post rio

At the soccer game, we (i had met a swedish guy on the bus who was also going solo and we helped each other figure out where to go, buy tickets etc. well actually i mostly helped him because his portugese was even worse than mine, if that is even possible haha) sat in the section for the flamenco fans, one of the more famous rio teams. They were just like you see on tv, chanting and screaming the whole time, crying and kicking things when we were losing, etc. Which was hilarious to watch, and infectious to be around. There was this middleaged man and his 9 year old son sitting near us and he was answering all of our stupid gringo type questions. And at the end of the game (his team lost) he was so cute and asked for consolation hugs all around, slappping each other on the back and saying maybe next time- but he gave me a team bracelet to remember the day by, which was so cute.

After swimming some more on the famous Rio beaches (also after buying the token rio bikini just to seem less gringoish- seriously, EVERYONE wears them. or even less) Copacabana and Ipanema (which had waves so strong I thought I might drown in water not even up to my knees), it was off on another bus to Florianopolis, which is on the coast but further south. Found a hostel outside of the city on the island of santa catarina, at the praia do armocao, which was absolutely gorgeous. Huge palm trees, big waves, clear water, white sand. And it was so nice that I spent the morning in the water and then on the beach. Only forgetting that of course my new sunscreen is not waterproof, unlike the old one i just had, and apparently did not reapply often enough because I got a medium all over sunburn. Which I didn't think was too awfully bad until the next morning, when i was having little fainting spells just trying to get up and brush my teeth. And let me tell you, having sunstroke I'm sure is never a treat, but having to lay on disgusting hostel bathroom floors while recovering from it is pretty bad.

But after a few minutes of that, sort of got over it and was able to enjoy sitting outside (well shaded this time) before catching a bus back to the centre and on to iguazu falls. Visited both the brazilian and then the next day, the argentinian sides, and the arg is absolutely better. They're not as tall as niagara, but so much more massive and natural, they're just beautiful. Tons of tourists though, which get on my nerves, despite the fact that I am one, hehe. There's one catwalk part that takes you right over one of the falls and it's so misty that people have plastic bags over their cameras, are wearing their bathing suits and you're dripping with water after maybe 30 seconds. Really nice on such a hot day though. Plus my hostel had a pool, which is almost unheard of usually, but very very welcome. Felt so good to be back in Argentina to begin with, just because it's so much easier being able to communicate with people again and not feel like so much of a gringo. (funnily, people even ask me here whether I'm from here. I think they're just trying to be polite, but still, sort of flattering. and weird, after being pointed out as a gringo EVERYWHERE i go for 4 months)

And then after iguazu, it was another night bus to buenos aires and it hasn't even been 24 hours here yet, but I already love it. For a girl who usually isn't a fan of cities, this place is beautiful. Very cosmopolitan, but in an old fashioned, leafy and cultural sort of way. Am off right now to explore recoleta cemetary in one of the older more posh neighbourhoods, and then maybe meeting some friends to see an argentinian futbol match this afternoon. So much to do, I maybe will have to stay here longer than the week I had anticipated!! we'll see.....

xo