Chad Writes Stuff

I never expected in my wildest dreams that today could top yesterday, but it did, by a multiplier of 20.  Don't get me wrong, Brazil side is powerful and a great preview of what is in store, but the argentina side is awe inspiring. We started the day off with a trip to a nearby 4 star hotel for breakfast.  Our guide recommended it because he felt it was better than the breakfast offered by our hotel.  The cost was about 24 reis or 12 dollars, but it was worth it.  Fresh eggs, chorizo sausage, fresh fruit, fresh pastries and good coffee. We had to go through customs again which was quick. We arrived into the park and walked to a miniature train station.  We then took a 20 minute ride to our first stop of the day which was "Garganta del Diablo" or Devils throat.  You walk over the mighty river, which just happened to be 4 meters over normal level.  The pace was slow because of all the tourists and because Noah and I had to use the restroom before we head...

I awoke today on the bus at 6 am as we made our final portion of the drive into Puerto Iguassu.  The sun was shining on this glorious day and everything seemed perfect driving this last stretch of Argentina.  We arrived into Puerto Iguassu at about 8:30.  We were met at the station by one of Martin's GAP friends.  We put all our bags into one van as we piled into another because we had to to through customs in Brazil. We cleared customs and got to the Hotel Cassino at about 10:30.  This gave us time to clean up, grab some food, rest up and settle in before our 2pm departure to the Brazil side of the falls.  Noah and I walked to the supermarket and grabbed some water and some food and decided to eat it at the park.  The ants were enormous and I think they could have carried us away.  After lunch, we moseyed back to the hotel and waited for the gang to show up. The drive into the park was pretty cool.  It was a two lane road that lasted about 7...

Today I woke up early (6:00...go figure) to write in my journal.  I went to the lobby and dropped off my laundry.  I went around the corner and sat down for breakfast.  It wasn't free at this hotel but was only like $4 or $5 dollars US.  Hope, Jeff's wife again joined me on this day.  She advised that she doesn't sleep past 5:30 no matter where she is.  She started to chat with me, so journaling became a forgone conclusion.  She is very sweet and loves to talk, so i let her.  Her and Jeff have been married for 38 years (1971 the same year I was born).  Jeff worked in law for the US government and Hope was a teacher.  They have 3 beautiful children and one of them is getting married in October.  I learned a lot about them on this day. At 10am we headed out to the thermal spas.  All the locals were staring at us standing in our shorts, waiting for the bus, in the chilly Salto air.  Noah was asked by a local to speak with a w...

Today was the best morning yet for me.  I woke up early and decide to take advantage of some solo time and the free breakfast.  Actually, Its the coffee I am looking forward to the most.  I want to catch up in my journal, read and enjoy the scenery.  To my surprise, Jeff's wife, Hope was already down having coffee.  We chatted for a good two hours and I caught up in my journal.  The clouds kept the sun from peeking out and the grayness of the city reminded me of a cool Paris morning.  I felt like I was lucky to be at this exact spot, at this exact moment and that it would never be repeated in history. We left for the bus station early, at approximately 10 a.m.  Today we take a 6 hour trip to Salto.  There is not too much in Salto, but I believe it is a staging point so we are not on the bus for 30+ hours.  Salto is directly across the Rio Uruguay from Concordia, Argentina.  Salto's main attractions are the nearby hotsprings at Dayma...

Woke up at 8am today and decided to go down and write in my journal and enjoy some coffee.  I at a great (free) breakfast with ham and cheese on break and some delicious fruit and some pineapple.  I wrote in my journal for a while and was joined by some other members of our group.  I sat with them and listed to all their stories and jokes.  I laughed and I live. We decided to walk around town and go to the Ramblas to see the beaches in Montevideo.  We ended up going in side the "Mercado del Puerto" which was featured on "No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain".  We didn't eat because we were stuffed but there was so much food and such a great aroma coming from this place, that I wanted to devour the meats and have an ice cold beer to wash it down with, but I didn't. We walked down the the Ramblas Francia, which turned into Rambla Bretana, and became Rambla Republica Argentina along the Rio de la Plata.  It was a long walk and the water was definitely mu...