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Date Written: Feb. 9, 2002 (1:35 a.m.)
Current Location: Foz de Iguazu-Paudimar hostel
Subject: Sammy the tool, and Iguazu Falls
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002
Man oh man. I can't seem to catch up with writing all this stuff down.
I try to finish the story of one day, then more stuff happens and I can
never get it all in!! Frustrating. Man, I have seen both sides of the
falls in the last two days and I haven't had a chance to talk about it
yet. Let me start this right, and tell about the day yesterday...
Traveling to Iguazu was very disorienting because I was soooooo sleepy.
It was like as soon as I closed my eyes and opened them, I was at the
Montevideo airport. I have no idea how I woke up in time but the bus ride
was instantaneous. So I rushed off the bus and checked in. I fell asleep
again at the terminal but somehow miraculously woke up just as the last
person was boarding. When I got to Buenos Aires (instantaneous again),
things kinda went to crap. First of all, I was dead tired. Secondly, in
my sleep haze that I had going on, I dropped the combo lock I had been
using on the zipper of my backpack (where I was keeping ALL my important
stuff). So I just picked up the lock, locked it back on and thought nothing
of it. Well, it turns out that the freakin combo got reset to something
different so then I was unable to open the bag. Okay, now guess where
my plane tickets for the next flight where...you got it, trapped in the
freakin' backpack. I had to break the zipper to get into the bag, which
I must say was far easier than it should have been. It surely didn't make
me feel good about the bazillion times I had sat there and dialed the
combination to open and close that lock. I mean, that's like using your
key on a door for months and then suddenly realizing it was actually unlocked
the entire time.
So aside from the little backpack becoming unopenable, my big backpack
ALSO broke. Now I can't put it on my back anymore. I talked to Tony last
night though so he's bringing a needle and thread so hopefully I can fix
it. Weird to think that he is probably on his way to the airport right
now, just getting ready to begin his trip when I have already done SOOO
much. Anyway, there I was, still tired as hell in BA with not one, but
TWO broken backpacks. So after getting the pack open and fiddling with
the big pack before check-in, it was basically almost time to board so
I couldn't sleep. Then I got on the plane for Iguazu and this lady sitting
next to me won't shut-up for the first hour of the flight. Don't get me
wrong, I love meeting and talking to new people, but I was dying. I got
to Puerto Iguazu around 2:00 p.m. I had no clue where I was gonna stay
or what my plan was so I decided to stay on the Argentina side and try
to get to the falls as quick as possible and see what I could. I met this
English guy, Sammy, outside the airport while waiting for the bus. We...that
is , I, bargained a Taxi driver down from 18 pesos to 10 pesos for both
of us to take a cab to the hostel (about 5 bucks total). Sweet. We got
to the hostel and headed straight for the falls. During the one and a
half hours it took us to get to the hostel and the falls, I pretty much
determined that Sammy was an absolute TOOL. But then I was stuck with
him and his company wasn't totally unbearable. Well, the Argentinian side
of the falls were spectacular and did not disappoint. Devil's throat was
our first stop and it was immense. Just a ton of water flowing and thundering
and the mist from the falls hit us in intense waves like rain. We got
SOAKED!! Sadly, I was wearing jeans that day so I had sopping wet jeans
and boxers for the next 4 hours. Very worth it though. I took a ton of
pics so I hope they come out.
After we got back to the hostel and into some dry clothes, we headed up
to this place near the hostel for grub. It was an outstanding buffet.
Second best meal I have had on the trip and that was cool considering
the best meal I had was the previous day. Puerto Iguazu was a tiny little
town with these VERY crude brick streets. It was very quaint. There were
tons of people on the street selling stuff. I gave the parental units
a call and it was really nice to hear their voices. That night, I decided
not to go out and just cut my hair, grab a shower, and get some rest.
It was good, especially since I had gone SOOO hardcore every previous
night, and planned to go hard the rest of the way.
Friday, Feb. 8, 2002
Woke up early today and hit the freebie hostel breakfast. Sweet. Managed
to lug my stupid BROKEN backpack to the bus station and Sammy and I caught
a bus to Foz de Iguazu (just over the border) to hit the Brazilian side
of the falls. It took some time but we finally made it to hostel Paudimar
in the country side. Now that was a bit of a dilemma that in hindsight
might have been a wrong choice. There is another Paudimar that is in town
that is a crappier hostel but is close to bars and activity. This place
is in the country side, but very close to the falls and the airport, which
was what eventually won me over. Well, that and the fact that Doug
McLean had recommended it so highly. It really is an amazing hostel.
There is a pool, B-ball courts, a soccer field, and a great poolside bar.
I would have to say that this is the best hostel (amenity wise) that I
have ever stayed at. The only problem is that there aren't many people
since everyone headed out for Carnival and a cab ride to town is way too
expensive. Nobody wanted to go out so I ended up stuck here for the night.
On the otherhand, I wouldn't be sitting here writing right now and I would
have spent A LOT more money. Not to mention the time getting to and from
the falls and airport. Plus it ended up being a pretty cool night for
just chilling out here in the country. I had a few beers with this German
guy, Iaco, that is in the same room as me and this guy from Switzerland,
Steffan. That Steffan guy was a serious jerk because he was EXTREMELY
prejudice towards Americans. Of course, I get a lot of that when I'm on
the road but usually people tend to atleast give me a chance. That guy
REALLY made me mad a couple times with his comments. Too bad for him though,
he might have learned that all Americans aren't the same.
ANYWAY, I don't even want to think about that so I'll continue. The Brazilian
side of the falls was pretty sweet. You get a better look at ALL of the
falls. I took the video camera and got some good footage. After that,
Sammy left, and Iaco and Steffan and I went to the bird park. It was sweet
and I got more footage. Oh yeah, so all day, Sammy was dropping these
hints about staying with us in Rio and all day I played dumb like I didn't
realize it. It was hilarious and rather frustrating not to have anyone
to trade glances with. Anyway, it amazes me how freakin' clueless some
people can be. In the end, I purposely gave him the wrong hotel name (but
stupidly the right e-mail address) and said peace out. What a total tool.
I mean, the guy slept IN the hostel last night with a freakin' mosquito
net. It was ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. I mean, he probably spent a half hour
setting that stupid thing up...like we're in the middle of the Amazon
or something. We were INDOORS for Christ's sake. I cannot begin to tell
you how stupid it looked. Then today, he probably asked me about five
times if I had gotten any mosquito bites overnight...like he was so excited
that he had that stupid mosquito net. I CANNOT tell you the smile it put
on my face to give the guy a resounding, UH-NO!! Okay, I know there is
much more to tell, but I gotta crash for now. I have a cab in two hours
to go to the airport. Meeting up with Tony tomorrow which should be sweet.
I can't wait. Rio, Carnival...let's do it!!
Miles traveled: about 8000
Drinks consumed: heh heh
Countries conquered: 3
Good times: A plenty
AC
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