14 March – Buenos Aires

We left Paraty and headed south to the Villa Velha National Park and some anciemt sand stones which have weathered into any number of shapes eg a human face, wine glass and a lion. We then went to the Iguazu falls on the Brazillian side and took a helicopter ride to appreciate the extent of the falls. The drop was 170 metres but the falls extended along for several hundred metres. They were truly awesome and it was understandable why they have been designated a World Heritage site. We then crossed into Argentina and saw the falls close up from the Argentinian side getting absolutely soaked from the spray. . We were then very lucky as the heavens opened and our ponchos bought in Borneo last year kept us dry. So many of those around us were soaked to the skin!!!! Continuing south we visited some Jesuit Mission ruins and El Palmar National Park where we camped by the side of a “burrow” which was home to a badger sizes creature called a vizcacha that came out to look at us whilst we had supper. So following 14 nights of camping including 2 ´bush camps´ we have reached 4 days of hotel luxury (well 1*).

It appears that most of this trip is camping and you were right Jen about group dynamics and politics etc we have two couples who have their own agendas. Fortunately the rest of the group are great and I think will sort out the troublemakers.

Buenos Aires is a wonderful city and we have enjoyed walking around and visiting some of the sights. We have another day of sightseeing planned and then shopping (army surplus store for some combat fatigues that won´t show the dirt etc)

Miss you all very much. Mobile phone and ordinary telephones have been hard to come by and look to be even scarcer as we travel further south to the bottom of the world.

Hope Jenny and Mark´s skiing was good and that all is well on the job front for Martin and James´s mouse problem is sorted. Have not had opportunity to download pictures yet.