I always knew God and I would find each other, one day!
Anywhoooo, I unfortunately have to make this a quick post because I have a bunch of homework to do and it is already 11pm!
So, this weekend we went to Iguazu. It makes a border between Argentina and Brazil (with Paraguay right around the corner) and they are these SPECTACULAR falls that are MASSIVE! It had also been raining pretty hard before we got there (while also raining 2 of the 4 days...luckily they were the least important days, so it was all good), so water was gushing out with FURY! (see pictures below)
It was GORGEOUS, though! The first day we got there, it was too late to go to the falls, so me and three other people went into the cobble stone town and ate AMAZING pizza and empanadas and shared a couple bottles of red wine! Saturday we went to the Argentina side which was much more tranquil. It allowed for a more intimate experience with smaller falls. It was beautiful and you were instantly entranced with the falls. It was truly a majestic sight (one more thing on my bucket list crossed off!). After the falls, we went on a long hike to a smaller waterfall where a couple of the people in my group jumped in and went swimming! Not to sound like a snob, but I have already swam under waterfalls and the water was DAMN COLD so I wasn't about to fully immerse myself. I did wade around a little, though, and I climbed some rocks and trees and explored some crevices and caves, it was great! My type of adventure!! Sunday came around and we were unsure of what to do because everything fun was super expensive and there wasn't much more free/cheap stuff to do on the Argentina side. Soooo, we decided to sneak into the Brazilian side! I am going to give you a play by play of this because it was just that awesome.
1. We were told that americans cannot go to the Brazilian side because you need a visa to get into the country
1a. The visas take anywhere from 3-18 days to acquire
1b. They cost between 150-250 US dollars.
1c. Hell-to-the-NO.
2. There is nothing else to do and we keep hearing a few courageous people in the past have successfully attempted this mission.
3. We (lauren and I) make up our minds to go.
4. We ask around and are told to get on a bus that goes to Paraguay. Once on the bus, talk to the bus driver and ask if he will drop you off once in Brazil. This way, you only have to check out of Argentina but you do not stop at Brazilian customs. Which is exactly what we were looking to do.
5. We are on the Paraguay bus, nervous as hell. Strangest thing happens: I become calm because I just can feel the approval, support, and guidance of my father. He was all about having fun and doing whatever you had to do to actually have that fun, so I mean, it is only obvious that he would help me along every step of the way. I turn to Lauren and say "don't worry, my dad is guiding us. We will do this without any trouble"
6. Bus driver said No. BUST.
7. We sweet talk the bus driver (who is older 20s probably?) and he then just at that point in time he says "OH! I know exactly what we will do!" and leads us over to this other bus that just arrived that said "BRAZIL" in big, bold letters. Shit.
8. My premonition was right! So the Paraguay bus driver walks us over to this other--younger, less attractive, but trying REALLY hard to be cool and attractive--bus driver. I took one look at him and knew we were in. The Paraguay bus driver starts telling the Brazil bus driver what we are trying to do and he says (in spanish) "we just HAVE to help these beautiful girl!"From there on out, we had the Brazil bus driver helping us smuggle into the country! It was great!
9. He told us exactly when to get off, when to get on, where to go once we were off, when we should come back, what buses we needed to look for and avoid when returning, and all of the other superfluous details that needed to be discussed in order for me to feel reassured.
10. WE JUST DID NOT GET OFF AT BRAZILIAN CUSTOMS! We felt like such rebels! We just didn't get off the bus! We just sat there and then the bus just went right along on its way! INSANE!
11. WE WERE IN!
12. We then met this father and son who were from Ecuador but lived/grown up in London (weird to hear a south american father and son speak perfect spanish then perfect english--with a British accent!). We made friends with them and spent the Entire day with them! They made sure we were seeing the cool stuff, getting awesome pictures, and were safe! It was wonderful, they helped us get all the way home, too!
13. I 100% believe my father was behind me every step of the way, putting specific people in my path to comfortably guide me into the arms of mischief and fun. I know, what a proud deceased father, helping his daughter and her little friend smuggle into a country for a day...but what can I tell you, my father was the most interesting man in the world, he is not about to have boring children, is he?! No. I think not.
Regardless, I felt his comfort from the very beginning, lauren can testify to that!
14. It was one of the best days of my life. With the most amazing views I think I will EVER experience.
15. We went home, had a bomb meal, drank wine and margaritas and danced salsa.
16. I love my life. I love my father. I love my step father. I love my grandfather. I love my living family. I love my friends. I love my mother. but most importantly, I love adventures!
the next day we just chatted and goofed off until our bus came. the bus wasn't as great as it had been on the way up. The way up we watched movies, had big blankets and pillows, had big comfy chairs that reclined 160 degrees, were fed dinner and breakfast, in addition to free (and endless) whiskey, wine, and/or champagne! Livin' the good life! On the way home, our bed didn't recline that far and we almost were convinced we weren't going to get food. plus they had movies but the BLASTED them until 1 am. I was so pissed. plus it was freezing and they took away my second blanket. Jerks.
its whatever, though!
Ok, enjoy these pictures, there will be plenty more on Facebook, soon!
Much love,
Annette
Brazil
Argentina
No comments:
Post a Comment