Desperate and Lonely...

I´M ALLLLLLLLL BYYYYY MYSEEEELLLFF::singing::

After another week in Buenos Aires, I found myself stagnant and ready to leave. I still had numerous places still to see and had about 2 weeks to do it in; WHERE´S MY TRAVEL AGENT??? As a result, I booked a nine day retreat to visit Iguazu Falls (200+ waterfalls in Argentina and Brazil) and Salta (Western Argentina). During my stay in Argentina, I acquired a large entourage of acquaintances who I did most of my sight seeing with who made my days go by quite fast and enjoyable. But now, that I am leaving, I will no longer have a buddy to go touring with or having meals with; IT WILL BE JUST ME.

Thinking my spanish was improving, I thought venturing out on my own to other parts would be easier than when I began my excursion three weeks ago - also because the further you area way from Buenos Aires the less English they speak. Over the course of my trips, I´ve developed a knack for almost missing all my busses, but making it one minute before the leave - like the driver is on the bus about to back out the space and the luggage compartment is closed. 18 hours of solititude on a ridiculous nice bus - WINE, CHAMPAGNE, DESSERT, BED, MOVIES, HOT FOOD!

Although, I´ve noticed that whenever I´m by myself and looking around at my surroundings, I find myself missing my family and my friends; especially my big brother. **sidenote** I realize more and more as I travel that there was so much that my brother did not get to see and experience as a result of his untimely passing, and I wish he was here so he could take part in this adventure with me. ::sigh::

As I approach Iguazu, I get excited for the natural wonder. Really, how does the world produce 200+ waterfalls...AMAZING. I am just hoping that the weather holds up so I can see a rainbow or two and take some pictures - it is supposed to be Thunderstorms the whole time I´m there.

SUNSHINE...that is all I see when I arrive in Iguazu, therefore perfect opportunity to take some pictures and visit the falls. On this afternoon, I have a guided tour of the Brazilian side of the falls - there are two sides; an Argentinian and Brazilian side. The Brazilian side is shorter and easier to tackle in one afternoon for it only gives you like a panoramic view of the Falls. Since I know no one and it seems as if I am the only American on this tour, I become a mute. Everyone speaks much too quickly for me to understand, so that´s my best route. I´ll just be that picture taking tourist.

To my delight, it is a special time of the month when the Falls allows you to go at night to do a Full Moon Excursion; I´M IN. Seriously, FULL MOON and WATERFALLS - weather don´t mess with me tonight! During this nighttime excursion I see this stunning woman traveling with this elderly woman - I try not to stare, but I get caught at times. The younger woman approaches me and asks me something in another language...womp womp - didn´t understand jack squat. I continue to take pictures but realize that my camera couldn´t focus on anything - too dark and I don´t have a steady enough hand. NEXT PURCHASE TRIPOD! Yet by the end of the trip I made a makeshift tripod and caught a pic or two that seems worthy enough to keep.

745am rapidly approaches...it is time for me to go on the Argentinian side, yet it is cloudy and overcast...BOOOOOOOOOO! But I see glimpses of sunlight in the horizon, I am determined to make this a good day. Hoping to run into that beautiful girl again on the bus, I anxiously wait to see who we pick up. As we pass her hotel and not stop I thought I would never see her again. As we tour, there is so much to see and marvel at. SIMPLY AMAZING!! And as I take pictures, who do I see?!?! She is there again...woohoo, EYECANDY! (NO I didn´t take any pictures of her...I´m not a stalker).

We break for lunch, and I have no one to dine with...so I will eat alone. That is one of the downfalls of this trip, I´m basically a mute for the entire time unless people have patience for me and my lack luster spanish. So I did what I do best; people watch. Guess who sits at a table next to me??? The girl and her grandmother (foreshadowing...how did I know it was her grandmother). I must have looked desperate and lonely, the next thing I know the girl says something to me rapidly in Spanish and the older women says " Would you like to join us??" They say that I shouldn´t have to eat by myself. That was nice of them. It was interesting interactions, because they spoke some English and I spoke some Spanish, so we helped each other. I found out that the grandmother brought her to Iguazu as a reward for her graduating high school with good marks - 18 isn´t too young for a wife is it?!?! We talked for almost an hour, they told me of places to visit and see while in Argentina for the remainder of my trip. They explained to me why they carry American money when they travel instead of Argentinian pesos - It´s because for their savings, they convert all their money to the dollar as an investment so when they travel they have more money that way...smart cause the dollar was rising by the day and it is supposed to catch up with the Euro by the end of the year. Not wanting lunch to end, I get beckoned by my tour guide. The girl asks me where I was off to next in my adventure and what I was doing tomorrow..unfortunately I was leaving to go to Salta. Parting is such sweet sorrow ::tear::tear::...

I guess being desperate and lonely isn´t all that bad...LIVING FULL OUT - Desperate and Lonely!