The Americas

A 149-day adventure by Greg & Daniel Read more

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Day 135
Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 12:24 AM
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 36 m
Peru Jorge Chávez International Airport -12.022371, -77.10949312°1’21” S 77°6’34” W
Changing in Lima
July 4, 2024 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Our flight arrived in Peru at around 11pm with our next flight departing at 1:15am so we had time for a McDonalds! We also happened to be on the same flight to Asuncion as the Paraguay national team, flying home from their disappointing Copa America campaign. They lost all 3 games, facing Colombia, Brazil and finishing their tournament yesterday with a defeat to Paraguay!

We looked out for the big hitters of Miguel Almiron and Julian Enciso but can only assume they'd flown back to England or gone on their holidays.

Pictured here is the manager (who was sat on the front row aisle seat, great placement for a man who's just had a 0% win rate at a major tournament) loading his luggage into the overhead locker, and Dan "scratching his face" whilst the manager was being interviewed at arrivals in Asuncion.

On another note, this was my 4th visit to Lima airport this trip having never actually left it to go into Lima itself.Read more
TravelerLima, the gateway to many places !!
7/5/24Reply
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Day 135
Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 2:26 PM
☁️ 29 °C
Altitude: 69 m
Paraguay Arroyo Jardín -25.276543, -57.64597325°16’36” S 57°38’46” W
Asuncion
July 4, 2024 in Paraguay ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
After arriving to our hostel at around 7am we had a room booked so that we could get a few hours sleep, which we did until midday.

We then headed out into this cloudy albeit very warm city to see what it had to offer. It was a bit of a typical Latin America capital city where everything was a bit rough and run down other than the governmental and religious buildings!Read more
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Day 135
Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 4:35 PM
☁️ 26 °C
Altitude: 103 m
Paraguay Catedral -25.28589, -57.63003525°17’9” S 57°37’48” W
Evening in Asuncion
July 4, 2024 in Paraguay ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
As darkness closed in early in the evening we found a pool bar off the main square for some pool and drinks, and also as a space to watched the election exit poll and constituency results come through on BBC iPlayer. We toasted the demise of the Conservative party which took the edge off Dan beating me by 3 sets to 2 and extending his overall lead for the trip to 17-12.Read more
TravelerCheers 🍻
7/5/24Reply
TravelerPARTICULARLY ENJOYED SEEING JACOB REES-MOGG LOSE HIS SEAT 👋
7/5/24Reply
TravelerA good day!!!
7/6/24Reply
TravelerGreat day for us Comrade. 👍😀🚩
7/6/24Reply
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Day 136
Friday, July 5, 2024 at 7:15 AM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 145 m
Paraguay Terminal -25.325543, -57.59609425°19’32” S 57°35’46” W
Leaving Asuncion
July 5, 2024 in Paraguay ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
This morning we boarded the 7:30am service from Asuncion to Ciudad del Este (literally meaning city of the east) on the border with Brazil!

We can't avoid the Paraguay national team at the moment as the bus livery was of the football association so we can only assume it is used by the team.

Once we were on the bus we discovered that not only does it stop at Ciudad del Este, but it actually goes further and crosses the border to Foz do Iguacu in Brazil. The driver said that we could stay on the bus all the way to Brazil in exchange for "tips". A reasonable request, but we're claiming we bribed a bus driver to take us into Brazil.Read more
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Day 136
Friday, July 5, 2024 at 2:19 PM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 170 m
Brazil Jardim Jupira -25.510132, -54.59699225°30’36” S 54°35’49” W
Entering Brazil
July 5, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
After around 5 hours on the coach we arrived at the border between Paraguay and Brazil. At this point we were into extra time of Germany v Spain which we'd managed to watch on our phones thanks to our Peruvian sims still working!

The small queue at Brazilian immigration was hardly moving as people faffed around and answered questions, yet me and Dan must have taken less than a minute combined to process, innocent faces!Read more
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Day 136
Friday, July 5, 2024 at 5:06 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 178 m
Brazil Foz do Iguaçu -25.54597, -54.58648725°32’45” S 54°35’11” W
Evening in Foz do Iguacu
July 5, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
After checking into our hotel we found a bar to watch the second half of France v Portugal. To our delight it had a humongous screen, fish cake and happy hour beers and cocktails! We spent a few hours here before getting a reasonably early night.Read more
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Day 137
Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 9:09 AM
☁️ 13 °C
Altitude: 194 m
Brazil Foz do Iguaçu -25.684046, -54.43989925°41’3” S 54°26’24” W
Iguazu Falls Pt.1
July 6, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
This morning we'd bought tickets for the first entry of the day at Iguazu Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world (according to themselves). The falls sit exactly on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Chile and stretch for 2,700m!

There was a trail that followed along the falls from above with various lookout points along the way. What we didn't realise at this point was that the main event would be waiting for us at the end!Read more
TravelerBrilliant !!
7/6/24Reply
TravelerWow! 😯
7/7/24Reply
TravelerAmazing 💙
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Day 137
Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 9:48 AM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 154 m
Brazil Foz do Iguaçu -25.691674, -54.43789825°41’30” S 54°26’16” W
Iguaza Falls - Devil's Throat
July 6, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
At the end of the trail is the devil's throat. This can only be described as waterfalls galore at all angles and elevations. The viewing platform allows you to venture out into the centre which provided us with an absolute soaking but was a spectacular experience! We now understood just why this was one of the natural wonders of the world.Read more
TravelerWOW 😮 that is WONDERful x
7/6/24Reply
TravelerI guess this is where the flat earth theorists theory of the water running off the edge of the World starts? 😏
7/7/24Reply
TravelerBRILLIANT VIDEO 💧
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Day 137
Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 11:50 AM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 187 m
Brazil Foz do Iguaçu -25.546842, -54.58461425°32’49” S 54°35’5” W
Evening 2 in Foz do Iguacu
July 6, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
After visiting the falls we were a little wet so we went for a wander to dry off our trousers (semi successfully).

As is the theme at the moment, football quickly came calling so we returned to the big screen bar for the Euros, burgers, fish cakes, chips, drinks and a DJ!

Eventually it was time for us to leave as we had to catch an overnight bus to Sao Paulo!Read more
TravelerI notice there are no Messi pictures on walls around here, strange? 🤔⚽️
7/7/24Reply
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Day 137
Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 8:19 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 225 m
Brazil Jardim Acaray -25.520371, -54.56389825°31’13” S 54°33’50” W
Overnight Bus to Sao Paulo
July 6, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
This evening we took a 17 hour overnight bus to Sao Paulo! We boarded in Foz do Iguacu at 8:30pm and at first were the only people in the downstairs sleeping cabin with almost fully reclining chairs!

We actually managed to get quite a bit of broken sleep which helped pass the journey. At around 5am loads of people got on so our section filled up entirely.

I gave up on trying to sleep at around 8am and started doing some research on Sao Paulo. I was also able to watch Lewis Hamilton win at Silverstone!

At around 2:30pm we finally arrived into Sao Paulo after an overnight bus experience much better than our previous one in Panama.Read more
TravelerGreat way to travel. ❤️
7/9/24Reply
TravelerThat is comfort 😴
7/9/24Reply
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Day 138
Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 4:10 PM
☁️ 26 °C
Altitude: 762 m
Brazil Pinheiros -23.559194, -46.69027123°33’33” S 46°41’25” W
Afternoon in Sao Paulo
July 7, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
After checking into our hostel which was voted 'best hostel in South America 2024' we headed our for a late lunch/early dinner.

For a Sunday afternoon the bars were all heaving as people spilled out onto the pavement. We found a place with a big screen showing football and serving international food so I opted for my favourite curry wurst!Read more
TravelerEnjoy the ‘best hostel’ and the football too.
7/9/24Reply
TravelerJUST LIKE IN BERLIN
7/9/24Reply
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Day 138
Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 5:39 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 743 m
Brazil Barra Funda -23.527732, -46.68057623°31’40” S 46°40’50” W
Allianz Parque
July 7, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
After a few weeks off from live football since Buenos Aires we were back stronger tonight for 3rd v 4th in the Brazilian premier division as Palmeiras faced Bahia!

The stadium was huge and pretty new. Constructed and opened in 2014 but not used for the World Cup. The streets surrounding the stadium were a sea of green.Read more
TravelerWhat a great pre game atmosphere ⚽️
7/9/24Reply
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Day 138
Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 6:23 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 735 m
Brazil Barra Funda -23.526755, -46.67843523°31’36” S 46°40’42” W
1
Palmeiras v Bahia
July 7, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Palmeiras have been producing some serious talent of late, selling tennages Endrick to Real Madrid for €46.5m, Estevao to Chelsea for €34m and Luis Guilherme to West Ham for €23m.

Estevao is yet to turn 18 so still plays for Palmeiras and it was him who opened the scoring from a quick counter attack in the last kick of the first half. The stadium and supporters generated a great atmosphere throughout as Palmeiras ended up running out comfortable 2-0 winners to go within a point of the top of the table.Read more
TravelerWhat an atmosphere !!
7/9/24Reply
TravelerGREAT STADIUM AND ATMOSPHERE 🏟
7/9/24Reply
Traveler Is this how Tranmere's new stadium will look like, that's if its ever built, ha! 👍😀⚽️ SWA
7/9/24Reply
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Day 138
Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 11:21 PM
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 772 m
Brazil Pinheiros -23.55769, -46.68960323°33’28” S 46°41’23” W
Night Out in Sao Paulo
July 7, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
We returned to our hostel to claim our free drink at the bar, a local Caipirinha. I was a fan although Dan was not, so that made two free drinks for me!

Having seen how lively the local area was a few hours before we decided we'd head out for a few more drinks. Despite it being a Sunday, the locals were all out until the early hours so we decided it would be rude not to join them!Read more
Traveler🥤 🍻 🎶
7/9/24Reply
TravelerWhat a great atmosphere 🍻
7/9/24Reply
TravelerWhat, no karaoke? 😉
7/9/24Reply
Traveler🥳
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Day 139
Monday, July 8, 2024 at 2:05 PM
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 764 m
Brazil Pinheiros -23.557182, -46.68657923°33’26” S 46°41’12” W
1
Beco de Batman
July 8, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
After a lie in and big lunch we headed out to explore, first of all to the nearby colourful 'Beco de Batman'. Backstreets filled with artwork.
TravelerLove the colourful artwork x
7/9/24Reply
TravelerLooks great 🖌🎨
7/9/24Reply
TravelerThey do like their street art. x
7/9/24Reply
Traveler Those mushrooms look magic, wow! 😏
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Day 139
Monday, July 8, 2024 at 3:26 PM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 778 m
Brazil Se -23.545058, -46.63331223°32’42” S 46°37’60” W
Sao Paulo Historic Centre
July 8, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We took the metro into the historic centre of Sao Paulo and it can only be described as chaos. Sao Paulo is the most populated city in the Southern hemisphere with 22 million inhabitants and it definitely showed here.

Not the prettiest of cities but also probably not helped by the clouds and also the rain which forced us to take shelter in the cathedral.Read more
TravelerBless you 🙏
7/13/24Reply
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Day 139
Monday, July 8, 2024 at 4:21 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 771 m
Brazil São Paulo -23.554692, -46.63534323°33’17” S 46°38’7” W
1
Liberdade District
July 8, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Our final toursity stop of the day was to the Liberdade District, also known as Japan town! Sao Paulo is home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan so this area is where many of them reside.Read more
Traveler Like the entrance to China Town in Liverpool. 👍
7/9/24Reply
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Day 140
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 11:25 AM
☁️ 14 °C
Altitude: 860 m
Brazil Cerqueira César -23.55835, -46.66053423°33’30” S 46°39’38” W
A Very Rainy Day in Sao Paulo
July 9, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Today was a bit of a washout as it rained literally none stop from the moment we woke up to the moment we went to bed again. But we thought we'd try and make the most of it anyway!

Today was a state wide bank holiday for Sao Paulo which also meant that w everything indoors was mainly closed!

We first of all took the metro to Avenida Paulista, this is the main street in the heart of the cities business district.

On this street is Brazil's 1,000th McDonalds, set in an old bank building and currently suitably kitted out for the new Minions movie.

From here we headed to the art gallery but the queue was so big we decided to give it a miss. We then headed to the mall to find the Palmeiras shop. After much searching we found it in the corner of the basement but it was of course closed!

From here we headed to play some pool, watch the first Euros semi final with a local beverage and then out for dinner with some live music. Bring back the sun!!!Read more
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Day 141
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 11:59 AM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Brazil Monte Serrat -23.950873, -46.3395123°57’3” S 46°20’22” W
Santos Museum
July 10, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
This morning we took the metro to one of the cities many bus stations as we were heading to Santos for the day to explore the city where Pele plied his trade for so long.

The first stop was to the museum containing Santos' many memories from their 8 league titles (including 5 consecutive in the 60's) and 3 Copa Libertadores wins, most recently in 2011 with the help of their modern starboy Neymar! And of course you couldn't go more than 3 yards in any direction without finding something about Pele!Read more
TravelerI remember watching Pele getting kicked off the pitch by the Bulgarian players at the 1966 World Cup at Goodison Park, a privilege to be there, second only to Tranmere beating Everton 3-0 at Goodison in the F.A. Cup. 👍😀⚽️ SWA
7/13/24Reply
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Day 141
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 12:04 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Brazil Monte Serrat -23.950665, -46.33870323°57’2” S 46°20’19” W
Santos Stadium Tour
July 10, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
After the museum we were taken on a short guided tour through the stadium which thankfully was translated to English for us! We visited the press room, changing rooms, tunnel and pitch side. The stadium only holds just over 16,000 people so it's crazy the success the club has managed to have thanks to its homegrown stars.

Pele's locker is still preserved in the changing room, with him having left a lucky token in there, which nobody knows what it is. But it can't be too lucky as Santos currently reside in the second division, albeit at the very top.Read more
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Day 141
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 1:27 PM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Brazil Monte Serrat -23.950083, -46.33892423°57’0” S 46°20’20” W
Exploring Santos
July 10, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
After the tour we did a quick lap of the ground before heading back to the city centre for lunch and a quick look around. Unfortunately the Pele museum was closed contrary to Google's information!
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Day 141
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 4:36 PM
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Brazil Monte Serrat -23.950735, -46.34284523°57’3” S 46°20’34” W
England v Netherlands
July 10, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
In Sao Paulo if your eyes are open then you'll be able to see at least one screen showing football. However in Santos there was no such luck no matter how hard we tried. After giving up on the city centre we headed back towards the stadium and found a bar with TV's. Just in time for kick off they managed to find the match being steamed on YouTube. There were no other foreigners at the bar (and not many locals really) but the staff enjoyed spending their quiet shift watching the game with us. Get in the 3 lions!!! After this we headed back to the bus station to head back to Sao Paulo.Read more
TravelerGREAT GOAL TO WIN THE GAME ⚽️
7/12/24Reply
TravelerDon’t stop believing !! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 ⚽️
7/13/24Reply
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Day 141
Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at 9:16 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 764 m
Brazil Pinheiros -23.560653, -46.69027823°33’38” S 46°41’25” W
Evening in Sao Paulo
July 10, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
After returning to the hostel we watched the Copa America semi final here with a very happy Colombian traveller.

We then thought hey ho let's go out so headed to a nearby bar for a few drinks and lots of music.Read more
TravelerLooks like a good place 🍻
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Traveler🎶🥤 🍻
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Day 142
Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 5:21 PM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 743 m
Brazil Campo de Marte Airport -23.516295, -46.62403823°30’59” S 46°37’27” W
Leaving Sao Paulo for Rio!
July 11, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Feeling only a tad worse for wear we jumped on the 10am bus from Sao Paulo headed to Rio! An unusually uneventful journey all in all got us into Rio at about 5:30pm. Rio being our final stop of our South American leg and where we will be spending the next week!Read more
TravelerWe have loved 🥰 your South American journey. Youve packed so much in . Thanks for sharing it all with us back home. Enjoy the final week before the next stop USA 🇺🇸
7/13/24Reply
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Day 142
Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 7:43 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Brazil Maracanã Stadium -22.912456, -43.22627922°54’45” S 43°13’35” W
Arriving at the Maracana
July 11, 2024 in Brazil ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
After a rushed check in at our hostelcwe joined a group of around a dozen other heading to watch table topping Flamengo take on Fortaleza.

This match would of course be hosted at the Macarana, one of the most famous stadiums in the world having played host to both the 1950 and 2014 World Cup finals.

The streets were teeming with Flamengo colours as the huge stadium complex came into sight.Read more
TravelerA great build up ⚽️
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