Home.

Have been back for 1 week. Still sick. Should go to doctor.

Pictures/recap soon!

Brasil

Ah Rio. So hot. And green. But mostly hot.

Tummy is grumpy. Cheer up, tummy!

Saw Jeebus and Pão de Açúcar. Brasil not cheap like Argentina, and taxi drivers not as nice. Wallet is sad. About to get sadder when I spend all my money on souvenirs at market tonight. Rio still pretty, and I sometimes understand Portuguese a little. This makes me happy.

I like juice. Ate açaí on Ipanema beach. Felt pretty touristy.

Don´t make me leeeaaaveeeeeee. :(

Adiós, Buenos Aires!

Lunch with Peruvian/Argentinian family was best meal of trip. Good Spanish practice.

Tango show was fun. Ate too much again. Eat too much every day. Food too cheap. All that working out for Brazil wasted.

Bought lots of things. Probably too many. Hard to resist though. Everything so cheap, including taxis. I like being driven around. Have been told that my Spanish is good. Each time has been followed by me messing up next verb. Maybe these are just attempts to get me to buy more things. It´s working.

Fútbol was intense. Took picture with Maradona look-alike, though only part that looked alike was hair. Lost sister at one point and was forced to spend 1st half thinking of best way to tell Mom and Dad that I lost their daughter at South American soccer match. Found her at half time. Boca won 3-0.

Gaucho day was fun, though the four of us were only ones there. Was hoping to meet people. Managed to lose camera in the yerba, but our guide searched and found it. Thanks, Alex. Never galloped on a horse before. Have video. V. sore.

Pub crawl after gaucho day probably not best idea, but fun anyway. Slept in sort of. Lunch at burrito place that was suspiciously like Chipotle. Tasty.

Last meal at Los Inmortales. Best thing about most meals is dessert. Why is ice cream so good here?

Love BA. :D Everyone so nice.

Rio tomorrow. Why am I awake? Must sleep.

24-hour time.

We really must remember about 24-hour time.

In other news, had steak. Mmm steak.

Tomorrow = city tour, lunch with real live Argentinian family, shopping, tango show?
Sunday = Market, Boca fútbol
Monday = Horsie riding, pub crawl with people from hostel
Tuesday = ?
Wed = flight to Rio

Bienvenidos a Argentina!

Have made it to hostel and successfully made reservations for Boca Juniors football match on Sunday. Hope we don´t die in football riot.

V. tired. Never can sleep on planes.

Hostel Suites Florida v. nice. Lots of people but no hand soap. Don´t know why.

Pizza everywhere. Also, loving how "llaves" now begins with shhhh. Hoping my Spanish skills shape up pretty quickly, although did teach Lex new word to describe how she feels today(cansada). Going on night walking tour now. More soon.

V

Departure Day

It has arrived! Leaving to get Potbelly mmm sandwich and then off to the airport. Ta ta for now.

V

Boa noite.

Leaving in one week. OMGWTF.

Have been trying to learn some Portuguese phrases for Brazil.

Oi, como vai você? Onde fica o banheiro?

Es más difícil que el español.

packing list (so far):
camera
film
charger
iPod
clothes
omg shoes
sunglasses
bathing suit
sunscreen
travel journal
bathroom things
monies
umbrella
address book (to send you a postcard)


What's missing? Comment. Now. Do it.




Days until departure: 8

I still need to...

buy:
camera battery
at least 6 rolls of film (Yes, I still have a film camera. I love it. So shut up.)
rain coat
suitcase locks
purse
flippy floppies
travel-sized everything
...a new dress? :x

find:
Dad's digital camera
200 more dollars

finish:
my thesis









Days until departure: 10

Visa.

Woo. Visas in hand. Glad to report that passport was not lost in the abyss. Am v. excited about tiny holographic Brazil.

Days until departure: 11

Our Trip to the Brazilian Consulate.

SOME SUITE IN SOME BUILDING IN HOUSTON:

Small Brazilian flag hanging in the window: Hello! I am the only indication that this is the Brazilian consulate!

Sarah and Me: *take two tickets that say ADMIT ONE (what, is this a state fair?) and sit down*

Everyone else: *waiting patiently in line*

Lady at the visa window: Number 73...73....number 73...Anyone? Bueller?

Some guy: *goes up to the window to turn in forms*

Lady at the visa window: [to some guy at the window] You have to pay $20 since you are applying for a third party.

Some guy: Cool. So where in Brazil are you from?

Lady at the visa window: Sir, I am not in the mood to be hit on right now.

Some guy: Wah.

Me: Oh no why doesn't the website say that I have to pay $20? I have Lexie's forms and no cash and omg what if she makes me pay omgomgomgomgomgomg!

Sarah: Dude, chill out. I have $20.

Some guy who has no idea what's going on: *cuts in front of everyone* Um, I just have a really quick question...Uh, my flight is next Friday...so like, what are the chances that I can get a visa by then?

Lady at the visa window: *audible sigh* Sir, it is going to take a minimum of 7 business days to process your request. As it is CLEARLY indicated on the piece of paper taped to this window AND the website AND should be common sense . *seethe*

Everyone else: *glare*

Some guy who has no idea what's going on: No but like, I tried to fill out the form online and and it didn't work. So since your stupid website doesn't work, you should make an exception for me and give me a visa RIGHT NOW OK?

Lady at the visa window: Sir, do you see all of these people waiting behind you? They ALL KNOW HOW TO USE THE INTERNET. And you're wasting their time.

Everyone else: *glare*

Some other guy that works at the consulate: *appears out of nowhere* Sir, do you have the rest of your forms? Do you have a photo? DO YOU HAVE YOUR ITINERARY???

Some guy who has no idea what's going on: Yes, I have all of that, it's right here.

Some other guy that works at the consulate: Okay, you're saying you have these things, but you're not showing them to me. I need you to show them to me.

Some guy who has no idea what's going on: They're right here! *waves papers*

Some other guy that works at the consulate: Okay, you're saying you have these things, but you're not showing them to me. I need you to show them to me.

Some guy who has no idea what's going on: *facepalm*

Sarah and Me: o_O

Lady at the visa window: *calls our number*

The visa application process: *is not as intense as I thought it would be*

My passport: NNNOOO DON'T LEAVE ME!!! You will never see me again if you leave me here in this stack of applications! Nooooooooooooooooo. Goodbye, cruel world.

Waiting in line:

Man hitting on visa lady: