Road tripping in Brazil

So we like road trips, self driven. Neil will drive almost anywhere, the only countries we've opted for a car with driver in the past are India and Sri Lanka. You don't really know a place until you've driven off the tourist route and seen how ordinary people live. This trip he's driven in Colombia, Panama, St. Lucia and now Brazil. We started in Rio, went to Paraty and then drove all the way down to the Sierra Gaucha Wine Region. Next stop Iguazu Falls, then Bonito. Our in-between stops included Curitiba and Fransisco Beltrao; regular towns that aren't touristy at all.  And that's how we find ourselves in Miranda. It's the gateway to the Southern Pantanal but tourists don't stay in town. They usually pick up their safari trips in Campo Grande or Bonito. 

So this is how we ended up in a 2 star motel, eating pizza take-out in bed and drinking Leopoldina Chardonnay 2017( decanter magazine -  93 points) which we had purchased on the Estate some days before and watching episodes of  The Simpsons on the phone. None of which would have been possible without google translate and a very helpful lady on the front desk to order the pizza ( she did get herself something that made it onto our bill) and provide the glasses and opener. After our Pantanal trip, we'll be driving all the way back to Sao Paulo too. Brazil is great for a road trip. I have never seen so much beautiful green countryside and the farming is on a grand scale. Have loads of cash for all the tolls, stick to the silly speed limits to avoid fines, load up on podcasts, pack snacks and water and have a good trip.