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Published: June 27th 2008
Super bus....
Our beds for the night..... As usual we were at the airport far too early for our flight. So after about 4 hours and a safe passage through security we were soon on our 1st plane, a journey of 12 hours to Chile. Went surprisingly quickly even after Katy telling Greg in detail how she had dreamt we would die on the plane!!! The creaking overhead compartments and the constant turbulance did not go well with the story.......
Landed in Chile followed the masses to the next flight this time a mere 3hours...woohoo!!! Landing in Argentina at about 5pm (local time) we had gone from GMTplus 11 hours to GMTminus 4 hours!!!! Approached the bus transfer companies and it suddenly dawned on us that we didnt actually speak Spanish!! Clutching some tickets we hoped would get us to our hostel, not totally understanding the ladies instructions we just loitered next to the bus until we were soon ushered on. As if the time difference was not confusing enough,we were left to believe this was a door to door service and we were again baffled when we were dumped outside some bus terminal.... Doing our best lost puppy impression (not that hard really!!) Some one took
La Boca....
Very colourful streets.... pity on us and chucked us into a taxi which was still being nicely polished by our driver. Unsure if we were paying for this white knuckle ride (Our driver had turned into a formula one racer) As we were dropped outside our hostel and he wheel span off we assumed not!
Approaching a huge wooden door on a deserted street the door was opened by a security guard and we were greeted with a wall of noise. However happy this noise included some expert Englsh spoken by the very helpful staff.
Even with severe jet lag kicking in, we could still appreciate how awesome the hostel was, going from 31 days in a van and traipsing across the carpark to a shower, we now had seperate actual beds, ensuite, fresh proper towels, and a TV which even had some regular channels!
First day we through ourselves straight into it and joined in on a walking tour, which took in the colourful streets of La Boca. Also Boca stadium where dirty Maradonna once played and a bit of street tango. Had a quality day had like one beer in the evening and our bodies were still screwed up so we
La Boca.....
Katy not really with me i carry a cardboard cut out and take photos........... headed for bed.
Deciding to hit the shops, having a vague idea where they were trying to avoid downtown as we had been advised of a mass protest going on...... Greg grabbing an Argentina footie shirt and Katy starting day 2 of trying to get a sim card! Greg being the paparazzi that he is wanted to go and see some monument in the distance (still dont know what it was for!) We soon found ourselves slap bang in the middle of said protest. Firecrackers, drums and megaphones creating a nice atmosphere. Thought we had managed to lose it until we turned down the final street to our hostel and we were again accosted by the masses! Navigating our way through we sought refuge in our hostel. Checking out of our room we were told we could dump our bags downstairs for free and hopped on another walking tour. Took in the older parts of town, enjoying a huge steak lunch, where we mingled with fellow travellers for 1st time in ages. Nice.
It seems that Argentinians like a protest as most of the centre was blocked off by taxis. It rained..... A lot!!..... and we got very bloody wet.
La Boca.....Agian
Start of La Boca........... Katy losing her patience (shocker) with people either laughing in her face or sending her back to shops we had already been to for a flipping sim card. Two wet hours later we called it a day.
Succesfully hailing a cab to get to the bus station we realised we did not know how to tell the driver to go there! Thrusting our ticket under his nose he got the general idea or so we hoped. Greg now mastering hello, thankks and a few choice numbers found our way to wait for our "super bus". Stepping on board we had heard these were pretty good buses but they totally exceeded our expectations! Huge leather reclinging seats (picture a Lay-Z boy) TV, Curtains, Blankets, Pillows both declined the drinks offered. Greg soon realising they were free and soon found himself eating a dinner watching a film knocking back a couple glasses of red although he did pass on the champagne!!! 16 Hours later we were at Puerto Iguazu! THankfuly it was a short downhill walk to our hostel as we were both ready to have a shower. Katy opting for the real deal Greg opting for a Spanish shower.
Kind of
Cat...........
A cat in La Boca.............. had a cambodian /Jamaican vibe to it what with Bob Marley in the background. A short bus journey and we were at the falls. Paid the foreigners rate of 40 pesos (8quid) Expecting just to bosh in and see them we were pleasantly surprised although higly unprepared for the numerous walks to take in all the falls. Also including a short train ride much to Katys delight. Spotted a load of racoon type things one of them trying to steal food from Katy. We say racoons but not too sure what they were quite cute though. Before we set off Greg looking at a falls broshure booked us on a little boat ride to give us close up views of the falls in a different perspective. However what started as a gentle ride on the water soon turned into a kamikazee run straight for the falls!!! Said before we were not prepared! Unlinkw the Spanish hollering, rain mack wearing guys behind us- who were loving it, we on the other hand were getting absolutely drenched trying not to swallow the water. Surfice to say we saw no new perspective other than how wet it was - An experience we could
Falls.....
Pretty impressive.............. have done without! Both of us creeating ministry of funny walks, Whilst Greg tried to not cry about his broken wet camera, headed for the 20min ride home......
Checking out, Greg as usual had the correct change, the 18pesos needed to pay for our washing - the cheeky mare tried to charge us again for the room we had already paid for and then just for good measure tried to charge us for a night we did not stay! Some broken English and Spanish were batted back and forth until finally we got bored and said heres your 18pesos adios...... (hey, we werent going back)
Headed for Brasil on a regular public bus, jumping off for the briefest immigration yet. Soon enough we were in Brasil! On arrival our hotel looked pretty plush until we were shown to our room, which was not so grnad obviously saved for backpackers!
Headiong straight out we were back on a bus going to the Brasilian side of the falls. Having been assured there was a cash machine there......Said machine did not work and although Mastercard and Visa signs were all over the place our cards were not accepted. Luckinly we had enough cash
Iguazu.....
Another one of the falls.......... to get the bus back.....
Later trying to get something to eat, both of us craving a burger we each chose an Americano, both assuming a burger with everything! What ended up on our plate was rice, chips, steak and egg and a lil greenery. Not ones to waste food we wolfed it down anyway! Deciding against a second visit to the falls we minced arund town enjoying the 1st blue sky we had seen in ages.
With yet another Lonely Planet recomendation (for those regular readers this will now be abreviated to LP or the Bible) we set off for dinner. Realising we would be the only diners there we came back a couple hours later. Rocking up in our combats and hoodies we wondered if we would even be allowed in! We were ushered to the salad bar exècting some sort of pizza hut affair but finding an array of delights, not knowing what half of it was piled out plates high! Having not been given a menu yet other than a diagram of a cow cut up labelling each part we decided we would opt for the sirloin....we soon realised our mistake as a man with a
Racoons....?
Not sure what they really were.... giant skewr arrived offering sausage this happened regulary thoughout the evening by the end of it we had eaten lots of the following, Rump, Sirlon, Mignon, Fillet, Sausage, Chicken, Pork ribs, Beef ribs, Lamp fillet, Lamb steak, Cheese balls, Onions, etc etc etc..............Both of us enjoyed seconds Greg predictibly for thirds! Greg even tried the Turkey testicles which were not all that!
Deciding it would be rude to come all this way and not visit Uruguay we set about booking a bus, as it turns out there is no direct bus route so we settled for two consequetive days of buses! Firstly a 16hr bus then a 12hr one YAY!!!.....
MORE PHOTOS TO FOLLOW HAVING TO CONTEND WITH INTERNET WHICH IS SOOOOO SLOW!!!!
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big sis
non-member comment
wow the falls look amazing what a view, bet they were lush apart from getting soaked ha ha all part of the fun i suppose making up for you missing out on the rapids before :) your steak dinner does look lush im not surprised greg went back for 3rds bet he was having a field day. loving the cardboard cut outs very colourful :) they must be some kind or racoon they look to similar to not be related somehow. xxxx