Free Camping and Jesuit Ruins

Trinidad
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Left at 7:30am after a mad panic to pack up the remainder of my stuff.  Was feeling bad as I thought I was holding everyone up but luckily Julie didn't let me down and was slightly later than me after a mad rush herself.  Slept for quite a bit in the morning with the windows open as the weather is getting hotter.  We had a long drive today and there was nothing really exciting about it - so afraid not much to write about here including the scenery which was lovely but nothing exciting or dramatic.  Arrived at a service station where we were camping for the night a little shorter than planned but one with good facilities.  This was a free camp but luckily Andy had chosen a good spot as behind the service station was a large camping area with tables and BBQ's and we also had toilet facilities.  There were no complaints - I think many people thought we were be out in the bush with no facilities at all.  Dinner was a long process but made more enjoyable in watching Sam trying to fend off all the flying bettles - it was like she was being attacked by the invisible man.  There were hundreds of these beetles and the drain was a swarm of black shiny bodies that really made my skin crawl.

Trinidad
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Following morning we headed off early having to cover the extra 200km we didn't do the day.  Today we left Argentina (not for the last time though) suffering from long border crossings.  This was made worse by the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in northern argentina and the extra spraying of vehicles and checking of cargo.  The border crossing is on either side of a long bridge and the area is very pretty.  Paraguay is a very green country with lots of red soil.  It reminded me a lot of Uganda in the roads and the landscape.  Arrived shortly afterwards at Jesuit ruins outside Trinidad.  These are the best preserved ruins and were constructed in the 18th Century and abandoned shortly afterwards due to conflicts with locals.  We then headed the short distance to our campsite which was luxury after the night before.  The day was hot, around 35 degrees, and the site had two swimming pools that we made the most of.  Afterwards we had a pasta and pizza buffett supplied by the campsite that was fantastic.  Unfortunately not for the vegetarians though as the restuarant misunderstood vegetarian and though they just didn't eat red meat so supplied chicken instead.  There were a few choices though and the restuarant was good about making omlettes to make up for their mistake.  Afterwards relaxed with wine and met some people from another tucan truck, that we should see regularly to Rio.