23.11.16 Paraguay and where am I?

I arrived in Asuncion in the middle of the night. But Romania was very understanding and opened her doors for me. She is a beautiful young woman with a beautiful daughter and even a beautiful job. She might be one of the only organic farmers existing in Paraguay. She told me about her hard work every day and how little it pays. But for her it's a passion and conviction of her profession.

As I arrived earlier as planned there was still another couchsurfer in the morning, Robin form England. We spend the day walking through Asuncion. In the night I cooked for Romina and some friends and we shared the thrill with the presidential elections in the US. Of course no one was amused. The next morning I was meeting with Robin again to go to Caacupe, a pilgrims town with a big cathedral. After we continued to San Bernadino, the very quite “San Tropez” of Paraguay. It was a beautiful day and we for once got to be the attraction at a school dance, as we asked to watch the children practicing.

In the late evening I took a taxi that brought me to the airport. I took a flight and after some cookies and a few hours of sleep I arrived in Panama city. I spend a beautiful day in the Panama Viejo and even made it, very tired already, to the Panama Canal. It was very impressive!

I made it to the airplane taking me to Los Angeles. As I finally made it through all the silly security process, Cosmo was already waiting for me with a car! I met him as he was an Airbnb guest in my home in Gerlingen. He took me with his lovely girlfriend to an In&Out for real American burgers and after to his place t taste some good American beers. We had a good, of course political, talk. So I could just get 2 hours of sleep before taking my Uber to the airport again. And then I finally arrived in Tulum, Mexico.

Escuela J.H. Pestalozzi

17.11.16 Las cataratas

So it´s a while that I was still in Brazil.

In the morning of the 3^rd we left to go slowly to Balneario Camboriu to see some of the beautiful beaches in the area. Our first stop was Porto Belo. A very nice and quite beach. After some more stops we arrived in Balneario Camboriu, where we took another room, for the last time. The next morning they left to travel more up in Brazil and I would spend the day at the beach and walking though town. Around 7pm my night bus to Foz do Iguacu left. Expensive again.
So Saturday the 5^thin morning I arrived in the border town next to the cataratas de Iguazu. At the terminal a Colombian girl asked me for help, as I was speaking Spanish. So I took her to my couchsurfer to ask him for a hostel. We decided to go to the Brazilian side of the waterfalls right away and together. It was just amazing. Breathtaking. I an just recommend everyone to go there. And to go to the Brazilian side first. Cause everyone tells you the Argentinian side is more beautiful. After that day I couldn't believe there is existing such thing as 'more beautiful' for what I've seen. On Sunday I needed to relax, do laundry and we spend some time in the mall with Maria and Dieuner. On Monday I got up early, as it is a long trip with public buses and the Argentinian side should be even bigger.
I spend all day to walk through all the different path getting more impressed by this piece of work from nature. Back to Puerto Iguazú and with another bus to Foz do Iguacu. Shower and running to the bus station for the bus to Paraguay. We weren´t sure what time the last bus was leaving. It turned out if left already. But a guy from Paraguay missed it too. So he found a taxi from Paraguay and explained, that thooe are way cheaper then taking one from Brazil. Stamp, bridge, stamp. I realized some differences even before we entered Paraguay as the driver and the guy just released their seat belts. But this part you already know.

07.11.16 Where am I?

Too much to tell again. In such a short time so many things happened.

Today I woke up in Brazil, went to Argentina, back to Brazil and 2 hours ago I arrived in Ciudad del Este in Paraguay.

So far the people are really nice, but the town looks fucked up after being in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Let´s wait for Asuncion, where to I´m heading right now. I arrived here with a taxi that I shared with a guy from here, as we both missed the last bus from Foz de Iguacu. First difference I noticed was, that right after leaving Brazil being on a bridge of 'no man's land', the taxi driver and the guy just released their seat belts.

At the bus terminal I needed to find money and a bus. The guy at the cheap 'Palma Lomos' booth was very helpful and took care of my luggage as I went to get money for the ticket. I came back and he safed me 1.000 Guarani`s as he didn´t had change. Then insisted I eat my bread in his booth talking about languages.

I start to understand what people meant by 'Paraguay is so cheap'. I payed 600 for a bread in the supermarket and 60.000 for a 7 hours bus ride to Asuncion (6.327 Guarani`s are 1 €). Finally a country I feel richer again. But not all will be that cheap.

But let`s finish the stories about my last days.

So the 2nd we spend all day driving to as far up as we could get in Brazil. So nothing special happened, except crossing a boarder with absolutely no control. Nada. I had to go and ask for a stamp. And I had a little drama in a bank as the ATM said my action was successful, but gave me none of the 350 Reales I asked for.

We arrived around midnight in Florianopolis and decided to not spend the night at the island, as it was dark already. We found a nice and payable hotel and shared a room.

After a good breakfast we drove to the island. The two just laid on the beach and my search for a doctor on an island on a public holiday began. As I woke up that day with an awful pain in my head. Long story short, I booked a flight the night before and I knew it was the cold that I had in Chile 4 weeks ago that finally got bad. 5,5 hours. First bus. Wait. Next bus. Hospital. Wait. Farmacia. Wait. Bus. Walk.

I mean who wants to enjoy the first really warm day in Brazil at a beach, watching the world championship in surfing, when he can have this?!

But I learned something: Going to a public hospital is free. Even for me. The infusion against the pain would have been too. As I thanked the doctor and told her how good that is, she said: 'Well the antibiotics you have to buy, as I can´t give it to foreigners. And you needed to wait.'

I could just lough. Try to wait less in a German hospital – on a public holiday. Or just simply when you have made an appointment weeks before. And no one wants to pay that bill.

As I came walking back the street to the beach, I realized that it might take a while for us to leave the parking close to the beach, as everyone wanted to leave now. I just wanted to lay in a bed and sleep, as I felt like shit and had still this very strong pain (painkiller is just not for me), but my luck didn´t came back the whole day. It took us 4 hours to leave the parking. One more to give up searching a cheap accommodation on the island, so we ended up in the same hotel as the night before.

(I know why this bus was 30.000 cheaper. Except from the old bus with a strong smell, it looks right now as in a public bus in Sri Lanka.) Guess it will be another night without good sleep for me.

Isla Florianopolis

Isla Florianopolis

01.11.16 It´s about to change

As I arrived in Atlantida I had no idea where to spend the night. The couchsurfer I had just canceled some hours before. So I started to walk around with all my heavy stuff and ask for the prices. But what I found was not worth the money they wanted. So I went back to the high way and put my thump out another time. An older man approached to me to let me know I´m at the wrong place for that. So he went to bring me to the right spot and payed the bus for me (number 5!). And as everyone he gave me his contact in case I need something. Funny as life is a Chilean with an Argentinian girlfriend picked me up and as we where talking I changed my plan and instead of seeing Priniapolis I went with them to Punta del Este.

The next day we went together to Isla Gorriti, which was nearly empty and had a beautiful beach.

In the night I decided to go with them to Brazil the next day.

Punta del Este

Punta del Este

Isla Gorriti

Isla Gorriti

Isla Gorriti

Punta del Este

Gull landing on a seal

28.10.16 Montevideo

Finally I have some time to write my first impressions down. I got so many by just being in this country for 5 days. But let me start with how I got here:
I had to leave Rosario in Argentina in the evening and would arrive in the middle of the night. Not the best times but the only. I was lucky that my couchsurfer in Fray Bentos had the day off on Monday, so he was willing to wait for my late arrival. But I wasn´t very lucky with the bus. As I was the only passenger who wanted to go to Fray Bentos they decided to not go and just let me at the highway next to a gas station at 2:30 am. And here my experience with Urugayans started. The guys from the station have been very helpful and friendly to find a taxi getting me at that time. But there was none. Neather cars going in the direction so they could take me. So in the end Guille, who´s car was broken, came with his little moto to pick me and my 3 bags up. We kept talking till 6 am. On Monday he showed me the little, but beautiful Fray Bentos. In the evening I got a Zumba lesson for free (second experience how nice people are here) and I ended up cooking “Spätzle mit Linsen” for everyone. Desert was “Kaiserschmarrn” and some really good artesania ice cream!
 

Fray Bentos

Fray Bentos

Fray Bentos

Fray Bentos

Theater in Fray Bentos

Spätzle mit Linsen

The next morning Guille took me to Mercedes, where I met a very nice couple and their 4 cats and one dog. I walked around town, enjoyed a vegan dinner and we ended up joking about Trump and having serious conversations over a lot of beers and self-made liquor Guille gave me.

On the 26^th Virginia and her Boyfriend left me at a spot next to the town where I left hitch hiking. A very nice guy from Montevideo took me to town. On top of taking me for free he invited me to lunch (number 3). I waited in the center for Gonzalo to take me home with him after his work. We had a chilled night with his friends. Thursday it was cold and very windy. So I just sat in a cafe place and went to do the theater tour and some yoga.

(29.10.16) But on Friday I saw the sun for the first time in days. I went to do the free city tour. I learned a lot more about the history and the political situation of Uruguay. As I bought a snack in the street a guy bought me one with his favorite taste, just so I will try it (number 4).

In the evening I went to the theatro Solis with Astrid and Gonzalo. I could´t understand all, but it was amazing! We went there for 75 Pesos (2,50€). The national plays are all around that price. Just foreign operas and plays are more expensive. After the nice play we went for some beers, gin tonic and dance.
The next day we spend a bit hungover in the public park and walking along the Rambla. So we spend a normal Saturday in Montevideo. It was nice to meet Astrid in our couchsurfers place. In the evening we went for an asado, but they made very jummy pizza instead of meat. It was a very nice party with really cool people.
Sunday Astrid left ot Colonia and I left to Atlantida.

Montevideo

Montevideo

Montevideo

Montevideo

Montevideo

Montevideo

Montevideo

Theatro Solis