A Moist Week.- Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Ola senors and senoritas! I am now in Argentina with Marielle about to depart tomorrow for Buenos Aires. Let me catch you up on the past week´s events.

So when transitting via bus across a long span of distance-make sure that you will be comfortable. The only few lines that are available between my two locations have limited options in comfort. Regardless the details of the excruciating 22hour bus ride from Rio De Janeiro to Foz do Iguacu got me to where I needed to be. Stinking and exhausted, I hopped a few more short buses to the Brazil-Argentina border- Where my first little melodramatic crisis occured. But I didn´t cry (Although the tears were welling up) I picked up my panties and blindly tried to solve the issue. A Reciprocity fee that I had initially planned on paying cash for had been changed to online payments only three weeks prior-shoot. Can I use your computer then-No; Is there wifi access then?- No; Where do you suppose I do this then?-Must go back to Brazil side, find place there, pay, print form, then come back here. OOooooookaY. Not wanting to struggle through the full city buses again with my massive pack, I contemplated walking?-nope it´s scorching and I had little water on me. Hitchhiking?- an image of my face on the side of a milk carton flashed before me- nope. I ended up wrangling a taxi driver into doing the loop after much hagglin. Finally understanding my predicament his fatherly traits kicked in-practically held my hand to a nearby hotel to print off the sheet, and even take me to my hostel in Puerto Iguazu on the Argentina side once I passed customs--next to nothing. Like I said, a melodramatic start to Argentina-haha. But proof that there are kind souls willing to help everywhere.

Puerto Iguazu is a pretty fair sized tourist town. The Iguazu falls attract tons of tourists from all over. The first few days I had planned to wait up in the the hostel and town awaiting the arrival of Marielle- either poolside or moseying around on my own. But something that I found similar to Rio, was that even though I do next to nothing for research or planning---something always falls into place for the better when you are travelling solo. I met the most wonderful mates from All over, large amount of them from The U.K. Canada, Australia, and Belguim. They had  cycled through in 2-3 days but they were loads of fun. I was waiting to do the falls till Marielle came so I would join the others in different adventures: checking out an animal conservation park, sneaking into massive pools at other hostels, lots drinking games, cooking up a storm (Argentina Steak dinner mmmmmm) AND lots of shooting the breeze- getting to know eachother. It´s amazing that I only have met these people a few days ago- but already know who they are: kindred spirits.  

Marielle arrived just yesterday (Tuesday) after a few grueling delays due to snow in Toronto- BUT she made it!! Marielle arrived at about noon, and since it is a shorter viewing route, we headed to the Brazil side of Iguazu falls. Before our very eyes were breathtaking panoramic views of these NUMEROUS waterfalls, that seemed to be never ending. A little fact from wikipedia for you: ¨The number of these waterfalls fluctuates from150-300, depending on the water level. About half of the river´s flow falls into a long and narrow chasm called the Devil´s Throat.¨After the quick few hours exploring Brazil´s side of the falls, we headed back to cook up a lovely dinner, have a few drinks and play some games with some good people. Despite a late night, we managed to rouse ourselves to venture to the Argentina side of the falls. Today was a full day of exploring trails, photos, and a boat ride into the falls- where we get insanely close to the powerful things and got drenched!!! Even the spray it gives off onto the trails was enough to soak us numerous more times. And of course we caught a few raindrops as we came back to fill our bellies.


Sweaty, Humid, Poolside, Bevvies, Rain, Rivers, and Waterfalls= Moist....to say the least.

Rio De Janeiro- The Carnival

Ola! Sorry for the delay in communication- all shops (including internet cafes close for most of Carnival). SO this week has been a whirlwind of activities, crazy events, and some surprising situations. For the first part of my stay I was nearly adopted by my host family----- Therefore in a crazy synopsis of my week thus far detailed: going out to the streets EVERY night to Samba and celebrate La Carnival. Being invited to their HUGE family dinner on Sunday-which included pretty much ALLLL MEAT....boys you would appreciate it here.We went to nearly every bar in the few blocks radius-which is surpising amount and drinking LOTS of beer---costs nearly the same as water. We went and had a wholesome family outing to the Redeemer monument with this little cutey-patuty grandson of Lenas named Davi. It is hard to describe but there is no real ONE place that the Carnival happens---every block every street in Rio have their own celebrations going on and you can easily find yourself included marching in a parade. So many COLOURFUL costumes and the floats that are run all the time are just INSANE! Everyone loves eachother and whomever-and you can feel it. My accessory of choice was a bright pink bob-wig that I wore when I went out with the girls a few nights. Only to become the focus of a few mens interest--which landed me more actual dates in one week than I have probably had in months back in Canada! Do not worry-all acted like gentlemen. I went with one fella to Copacabana beach to soak up some rays, get a few dips in the Atlantic in and of course Samba. Nearly all the ladies wore thong bikinis-boys again you would LOVE it here haha. The other guy, I went out for dinner and drinks with his family (weird- but family is a big deal here-haha). The latter of the two, will randomly visit to see what I am up to and offer to take me to go out around town- which was very nice since it is dangerous to go out by yourself at night- very much so! I think that is a fairly just description of my time here-of course when I get to a better facility to upload some photos- you can see for yourselves. To say the least, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Rio De Janeiro- And I have become wicked good at Charade-conversations and reading/conveying body language. I will be heading out on friday to Iguazu Falls on the Argentina side to meet up with my lovely friend Marielle.

Big Time Love

-Megs

Rio De Janeiro. Voce tem um mapa?

Alright, I made it safe and sound through the flights. Arrived yesterday at noon Brazil time(about 6 hours ahead of Alberta). These first 24hours here have been an eye opener for sure. Very beautiful, very busy and very humid. When I arrived at my host house, to my surprise, I had a whole unit to myself not just a spare bedroom. Lena (the host) and I had managed to charades through showing me around the place and the details on how things work. Then it was a big hug and kiss and she left me to fend for myself. I tornadoed through the apartment as I made my way to the shower, bag dropped, clothes peeled, and was cooled off in seconds. Aaahhhh. I wanted to try to get a grasp of where I was and how to get about so I moseyed around the streets, alley ways and shops trying to find a map of the city. Not one could be found, nor did my limited portugese help me any...I could say Gustaria de um mapa. and I understood Nao. But as so many tried to help and explain to me where I COULD find one I became lost in their words, nodded my head, thanked them and kept on my search. Stopping every so often at a cafe for a soda, or a grocerers for a banana, I made my way back to my new home, where I found that Lena had slipped a map under the door for me! haha A very large not detailed map of the whole province of Rio BUT a map just the same. So I have maneuvered my way to some of the parks, zoo, a circus, and the main tram/bus station -hooray. No pictures just yet, but soon. Big time love. -M

First step.

A foreshadowing image of the adventure that awaits us; 
Marielle, myself and South America, taken two years ago.






Here I am sitting on my comfy couch, in my cozy home, in this common city, with a very content belly full of pho, and yet the butterflies start to quiver, even flutter and flap inside of me. Reason being, that tomorrow I am leaving for South America for a good chunk of time. Time otherwise, spent working at the hospital, visiting with my few close compadres that I have come to adore since moving to this community. Maybe that's why I chose to go, rather than move again; my restless feet, have a tendency of taking me to different places when I feel too comfortable; since life apparently begins at the end of that zone. The main objective: meet cool people, eat new things, have some amazingly life-altering experiences and have some fun along the way. I don't know exactly where I'll end up, or how I'll get there, or how I will converse, or what I'm eating.....but I'm sure it will be a journey to say the least. So my bag is packed, I'm ready to go...