Ciao Rio de Janeiro

After two months of travel, it's almost time to board my flight home. Carnaval has been amazing, and sitting on the reception couch has made me realise how absolutely drained I am. Five days of Rio Carnaval really takes it out of you!

During the past few days, no moment passed that you couldn't hear music on the streets, or the distant drum of a moving party heading towards you. Everyone was happy (and most likely drunk) and apart from a few unnoticed pickpocketing incidents, I felt very safe amongst the thousands of other party-goers.

For me, the highlight of Carnaval was Monday (the 4th day of Carnaval), during the day we caught the train with thousands of others to attend the Sargento Pimienta bloco (the Beatles party). This year over 250 000 people joined the festivities to sing along to Classic Beatles songs in both Portuguese and English. After a few hours of reggae Beatles renditions we were ready for the Sambadromo, the main feature of Carnival. The procession was spectacular, I have never seen more costumes, dancers and floats in one place! It's mind-blowing how many people are involved in the parade.

Enjoy the photos from some of my last days in South America, and wish me luck for the 26 hours of flying that awaits me...

Compulsory floral wear for Beatles Bloco  

Taking a break from the dancing crowds 

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22

Taylor's catchy pop song has somehow ended up as the theme song for Carnaval week, as much as we try to rid it from our heads, the tune reappears! But that's ok, because it's obviously a fitting song for the occasion :)

My 22nd birthday has been all I had hoped, plus much much more! Endless fun, surrounded by thousands of happy dancing people, beautiful beaches and great company :)

If you had of told me this time last year that I would be spending my 22nd birthday in Rio during Carnaval, I wouldn't have believed you for a second. Not to mention the fact that in the first 2 months of 2014 I have traveled more than my whole life combined. I'm so happy and grateful to begin the year like this, and can't wait to find out what else 2014 has to offer.

Our time so far at Copacabana beach has involved A LOT of alcohol consumption, a few terrible costume choices, a bit of sunburn here and there, plenty of tasty Brazilian food, and of course dancing amongst thousands of people in crazy street blockos!

The first night Zac and I arrived, we met up with Cheryl and Anna and joined a moving bloco, managing to find the front and stick with the music (a lot of the time it's impossible to see the front, or even hear the music). It was such an amazing atmosphere, and after a lot of dancing and beer, we ended up at the beach for a late night swim before a well earned sleep.

First night, first costumes! 

Amidst the Bloco! 

I spent the night of my birthday with a few travellers we have met along the way, we celebrated with especial Carnaval Chandon on our rooftop and attended a bando, where we danced with some skilled Brazilian girls until we were drenched with sweat. The band party was quite small compared to some events at Carnaval, but with great music and talented dancers all around us, the night was perfect :)

My Australian friends, equally as weird as me

Aussie girls are classy (our hotel had no glasses...)

Zac really went out of his way to dress up on my birthday

Force feeding Cheryl  

One Italian and a bunch of Aussies 

Country hopping

It's been a while since my last entry, partly due to the lack of internet access and also because the past few days have been non-stop. The end of my trip is creeping closer and so, as my title suggests, I have literally been racing across countries in order to reach Rio in time for carnival. Zac and I left La Paz on Monday the 17th, and the following day we began a three day tour of the Bolivian Salt Flats and Dessert. For the entire tour group the expected highlight was obviously the largest salt flat in the world, but the rest of the 4WD trip had so much more to offer. We were constantly surrounded by amazing scenery, whether it was red and white lagoons, pink flamingos, desert dunes, snow capped mountains, hot springs, rock forests, geysers, lightning storms, or the brightest stars I have ever seen (see the many pictures below!). 

Couldn't leave Bolivia without trying this

Geysers in the desert, stinky things!

Train grave yard or giant adult playground 

Flamingos feeding in a red lagoon 

Baby llamas frolicking around

The red lagoon! 

The view from our desert dorms 

Jot springs in freeing weather, watching the Milky Way and lightning storms!

At the end of the tour we were dropped off in San Pedro, Chile. We spent one night in a funky hostel that involved bar games, camp fires, more star gazing, Chilean hot dogs and tasty red wine. Unfortunately that was the extent of my visit in Chile, and the next day we continued by bus to Argentina with the added pleasure of 4 hours waiting in line at the Chile/Argentinian border. All I will say about that experience is that I will never EVER bus to Argentina again.

This backpackers was nicknamed cat packers for a reason, they wouldn't leave you alone!

Getting warm in San Pedro 

Finally we arrived at our hostel in downtown Salta, both Zac and I loved the feel of this little city, and I am certain I will be back to explore Chile and Argentina in the future :) In Salta, Zac and I parted ways briefly, I went on to fly to Iguazu and he opted to bus the entire way!

Needless to say, Iguazu falls was absolutely breathtaking! I was lucky enough to see the falls on a sunny day as well as enjoying the extra water mass that the current rainy season brings- definitely bucket list worthy!

The most stunning waterfall, so perfect 

Definitely one of my favourite waterfalls of Iguazu 

Just before the sun came out, amazing how much water flows over these falls! 

By total coincidence, I ran into Zac at the bus station in Puerto Igauzu and we were able to catch the same coach to Florianopolis (my last stop before Rio). Florianopolis is stunning, and our hostel is relaxed and crazy at the same time. We have teamed up with a couple of great Australian girls, spending yesterday and today getting a little too much sun and drinking a few too many Caprinhas on beautiful beaches.

Tomorrow we catch our very last bus to Rio, and Carnival begins!  I'm excited to catch up with the many people we have met along the way, that, like us, will end their holidays at the biggest carnival in the world! (Plus the little added bonus that I am celebrating my 22nd on the second night of this crazy party week)