I realise there have been very few updates on the road over the past few days, but let’s just move on and try to put that behind us. I won’t be boring you all stupid with a bloody long email for each day, but instead will try to cover the last couple of weeks in one email. Yes, it might be long. Deal with it.

In the middle of the IGC in Brazil, there was a period of four days in the middle where there were no presentations. Instead of taking the official tours, Di and I hooked up with Stephen Hall (from the UK) and David Barker (a Kiwi now in the US) and we went to the Itatiaia National Park between Sao Paulo and Rio. The park is a small area of Atlantic rainforest (only 2% remaining in the world) and we hoped to see some wildlife while there. We saw a couple of different types of monkeys, as well as brilliant bright blue butterflies as large as our heads. We even saw a transparent butterfly, which was a horrible thing to try and photograph because there was nothing to focus on. On top of that, we saw a few toucans which were darker in colour than we expected. Nothing like Sam of Fruit Loop fame.

The congress ended, and we departed Brazil for the US. Had the exit row all the way back (after a few words to the American Airlines staff about how we’d hate to have to write up another bad report on our popular travel website…*grin*) and it was lovely. The seats in front of us were legally unable to recline due to FAA regulations (might block the aisle) so it was great. Landed in Dallas on top, then met up with Jenny in New Orleans. With bright pink hair, she made us very worried about people we’re likely to meet after knowing them only through the internet. Turned out to be a wig - phew!

Been staying with Jenny and her two roommates Jeff and Angelus over the last few days. Hopefully we’ll be moving on soon, not because we don’t like them, but because we’re sure they want their living room free of Aussies once more. Been having a blast here with the Mardi Gras - kicks butt over Aussie parades! For all the Melbournites, you have to come here at some time and do it. I mean, we have Moomba, but that is so dull and non-violent. Watching people fighting over beads is hilarious and a lot of fun to participate in. Yes, since Diana will probably tell you at some point anyway, I did smack some girl in the face with the back of my hand while diving through the crowd in pursuit of beads. I personally think the girl was mean for slapping my hand with her face, but either way, it stung my hand for several minutes, so her face must have been feeling it too.

We went to a parade in Slidell, as well as one in New Orleans, but did not bother to go in on the day of the big celebrations (Feb 27th). We decided we were paraded out, and collected enough beads to weigh down a small ship, so it was best to leave them for others. At the Slidell parade, it was considered a small one and not that good, but realistically, it was fantastic for us. Diana spent a large portion of the night gulping down a 32oz (950ml) strawberry daiquiri while I went with beers. Yes, in a real twist, not only have I drunk beer in Brazil, but I’ve found that Bud Light beer is quite tasty too. Not tasty enough to drink in preference to Coke, but it’s drinkable.

SPOTD at the Slidell parade was a drunken 15yo girl in front of us who deserved a good smack in the head for her behaviour that is typical of the “juvenile drunk” description. At one stage an older woman offered to punch her in the head but there was not such luck as it turned out. SPOTD at the New Orleans parade was Jeff who got drunk, had a hissy fit, and ran away with the car keys in his pocket, so we had to search the while city for him. Luckily there are very few people in the New Orleans area at Mardi Gras time - NOT! Took us almost three hours to find him.

Categories: Travel, Odyssey 2001