Got off to a good start from Bonito. Asked which way out of town to our next destination, but when we found it it was dirt (and 140 km to go!). As the other entry to Bonito was good pavement, we expected this to be too. But we were just as happy! Good dirt and we were able to keep a good 50 mph!
Once on pavement again at Miranda, we turned west and on thru the Pantanal (unending swamplands full of wildlife and tourists). It was interesting to see thousands of cranes, storks and Caimanes (alligator family) just 50 ft to our left and right km after km after km! The road was as straight as an arrow west for further than we could see.... At least we had no doubt that we were headed for Bolivia!
I really did expect Corumba (on the Brazilian Border) to be a large city. What it is is and OLD city, and very disorganized! Not like the rest of Brazil at all...
It was 3pm when we arrived so we headed right for the border knowing that hotel prices to stay would be better on the Bolivian side. Down at the border there was no Brazilian control (new building under construction) so we crossed the little bridge over to Bolivia. What a difference! Bolivia looked like it did back in the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid days!
Luke waited with the motos while I got us checked thru Immigration, 
then on to Customs. In customs they told us that the "rental contract" for the motos would not fly unless we got the "OK" from the Bolivian Consulate back in Corumba. So back to Corumba hoping that we can still make this thing happen today...
At the consulate, the "secretary that puts the seals on the documents" had gone over to the Bolivian side , but would be back promptly at 4:30pm. We went for some lunch and were back early for our "appointment" (like good gringos!). It was dark before the lady came back! $103 (and the most impressive dozen stamps Iīve ever seen!) later we had the signature of the consul and his sworn oath to help us in any way additionally that he could. We were hot and tired, but
it looks like we may get across into Bolivia tomorrow...
Found a cheap place w/ A/C (as we had to hand-wash some pretty stinky stuff and it had to dry by morning). I canīt believe the way they do electrical installations in these countries! I would rather fall asleep with a Tarantula on the ceiling than some of the electrical nightmares in the rooms we have rented for the night!
Out for a bite to eat. Letīs try pizza! Great, but we canīt understand any of the names of the ingredients! We fumble our way thru and wait to see what arrives.... Meanwhile a thunderstorm moves in and the wind is rushing thru the no-glass in the windows while the roof begins to leak just where we are sitting! The pizza arrives and we realize that tomato sauce and cheese were evidently ingredients that we thot were automatic! It was sort of a sausage, olives and onions. Lots of onions! At least no anchovies!
We ate it while the rain slowed, then headed back to our room. Tomorrow would be the day.......
NEXT DAY: day32corumbatopuertosua.htm
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