BRRRAAAAZZIIIILLLLLL! *(more specifically the Pantanal)

So, here we are in sunny Brazil, and it´s hot, hot, hot!

After the border crossing described in the last post, we headed to Corumba. The hotel had a pool, so we pretty much dumped our bags and jumped in! Then drunk Guarana (a Brazilian soft drink for those not in the know) by the pool. Bliss! After our first plate of tasty BBQ, rice and beans and a good sleep, we headed off to the Pantanal - which I believe is the world´s largest wetland (although don´t quote me on that, it could be a load of twaddle!!) We arrived to a swarm of hungry Mozzies and a thunderstorm, so got soaked and bitten to death the moment we got out the van. But hey.... what do you expect if you head into to wetlands in the rainy season! We were greeted by a lovely buffet lunch (meat, rice and beans) and a lodge similar to the one in Amazon. Once the rain stopped we went out for a boat ride and spotted many different types of birds (including Tucans) and lots and lots of caymen. The humidity was intense. I thought i´d spotted a giant otter and got very excited, only to discover when the guide turned the boat around that it was a dead capybara! Apparently Jaguar kill.........

We did also see lots of live capybaras. Which are the world´s biggest rodent (again don´t quote me on that!!). And very cute!
Yesterday, we went to a Fazenda (farm!) and went for a walk through the forest, and spotted more birds, monkeys, and some raccoon type creatures called coatis, which were very inquisitive! After a yummy lunch of meat, rice and beans (spotted the theme yet?!) we went horseriding through the Pantanal. The guide was thrown from his horse when it stepped on a caymen!! Apparently that´s why the guide always leads.....
Last night, after a meal of..... yup, you guessed it..., we went for a night walk, and spotted frogs and the glowing red eyes of caymen in the dark. We also think we saw the silhoette of a jaguar on the other side of the river.
Today, we went piranhã fishing! At first when we were all just standing with our bamboo rods in the fast flowing river, we all thought... yeah right, as if. But then there was a cry from Tasha as she whipped the first one out the river! This was shortly followed by a cry from Steve, as he did the same. Not long after I managed to catch a huge catfish (not what we were supposed to catch, so it was swiftly thrown back!)
In the end, we all managed to catch a least one piranhã and a cat fish or two. I managed 3 of each, but some jumped off the hook mid-air when I was trying to land them! We then had the piranhãs fried. Yummy!

My catfish catch!

Now, we are in Bonito. Snorkling in crystal clear waters tomorrow.....