Iguazu Falls

Traffic in São Paulo has an awful reputation, and one that I haven't seen enough of to really believe. I've been caught in Nairobi traffic so many times when it has literally taken hours to get home from work that what I've seen as traffic here has just made me smile. On Thursday afternoon though, apparently it was the worst ever recorded traffic jam in São Paulo. And this was what we were battling through to get from work to the bus station. We jumped ship from our taxi to get the metro.....though that was no easy feat as metro stations are few and far between in certain areas. Our friend had got there sooner from the other school campus and we were begging him to stall the bus.....we got there 25 minutes late and were so stressed and sweaty from sprinting around trying to organise our tickets and find the right stand...... I don't think we were the most liked people on the bus! We were so happy and grateful that we were going to the falls! 17 hours later, we arrived!



Seeing the falls was amazing. When I went to Niagara a few years ago it was beautiful. But to quote Eleanor Roosevelt, upon seeing Iguazu falls, 'Poor Niagara!' The sheer size and width of them is astounding. The sound and rising mist was incredible.



We went to the Brazilian side on our first day. It was so busy as it was a public holiday but we enjoyed wondering around and going to various viewing platforms. It was very hot though, about 35C, so we were very happy to get as close to the spray as possible to cool down!



As we were leaving Emma spotted something intriguing in a tree. This was so exciting, as its been a hope I held for my time in Brazil but not something I thought would happen.....we saw a toucan! It was so beautiful.





The next day Emma and I were very tempted to stay and watch Wales-Argentina, but as the chances of finding a place showing it was slim and the abuse from the boys that us girls wanted a rugby day, we all set off to cross the border and view the falls from Argentina. It was definitely more built up and geared for tourists but loads quieter which was good. We had been told that the views were better but at first we were unconvinced, they were just different. That was our feeling before we went on a final trail to walk at the top, above the falls. The volume of water falling was unbelievable. It was amazing. It was great to make the most of being there and as Wales won convincingly, it wasn't so depressing to have missed the game!











On our wander back we saw a crocodile lying on a stone in the river. Always very exciting to see a crocodile!



The wildlife at the falls was really cool. We saw a funny looking animal all over the place that we hadn't seen before. We giggled when we found out its English name was a crackoon, or a snookum bear (officially a coati).

It has been a very busy few days with so many hours spent travelling, but it has been worth it. I'm so glad we went to see the falls. It is really positive to see more of Brazil. Although we all find it challenging, we all enjoy the country itself and it is refreshing to have a change of scenery and get out of the city for a few days.

A rather wet me, Luke, Emma and Paul

Chanel exhibition

One of the best things about living here is the art scene. Sao Paulo attracts so many international artists and has great art galleries and museums (I really need to make the most of them and go more often), as well as lots of interesting things happening in the city.

Emma and I had heard of a Chanel exhibition, that she saw in London a little while back. It's called the Little Black Jacket and is photographs of various models, musicians and designers, wearing the infamous black jacket. It's touring 16 cities, and Sao Paulo is one of them!

Rollerskates!

Kanye West

Some of the photos were beautiful. It was amazing to see all of the different looks, for both men and women wearing the same thing, and to try and recognise some of the people. There was a huge variety and some quite surprising ones! It was so hot today too, so was so nice to be wandering around  a cool gallery before we decided it was really a pool day!

Saturdays in São Paulo

My lovely friend Ana has wanted to take me to a cool shopping street for a lil while. Post pay day is always a good time!

We headed quite centrally to an area only open to the public on Saturday mornings. It is a crazy maze of streets and shops that were a cross of market stalls and Primark. They usually sell in bulk to stores here, but on a Saturday you can buy individual pieces....but trying on, if allowed, is generally on top of your clothes. It is hilarious and gets so busy as is so reasonable compared to the generally inflated shopping prices here. We snapped up a few bargains and then both some saw some pretty work dresses......but I can't buy before trying on...so, standing in front of a do not try on clothes sign (in Portuguese!) we very quickly unzipped, pulled down, made split second decisions and continued until we were of course told off, whilst in fits of giggles, and also exhausted from the drama of it all! It was a lush though exhausting morning!

Ana is doing an amazing job of showing me a very different side of São Paulo, one that is more local but also me, and one that I feel more comfortable in.

I miss Kenya terribly, but already I am starting to identify things here that I will miss when I go. Although the language is a huge barrier, a lot is fine, and São Paulo is very built up and developed so it is easy to get things.

Ana and I had a big talk about Brazil re the World Cup and Rio hosting the Olympics. There have been a lot of riots lately (none that I would know about however, if I didn't read the news, so do not worry, I'm in a very safe, and quiet neighbourhood) about corruption and the government, so it was interesting to get a Brazilian's point of view. Ana, like so many Brazilians I know will leave Brazil for the World Cup. The local inflation will really make it tough for normal Brazilians, and the volume of people expected on an already crowded public transport system, that is still not finished, and probably will not be, unless there is some serious money being put down is going to be a real issue. Although I am excited abut the atmosphere, I think I've made the right decision by vacating when it starts too!  As Ana put it, the rich will get richer, the poor poorer, and until the government changes that is how it will continue. It will be interesting to see how Brazil changes over the next 7 months....the opening game is not far off!

Cleaning

I miss having a house girl.....and a vacuum cleaner! Thank goodness for a small apartment. I used to quite enjoy it, but a few years without it and wow, cleaners are the way forward! Washing up was a chore at first, now it's fine (prob cos my kitchen is so small that I only have to wash up a granola bowl from the morning and maybe a salad bowl!), but sweeping and mopping....again the lack of proper/familiar cleaning equipment is coming to play here too....glad no one can observe my rather unorthodox methods! Ha!