news from Brazil 6.10.05

We have had just an awesome time at the Pantanal. I cannot find the words to describe just what we have seen and how wonderful it was; every time I think of our trip, which lasted 4 days I get a very large lump in my throat!

We arrived in darkness after a 3.5hr drive through sand and jungle to a camp with very little electric light. I was given a tent to sleep in, which was my first choice as the alternative was a hammock in the bunk house , in the darkness I did not think I could cope with that! so the tent it was, we were promised clean sheets, pillows and mosquito nets. In reality I had a tent with 3 dirt thin mattresses on the floor, no pillow and a dirty blanket . I had left, in the truck, a clean sleeping bag, silk bag liner, clean sheets etc. BUT I did take my pillow, so made the best of a bad job; laid on one of my towels and used the other as a top sheet. The ground was so hard I piled the 3 mattresses on top of each other plus the dirty blanket topped with my clean towel, still the ground was too hard for sleep!!!

In daylight, which is 5am, everything looked better We left the camp at 7am for a wonderful jungle walk. Our guide advised us to try the hammocks, we did - *wonderful* so on the second night we all slept in a line in hammocks in the bunk house .I still could not use the blanket so slept in my fleece.

From the *camp* we went to the hostel which was at the side of the Rio Paraguay. Here we were all 5 in one room with 3 sets of bunk beds, clean sheets and pillows. I also found ear plugs slept like a baby!!!!!

We went for a boat trip up the river. Janet saw a river snake we turned around to get a better look and the boat broke down!! We are in an alligator infested river which is also full of Piranha!! I told Mario that my children would not be impressed. We got a tow from a fisherman; got a new boat out and went again. There were loads of alligators!!! We have seen so many wonderful things please check out the web which will show and tell much more than I can!!

We are now in Bonito (there is a web site) We are going to a beautiful cave this morning and river floating this afternoon. Janet has eaten something she should not and is sick today which is very sad she is so very careful.

I do not know what we will do about photos no-one here can do it. L&M have found someone else to travel with!!!

When we have finished here we are going back to see Olwyn