True story. Who knew you can go inside?
Tag: Argentina
They’re Waving Your Flag
For those of you out there that are still out of the loop, the World Cup started today (with two tied games, Mexico-South Africa and France-Uruguay.) Argentina has its first game tomorrow at 11am (our time). Already every single street vendor in the city is selling Argentine flags, horns, blue and white striped hats, socks, shirts, gloves, underwear, onesies…everything. On the news tonight the #1 story was a combined “The first shots of Argentina before their game with Nigeria” and interviews with Maradona’s daughter, Dalma. From our 4th floor apartment right now, as we prepare to go out, I can hear people singing, yelling, and honking their horns in the streets.
Brace yourself.
Update: Brandon pointed out to me that “Now wave your flag”, not this title, is, in fact, the final line to the WC song. Whatever.
Molly leaves…
After some rockstar partying, serious bus rides, fantastic trips, awesome bottles of wine, and a delcious steak dinner, at 3:50am this morning our buzzer rang and a car took Molly away to the airport. She will be traveling around Bolivia for the next week and a half and will be stopping back in BA for one night before she flies back up to Canada. We miss her already.
Drew Arrives!
So, since our bus was 2 hours late coming back from Iguazu, Drew had to wait outside our apartment for about 2 hours. But he is a good sport and we all managed to find each other.
Welcome, Drew!
Iguazu Falls
Though it’s a day trip from Buenos Aires, if you ever have an opportunity to go see Iguazu Falls, DO IT.
The four of us arrived at Iguazu after a (not so bad) 18 hour ride to the Northeast part of the country along the Uruguayan and Brazilian border. The falls sit in a national park in between Argentina and Brazil. We stayed on the Argentine side in Puerto Iguazu (largely because crossing into Brazil costs US citizens $130.) We got to our hostel around 9am and (without even showering…gross) set out to catch the bus over to the falls.
Even though it’s technically late fall/early winter here, the weather in the rainforest at Iguazu was high 70s and humid. Sweaty. We took the bus ride to the site, which is a maze of metal bridges that take you over (like, literally, RIGHT over…or in some cases, under) the falls.
The rainforest is full of crazy flora and fauna, including an enormous variety of butterflies, which are EVERYWHERE. (Due to a lack of salt in the area, butterflies are attracted to the salt on your skin, so they fly around trying to land on you and lick your skin…which is weird.) With the mist from the falls obscuring the ground below the bridges, the weird coatis walking right up to you, the butterflies landing on you…the place is surreal.
The biggest falls in Iguazu is La Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). Words really can’t describe, so I won’t waste my time. It’s just something you have to see for yourself.
The next day we had a few hours before our bus left, so we walked to Las Tres Fronteras, a point where the Paraguayan, Brazilian, and Argentine borders meet over the Rio Iguazu and Rio Parana.
Our bus ride back was not quite as easy as the one there. But we made it back safe and sound (if a little tired) to find our next guest waiting for us at the front door.
For more pics of the trip to Iguazu (and the rest of our time here), visit here.
The bus ride
Dear Expreso Singer Bus Company,
Thank you for the cold congealed egg-quiche thing for dinner in both directions. It was delicious and almost made up for the fact that we got in 2 hours late. Also thank you for showing: Brigada Explosiva: Mision Pirata, Time Cop 2: The Berlin Decision, and The Shephard with Jean-Claude Van Damme. Fat old men ogling former porn stars while they chase around a person dressed up like a monkey is not only quality entertainment, but also super appropriate for the small children on board. On that note, discouraging families with multiple children under the age of 6 on trips exceeding 15 hours might not be a bad policy to consider. Also, the military personnel boarding the bus, searching through our bags, and waking up said children (and us) in the middle of the night–twice–seemed a little excessive. But again, the 2.5 hours of pre-pubescent vocals from La Banda Ruta 66 concert at full volume made up for any and all inconveniences.
P.S. Two thumbs up on the company motto (“Disintegrating an atom is easier than a prejudice”). Catchy.
On our way…
Molly, Jesus, Paul, and I will be heading out to Iguazu Falls this afternoon until Thursday. It’s an 18 hour bus ride north to the Brazillian border, though the buses have “camas ejecutivo” (executive beds) which are basically huge lazy boy seats that fold completely flat. Apparantly they serve you food, wine, and have bingo games where you can play for alcohol. Will let you know how that goes.
Be back Thursday!
Molly Arrives!
Dulce de Leche
The national food. I was super excited to give it a try, since there was so much hype around it, and then was a little (but not really) disappointed when it turned out to be plain old caramel. (Because really, how disappointed can you be when you discover that you just landed in a city where it is considered completely normal to eat caramel straight out of the package with a spoon?)
Thank you to Paul for the really flattering picture.
Favorite Street Name
It’s also a town, we’re going there later this month.
Rambulatory Ambulatory 
