3rd February 2013
Okay, I just had to have that as a title. How can I not?!
Yes, as my last post tantalized as we finished the day in the Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls, we were already on our way to Brazil.
Settling ourselves in the bus bay where the Border Bus comes into in Puerto Iguazu’s bus terminal, we had been reassured that the bus comes every 20 mins. An hour later, we were still playing diddums. It was boiling hot at this time of late afternoon and I needed a drink. Something cold. So did Dave. So off we both left Auston, who would alert us if a bus came by, and climbed in the beautiful air-conditioned bus cafe. Everything was in Spanish so I just simply relied on Dave to do the ordering. I told him I wanted an iced coffee. Yes, I know I should have ordered myself in spanish but it really was embarrassing for me not to know much spanish. That’s when I made a mental note to learn Spanish when I get back home. In my deep thoughts, I was interrupted by Dave asking me if I wanted milk in my coffee. Brushing aside with a yes, I was gleefully waiting for the cup to be handed to me and as soon as it was, I took a huge chug of it to the back of my throat. And it completely burned. I was on fire! I know I said I went to the Devil’s Throat earlier on that day but actually at this moment, my throat was truly the devil’s throat. Spluttering, I pointed at the cup to Dave, ‘Iced?!’ He simply replied back, ‘oh yeah, they don’t do iced coffee, just coffee.’ To this day, I still think he was totally evil.
Wandering back to the bus bay, Auston soon gestured to us wildly that the bus had arrived! Running with a huge backpack and an open air coffee does NOT make a good combination. And I did tell you the coffee was hot. Not only my mouth burnt but my hand was as well. And maybe some people’s faces as they crowded me. Imagine my flustering as the driver demanded the exact change and I was carrying passport in one hand and the godforsaken coffee in the other. Sitting down between Auston and dave, I could finally relax and finish off my coffee in peace…except at the moment I decided to chug what was left, the bus roared to life and mounted the kerb thus splashing the rest down my top. I could have cried. But no, I imagined if I was Eva Peron giving a speech…that’s right folks. I think it’s time for a video of Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina by the honorable Madonna.
Did it get your crying and feeling all empowered?
As the bus reached the border, I was suddenly sad for Argentina. I really didn’t feel that I explored much and if it wasn’t for Cordoba Surprises, then I would feel like I missed out culturally this spanish nation. But then again, I thought of ham and cheese sandwiches and it wasn’t until I was pressing my passport to get out! I can’t take another ham and cheese sandwich!
With that stamped through, we climbed back on the bus…so far…so good. The bus took us further down the road and dropped us off at the Brazilian border and then pissed off. We were open-mouthed. We got given this slip paper from the driver with no instructions. Okay, time to get stamped in first. The Brazilian official was very friendly and I had a bit of a banter whilst I overheard another official giving Dave an interrogation. Bless the Americans. Dave even forgot about where we would be going, which really helped.
So all stamped in and no transport to get to the border town. That’s when I broke down for Argentina. Suddenly, I started singing Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina. See, there’s proof.
So we decided to be optimistic and be adamant that a bus will swing by. Our last bus didn’t want to wait so went off instead. So we have to wait for the next bus. So what did Dave, Auston and I do? Teach clapping games. Check out this video of a Ghanaian Clapping game Dave and Auston learnt in Ghana and taught to me.
And yes, as you may have noticed, we caught the sun…a lot of sun…
Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
But as the day wore on, we were still waiting for the bus, and our little bus group began to yell when we saw some dust in the distance that revealed to be a bus! Piling on, we were grumbling that the process should have taken 35 mins but it’s now 3 hours later. It was starting to dusk and we still haven’t found where we were supposed to be.
We watched the town of Foz de Iguazu race by and we wanted to go to the bus terminal first to buy our tickets out of Iguazu anyway for the next day. Only that the bus didn’t stop at a terminal but in a really really really rough neighbourhood. I went to ask the driver if he was going to the bus terminal but he simply told us to get out. We were in shit creek. I was ready to throw my toys out of the pram. But I think our desperate, tired looks moved the driver and he threw his hands up and yes, ok, he will take us to a taxi rank to make sure we are out of this neighbourhood and safe. This he did. Burt we watched as another group stormed off the bus into said neighbourhood. I hope they are okay. It was getting dark.
Drawing our first reals thanks to a taxi and buying our bus tickets, we had enough and decided to get a cab to our hostel. I just didn’t care about the cost. It’s been a long day walking around Iguazu Falls in the heat as you can see in my Vlog, and it’s been a long border crossing and I wanted my bed. Stat.
Arriving at the hostel and greeted by perhaps one of the creepiest hostel owners who simply stared and smiled at us evilly, we soon got refreshed and headed on out to get food. I fervently prayed. Please no Cheese and Ham Sandwiches. Please, God No! Spying a street food restaurant, we were overjoyed to find some wraps and all sorts of different flavours. It was satisfying but the real treat came from my first ever taste of a national Brazilian drink and also a drink that I would in future to consume plenty…Caipirinha. I’ll tell you more about it later on but that first taste…Mwah! It’s just the tonic!
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