The last two days in Sao Paulo were pretty fun. Saturday morning we woke up to pouring rain, but we didn´t let that stop us. We put on our rain coats and stomped off to the antique market nearby. Then took the metro to the bus station to purchase our tickets for the next night to the Iguassu Falls. Next we went to the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo, where they had a great exhibit of romanticism art. The most exciting part of the day was trying to find the Bela Vista neighborhood which is like a little Italy. On the map it looked like it wasn´t a far walk but maps can be deceiving. After miles of uphill walking we finally arrived in Bela Vista to find out they do not serve pizza until after 6pm!!! I was distraught. And after 6pm Bela Vista is not a place I´d want to be. Disappointed by the lack of pizza we trucked it back to the metro station and ended up making dinner back at the hostel.
Sunday morning was absolutly beautiful! Gorgeous day so we walked to a nearby park called Ibirapuera Park that was equally as gorgeous. However, since this was the first nice day of the trip, we absentmindly forget to put on sunscreen. Still feeling the effects of that burn 4 days later. Should be alright for the beach tomorrow though. We walked around the park and got some food and just enjoyed the day since we had a 16 hour bus trip that night.
The bus journey was surprisingly smooth. We did´t know what to except after some cruel ones in southeast Asia. We had plenty of leg room and the seats reclined so that pretty much all you can ask for. AND we did arrive early. Burnt and sleepy, we met a nice German boy, Dennis, at the bus station and shared a taxi with him to the hostel. We were unable to check in until the afternoon so after a quick shower we decided to take the bus to the Iguassu Falls on the Brazilan side.
Absolutly stunning. At first you can only see some waterfalls and those are so large and beauiful, but then more and more are revealed to you has you keep walking. It felt like it went on forever. The trip was pretty easy to do as well, but when we were taking the bus back all of the sudden like 56 people got on the bus at once which made me feel very lucky to have a seat.
Exhausted when we got back to the hostel, I took my first nap of the trip. I honestly could have slept until the next morning easily, but I got up cuz a girl has got to eat. We went to an area supermarket where they have a really nice buffet that was per kilo and sooooo cheap.
Argentina side of the falls was yesterday and if I thought that the Brazil side was amazing, then this side was spectacular. We took the bus to Argentina without the tour the hostel was offering because we could save a lot of money doing it. We had to take a bus to the Brazilan border and thought we had to get off to get stamped out but the bus driver told us not to. Then cross into Argentina, get stamped in, exchange money, get back on the bus, go into town, change buses to one that would take us out the the falls, and then finally arrive. It took about 2 hours, but totally worth it.
The Argentina side has much more to offer. There are 3 walks you can do out to the falls and get right up close to them and go under the water, which was nice since it was brutally hot again. Also, we walked through the forest to get the falls so we saw birds, monkeys, butterflies, and these raccoon type creatures. The Argentina side is much busier, but within reason. We spent most of the day there and then had to take the bus back, but this time it only took an hour and when the bus driver asked if we had to stop at the Brazilan border we just waved him on.
Today is a relaxing day as we get ready for another bus journey to the beach. The sunburn should be better by the time we get to the beach tomorrow morning. A few nights there, a quick stop in Porto Allgre and then on to Uruguay!
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