Anybody check out where we went? The northernmost tip of Argentina in a little tourist town called Puerto Iguazú. So many great adventures this weekend! It'll take several posts to tell all the stories!
We got in Friday morning and found an awesome little jungle lodge to stay in. It was like a resort, surrounded by steaming jungle, flowing waterfalls (one right outside our door on the back balcony), and split rock walls. It was gorgeous and exotic! Jonathan spent a few hours on work stuff; I spent a few hours relaxing by the pool. It was hot and humid, and the water felt marvelous. Jonathan did come join me for awhile!
That evening, we did a little exploring as we drove through the national park. We found a huge lake and crossed over a dam.
Even all the way out here, if there's data, there are emails to check!
The lake in the setting sun.
The jungle and waterfall view from our balcony.
Were were tired from the early morning flight, not to mention the crazy week, but we stopped for a late dinner where Jonathan had to order the Pacú. Apparently, as a kid, he played some Amazon computer game (like the Oregon trail, but in a canoe down the river) where he had to catch fish to survive, but the trick was to avoid the pirhanas and keep the pacú.
Local pacú dinner.
What an ordeal! If I knew how to say that in Portuguese, I would. But I don't. Because I don't speak much Portuguese. Uh, oh! Jonathan and I brought one complete harvest system up to Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, with the intent of crossing it into Foz do Igauco, Brazil and delivering it to Charles Zatta, a contractor we'll be working with who lives in a small town about 45 minutes outside the city of Foz. Beyond just the delivery, the idea was to get a taste of Brazil, see how we would do communicating, and acquire cell phone sim cards. First stop, the border crossing. After the ordeal in Argentina when we tried to carry a system in, we were more than apprehensive, but we had all the right documents, and hopefully it was just a matter of paying the duty. Still, we were fully prepared for the whole rigamarole--hours waiting at the border as a power-hungry guard tried to extract as much money as he could from us in fines. This was not the case, however. Not at all. As we pulled into Brazilian customs, we looked around for declare lane signs, or something like that. Nothing. We followed the car in front of us, who pulled past the speed bump, past several little booths all closed off, past a guard in a uniform who payed us no attention...and all of a sudden we were through. That was it? We were so confused. Where do we declare what we're bringing into the country? Where do we show our well-fought-for visas? Maybe it's up ahead. But after several kilometers, it begins to dawn on us. That really was it. All that worrying, and that was it. Well...okay...that was easy.
Driving across the bridge over the river that acts as the border between the countries.
Next stop, cell phones. We went into 3 different stores before we found a certified dealer. With lots of pointing to our phones and mimicking making a phone call, they got the picture: we wanted to buy chips for our phones. There was lots of chatter between the employees, they called in a manager. During this entire interchange, we were utterly lost. No idea what they're saying. Every 5-7 words I'd catch something that sounded like Spanish and I could kind of piece together a loose idea of context, but not much. However, success! We did walk out of the store with working phones! We were 2 for 2! Little did we know the biggest challenge was up ahead!
Leaving the city, it was easy to find our way toward the small town Elias, the English-speaking farm manager we're in contact with, told us was home to Charles. He couldn't give us an address, but told us to go to the gas station in town and ask for Charles Zatta. We were starting to see how this could be challenging. How are we supposed to ask for him? Does Elias know we're Portuguese-challenged? Needless to say, it was painful. We walked in and asked several bystanders and a few employees, "Charles Zatta"? Confused looks. Again, "Charles Zatta"? More confused looks. Finally, Jonathan has the brilliant idea to show them the name on his phone. "Oohh, Shas." Finally, recognition. The way they say it sounds nothing like how any American would pronounce Charles. We're given several phone numbers. At first we can't even get them to work, then we get through, but to no one who speaks English, so we get hung up on. Finally, the cashier takes pity on us and calls for us. After the phone call, she rambles on for awhile, but Praise the Lord! our Pimsleur lessons finally pay off and I recall enough to figure out that she's saying he'll be coming to the gas station in one hour. Perfect. We leave and find a shady spot to package the system in 2 smaller boxes rather than the giant suitcase. We shoot an pleading email off to Elias, who soon calls us. He tries to get a hold of Charles, but he doesn't answer.
We're back at the gas station after 45 minutes. We wait. And wait. And wait. He's 15 minutes late. Then 20. Now it's been 30. There's a shift change and our helpful cashier is leaving. She calls Charles again, but there's no answer. She's nice enough to explain our predicament to the next cashier who also agrees to help us. We wait some more. Finally, our new friend, points at a truck that's just pulled in. That must be him. We shake hands and in halting Portuguese, introduce ourselves. We look up the word for package and then show him the 2 boxes labeled: Para John Carroll Family Farms, Brazil. He asks questions. We give confused looks. Then he gets a phone call. It's Elias. They have a long conversation during which, I assume, Elias explains what he's supposed to do with the boxes. After that, we try some more halting Portuguese about how long till he goes to Bahia, Brazil, how long till we arrive there, that we came in a car from Argentina, now we're going back to Argentina...basic stuff. We shake hands and say thank you. Actually, I use the masculine form for thank you, and he smiles and pats me on the shoulder, correcting me. We say thanks to the friendly cashier and retreat back to Argentina where at least I can make heads or tails out of what they're saying.
We might have some interesting Brazil experiences up ahead! Time to get back to Portuguese lessons!
Side note: does having 5 different currencies in my wallet make me a world traveler?
See if you can identify all 5!
Any guesses which is most valuable?
We made it back to the Argentina side by late afternoon which left the evening to explore Las Cataratas, or Falls. Think Niagra Falls, but higher, bigger, more impressive, and surrounded by jungle instead of hotels, restaurants, and gift shops. Less Orlando-without-the-rides, and more National Park-esque. We hadn't planned on making this trip up to the border with Brazil, so when the chance came up, we thought it'd be well-worth it to get to see the falls! But...that'll be a post in and of itself!
Dad and I did look up your location from facebook on the map. We wandered if that big national park close by would have the waterfalls. I can't wait to see the pictures, I bet it was breathtaking!!! thanks for trying to face time, we tried back but could not get through. miss you. keep trusting and gathering memories. love you lots.
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