AU REVOIR LE BRESIL ET BONJOUR L'ARGENTINE

BOM DIA o meus amigos, todo bem?(langue portuguaise),
Good day to my dear friends.. all´s well?
C'est avec un grand soulagement que nous avons quitte le Grand Bresil mais avec tristesse que nous quittons les bresiliens! SOULAGEMENT car le Bresil coute horriblement cher, les distances entre les differents sites sont ENORMES et donc des heures de bus a ne plus en finir et le soleil qui se cachait, TRISTESSE car les bresiliens sont vraiment chaleureux, aimable et tres serviable! It´s a relief to leave Brazil but sad to leave theBrazillians. Relieved cos it´s been terribly expensive to travel and the distances between one town to another is so much so we stayed lots of hours on the transports and the sun was hiding from us... Sad cos the Brazillians are such warm people, friendly and helpful too.
Ils sont prets a changer leur route pour vous rendre service, ils vous donnent adresses et tel tres facilement. Sans oublier la beaute incroyable des gens, cette mixite de couleur et de style, le tout dans une saine harmonie. Nous avons la nostalgie de leur belle langue!
They get out of their way to help you, they will readily give some helpful tips and addresses. The beauty of the people, the mixed in colours and cultures in such humanity. We even have a nostalgic for their beaitful language.

Pour nous le Bresil avait assez mal commence! Apres nos 24heures de train (4h de plus que prevu du aux intemperies mais chanceux d'etre arrives a bon port) un jeune vient nous offrir de visiter le PANTANAL , zone innondee plus grande que la France qui a cree son propre ecosyteme abritant une faune et une flore incroyable. Il parait qu'on y voit plus 10plus d'animaux qu'en Amazonie! Nous decidons d'etudier sa proposition. Apres avoir traverser la frontiere bolivienne (sans trop de probleme si ce n'est qu'ils ont passe 30min a discuter sur le passeport pour nous donner un tampon de sortie -j'imagine qu'il essayait de chercher une solution pour nous demander de lárgent) puis entrer au Bresil, le jeune homme nous emmene dans sa guesthouse ou demeure un bebe "mangeur de fourmi" (je ne connais pas le nom de cet animal bizarroide...HELP BRUNO) comme animal domestique!We started on a bad foot with Brazil after 24 hours of Train ride a young man came to offer us a trip to the Pantanal at quite a reasonable price. Pantanal is a place where there are lots of immigrating animals that finds refuge, food there... We didn´t have much problem when we exit Bolivia´s border.. although they were looking wierdly at my famous passport and was searching for something to be wrong. we assumed they want to get some money out of us... Try to find some problems.. well this time we´ve got the right visas and in the legality.. so...
Anyways, we decided to check out the young man´s proposition and stayed at his family´s home.. kind of like a bed and breakfast thing. They have this anteater as a pet that welcome us.


Apres avoir negocier et accepter sa proposition de passer 4 jours dans une ferme en plein milieu du Pantanal a observer les animaux, pecher le piranha, chasser le crocodile, faire du cheval au milieu des eaux remplis de Boa et de piranha et faire des safaris nocturnes a la recherche des yeux d'Aligator...Nous etions tres exciter et pret a partir tres tot!
After negotiating the prices and we decided to accept his proposition to stay for 4 days
on a farm in the middle of the Pantanal, natural reserve park to observe wild life animals, piranha fishing, chase crocodiles, horse riding, night safari to see the crocodile´s eyes.. we were excited and ready to go early the next day.
Je me leve a 9h! Bizarre! pourquoi ne nous a t on pas reveille! Je descends, le petit dej est pret mais personne!A 10h, notre jeune gracon apparait sortant du lit, je vais lui demander ce qu'il se passe! Le 4x4 est parti en reparation et ne sera pret que le lendemain! je ne suis pas tres content mais je grade mon calme lui demandant d'etudier et de nous proposer d'autres solutions! Ils nous dit que le lendemain, on pourra partir mais il faudra partir tres tot, a 3h du mat!
Woke up at 9am which was wierd cos we were suppose to go soon. Went down to check out what´s happening, breakfast was ready but no one was around. By 10am the young man arrived and definitely just woke up. So went to ask what is going on and he just says that the 4x4 has gone to the workshop and will only be ready next day. We weren´t happy about that but kept ourselves calm and then ask to propse a different solution. Then he says ok, tomorrow we will go but early at 3am.
Bon, on dit OK (entre temps, la tension etait monte concernant le paiement car je voulais payer 50% avant et le reste apres. Pour de sombres raisons, ils ont perdu leur calme et cela a ete assez chaud. C'est une affaire familiale et les jeunes de 25ans ont encore bien des choses apprendre. J'ai demande a negocier seulement avec les grands et tout est rentre dans l'ordre) ! Le lemdemain, je me reveille a 3h et attend jusqu a 4h avant de me rendormir! A 7h je me leve et descend! Le camion n'est pas pret et ne sera pas pret!!! et la pluie arrivant, les routes sont quasi impraticables. Je demande remboursement integral et nous ne paierons qu'une nuit (au lieu de 2). On abandonne l'idee de visiter le Pantanal et on partira tres vite pour Sao Paulo!
So ok we agreed but the tension between us and them were starting to increase due to payments. We wanted to do a 50% pay now and pay later after the excursions.Don´t know for some reason, they started getting all upset about this method of payment and were very defensive. They didn´t try to understand we didn´t want to be cheated and do some of the trip half way... anyways, finally we negotiated with one of the elder in this family business. The next morning Johan and I were on our nerves and slept very lightly since we were supose to be up by 3. We did wake up but no one came knocking on our door, went back to sleep eventually and woke up at 7am. Johan went down to check and the jeep was still not ready! Plus there were some heavy dark clouds arriving. So we asked for a refund and abandoned the idea to visit the Pantanal... we made our way to Sao Paulo.
Bien que la relation fut houleuse avec les jeunes, les femmes de la maison nous ont tres bien traites et tres bien nourris toujours avec le sourire!
Inspite on our friction between the young men, the women were great. They treated and fed us well..always with a smile
24h apres, nous arrivons a Sao Paolo, ville de 17millions d'hab qu'on decide d'eviter. Nous hesitons a prendre un autre bus direct pour Salvador de Bahia (encore 32h de bus) puis finalement, nous choisirons une "station balneaire" dont la ville est inscrite au patrimoine de l'UNESCO a qqes heures de Sao Paolo pour faire une pause et reprendre nos forces avant de repartir . Paraty, a mi chemin entre Sao Paula (6h) et Rio (4h) sur la cote! On arrive a 11h du soir sous la pluie! Tous les hotels proposent des prix exorbitants (40-50euros)! Finalement grace au mauvais temps, nous obtiendrons une chambre a 30euros ou nous beneficierons d'un super petit-dej! A part des plages et qqes heritages coloniaux, Paraty ne nous seduit pas plus que ca! Tout est tres cher et nous ne pouvons pas se permettre dedepenser 30euros/jour dans le logement.

24 hours later we finally arrived in Sao Paulo where it´s very busy town so we tried to avoid that but with a decision of either travelling another 32hours going North, Salvado do Bahia but we didn´t have the courage to sit in the bus for another day.. so we stopped halfway at a place called Paraty another 6 hours bus ride. Arrived our final destination 11pm.. raining and no available rooms and those available are so expensive. Well, we did manage to get a room, Still pricey but the cheapest we could find. Paraty is a place known for it beaches and some colonial buildings. Since it´s the high season with local tourists around.. we decided to head on.

Nous prenons donc la route pour Rio! Arrivant de nuit, nous nous confions au Lonely Planet pour trouver un hotel! Encore 30Euros! Apres avoir goute aux prix du Bresil et pris des infos sur les Carnaval de Bahia, nous decidons que nous passerons le Carnaval a Rio si on trouve hotels moins chers! Le lendemain, nous partons a la recherche d'hotels tout en visitant un peu le vieux Rio! Rien de tres chouette dans le vieux Rio, une immense cathedrale ou plutot un blog de beton tres tres moche. un tres jolie theatre, un metro tres efficace et tres esthetique et bcp de mouvements!

On towards Rio de Jeneiro. Arrived again at night and used a guide book for the hostel addresses supposedly to be cheap but... since the guide book hasn´t been updated and there are lots of inflation and price changes the past 2 years... nothing is right in the book. Oh well. Still stayed in a pricey place and next day we went out to search for something more affordable so we could stay longer in Rio for their famous Carnivals! We meant to go up North for the Carnivals but the cost of busses are killing our budget so badly.. we couldn´t afford it.. soo stuck in Rio. While on our search for an accomodation, we did some visiting. The church was an interesting architecture.. not the usual ones you see in Europe. The theatres are bueatiful. They have very efficient metro trains too.

Nous trouverons un hotel dans nos prix (12euros) qui paraissait correct malgre son lit a la forme bizarre!
After walking for sometime, we found a cheap hotel.. well reasonable compared to the other prices. It looked clean but the beds were round. Wierd. Very rare. Not comfortable to sleep.

Une PREMIERE pour nous...Les choses s'eclaircissent des que l'on allume la TV. Une chaine normale et une autre avec FILMS XXX toute la journee!!!
This is the first for us... as we turn on the tv, the first chanel on tv was X rated films.. yikes... another is a normal chanel. There were only these 2 chanels.

Puis le soir en rentrant de la fete, nous decouvrons que non seulement notre rue est tres festive mais que surtout elle est remplie de TRAVESTIS en attente de clients!!!
Then when we come back at night towards our hotel we discovered that not only is it a festive street but there were filled with tranverstites waiting for clients... hmmmm... interesting.

Puis y a que des mecs dans notre hotel qui lisent des revues prono dans les couloirs!!! Bon on nous embetera pas et on n'y passera 2 nuits tres calmes et sommes toutes silencieuses!

RIO n'est pas celebre pour ses monuments ou ses hotels mais pour ses PLAGES, son CARNAVAL, ses FETES et sa population!!!
Rio is also famous for the beaches, the carnivals, the parties and the population as well as their monuments and hotels...

Pour les PLAGES, pas de chance, il a plu tous les jours et donc nous n'avons pas pu en profiter comme il se doit mais il est vrai qu'elle sont agreables et pleines de vie (surtout sportive: beach volley, football, musculation, jogging, etc... et artistique!)

As for the beaches, we were so unfortunate it was raining the whole time we were there. So we couldn´t enjoy ourselves on the beaches. The people still go jogging, play beach volley and football on the beach..so happening. Such a happening place.

Pour les FETES et surtout le CARNAVAL, on sentait l'ambiance montee (ainsi que les prix). ON entendait souvent le mot CARNAVAOOUU et on a eu la chance de passer aux bons endroits aux bons moments et d'assister aux pre Carnaval! C'etait deja tres chaud! On imagin ce que sera la Carnaval

We could feel the ambiance of the carnival starting.. we also managed to see a pre carnival sessions. It was very lively. People were dancing in the streets. Talking to people they don´t even know. It was already so busy and happening, can´t imagine on the actual day of the actual carnival.

Nous avons aussi ete dans le TEMPLE du Football, le MARACANA, 80 000 places a voir un match du championnat bresilien (avec Fluminense)! Petite ambiance car debut du championnat (13 000 spectateurs) et petit match! Bon niveau mais rien d'extravagant...Comme dans tous les stades, on retrouve les sifflets, les huees, les encouragements et les pros du foot qui pensent detenir tous les secrets du foot et qui gueulent conseils et critiques aux joueurs et entraineurs...
Apart from the carnivals and parties, Rio is also famos for the FOOTBALL.. BRAZIL and FOOTBALL.. we went to watch a match in the Maracana Stadium that has 80 000 places! It was starting of the Brazilians Champions and when we went there were only 13 000 spectators but that was still lots of ambiance and people showing their emotions.. so funny to watch the people when their team is losing or winning.. made a goal or missed.. Suddenly they became professional players and ordering the players to pass left, pass right.. all the comments.. It was good experience. They had musicians, large flags, light works

En ce qui concerne les gens, comme je vous l'ai dit, nous avosn fait de belles rencontres et nous n'avons qu'une seule envie RETOURNER au Bresil quand on sera riche pour mieux decouvrir ce pays, ses cultures, sa culture, ses chansons, sa langue et cet immense territoire....A Bientot Bresil Apart from the football fans, the Brazilians are lovely people and we´ve only met pleasant and friendly people. We hope to return one day to visit Brazil when we are richer to see the country, the culture, the songs, the language and it´s huge territory.. See you Soon Brazil.

Finalement, nous ne resterons pas au Bresil pour le CARNAVAL. Nous avons decide d'aller en Argentine. De Rio, nous avons donc pris un bus pour Foz de Iguazu (24h et 100euros le billet!!!) au Sud Ouest du Bresil a la frontiere argentine ou apres avoir obtenu le visa de Flo (en 45minpour changer), nous avons visite les magnifiques chutes d'eau qui feront l'objet de notre prochain reportage....
So finally we didn´t stay in Brazil for the Carnival. We dicided to go into Argentina. We took a bus to Foz De Iguazu which is 24hrs bus ride again and 100Euros for that.. each.. Here we visited the Iguazu Falls (next posting) and applied for my visa to enter Argentina. Took us only 45mins to get the visa done. Fastest ever.
A tres bientot...
till soon..

Du PACIFIQUE a l`ATLANTIQUE

Coucou tout le monde,
Hi Everyone

Apres avoir commence notre voyage le long de la Cote pacifique peruvienne, nous voila maintenant au bord de l`ocean Atlantique, a RIO DE JANEIRO!!!
After starting our voyage from Peru´s Pacific side, we are now on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Rio De Janerio.. BRAZIL
Il nous a fallu un peu pres une centaine d´heures de transport public, de nombreuses nuits a dormir dans les trains et bus, traverser les montagnes des Andes. la Bolivie et le verdoyant Bresil (malheureusement nous n´avons pas pu visiter le Pantanal, sud ouest du Bresil, plus riche concentration d´animaux sauvage en Amerique pour cause de pluie)!!! pour enfin arriver a RIO Comme si l´Amerique se resumait a une histoire de bus! (rappelez vous mon voyage aux Etats-Unis...50h de Yellowstone au Texas, puis encore 50h pour rallier le Texas a Montreal!!!).
We had to of course "suffer" a few sleepless nights on bus and trains, spend lots of hours riding and being on the road to cross the Andes mountains, Bolivia and finally arriving in Brazil. (Unfortunately we couldn´t visit the Pantanal Natural Reserve, south-west of Brazil, one of the riches in wild life migrations due to RAIN)!! well, that brought us all the way to RIO.

Our train is in trouble!!!

Nous devions aller a Salvador de Bahia pour le Carnaval (30h de bus vers le Nord) mais je crois qu on va s´arreter a Rio car le BRESIL est TRES TRES CHER...(et encore plus en period de vacances et de Carnaval), au dessus de nos moyens donc rapidement nous allons prendre le chemin de l´Argentine sans meme savoir si nous pourrons attendre le Carnaval la semaine prochaine!!!(c ´est triste et dommage mais c la vie. nous sommes obliges de faire ca si nous voulons pouvoir survivre les 4 derniers mois de notre sejour en AM du SUD).
We were planning to go to the North, Salvador de Bahia for the bigges event.. CARNAVAL but we stopped at Rio cos it is VERY VERY expensive to travel. On top of that, it´s like a public holiday for the carnaval so everything and all prices increases. So with our budget and trying to continue our stay till May in South America we had to get our of Brazail and make our way to Argentina. It´s too bad that we have to miss it. It´s just a week away but we just cant afford another week. The budget is CRYING out.
Nous avons eu une belle surprise en arrivant a Rio. Nous prenons le bus collectif! On nous donne les places handicapes avec nos gros bagages puis le chauffeur et sa caissiere (qui a a place dans le bus avec sa caisse) nous demande ou on va dormir. On leur indique un hotel dans un quartier de Rio....Le chauffeur (jeune, peau mixte et ien portant) tout en chantant, en grillant tous les feux, en telephonant et en se retournant sans cesse pour nous parler, s´arrete en plein milieu du rond point pour demander a un taxi la rue de notre hotel, puis il fera un stop ex-pret pour nous afin de nous deposer a 20m de l´hotel indique!!! Sympa...c la premiere fois dans ma vie qu´un chauffeur de transport en commun m´aide ainsi!!!
We had a pleasant surprise when we arrived Rio. We took a local bus with our bag packs and the bus conductor made us sit at the front, reserved for the disable. Then we were asked where we were going to sleep. We told them a street where we were going to stay. He and the ´cashier´who has a special sit in the bus were discussing and wondering where it was... The bus driver, singing along with his IPOD/mobile phone, talking on the phone, crossing red lights, overtaking cars and busses...talking to us while driving... turning his head to talk to us.. then he stops.. almost in the middle of the rounabout... just to ASK another taxi driver if he knows the street we´re looking for. Then he made a special stop JUST for us so we are just 20m from the hotel. Nice... It´s the first and perhaps the only time we´ll meet a bus driver like him. Interesting bus ride.
Bon je vous laisse car meme l´Internet est cher au Bresil.... A tres bientot pour nos impressions sur le Bresil
Ok.. got to go.. cos the interenet in Brazil is expensive... Till the next post.
PS: je vais essayer d´aller au stade Maracana demain soir pour voir un match du championnat bresilien...et si on a de la chance nous verrons les repetitions du Carnaval dans la rue



Coconut on a Brasilian beach!


ok... we are going to try to go to the Maracana Stadium to see a football match. The Brazilian´s Champions league and if we´re lucky enough we´ll get a glimpse of the rehearsals for the carnaval along the way...

Des Andes a l'Amazonie / From the Andes to the Amazon

Et oui, nous avons retoruve la CHALEUR et l'ambiance tropicale! Enfin!!! Nous voila au carrefour entre les Andes et l'Amazonie, dans la deuxieme plus grande ville de Bolivie, SANTA CRUZ (pour les fans de Che Guevarra, il a passe ses dernieres heures dans les environs avant d'etre tue par la CIA. Des Tours operators proposent de refaire la route du Che)
Yes we have finally found ourselves back into the heat and the familiar environment of the Tropicals! So now we're at the crossroads between the Andes and the Amazon, in the second largest city of Bolivia, Santa Cruz. (If you heard of Che Guevarra, he has passed through this town in his last hours before getting caught by the CIA - check out the internet for him or watch the film, The Motorcycle Diary..if you have no idea what I'm blabbing about)

Nous avons troque nos bonnets et nos manteaux contre la bonne vieille paire de sandale et un short! Les filles devoilent leurs jambes et nous offrent (ou plutot a moi) de fort beaux decolletes!
We exchanged our bonnet and gloves for a pair of flip flops and shorts..... The ladies here all where very revealing low cut TOPs.. with very well endowned assets... Men will be very pleased to be in this town to cuci mata
L'espagnol des habitants ressemblent plus a une langue tropicale voir insulaire! Nous avons perdu les "s" dans les montagnes.Le "Buenos Dias" s'est transforme en "Bueno Dia"...un peu complique a s'adapter au debut!
Bon, ce n'a pas ete de tout repos pour en arriver la! Nous avons du traverser toutes les Andes soit une quarantaine d´heures de bus...je vous rassure, nous ne l'avons pas fait en un jour!
Well it wasn't all that comfy to arrive here. We had to cross the whole of Andes which is about 14 hours or more...
Tout d'abord, nous avons quitte Cusco pour Le lac Titicaca, frontiere peruano-bolivienne!Cette fois-ci, nous avons fait les choses dans les regles et sommes alles demande un visa au consulat bolivien! et BONNE NOUVELLE, nous n'avons plus besoin de payer pour le visa! C'est GRATUIT depuis Janvier 2008!!!Cool, 5h plus tard, nous courons jusqu'au terminal de bus pour prendre le dernier bus directe poiur LA PAZ et nous arrivons a l'heure MAIS le bus est plus que COMPLET...M.....ercredi!!!
So first of all we left Cusco, to go towards Puno.. Lake Titicaca which will be Peru-Bolivia's borders. This time we did it within the law and rules. We went to the Bolivian Consulate to request for a Visa for MOI... and my famous passport!At first it hurts to think that we have to pay all the time when we cross their boarders but HEY HEY HEY.. GOOD NEWS for 2008!! They've changed the rules and we got the visa for FREE!! Well, I still have to apply, it's just that we don't have to pay a single cent! COOL! 5 hrs later the visa process we went to the bus terminal to catch the last bus at 2.30pm BUT with our luck it was ALL FULL! No seats available!

On part a l'autre terminus local ou nous attrapons un bus vers l'autre frontiere! La frontiere des contrebandiers et du transit de la cocaine! NOus passons la frontiere sans trop de probleme dans une ambiance folle (ct jour de marche)! Nous prenons un taxi collectif pour la Paz! Direction la station de bus! MINCE les bus directes pour Sta Cruz sont deja partis, nous prenons donc un bus pour Cochabamba (a mi chemin)...8h plus tard, apres 2 nuits dans le bus, nous arrivons dans cette ville de montagne (2700m d'alt) assez laide!

So we were told there's another local bus going to another boarder and we rushed there. The frontier where there are lots of illegal stuff happening with drugs and other products. Well, we managed to pass over the borders unhurt and with no problems. It was really BUSY at this border compared to the other one. So much movement. Then we had to take a taxi to the Bolivian bus terminal but we just missed the bus to go to St. Cruz so our next option was to stop halfway to Cochabamba. 8hrs later after spending 2 nights on the bus we arrived in Cochabamba.

Il est 5h du mat, nous sommes CREVES...et MANQUE DE BOL, et aussi invraisemblable que cela puisse paraitre, tous les "hotels" (ca ressemble plus a des grandes cite universitaires en plus moche) sont COMPLETS...Nous devons donc attendre plusieurs heures avant de nous ecraser sur un lit! Nous dejeunerons dehors dans les nombreux stands improvises! A 7h30, nous recuperons une "chambre" et la nous tombreons de sommeil pour se reveiller a 14h00...On passera 1 nuit dans cette ville et nous passerons tous le Dimanche sur la place principale a lire et manger en attendant notre bus de nuit pour Sta Cruz!!! (longue journee)

We arrived 5am and we were so exhausted from the trip and fed-up and all the hotels we asked around we FULL! So we had to wait a few more hours before we could crash out on the bed. So we had our breakfast at the stalls by the roadsides. We went back to the hotel where we left our bags and YES, we got a room. We really knocked out and slept till about 2pm. We slept a night at the hotel and the whole of Sunday afternoon, evening and night at the Plaza trying to kill time by reading and eating while waiting for our next bus ride at night to St. Cruz. It was a LLLLOOOONNNNGGGGG Day for us.

cool refreshing orange juice. hand squeezed with this machind.
SANTA CRUZ, 400m d'altitude, en plein milieu de la Bolivie...Ville perdue mais incroyablement dynamique (centre de la drogue)... il fait chaud et humide! La jungle nous entoure...mais les montagnes ne sont pas loin!
Santa Cruz at only 400m in altitude lost in the middle of Bolivia but very dynamic and so much activities happening. It is hot and humid, the jungle surrounds us but the mountains are not too far away.

Sta Cruz, passage obligatoire pour nous pour faire le visa de Flo! Nous voila donc parti a la recherche du consulat! Comme d'habitude, il nous manque des papiers, ou plutot les notres ne sont pas les bons!" On nous envoi payer le VISA a la BANCO De BRASIL de l'autre cote de la ville...on se perd un peu mais on reussit a la trouver et on se depeche pour retourner au consulat afin la fermeture! CHOC, notre fievre jaune faite au PEROU n'est pas valable car pas INTERNATIONALE ...QUOI...qu'est ce qu'on fait alors, on ne peut pas se refaire vacciner....je me fais jeter...On doit aller a la prefecture a l'autre coin de la ville...c parti! En arrivant la bas, il y a une queue de 100m de long...ca gueule de tous les cotes car y en a (comme nous) qui jouent au plus malin et essaye de griller la queue! Finalement, apres une heure, on obtiendra un nouveau certificat INTERNATIONAL cette fois ci mais sans vaccination moyennant une dizaine d'euros....Le consulat est ferme, nous devons y retourner le lendemain!
We had to pass by St Cruz to obtain my VISA.. for Brazil.. yes ME AGAIN, the VISA GIRL! So we found a little hotel as we arrived, put our bags down and we started our day after hours of bus ride from Cochabamba... to find the Consulate of Brazil. So we managed to find it by walking.. it was quite a distance after all.. (trying to safe cost) anyways as usual as we arrived and gave our papers we had some papers missing or rather we didn't have the right ones. Then they send us off to pay for the visa at the BANK of Brazil which we had to take a bus to the OPPOSITE direction. Then we got a little lost looking for the bank and we got off the bus a little too early. Then we searched and found it finally and paid the 20US$ (which to our surprise not as expensive as we thought it could have been.. especially with a special passport like mine) So we were rushing cos we wanted to hand in EVERYTHING.. all the papers and so it could be process faster before the office closes.. Rush rush and then we MADE it to the office.
To our surprise... another little problem, our little vaccination injection and card is not VALID to travel ourside. It's only good for Peru and Bolivia. Great! we need an INTERNATIONAL Vaccination card which we need to get at another place at another corner of the town. GREAT.. another searching adventure. This time we took the Taxi! no time to lose.
We arrived at the govt office and it had a Q that was about 100m long to get a number!!! Anyways, we waited for about an hour before we managed to get an International Vaccination Card. No, we didn't get another injection.. just to validify the vaccination card we had. Of coruse it came with some more $$$... and we paid. Unfortunately, we had to go back to the Consulate the next day cos it was already closed by the time we finish all the paper work!

Heureusement le lendemain tout se passe bien, nous avons tout mais si elle nous fait peur en nous demandant le vol de sortie du Bresil (que nous n'avons pas car on prendra train et bus)...LA MAUVAISE NOUVELLE, c'est que nous devons attendre 2jours notre visa....alors nous en profitons pour visiter la region...Le zoo car nous n'avons pas les moyens de visiter la jungle!!! puis nous partirons prendre l'air dans les montagnes, a 2h30 de route, a SAMAIPATA...Village de montagne tres sympa au climat SUPER AGREABLE...chaud et sec la journee et frais la nuit....avec des gens tres sympathiques.
Fortunately the next day.. everything went as planned and smoothly. They did ask for our return ticket in and out of Brazil but we were travelling on land with bus and train but we managed to get the visa and that will take 2 days to process. So we decided to visit around the area. Went to a Zoo nearby and then we went to a village about 2h30mins drive, Samaipata. A cute little village in slightly higher altitude... 1ooomtr over. The weather there was perfect for us. It was nice and refreshing. Not cold or Hot.. but refreshing is the word. The sun would be shining and you still cool with the wind. The nights are not freezing. So it was just right.

Flo en a profite pour renouer avec le VTT et s'est tres bien debrouillee! Contrairement a moi qui est eu un peu plus de mal car je ne suis pas encore a 100% et j'ai experimente qqes problemes d'equilibre sans consequences! Nous avons vu la plus garnde pierre taillee du monde...encore une oeuvre INCA, la derniere on vous le promet!

There in Samaipata we stayed for 2 nights and one of the day we went cycling up a hill to see a historical Inka monument. Supposedly to be the largest carved stone ever. The cycling was TIRING upwards... yikes. I didn't do too bad after all .. I was scared though but managed not to fall and not even a single scratch. So that's good to get back my confidence on cycling.
Nous voila de retour a Sta Cruz ou nous avons recupere le visa de Flo et nous nous apretons a faire 20h de train demain Samedi 19/01/08 pour rejoindre le Bresil...
Returned back to St. Cruz and got back my passport and the next day to take a 20hrs train to go to Brazil.
AH OUI, J'ai failli oublie....comme la maldie nous a coute assez cher et que nous sommes de nouveau sous les tropiques, j'ai decide de faire des economies sur le SHAMPOING et Flo a donc exercer son reve de jeune fille en devenant coiffeuse d'un soir pour me RASER la tete....(photo a venir tres prochainement)...

Ah yes, as Johan was sick and it cost us quite a bomb and now that we're in the Tropic.. Johan has decided to save on Shampoo. My dream to be a hairdresser when I was younger came to reality and so I practiced my haircutting skills and CUT all his hair off... At the Indian shop it will be number one hair cut.. hehehhehe..

A tres bientot au Bresil

So till our next post in Brazil

Bye Cusco, HELLO Puno

After having to say "goodbye and see you again." to our family in Cusco, the Inka Ruins, the Llamas... we found ourselves in another familiar place. A place where we were two months ago before settling in beautiful Cusco.

We went back to Puno where we enjoyed a wonderful 3 days Island Excursion which I, Florence.. have not yet updated on the blog. Yes... it shows how busy I've been. Sorry....

Anyways, in Puno, we went back to see two special people we met on our stay there at Inka Rest, Puno. Hilda and Alfonso.... They have helped us to get very useful infomartion regarding my Visa which took few hours to process.

We arrived Puno from Cusco at early wee mornings and we woke them up.. they took us into their Rest House (INKA REST) with a BIG SMILE on their face. THANK YOU GILDA and ALFREDO.. (yes, we remember your names.. it was a joke earlier) Then they so kindly offered us breakfast.... Feed the poor.. hahahah...

Then when it was finally time, we went to the Bolivian consulate to process my visa with the hope that it will get done on the spot. Unfortuntely not.. so we had to wait few more hours till 2pm in the afternoon. The thing is the last bus to La Paz Bolivia is at 2.30pm and if we miss that trip.. we will miss the immigrations at the boarder..So while waiting for the process we treated ourselves to a cappucino and an apple tart near the consulate to cool our nervous system down. Hoping that we will be able to rush and CATCH that last bus.. anyways.. the cappucino looks inviting doesn't it?

Then we return back to Inka Rest and we were invited AGAIN to have lunch cooked by lovely Gilda.. How sweet of them to invite us for lunch.

So we ate with them and then we went back to the consulate by about 1.30pm and good news.. it was ready.. Yippeee!!! So we rushed and managed to catch a bus... via another way... and crossed the boarders. What a mission it was and so stressful to rush to try to catch a bus at a certain time.

Well, it was very pleasant to meet our dear friends in Puno.... who by the way owns Inka Rest (A comfortable and secure place to stay at in Puno) and who will help you when you are in need.

So, we THANK GILDA and ALFREDO for their assistance. We truly appreciate it.

LA CONVALESCENCE

LA REEDUCATION

A cause ou Grace a ma paralysie faciale, j'ai du commence une reeducation! Contrairement a la France ou la plupart du temps, je vais chez un kine homme qui me fait souffrir. La, je vais dans un institut de beaute ou je suis entoure de belles femmes et chouchoutte comme un ROI!
En effet, je commence la session avec des serviettes chaudes sur tout le corp, puis vient l'heure du massage du dos, de la nuque et de la tete! Ensuie, c'est moins drole, j'ai le droit au Laser (non douleureux) puis a l'electrotherapie sur le visage! C ca fait mal....1h30 apres, ma session est deja termine...A demain

Here ´s Johan enjoying his physiotherapy for his facial paralysis. Usually in France you do it in a special clinic but we had to do in a Beauty Spa! Where it´s just women who´s taking care of all his needs.. SIGH... how nice right? Well, I was with him the first day and I saw they took care of him. I wanted a SPA session too!! In the beginning, they put nice warm blankets on his upper back, his neck and face to relax the muscles for a few min. Then they massage his shoulders and back.. SIGH.. again another sigh cos I REALLY want one! (I deserve one for taking care of him, don´t you think?? hehehehe) Then anyways, after the msg, they put some electrolysis thing on his face to work on his facial muscles.. Well, it all lasted about 1h30mins. How nice right? Well, after suffering so much, this is very comforting for him. He did this SPA sessions for about 4 days in a row only cos it is costly.

LA GUITARE

Etant en "arret maladie", mes journees enfermees sont un peu longues. Alors, en plus de lire des livres en espagnol, de continuer a apprendre l'espagnol, de commencer a me mettre au portuguais, j'ai decide d'investir dans une guitare pour m'initier a la musique.
Johan was getting too bored staying indoors and the days were getting a little long for him. So apart from reading books, learning Spanish, started taking up Portuguese as well... he´s decided to become a musician too.. soo... Here´s a new toy and something new for Johan to do.

Je dois vous avouer que j'avais deja fait une vaine tentative d'apprentissage il y a quelques annees mais cette fois-ci, je suis bien decide a apprendre!
Les debuts sont difficiles! Les doigts, le poignet et les oreilles des autres souffrent mais je suis entoure d'un bon prof, WILL et de nombreux artistes argentins qui viennent a mon secours!
Johan has tried taking up guitar before but didn´t make it but this time he seems pretty keen and have decided he will LEARN how to play. The beginning is difficult. The fingers, the wrist, people´s ear are aching but... he´s got a good teacher, Will and few other Argentineans tourists who helped him a little bit. Personally, I think he´s doing well. I´ll learn along the way.. just strumming the guitar.. hahaha

Voila comment occuper ses journees au Perou....

Voila, so that´s how we keep our days busy in Peru....

Moving on...A LA RECHERCHE DE LA FIEVRE JAUNE

Avant de commencer la traduction de ce texte en Français, je decline toute responsabilite concernant ce cours de géographie ! Non, les amis, je sais très bien que vous connaissez votre géo mondiale par cœur !!!
Just something to help to locate where we are.. Yes, the map is a little small but I'm sure you can sort of figure out where we are on this world map. Ci-dessous, une carte du monde pour vous aider à vous situerBelow is a map of South America. Well, we're there in that dark green parts on the map. :) We've been here in Cusco, Peru for about 1 month and a half. Unfortunately half of the month was spent indoors due to Johan's health. He is recovering pretty well and we will be ready to start travelling again. That wasn't the initial plan but hey.... So this week is our last week in Peru and we'll be heading to Bolivia first. That would be the orange bit on the map below. Then after Bolivia we will go to Brazil (yellow colour and the largest country in South America)
Ci-dessous, une carte de l’Amérique du Sud. Nous, nous sommes dans le Kaki, au Sud du Pérou, plus exactement a Cusco depuis 1 mois et demi. Malheureusement, nous avons passe les 3 dernières semaines enfermes a cause de mes petits ennuis de sante ! Normalement, je pourrais reprendre la route a la fin de cette semaine ! Nous avons décidé de changer notre itinéraire et nous allons nous diriger vers le Brésil (en jaune) pour retrouver le soleil et la plage qui commence à nous faire défaut! Avant ca, nous devrons traverser toute la Bolivie (en orange) en bus ! Ensuite nous devrons nous rendre en Argentine avant de revenir en Bolivie puis au Pérou !

Apparently, with a special passport like MINE(from an Asian country with a very unique image on the front cover) I will need to apply visas to all of the countries around Peru. How much "FUN" would that be? Part of the visa requirement apart from the usual paperwork, photos etc... is for the Yellow Fever Vaccination. Yup, you've got to get vaccinated before entering Bolivia and especially before entering Brazil. Even Johan has to get vaccinated. Comme vous le savez déjà, le passeport en or de Flo va nous obliger à nous arrêter dans tous les consulats afin d’obtenir des VISAS. En plus du VISA, pour le Brésil, nous avons été oblige tous les 2 de nous faire vacciner contre LA FIEVRE JAUNE (obligatoire pour rentrer en terre brésilienne)- comme si je n'avais pas deja eu assez de piquouses...et moi qui adore ca! So we tried to get my papers ready and our vaccinations. We went to the local hospital nearby and asked for the vaccination. The nurse in charge looked up at us and asked "only both of you? You need a minimum of 4 to be able to get the vaccination." The reason is that a bottle of vaccination has 5 doses.

Then Johan replied," Yes only 2 of us. Shall we look for another 2 more people in the streets?"

She smiled and said, "ok, for you two it's an exception.Don't tell anyone." She asked another nurse to look for 2 other patients/people in the hospital for later.

She asked us to wait and then we followed a nurse to another room and in a few minutes, the vaccinations were done. We got our little yellow card to show that we are vaccinated.

So, now we're ready to enter Brazil and for me, Bolivia. Well, thankfully we had no side-effects from the vaccination.

Next step is to go to Bolivia Consulate and apply for my visa next week.

Ces derniers jours, nous avons donc été un peu occupe à essayer de réunir tous les papiers et photos pour les VISAS. Pour le vaccin, la clinique ou je fus la semaine dernière nous proposait de faire le vaccin pour 50$/pers ! J’ai dit à Flo, on va essayer l’hôpital publique pour cela !
Apres avoir trouve notre chemin difficilement nous rencontrons l’infirmière en charge des vaccines. Elle nous dit « Pour se faire vacciner, il faut être minimum 4 personnes car le flacon est fait pour 4. SI je le fais pour 2, je dois jeter le reste après ! Je lui réponds « OK, alors comment on fait, on va recruter 2 personnes dans la rue et on revient” Elle me regarde un peu surprise par cette réponse et dit a son assistante “ Fais leurs leur vaccination et lance un appel dans l’hôpital en disant qu’il reste 2 vaccins dispo pour la fièvre jaune » !!!!
Voila comment économiser 100$ et être immuniser contre la fièvre jaune !
Nous voila maintenant près pour la grand CARNAVAL du Brésil!

Prochaine étape : le consulat de Bolivie a Puno la semaine prochaine

So we will have to say "Hasta Lluego" Goodbye to the Country of Llamas.
Par conséquent, nous allons devoir dire "Hasta Luego" au pays du Lama

FELIZ ANO NUEVO 2008

We spent a very quiet New Year's Eve/New Year for 2008. Like Christmas we had our New Year Celebrations at various places and this year... we spent in Cusco, Peru. Hospedaje(Hostel) Emanuel, ... In our Room! :) A slight change from Christmas.

Everyone else seems to be having a good time in the Hostel though. Lots of people! Lots of noise! Fireworks blasting away.

Nous avons passé des fêtes de fin d’année TRES TRES tranquille. Apres Noel à l’hosto, nous avons passe le jour de l’an dans notre chambre d’hôtel !!!

L’hôtel était en délire ! La plupart des clients était argentins et il faut avouer qu’ils savent très bien faire la fête ! Beaucoup de musique, de chants! A minuit, les PETARDS explosaient par milliers dans les rues ! Malheureusement, je ne pouvais participer aux festivités à cause de mon oreille! Nous avons fait les ANTI-SOCIAL !
Johan wasn't feeling well enough to join in. We were really anti-social.. hahahah...

Dinner was cooked way before the hostel started to be too crowded. Then it was brought up to his royal highness. Almost dinner in bed.. but we don't have those special kit they had in the hospital/clinic.. so we made do with our little table.

Flo avait préparé le diner avant que les festivités! Le diner fut servi dans la chambre du Prince ! Malheureusement, il nous manquait les plateaux pour se faire le diner au lit! Alors, nous l’avons fait sur notre petite table ! Bon OK je sais, j’ai une sale gueule! Non pas que le diner n’était pas bon mais je n’étais pas trop dans mon assiette!
Special dinner was made with lots of love and care... :) for New Year's Eve...Vegetable Bubur/Porridge... :) Au menu: une soupe de riz avec quelques légumes préparée avec beaucoup d’amour par ma chérie qui s’occupe très bien de son mari malade!!!
Some of the roads were closed for small stalls.. almost like pasar malam where we can find all sort of decorations, masks, hats, firecrackers, fireworks... yellow flowers like this one and UNDERWEARS!! Yes, yellow underwears.. all sizes, all kinds.. hanging in their stalls.. Funny to see. Unfortunately when I was walking around, I didn't have my camera with me. Then when I wanted to go out again to take some shots, it started to rain.. soooo....
Certaines rues étaient fermées pour cause de marche de Noel! SURPRENANT, sur le marche, on trouvait des centaines et des centaines de SLIPS ET CULOTTES jaunes (dans tous les stands). En effet les péruviens pensent qu’en portant ses sous vêtements jaunes le 1er, cela leur portera chance, bonheur et ARGENT !!! Malheureusement, Flo n’a pas eu le temps de prendre des photos car il se mit à pleuvoir !

We had a good eventful 2007. It has been a BUSY year for us.Getting married, stopped working, changing countries twice... Thank you to those who've shared the year with us and touched our lives. We miss you all. We wish our FAMILY and FRIENDS "HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008 and WARMEST WISHES"
Mise a part la fin d’année, 2007 fut pour nous une année très riche en événement. Nous nous sommes maries (ma sœur aussi), nous avons démissionné de nos jobs, nous avons change 3 fois de continents, 9 fois de pays et nous avons commence notre lune de miel au Pérou, etc.…
Nous en profitons pour remercier tous ceux qui nous ont accompagne et qui ont partagée (physiquement ou par la pensée) avec nous cette belle année ! Nous souhaitons à nos FAMILLES, AMIS et fideles LECTEURS une très très bonne année 2008, plein de bonheur, d’argent et SURTOUT LA SANTE !!!

P/S Johan is getting better!

PS : Le malade a mieux ! Il se sent un peu moins bourre mais sourit toujours que d’un seul cote!