Look at this. Over a week late. Surpriiise. I just don't like typing all that much so I procrastinate and then have to do a whole lot at once. Kinda like what I did with vegetables as a kid.
Anyway, our trip started on a Saturday at 4pm. I have no idea why we waited until that late in the day to leave, but I never really know is going on during our trips here. Our bus drivers and tour guide for the week came and picked us up at the Casa. The bus drivers were great guys and actually hung out with us and went on all the tours with us. I cannot remember their names, but they were easily recognized by the girls as the attractive one and the other one. They reminded me of Bert and Ernie. Even their head shapes and thick eyebrows contributed to the comparison. The attractive one was Bert. We started off with a 20+ hour bus ride through Uruguay, Argentina and to our destination in Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil. We all checked into our hotel and Ben and I wandered around until we found our room number. Of course we had large room, great view of the back lawn with a balcony, and one bed. The perfect honeymoon suite, for me and Ben. It was just fine though, he talks to me enough in his sleep I feel like I know him pretty well.
Monday we got started nice and early at 8:30am, whoopee. We first went to a bird park. It was pretty much a Zoo with only birds. There were all kinds of parrots, toucans, eagles, owls, and storkish/flamingo birds. The parrots spoke Spanish! One would say "Hola" and of course everyone would giggle and then another parrot had mastered that as well and laughed right back at us. There were a few areas were the walking path went into the cages and the toucans and other birds would land right on the handrails! I was really tempted to touch them, but they told us a girl bled last semester because a toucan bite her. Not the smartest thing to tell a group of mostly girls. After walking through that we went to the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls. From here we on the other side of the river from most of the waterfalls and had a great view. The next day we spent the whole day on the Argentine side of the Falls. There we got to walk right on top of and beside the waterfalls. It was incredible! The best part was the last area of the Falls that we saw. They call it The Throat of the Devil. it is almost a semicircle and there is so much mist from the water that you can't see where the water goes. Insane.
Other than the Falls there wasn't much to the trip, other than all the FOOD. We had to provide our own lunches each day, but other than that every meal we had was a buffet. I actually got tired of food by the end of the week.
Well, there are only 20 more days, 8 class days, until I return to the States. I am getting so excited about people and things that I have missed! At the same time, I know that I am going to miss Uruguay. The things that I have learned and the friends that I have made here are the best. Life is so different, but it is now normal. It will be interesting to see how I cope with being back in the States. There are so many things I have learned to live without. Quality napkins, free water, free re-fills, Chipotle, southern hospitality, English, reliable internet, my phone. I can't decide whether I will indulge in these things or just appreciate them more. But there are things that I hope to preserve in my daily life from Uruguayan culture as well. this is probably the last post I will have from Uruguay, considering my beautiful track record. I hope have enjoyed keeping up with my travels and I will see you in a couple weeks!
