It's been a strange whirlwind of history and cities, work and crossfit, random adventures and new friends.
After leaving Paraty, I got a flight to Do Iguazú. Right on the border with Paraguay and Argentina, the falls are massive.
They wrap around as far as the eye can see. On the Brazil side where I checked out the falls, it's mostly water. I've heard from across the way - in Argentina - there are more trails to check out, but my schedule and budget didn't allow more exploring this time.
I arrived early and did the trail backwards - highly recommended to anyone who wants to avoid crowds. When I was returning, the overlook that had been relatively empty when I arrived was packed with hundreds of tourists.
There's also the border of the three countries. Lord knows I'll never get a good picture of me anywhere.
The next day I took a moto taxi to the border with Paraguay. I got my exit stamp from Brazil and walked across the friendship bridge to Ciudad Del Este. Unfortunately it was Sunday and it was almost a ghost town, but I wandered around looking at the few open markets and stores.
I was struck with how different it felt from Foz just a couple miles away. It felt dirty and chaotic, but honestly I loved it. People were friendly and I was thankful for the break from Portuguese to speak a little Spanish.
There wasn't anything to do except stop at a mall - a fancy upgrade from the majority of the city i'd seen.
Aside from the few tourist attractions, there wasn't much in Foz except 95 degree weather every day and no air conditioner. So after a weekend exploring and two weeks working, I crossed the border to Argentina (thoroughly disappointed that they have retired passport stamps) and hopped a plane to Buenos Aires.
I was immediately enamored by the city and it's European feel, and on my first weekend walked something like 10 miles on a self guided tour I'd created.
I explored the famous neighborhoods, Palermo (my favorite,) Recoleta, the woman's bridge...
(I love the huge parks in this city!)
La Boca - known for its colorful buildings and touristy markets and shows. I stopped here for lunch, accompanied by a tango show.
Buenos Aires is also known for it's endless markets, so I took advantage and got some super creative crafts, art, and gifts for friends.
One of my favorite places was El Ateneo, a huge, famous bookstore in a old round building that feels like a museum and even has a cafe in the back.
I also met up with a couch surfing group (one of the best ways to meet friends.) And we shared food and drinks and good chats and went to explore the nightlife.
With some people I met that night, we planned a roadtrip a few weekends later for my despedida (goodbye) from Argentina. We left the big city and explored some small towns.
(Just being kids :D)
(Mate...everywhere)
We stopped at a resort with an overcrowded pool and some cows and horses. They weren't too friendly, but I'd met a nice one at our first stop.
My favorite, had lovely shops and cafes, a huge cathedral (one of the biggest in South America) and an expansive plaza with people dancing a typical Argentinan dance.
My new Argentinian friends also took me to a typical barbeque with some Mendoza wine. It was all dirt cheap for basically an all-you-can-eat meat buffet.
A cool part of visiting Buenos Aires is that it's just a ferry ride away from Uruguay. I planned put my trip and even though some people said it was tight, it turned out to be perfect.
I got a taxi to the ferry station where they simultaneously give you an exit (but no stamp) from Argentina and an entrance stamp to Uruguay.
I boarded the ferry and three hours later arrived to Old Town, Montevideo. I fell in love with the cobblestone streets and historic statues as well as the huge markets and plazas.
Just as in BA, I walked something like 8 miles exploring the city. My favorite, the Rambla, a long Riverwalk that runs along the ocean. One of my favorite things about both cities was the amount of green space. Plenty of room to run or relax on the grass without getting crowded out by dogs and residents.
(Find the mate...EVERYWHERE!)
The next day I took a bus through the Uruguayan countryside. The route was the most similar to the midwest USA than I'd ever seen. Windmills and cows and cornfields, silage bags, rolling hills, and lush green grass reminded me so much of home.
The midwest vive soon gave way to a little colonia town, Colonia. I've become a fan of exploring all the Colonian villages I can, so this one, being quite small, was a bit disappointing after the lovely Paraty in Brazil.
It had a few cobbled streets and markets and cute shops, as well as a lighthouse, but that was about it. I spent a bit of time exploring and enjoying a delicious coffee before getting another ferry back to Buenos Aires.
Mate...Mate everywhere. It was definitely one of my "funny" highlights. People in Argentina and Uruguay carry around their cup of mate and a thermos of hot water to refill. I got the chance to try it...Tastes like grass to me and I don't quite get the thrill.
Even though I'd love to explore more of Argentina, especially the south and more of the countryside, I've realized I've lost the drive of traveling alone. I'm so thankful for my life style and being able to work full time as I travel, but it's a lonely life. Since I can't stay in a hostel dorm due to my work, my human interactions are limited to brief meet ups and daily gym. I've found myself longing for more and deeper human connections, so after a couple weeks just living Buenos Aires life, I decided it was time to head back to my familiar land. I booked a flight for La Paz, excited to return to some dear familiar friends and my favorite apartment ever.
(Another highlight of Argentina, meeting my long-time student, Juan. :))
(Water Museum)
(My cute little Buenos Aires apartment)
Milanesa. Not a fan of the egg-breaded chicken, but all the appetizers and lemonade were amazing!
