Schools out

This week has been quite amazing.
On Friday Maria and I went on a Safari to Los Llanos, where we went horseback riding, and on a river boat ride. The guides pulled out a prehistoric turtle called mate mate, which only lives in Los Llanos. They pulled out a Cayman, there were pink river dolphins, thousands of birds, tons of capiberas.
The next day we went piranha fishing, Maria caught 2 and I caught 4, it was literally like pulling fish out of a barrel. After that we went off on the jeep Safari trip, where we saw lots of birds more capiberas, owls, more birds. As soon as we found a swamp a few of us got out with sticks and went searching for anacondas. The one we found was 5 meters long and it attacked on of the tour guides, He was lucky. The Anaconda also peed on a rude Irish guy who was trying to pick a fight with me over beer, that was quite entertaining.
Yesterday Erin and I went on a Canyoning trip which was awesome.
We went on a twenty minute hike along the top of a hill went down into the bush, threw some wetsuits, harnesses, and helmets on. Now we are suited up we hiked through the the rivers, went down a few natural water slides, jumped in a few natural pools. Before we knew it we were at the first waterfall. So wegot the harness set up and went down the fall, it was so cool a huge amount of water rushing in your eyes and face, your body smashing into rocks and eventually repel into the river. Every time the waterfalls got bigger and higher. This was the coolest thing I have ever done. And when you thing its almost done you get to a eight foot high cliff and down below there is a skinny pool of water about five feet long and two feet wide, so we were wonder what next, so the guide said jump. Wow was that fun it was definitely mind over matter.
So today we are pretty beat, going to take it easy drink some beers cook a simple dinner and drink more beers.
Its a great life in Venezuela
Steve

Si Español

Ive had my first two classes of Spanish now and it is intense, I do three hours of classes each day, a pile of homework in the morning, I get Spanish lessons from Patty the hostel owner, and Claudia Pattys daughter plays cards in spanish. There are no breaks what so ever. so hopefully, I´ll be able to have a conversation with the locals soon. It´s very exciting.
Yesterday, I witnessed a sad thing that make you think of how fragile we really are.
As I was waiting for the bus to go back to the posada, I saw someone running across the street, he got hit by a big Taxi, flew across the road and landed on the sidewalk. I´m sure he broke both of his legs. I hope thats all, Many people ran over to help. I wish I could of done something, but I´m no medic and I don´t know the language.
I hope today goes better.
Chow Steve

Los Nevados

This area rocks.
This weekend was quite the adventure, a couple of people from the hostel and I took a three hour off road jeep ride up the andies driving on the edge of a cliff. Eventually we got to a village built on a mountain, stayed over night in a cheap possada, got fed a traditional Venezuelan meal all made from supplies grown in the village.
The next day we started our intense hike at 2550 meters, six hours later all up hill we arrived at the third station of the Teleferico at 4120 meters. We got there just in time to take the last car up to the top of the mountains were there was snow at 4752 meters, what an amazing view. Then we got a free ride down the Teleferico to Merida, cooked a feast, had a few beers and passed out.

Change of plans

Well this is not how I originally planned it, but here I am in caracas really early.
I felt I need to work on my education and learn spanish. So in an hour im getting on a bus to merida where I will sign up for spanish classes. I hope this will open up new doors for my future.
I feel really bad that I had to split ways with Angela. I will help her in any way that I can for the juration of the trip. We are planning to meet up again at some point in venezuela. Sorry if I dissapointed anyone.
Take care Steve

Rio De Janerio

Ahh Rio, what a cool city.
the first night here we went to the most amazing buffet, you go to the salad bar, get what you want, they about five different people come around with skewers with huge chunks of meat, it was so good especially the chicken hearts.
The next day I went for lunch with my friend dawna, ran into her australian friend. then went up to the top of sugar loaf to watch the sunset, we missed the sun by minutes. It was amazing to see rio at that height at night. All the lights through the hills and the silence of the city, all you could hear was the waves crashing on the beach.
Tomorrow I am going diving to get certified, then Angela and I are going to try and get into a football game. I cant wait

talk to you later
Steve

Paraty

We have finally arrived in Paraty, Brasil, after a 22 hour bus ride!!! This is a beautiful beach town with welcoming and ethnic shops and resaurants everywhere. It is too hot at plus 31 or so. We are shocked by the prices of everything actually being more expesive than in Canada!! I rented a bike and went out 10km or so in search of waterfalls with another travellor this morning. We never did find them, but seen tremendous sceneory anyway! We just got back from a 4km walk to a nice beach and now are taking a 40min bus ride to 4 other beaches.
Take care all!
angela

Iguazu Falls

Hola
The last couple of days were much better, I felt awesome. Which made today alot of fun. We went back over to Argentina to Iguazu Falls and went for a light boat ride and went swimming this was refreshing. Then the real fun started, we got to go in a big power boat which went right into the waterfalls we couldnt see anything but white water it was amazing and very wet. then we went for a good walk.
Today was lots of fun too, Angela and I went repelling off the brazilian side of the river which gave a great view of the waterfalls. Then I went off on my own on a canopy tour which was like an obsticle course, the I went on a climbing wall for a couple of hours. I got to meet a really cool local girl, Wanusa. It was a awesome day.

see you later steve.

Angela says hi.