Salvador

I arrived after a grueling 32 hour bus ride, that actually made me sick.  I tried to piece it together and finish out the trip strongly, but I just felt awfully.  So, the next morning I gave it a go, and after walking around with a Swiss guy for a couple of hours I had to go back to the hostel and collapse.  That night, I got up and walked around very briefly with the Swiss guy, but eventually had to go to bed.  The next day I felt a little better, and left the Swiss guy to take a long walk around the city to the beach.  Honestly the city is kind of a piece of shit, and I think seeing such poverty and decrepit buildings only makes me want to go home more.  Sure, the historical center was really nice, but it is fake as well, and the real Salvador isn't worth visiting.  I went to bed early that night reading instead of going out.  My final full day in the city I walked to a lagoon in the center with jogging paths around it.  It was not very nice, but pleasant enough.  Unfortunately it was surrounded by slums, and then it began to rain.  After |I got back and weighted out the rain I just sort of wondered the center looking for something to buy Jake to thank him for helping me, and killed the rest of my time.  That evening I went for dinner and a few drinks with a German guy I met in the hostel.  The food was pretty good but the bar was plagued with beggars and was really annoying.  After two beers we headed out.

Today I go home, and in all honesty I am ready.  South America was sure interesting, but enough is enough, lets move on with life.

Ouro Preto

There isnt much to say about the city.  It is very pretty, but not much else is going on.  I spent yesterday just walking around and seeing the streets and churches.  I really liked it and people all seem happy.  After just walking for hours around the hills, I called it a night early.  Today I am going to go to Belo Horizone for a few hours and then on a night bus to Salvidor.  The end is near, and I am getting excited.

Rio

Rio was in short incredible.  I was there with the group of guys I had been with in Paraty nd Isla Grande, and we had a wonderful  week.  We started by hanging at the beach in Copacabana, and the next day headed to the Christ statue.  The next day me and Nizar (the Palestinian guy) went to the famous stairs and walked around quite a lot.  We followed this by going to a tour of the Faveas the next day, and then walking almost the length f the city the following day.  On the final day we saw the city championship soccer game.  It was such a neat experience with everyone so into it. 

Overall Rio is beautiful.  It is full of life in the day on the beach, and at night on the streets of Lapa.  It was just such a spectacular place it makes you realize why it was given the world cup and Olympics.  I could not praise the city more.

Ilha Grande

The Island was really nice.  I hung out with the same Israeli guys that I did in Paraty, and we had a nice time together.  We went for a hike through the rain forest, and saw an incredible beach, and then went snorkeling.  It was three really relaxing days.  While we learned nothing of Brazilian culture or society, we did just have fun.

Rio is next and the five of us are going together.  I am really looking forward to it.

Sao Paulo

I got to Sao Paulo and was blown away by the size.  It really isn't such a great city, and although I spent the following two days just walking and in awe of the enormous magnitude of the city.  The first night I just got dinner and chilled at the hostel.  The next day I went to to a book store to prepare myself for the beaches to come, and then walked around down town.  It was nice enough, but nothing special.  That evening I got dinner at like this cool outdoor street food lot, which was interesting.  The next day I walked a lot and saw some parks, and the Japanese area.  This too was fine, but nothing special.  I loved the sushi, but that is hardly indicative of Sao Paulo.  The parks were just mediocre.

I then headed to Paraty in an effort to be in awe of the beaches I had heard so much about

Florianopolis

I got toFlorianopolis after a 7 bus journey from hell.  As it turns out the island was pretrty nice, but nothing breathtaking.  The whole island was nice, and there werw some pretty places, but as I would soon learn they were no where near the nicest in the country. I spoent the first two days I was there on two different beaches reading.  Thew final day I went to the city and walked around, and wasnt super impressed.  I ate well and saw some cool places, but it wasnt such a great place.

Iguazu

My first step into Brazil wasn't exactly Brazil.  After arriving at the hostel, which was considerably out of town and closer to the falls themselves, I got myself on a trip back to Argentina (I believe for the final time, but who knows) to see the falls from that side.  They were as expected fantastic, and a sight well worth seeing.  I was really blown away by not just how big it was, but how many other smaller waterfalls were within sight.  The whole things was really great.  The following day today), I headed to see them again, but this time from the Brazil side.  The Brazil side is much smaller and has much less to do on it.  I think that the view its self may be better, but because there isn't much of a park to spend the day it isn't as much of an experience.  Still, very beautiful.

I now wait in the hostel and will head on the night bus to Florianopolis in the evening.