Oct 15, 2010 - Curitiba

Bus leaves at 9:15 am for the 5 hour ride. Big advantage to staying in HI hostel in Florianopolis was it's proximity to the bus station as well as a very nice breakfast included, altho we did see several hotels downtown which could have been cheaper. Arr at 2:30 and ckd into hotel just across from bus station, 60r for dbl, TV, bath...about the limit for our budget but does incl brkfst...up tomor to eat and get to station by 8 am. Its 10-11 hrs to Foz de Iguazu. Saw rice paddies just before heading up into mtns and Curitiba, hadn´t seen...

Dec 15, 2009 - Curitiba

I arrived in Curitiba, Brasil last night. I'm staying at a hotel until Thursday because there is a maximum stay limit at the hostel I'm staying at. The hotel is right downtown, whereas the hostel is 25 minutes from downtown by bus. I spent most of the day today just walking around the city. I have started to really pay attention to my surroundings and every 2 minutes I try and find something that will stand out in my mind so that I can recognize it if I get lost or need to get back somewhere. So, I can count on one hand all the words I...

Nov 23, 2009 - Curitiba to Paranagua - Serra Verde Express Train

We arrived in Curitiba at about 7am after an overnight bus from Foz do Iguacu but we had to wait until 11.30am to find out if we could have a room (or even a bed) in the only hostel in the city - otherwise it would have to be one of the many cheap, and slightly seedy looking, hotels! There were plenty of nice hotels too but way, way out of our price range! Fortunately we were able to get a room so we freshened up and went to have a look around Curitiba and get some lunch. It's like most cities, it's got nice parts and horrible parts and...

Aug 25, 2008 - Curitiba

Our next stop was a bit of a pit stop to break up the 28hr bus journey to Iguazu falls. We stopped off in the Southern city of Curitiba for a much famed scenic rail journey from the mountains to the coast. This was after much discussion – with the man who I might remind you loves a good view but will in future be known as Terry – because he thought it was too much money. However, finally the appeal of views won out = and it turned out we had a great time. We arrived on Saturday after sleeping not so well on the bus, so after a magnificent...

Aug 18, 2008 - Photograph Update

Greetings! Last time we updated you, we were in Sao Paulo. We spent our last evening in this chaotic city at Tower Italia - at one time the tallest building in the city - sipping cocktails in a very posh bar on level 42 and taking in the sights and sunset from the 360 degree terrace. The urban sprawl of this concrete jungle of a city is truly phenomenal - see photo 1. The next day, we took a 6 hour bus journey to Curitiba - one of the most prosperous and organised cities in Brazil, and have been passing the time eating, drinking and soaking...

Jan 28, 2008 - BRAZIL - Curitiba

Curitiba is quite an industrial city, but we stayed outside the city in an Eco-lodge. All very nice. The main purpose of our stop here was to take the scenic train journey to Parangua, supposedly one of the most dramatic in South America. It was good, but not amazing... partly because the cloud was low and the rain had set in, so visibility was not good. Worth doing though. We stopped in a nice little town for some lunch though. Something beginning with M. Anyway, next stop, Foz Do Iguazu...

Dec 15, 2007 - Curitiba again

Porto Alegre will be the furthest south in Brasil that we will go. We, once again by long distance bus, travelled from Porto Alegre on an allnighter. These buses are incredible; they are all Mercedes and beautifully maintained, clean headrests every trip, spotless washrooms(always check where the washroom is before booking your seat) and even a small bag of cookies given to each passenger as the bus leaves the terminal. The Terminals themselves are huge with many competing bus lines, with uniformed ticket sellers showing one a seat plan of...

Nov 29, 2007 - Curitiba. Brasil.

I am finding writing this 'blog'a harder task than I expected. At the internet cafe's where I am able to write I am unable to put in any photographs which is probably a good thing since they are either of Vicki or of views that will mean nothing to you. We have actually returned to sending post cards, sure we know that that is old technology BUT hey drinking a cold Brahma and watching the world go by sitting outside under am umbrella and writing an INDIVIDUAL post card with a picture chosen especially for that person....that's technology....

Oct 24, 2007 - island-off-island

we've spent the last several days on ilha do mel, honey island, which i heard about from the university folks in BH as having some interesting features relating to housing and community. the island is a forty minute ride from the mainland and most of it is a nature preserve. the two main settlements, brasilia and encantadas, rest on isthmuses on opposite ends of the island. the houses are low and wooden with raked sand lawns and trees all around. there are no cars, just sand tracks between the houses and lots of bikes. looking down from the...

Oct 4, 2007 - Curitiba and the Serra Verde Express!

The bus journey to Curitiba was long. We took a bus during the day to Sao Paulo and then waited for the overnight bus to Curitiba...almost 24 hrs after we left Paraty, we arrived in Curitiba...we took a cab to Hotel Tibagi, as it was 4.30am and still dark. That meant that it was not until a few hours later that we got a proper chance to look about...Hotel Tibagi (or Hotel Debarcal Flea Ridden Potato Gratin - as we now call it - long story!) was a red concrete tower block completely stuck in the 1970s. The outside, the inside, the mad light...

Jul 24, 2007 - Day 27 -- Curitiba

Day 27 -- Tuesday, July 24 -- Curitiba Today is my last full day in Brazil. I had two goals for the day. In the morning I wanted to visit "Rue das Flores", which according to my guide book was a pedestrian-only street downtown with many interesting shops. In the afternoon, I wanted to take the bus to Sao Paulo. Those seemed like simple goals. They would both prove to be difficult. I checked out of my hotel (leaving my luggage to collect later) and hailed a taxi. I handed the driver a piece of paper with the words "Rue das Flores". (Recall...

Jul 23, 2007 - Day 26 -- Morrettes, Brazil

Day 26 -- Monday, July 23 - Morrettes, Brazil For the third time on this trip, I spent the night in transit with no hotel. The previous two times, my bed was in the First Class section of a jet. Tonight, my bed was on a luxury bus. I'd never had a bed on a bus before and was looking forward to finding out what it would be like. It turned out to be a double-decker bus. My seat was on the 2nd floor. (In hindsight this was a bad idea since there's nothing to see with all the shades drawn shut and the upper floor of the bus sways more from...