Hola mi amores,
Un gran beso de Corrientes!
Yesterday, for the first time (and probably the last ), I entered into a country illegaly. Yes, that´s right, little, rule-abiding me, crossed the border into Brazil sin visa. Canadians, I fear, need an awfuly pricey visa (somewhere in the $100-150 range) to visit our Brazilian friends, or to do it legitamitely anyways. I, however, chose to skirt the system and failed to identify myself at the border crossing. Now, before you all start to worry, I was only in Brazil for a mere 4 hours and am now safely back in Argentina. How did I do it? And why?... Well, you see, after a little over a month of madness in Buenos Aires, I decided that it was time to get out of that beautiful and often overwhelming city and get moving. I am elated to have made that move and feel great to be on the road. Still carrying that stupid cold, and fearing that I may never leave BsAs, I took the easy way, avoided a 16 hr bus ride, and took a plane to the town of Iguazu, a mere skip and a jump from some of the world´s most captivating and impressive cataratas (waterfalls).
I arrived in Iguazu Friday morning and checked into the main backpacker hostel (feels like summercamp). Shortly afterwards, headed into town to a lookout point where one is standing in Argentina, but looking across the river at Paraguay and Brasil. Took it easy that night... The next day was incredible as I, along with a group from the hostel, spent the day on the Argentinian side of the falls. We couldn´t have asked for better weather, as we took an uninspiring jeep tour (a totally miss-able part of the package), and a boat ride up to the falls. The boat ride mixes a nice river ride with a bit of adventure as the boat dips into the spray of some of the falls. They provide you with dry sacks and warn you that you will get wet, but nonetheless, I was unprepared for how wet I would get. Drenched to the bone in the powerful spray of awe-inspiringly beautiful falls... We spent the remainder of the day drying off while hiking the various trails and overlooks, and marveling at this incredible natural wonder.
While it is generally agreed that the Argentinian side of the falls is more beautiful (as it allows you to get up close to the falls), a view from Brazil provides you with a nice overview from the other side of the Rio Iguazu (Iguazu river). I had basically made peace with the impossibility of a visit, but in speaking to other travelers, it seems as if Brazil has a pretty relaxed border. If you don´t choose to get off the bus and identify yourself at the border, than you can enter into the country relatively undetected. In fact, most people don´t bother to get off the bus. I was traveling with two dutch girls who elected to disembark in pursuit of passport stamps, while I remained on the bus, nervous that at any moment, an angry border guard would get on, demanding in forceful Portugese that I go back to from where I came. Alas, no guard, no nothing. I sat on the bus like the locals, waiting for the tourists to get their stamps, and drove on into the country undetected. The Brazilian side, while less impressive, is certainly worth a visit. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
While the Argentinian border is much more serious than their friendly neighbors, I had no problem coming back and was back in time to take an overnight bus to the city of Corrientes (a relatively unvisited spot, conveniently located almost half way to Salta). It is from here in Corrientes that I write this post and send you my love from down south.
Next stop: Salta.
Much love and thoughts,
Amy
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Hola Toots,
ReplyDeleteI am envious. I've heard so much about these falls, and from your description, it far exceeds any words that you can use to describe them. I can't wait to see your pix. Well, you never fail to amaze, and I'm really glad that I didn't have to come bail you out of a Brazilian jail, but you were wise to take the chance and just follow the crowd getting into the country. You know that it's what I would have done. I think that the whole visa thing is a result of some Canada-Brazil flare-up caused by Canada demanding that they get visas to visit here. SO, the whole thing's bogus to begin with. Anyhow, it's another feather in your world-traveller cap. You really sound happy to be on the road and meeting all the surprises around every corner that traveling presents. It's so exciting to have a plan and then watching it come to fruition, or just planning the general outline and having the world fill in the blanks. You can make it up as you go along, which I know is your favourite modus operandi. Are you learning alot as well? Gaining insight into life there and how it differs from here? You've now resumed seeing things through the eyes of the traveler as opposed to those of the resident (albeit temporary). Are you well-fed? Are you warm/cold, sick/well, high energy/low energy? Meeting nice people along the way, either fellow travelers or residents? How's the Spanish doing? As you can see, I have a lot of questions, but we think and talk about you alot, and are always wondering how it is going. 3 months is a long time away, even though it probably feels like it's speeding by. Buy anything interesting lately? Well, do so. No regrets, okay? I know that you are very aware of the shipping/ schlepping dilemma, and I still think that you might want to book your last nights and send your stuff there, so it will be waiting for you and you won't have to drag it around. Yet, I know that you will figure out what to do on your own and then do it.
Well, Amy, I'll end this now. We wish you continued happy roads ahead, positive experiences, exceeded expectations, cherished memories, crazy times, beauty, and above all else, good health and safety in your journey. You are, after all, our Amazing Amy.
Love ya,
Dad