Fatigued in Brazil

So, Brazil!

For the second time, I took off from the main group. On another whim (and recommendation from his Brazilian 'Father' Carlos) Corey and I headed to Foz de Iguacu in Brazil, one of the seven wonders of the natural world. On our first long weekend, we cabbed to the airport and had yet another day of plane hopping as we made our way to the mid-sized city that lies on the borders of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

We arrived in the hostel to find an incredibly friendly Portuguese man who spoke absolutely no English, and little Spanish. Very obligingly, he checked us in and phoned his English speaking friend to answer our questions and translate our desperate need to be fed after 9 hours of transit after waking at 6:00 am (Microwave lasagna and 5 dollar wine has never tasted so good). Also, I had my very first experience of being seen as an actual adventurer! Two backpackers bounced into the hostel looking all independent and capable while I was hanging around the fireplace waiting for supper. I was envious.
They introduced themselves, and explained that they were student from London (UK), on a gap year, headed to university in the fall. They had been traversing most of South America, and had arrived from a 40 bus ride from Argentina to see the Falls. They asked where we were going, and I had the pleasant thrill of being able to talk about Chile and Brazil and Argentina with them, surprised at my ease at comparing experiences and transportation, and also explain about South Africa and Capetown, where one of them was hopefully headed for a year of university during her degree. Despite being students and with a group,  it was an interesting shared experience that reminded me that I am doing something incredibly damn cool! While of the two of us, Corey is (thus far-!) the more well travelled, and was able to talk also about New Zealand and Australia and significantly more international airports, I definitely got a working-myself-up vibe. Really, I have come to the awareness that I can't see myself NOT traveling like this. In fact, I'm now looking forward to not being with a group entirely. While Africa still intimidates the hell out of me, I'm getting edgy to be getting there. I'm looking forward to being by myself, and navigating entirely free of guidance. Next year, I'll be in either Bali or Vietnam (Provided Giannina and we T&T'ers get our way) and I want it to seem easy. This past spring, I have been all anticipation mixed with mind-wrinkling fear. I am looking forward to what just anticipation feels like.

Ok, pardon that tangent. The other backpackers were checking out the next day; we had just arrived, still with three days to go. Day 1 was the Falls De Iguacu, and the dense Brazilian jungle of a national park that surrounds them.

The day began poorly, to be honest. Breakfast at the hostel was 8-10 in the morning, and neither of us awoke before 10:30 after our tiring airport day previous. So, once awake and together, we headed to the tiny outdoor bar and food area to see if we could buy sandwich's or something to take with us. The woman cleaning up the back kitchen area was neither english nor spanish speaking, and it was a good thing the reception worker noticed us there. He informed us that there were no lunches, unfortunately, but then began to set out the breakfast food again, and brought coffee and hot chocolate! I felt like I was an annoying american tourist, causing problems and making more work for people. The expression on the face of the cleaning woman made it clear she agreed. After hastily eating, we took 15 minutes to clean up the kitchen and put all the food away (I love hostels- they don't care if you mess around in the kitchen.) We left a 10 real bill and a napkin upon which I had written  "OBRIGADO!! - The Gringos" with a heart and smiley face and left it next to the sink. Hopefully, this may repair the damage done to international relations.
We then headed to the falls!
It was unreal. Niagara Falls times 10 at least. There were tiny snuffling mammals that reminded me of anteaters, and they were everywhere, in the garbages, on the walking trails, on the cliffside walk to the falls. We paid for a hiking/boat tour that took us right up to the base of some of the falls, and dragged us back and forth in the spray for awhile. We had a heaven sent day for it; constant sun and warm enough to sit in the open top of the buses that circle the park. We were there for over 6 hours, and by the time we returned to the hostel (for more lasagna, and beer) we were exhausted, footsore, and still damp from the water. We attempted to speak to the worker about making plans to see Itaipu Dam (Another wonder of the world! The man-made one, though!). He phoned his english speaking friend (A fellow tourism student) who then offered to take us to both Itaipu Dam and the Three-Countries landmark area, driving and tour arrangements included, for approximately 35.00 canadian each. So, from 9-2 we went to the Dam (Which included a jaunt into Paraguay! Country number 5, dudes!) and the Tri-Country marker for the borders of the three countries (Nipped into Argentina again! I will NEVER tire of saying that!). After a brief return to the hostel, we walked across the road to the bird park, and as a result I am not only determined to buy another budgie this fall, I now have a picture of a Parrot the size of my forearm shuffing across my shoulders and whispering in my ear. Same parrot also shuffled across Corey's neck, and ate the button of off his brand new Foz de Iguacu hat. Which was possibly the most hilarious thing I have ever witnessed. Pictures to follow.

After our last day, the same tourist student came back in the evening and drove us downtown to the bus terminal, where we settled in to enjoy our 16.5 hour bus ride back to Florianopolis. Headphones and Doritos were a must, and there was also a fun stop at a sketch-tastic road-cafe in the middle of nowhere, Brazil, where the bathrooms had no doors and the atmosphere had no hope. We made it out alive, all things considered, and I made use of Corey's phone and the wi-fi to wish dear Sarah Schoales a Happy Birthday while I still had my thumbs.

The day after I returned was my Birthday, which, all things considered, was actually a pretty emotional day. I didn't so much feel homesick, as I became acutely aware of the differences between my last birthday and this one, in terms of my life status, goals, and surroundings. I had an edgy, tense morning which turned into a full-blown weep-fest by mid-afternoon. It didn't last long, thankfully. It was more of an emotional boil-lancing than anything really serious, so by the time I was out for Sushi and Sake and making plans for group outings later in the week my day was brilliant, and filled with alcohol and salmon sashimi that melted like butter. Birthday Gold.

Today, I woke up after not sleeping remotely long enough, and had a truly fantastic outing to a nearby beach/lagoon fishing town where a Capoeira teacher walked us through the instruments and culture of Capoeira and Brazil. He then walked us through the town, the beach, and we stopped at a restaurant for rice, beans, salad, chicken and too many caphairinas before noon. Then, we went to a sea turtle research outpost for Project Tamar, and saw several species of on-premises Sea Turtles, as well as learning about the rescue-and-protect mission.

Ok. That's.... About it, really. I've been getting the hang of the busses here, except for a peevish incident today, which involved needing to cab home from a nearby pharmacy because my stop eluded me and I needed to get off the bus in Sao Jose before it turned around back to the city center of Florianopolis. Tomorrow we have another outing, I believe, and after that I plan to sleep in on friday, and maybe get caught up on on Postcards and journalling, and if you're lucky another post.

Pardon my poor wrap up, but my brazilian mother keeps refilling my wine glass, and I am le tired.

Boa Noite, all.