The Jen and Terry Show: December 2009

The end is nigh. Not the end of the world, but the end of the Jenandterryshow for a little while im sure. After 781 days on the road (minus circa 50days in the UK between May/June 08) im getting ready to head back to reality.

Its a ridiculously hot, crystal-clear-blue-sky day here in Rio and Im making the final preparations for the 12hour flight back to the snowy UK tonight to see my gorgeous girlfriend, family and friends in time for the xmas period.

Feels a tad weird thinking that I will be in cold, cold England in less than 24hours when Im sitting in shorts and a tshirt, slightly perspiring with an ac unit blasting its air towards me from the other side of this tiny internet cafe a mere stones throw from Copacabana Beach in Rio. Take each day as it comes. As a crazy American pensioner told me on the bus the other day...¨you play, you pay¨. That statement, for me would be taken in the context that travelling for two years means its time to get back to the real world. In his version of reality it was far more sinister and obscure!! Long story that Id love to share on another blog entry. Suffice to say hes been on the road for 42 YEARS, is an ex vietnam vet, is 65 and yet parties harder than Hugh Heffner im sure!!

Anyway, back to the Jenandterryshow. The last entry saw me preparing to leave Mendoza for Puerto Iguazu. Boy has it been a hell of a ride since then! I did indeed successfully board the overnight bus to Cordoba, wait a number of hours and then board another overnight bus to Puerto Iguazu. In total, it took me 37straight hours to get from A to B and so I was pretty darn cream crackered when I arrived.

This journey represented a number of things including the last time Id get to experience travelling at a ¨reasonable¨ price in Argentina as Brazil was on the way! Not reasonable compared to India of course where you can travel for 12hours on a bus for one pound!!

On the second leg of my journey to Puerto Iguazu (from Cordoba on a cama overnight bus), I met Avi, an awesome Israeli guy that I would spend the next two days with. Avi and I hit it off straight away and talked across many subjects. The reason for our meeting was two fold. Firstly, we were seated next to one another (lol) and secondly, I initiated conversation by offering him some hand sanitiser! LOL. Im addicted to the stuff Im sure of it!! Avi came across as a really cool dude with a mix of UK/US/Israeli accent. He later blamed this on his subconscious ability to alter his accent based on whom he was travelling with at the time.

We arrived into Iguazu and were immediately hit by a wall of heat and humidity! Such a change from the freezing nights in the mountains of Aconcagua! Avi and I made arrangements to meet up later in the day as we both had some washing to do (and its cheaper to pool your resources of course!) and I checked into ¨Sweet¨ Hostel! I had to stay at this place just based on the name! However, the guy on the desk had no clue what I was talking about when I mentioned the fact that the rest of the world use the word sweet in its modern use as a form of superlative. He actually named the hostel after a rank spread here in South America called Dulce De Leche...based on the fact that its sweet! LMAO!

I spent the rest of the day planning for the 16th, planning my exit strategy from Puerto Iguazu into Brazil and visiting a fairly cool three-point river intersection where Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil all meet.

It transpired from my investigations that I would need to go to Rio, Brazil via Paraguay AND Sao Paulo! All buses were booked up to Rio for the next few weeks and this was by far the only cheap alternative! Great, another mission it is then.

I also learned from my beautiful girlfriend back in the UK that BA were likely to have a STRIKE on the day I needed to fly back to London! OMG, this was turning out to be an expensive and stressful time in my last town in Argentina. Not to panic though, Jen rearranged my flight for the 20th, for free. Apparantly I took the LAST seat until mid January!! Crikey. The blessing in disguise was that I would see Jen for an extra two days which was the only reason I was smiling about the whole situation!!

The next day I awoke a year older. It was December 16th and unfortunately I had reached the last number before I would hit 30. Shhh...dont tell anybody though, I reckon I can still get away with being 25 ya know...

I couldnt wait to get to Iguazu falls that morning as I had planned to take a boat trip under the falls. Avi and I had a jam packed walking day in a signal-less national park (which was sad as I couldnt text Jen to tell her I loved her so much on my 29th birthday).

The day was HOT, HOT, HOT and amazing! It truly was one of the most spectacular sights Ive ever seen. There were literally tens and tens of huge, crazy waterfalls that seemed to never end!! The only downside was that by lunchtime the hoards of tourists were there.

Some more running around when we got back to Iguazu town and before I knew it, we were at a party in another hostel where I met three guys from a hostel in Mendoza a few days before. Good music and a bit of dancing (lamely by me of course) and the night ended. Only Jen being there would have made it a perfect day.

The following morning meant it was time for the penultimate border crossing before the last journey to Rio. Randomly on my run to the bus station I saw the Oasis Overland crew I travelled with through Ecuador and Peru. It was great to catch up with them for a few mins. A relatively smooth trip into Paraguay followed and then a 3hour wait in a steamy hot bus terminal was met with the welcomed sight of another air conditioned bus heading for Sao Paulo.

Beware all travellers to Brazil through Paraguay!! They have an arranged con thing going on at the border. When you cross from Arg to Paraguay, they dont stamp you in. So when you leave Paraguay for Brazil...you dont have an entry stamp. Great!! These border ¨complications¨ meant a 100pesos fine! All seven of the gringos were stung by it.

Unphased, but $19US lighter (!!), I made my way on the freezing overnight bus into Brazil.

My first glimpse of the richest country in South America was green, lush and organised. It certainly seemed tropical, had shiny cars on the paved roads and signage everywhere. Somewhat different to Bolivia...but different normally comes at a price....great!!

A quick orientation and 67reals lighter and I was on the 08.00 bus to Rio from Sao Paulo. I deliberately skipped over the 67reals bit there as its too painful to dwell on. Id be going 6hours for 23 POUNDS!!!!! WHAT THE HELL!! I think im going to spew already at the Brazilian prices!!

The first impression of Rio was that it was crazy. Crazy busy, crazy loud, crazy prices! The people seemed surprisingly very nice though as two people offered me genuine help upon arrival. After a bus, subway and walk, I was in hostel Bambu near Copacabana beach. It had taken me 29hours to get to that hostel! What a mission.

I knew I only had a few days in Rio and so had to cram everything in. I planned to take a full day trip through the hostel the following day to see the big football stadium (capacity 170,000!!), the main carnival location, a crazy cathedral, Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Cristo! It was bound to be a great day!

Some chillaxing and a surprisingly good sleep in my 9 bed, three tiered-bunkbed (where I was on the top!) dorm later and I boarded a minibus jammed with tourists. Not your regular tourists though...it was a full day of me with 15 Brazilian tourists. Joy.Not.

The day went well, the weather was kind and the sights were amazing. Sugar Loaf in particular was awesome. I arrived back at the hostel with a belly stil full of a great lunch for an evening of absolutely nothing. I planned to simply check into my flight for the next day and hopefully catch up with some BBC World News.

After a well planned evening of nothing and another reasonably good sleep, I find myself writing this final blog entry wondering where the next steps will take me. I dont have anywhere to live, a job, much money left, a car or a working mobile. The only element of continuity in my life at the moment is my amazing girlfriend whom I cannot wait to see (and my family/friends of course).

I look forward to seeing you all and want to say hi to all the people I have met along the way. Its been sweet (not dulce de leche) and for now its peace out from the Jenandterryshow. Until the next blog entry from who knows where in the world....

Whilst in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, I walked to the see the monument where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet at the three river points.

Dec 16th and I entered the Iguazu National Park baby! Time to see some water and get wet!!

It was literally a jungle environment. The boat ride to the bottom of the falls was very, very hot and humid indeed.

Avi and I were ready to get wet under the falls! Its true what they say that the negative ions generated by the falling water make you into a giggling school kid again!

Avi and I on the way to getting wet! You literally go UNDER the falls...its a bit crazy!

The first real view of one part of the truly awe inspiring Iguazu Falls! Wow!

Me at Devils Throat. The sound there was intense and I couldnt believe how much water kept on coming!!

The following day I randomly saw the Oasis Overland crew in Iguazu. Was cool to catch up for 2mins.

In Rio on the day tour around the various sights. This is where the main part of Carnival is held in Feb.

A cathedral that resembled an alien mothership I thought!!

Some nuns were actually receptive to me taking a pic.

Views from Cristo in Rio

Ah, the classic tourist shot! Although, I got in trouble for it as I climbed up onto the wall to take it. ¨Me sorry, me no understand...¨lol

The first views of Sugar Loaf mountain. What a cool sight.

I saw this cable car and thought that it looked a bit dodgy to travel in, but luckily it was just the maintenance car for some poor dude who had to use....