... Just great!
I had a wonderful time in Rio and I decided to take it easy and enjoy it as was my final stop before having to return to Spain.
Alistair again was a perfect host, I have to thank him from here!
19th of april was my last day... I took my flight to Sao Paolo and from there to Barcelona where my family was waiting for me.
21st April was Juli's wedding and I was one of the witness. the wedding was fun and was so nice to see all my university friends again! we laughed, danced, drink and catched up! was a good return after my holiday... until the day after.... when I got sick.
I thought was the depression of having to return... then it got worst.. high fever, and blisters inside my mouth, tongue and gums..... rush to the hospital just in case was a tropical disease... but no, was just mononucleosis.. quite common disease but very uncomfortable as it leaves u really weak for weeks... so here I am, back in london... feeling tired... depressed for being here again... and very weak!
Almost 3 weeks since I came back from Rio now.. can't believe everything has finished!
Now back to normal and looking for a job.. any offers?

05 to 09 April, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Fernando de Noronha is PARADISE!!
I arrived there on a thursday and just started to rain.... if you ever go there try to avoid the rainy season!! But well is not so bad, it rains and after that the sun is up in the sky again, but a bit annoying!
Such an amazing island! The beaches are gorgeous, clear water and almost empty! Three of the beaches of the island are the 3 best beaches in the whole Brazil, but really, I dont understand what is the difference with the rest of the beaches in the island as all of them are stunning!
I did a boat trip and sailed with dolphins around me, and then I did some swimming surrounded by colourful fish and turtles!
There are also some strange animals on the main land, like huge Reptils and a kind of big hamster that i also forgot the local name.
There are some beaches that you can be completely alone, wow, so amazing! That allowed me to do some naked sunbathing.. and of course my bum got burned!
The sunsets with a Caipirinha are spectacular!
I also meet some local people there and that was good as I went for dinner to good places and I also cood taste the really good AÇAI! The people I meet were fantastic!
I liked so much the island I just changed my flight and stayed one day more... but you have to be careful! Fernando de Noronha is very expensive and accomodation is the same price as London! That was expensive!

31 March to 4 April, Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paolo, Brazil

I arrived at 11.30 pm the 31st March in Salvador de Bahia. My friends Alexander and Daniela, the brazilian couple I met in Patagonia were already waiting for me in the airport and we went straight to check in at the hostel and we had a beer before going to bed. Alexandre and Daniela are GREAT!!! They have been taking care of me the whole time, showing me all the best of Salvador and surroundings, taking me to taste the most wonderful meals and even cooking for me in a Brazilian goodbye dinner.

The First day in Salvador we actually went in a boat trip the whole day. We took a boat that took us first to Ilha de Fraire, where there was this really nice beach and after that to Ilha Itaparica, the usual holiday island for all the people from Salvador. The trip was very nice, having caipirinhas and listening to live music on the boat. After that, we went for dinner to the best Acarajé in Salvador... hmmm delicious! Dont make me explain what is it made of!

On Monday morning I left early and took again the boat but this time to Morro de Sao Paolo. This time my friends didnt come as I was staying the night in Morro and Alexandre had to work. Morro de Sao Paolo... WOW! That was Paradise!!! Amazing beaches, almost desertic, with warm and green waters and really nice sand. Brazilians dancing capoeira on the beach, and drinking caipirinhas or coconuts... The small village is very cute even is a bit turistic, but was worth staying one night there!! And because is not high season there were few tourists and everything for myself.

During the night they build some stands and everyone fights to offer you the best caipirinha o caipirosca, and there is live music for people to dance until late. I had a few caipirinas myself and I went to sleep not so early.

After that, on Tuesday I returned to Salvador and being my last day I had to see the city! so Alexandre was already there and he took me to the Polourinho, the historic town, to the churches... So nice!! and with the best guide. We picked up Daniela and we went to the Bom Fill church, with all its colorful ribbons, and after that we went to Polurinho again. We walked around, there was a live concert in a corner but we stayed almost all the time in a drum parade; kids playing drms and singing!! that was sooooo Good!!! we just stayed there for 1 or 2 hours listening and dancing, incredible! even the people around were good as at the end some guys started to dance to the sound of the music, and WOW how they danced!!! I must admit we drunk a bit too much beer, and we were just laughing for everything!

After that, quite late, I had my invitation to their house, for a goodbye dinner!!! I didnt know Daniela cooked so well!! I ate like if I never had eaten before. I havent got here my notes to explain what did I actually ate, the only think I remember is that almost everything had Coconut milk! Such a wonderful evening!

This morning I couldnt convince them that I could take a taxi on my own, so they picked me up early and before going to the airport they have taken me to a really nice lagoon, with amazing white sand. That was nice, and that was the end of my stay in Salvador!!!

Well, I really have found good friends in Alexandre & Daniela!!! They have treated me sooo well! Was bit sad to leave ... again! Thank you to you two!

Now in Natal and tomorrow flying again to the paradise of Fernando de Noronha island were I will be for 4 days.

Natal... I haven´t decided yet if I liked it or not, strange city, lots of surfers but not the architecture is not very nice. But has something.... I will be back here in 4 days.

29 to 31 March, Iguazu Falls, Argentina - Brazil

I stayed in Iguazu for 2,5 days. I arrived a bit depressed after having such a wonderful time in Buenos Aires and having met such wonderful people. And there I was, back alone in my Hostel on the Argentinian side of the Iguazu falls. The good thing is that there was a big swimming pool and decided to take it easy and leave the visit of the falls for the next day, my idea of relaxing near the pool not bothering to talk to any of those young backpackers... And then I met her! Susana Ortega! IN IGUAZU and IN MY HOSTEL! For the people who dont know her, we studied together at school, and havent seen her for the last 7 or8 years! was incredible to meet there, such a coincidence! I was so happy! We spent the whole afternoon catching up with our lifes. She was with a friend, Aida. The three of us went for dinner and we ended up dancing Reggeaton in a Club until late! Was so funny to meet her there! I promised herI would do like a game for the people of my school to guess who I met with a picture of her backwards, but I havent had time to download pictures...
Well, Susana left the day after with the promise she is visiting me in London soon, and I went to see the falls on the Argentinian side. That was incredible! so nice! Have to upload some pictures to demostrate but as usual pictures dont show the reality... I did thousands of them! The argentinian side has a lot of walks to see the falls from differents ways, and I also did a small trekking to arrive to a small fall where I could swim. I also took a boat that takes you directly under one of the falls, and of course you end up soaked!
My last day was on the Brazilian side.... and from now on I will not leave Brazil until the end of my trip. The Brazilian side is smaller, and in two hours you can see the falls from another perspective. I did the visit with a Colombian friend I met on the bus and I need to send her some pictures as her camera broke down. Is worth doing both sides, but if I only had one dayI would probably do the Argentinian.
From there I took my flight to Salvador Bahia. My luck... there is a strike on air traffic controlers now in Brazil.... and Im taking 6 flights.. The one to Salvador was only 2 hours delayed, lets see if Im as lucky on the next ones.
As soon as I can I will upload pictures from Iguazu!

26 & 27 March, Colonia de Sacramento & Montevideo, Uruguay

I have been two days in Uruguay. Yesterday morning I took a ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia de Sacramento. Colonia is a nice city, very tiny but the old city has plenty of character. Lovely streets with nice houses, and nice city to walk around.
The weather wasnt very good, but didnt rain and was hot. Yesterday afternoon I took a Bus to Montevideo.
I arrived at 7 pm and after so many days going out and walking around in Buenos Aires I was so tired I only had energy to go out for quick dinner and bed.
Today I woke up early to go and visit the city. The weather was awful! grey and rainy, typical London day. I waked for 2 or 3 hours under the rain without seeing anything especially nice until I gave up. I went for lunch and because the rain stopped I decided to give another chance and well, I think there is not a lot to see here.. so now waiting for the ferry back to Buenos Aires.

21 to 25 March, BUENOS AIRES

I LOVE BUENOS AIRES!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really like Buenos Aires, everything of it. The city, the people, the atmosphere, the parks....
People here are gorgeous. The most beautiful men and women I have ever seen, and they are so friendly! No attitude and always trying to be nice and helpful.
When I just arrived I contacted a friend of my friend Jesus, his name is Eduardo. He is actually not argentinian, but a bolivian studying here. From the first time we met he took care of me and he showed me all the city, he took me for dinner, we went out partying... Well, he is great!! And he has been the only one inviting me for "mate", the national drink. I must admit I didnt like it, hahaha
We have been partying every single day. Nightlife is great and fun. During the day I havent stoped any moment. I have seen almost everything:
The Plaza de Mayo with the Madres de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada. The beautiful and grand Recoleta, with it's great parks, the beautiful cemetry with Eva Peron´s tomb, the multiple craft makets around the city, The lovely Palermo Viejo withs it's trendy shops and bars, San Telmo, with the antiques, much better than Portobello market in London! The bit scary but touristic Boca, with the lovely colourful facades and Puerto Madero, with the conversion warehouses to luxury flats and bars.... well, havent done any museum or gallery, but still have a day left next wednesday.
I had so much fun and I have met such nice poeple here that I would love to stay a bit longer and I know it is not going to be easy to leave this city and my first days will be a bit sad.
Maybe is a good excuse to come back? For sure!

19 - 21 Mazo, Rosario

Rosario was great.
I enjoyed it a lot, and loved the atmosphere of the city. Student city, with plenty of people on the streets, and god, its so hot here!
First day I saw the monument to the argentinian flag and walked near the river Parana. Very nice and thinking I was in the middle of the Amazonas, as the colour of the river and the vegetation probably are similar. Plenty of mosquitos! I hate them! They just bite my arms so much is very itchy now!
I went to MACRO the Contemporary Art Museum of Rosario. A bit disspointing...
And on the afternoon got lost walking on the streets.
yesterday i walked up eraly and I went to the other side of the city to see the only Alvaro Siza (architect) building in South America. It remind me I'm still an architect, hehe
After that i grabed a towel and I layed in the sun for 3 hours. On the river parana there are some beaches, and because is not high season I was almost alone there. The sun was too much and even I put sun protection I got burned! I had the courage of swimming on the river that had a rotten smell, but oh well, once i was there I had to try it. I walked back to town, and that was the reason i got sun burne as There was nos hadows on the way...
When i arrived to the hostel there were preparing a dinner with all the guests and there I met an english couple and a brazilian guy, and we were drinking until late.
this morning i catched the first bus and now I´m in Buenos Aires...