Hola yall!!! It has been a few days and there is a very good but long reason as for why, so how about we start at the begining!
JAN 3/2007 at 7 pm- we get on the bus for along journey! We were trying to go from La Paz, Bolivia to Cuidad de Este, Paraguay. The reason we were trying to go there is because there are world famous waterfalls that border on Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. You know how everyone likes to see some good waterfalls!!!!!!
Jan 4-2007 at 12 noon. We get off our first bus in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, yep thats 17 hours!However this bus had beds and was relitively nice. We managed to make it a fun bus ride! 8 hours till our next bus left so we got a room at a close hotel and got prepared! The next bus was the big one! 25 hours!
Jan4- 2007 at 8 pm we get on the bus. This bus however did not have beds like we paid for and was not nice at all. Matt and i were not so happy but well what are you going to do?
Jan 5 2007 5.30 am The emigration check stops begin! First one is for Bolivia, no problems here! Next stop they get everyone and there bags and get a crazy sniffer dog to go over eveything and then after that you have a police guy search your entire bag, this included Karalynns panty bag hehe.Were backpackers right! that means everything in your bag is placed there perfectly. Did we mention this is when it started to get really really hot and humid!!!!! LIke +40 HOT! Ok so we get through that!!! Now the next one was the imagration to Paraguay. There we are eating some shitty chicken dinners and its our turn to go in the office. No problem. Then the imigration guards start going off about how we Canadians need a visa to get into Paraguay. We had asked this question of many people not to mention going through all those previous stops, knowone said a thing. Ok so all it took was $100 dollars and we got 4 days to get through and then out of Paraguay. Back to the bus!!!!!!! +45 now!
Jan 5 2007 at 9.30 pm we get to Ascuncion, Paraguay. Now we had paid for a night at a hotel in this town, and the following day we were saposed to arrive at out final destination. Of course when we asked what hotel and where no one had an idea, so our only option was to get on another bus and get to Cuidad de Este that night. We are pissed right off now! Beacuse if you having been doing the math this will make it 45 hours on a bus in just over 2 days. What do we do, well we get on the stinking bus at least this one had air condtioning and pass out!
Jan 6-2007 5 am We arrive in Cuidad de Este YAHHHHHHHHH!!!! But nothing is open. We go to the best three hotels and they are not taking guests until 7 am. We end up going across the town to find the shittest hotel. There were beatles in the bed, and matt was freaking out. Not really though.
Jan 6-2007 1 pm project get us out of Paraguay starts and with every idea we get a big fat NO. We did need to eat during our mission, and lets just say everyone is skinny because they dont. When they do eat they memorize what the restaurant serves because restaurants dont have menus. Did we also mention that Karalynn could not understand anyones spanish nor could they understand hers so just one more problem! The day ends with no options out of Paraguay because nothing is open on the weekends.
Jan 7-2007 Another shitty start as we cant find anywhere to eat. We walk forever and finally the only thing we find is a sign that says Burger King 1 min. We give in!!!!! We walk way more then just 1 min probley a good 45 mins and all we can find is a MacDonalds. By the way the Mcdicks is way better here. Karalynn tries to use the internet and even though they are open and other people are using the computers the man simply wont let her use the computer. We finally find away to get to Buenas Aries, Argentina which is another 12 hour bus ride away and $120. We buy a ticket and all is good right? We have come all this way to see the waterfalls so lets go see the waterfalls. As we are driving to the falls happy as can be, the driver turns to us and says we are crossing into Brasil. Mucho problemo, no visa for Brasil Either. The driver explains that it will be fine. This gets us thinking so we ask him if we can do the same thing for Argentina. Yep we can. It wil cost $30 and 40 mins!!! Now we have to get our money back for our tickets to Buenas Aries but refunds really dont exist here! We go back to the bus station Karalynn turns on the waterworks and 1 hour later we are in Argentina at one of the nicest hotels in one of the nicest towns we have been in. Its hot and jungle like!!!! If your paying attention that means we crossed into 3 different countries in just about 40 minutes. Kinda cool we thought, plus we got to see Brasil with out having to buy a $100 visa.
Jan 8-2007 We went to see the Iguazzu Waterfalls. They were beautiful. We took a speed boat right underneith and got soaked! It was so much fun!!! Got some great pics dads! Tommorow we are going on a multi adventure! We are going on canopys, some wet repelling and we also get to do some trekking in the jungle!
Sorry Fernald we dont think we can make it to Cuba, but we would definetly love to. Aunty if your reading dont screen your phone calls all the time please! Grandpa i am going to do my best to find your friend John! I have already started! Say hi to grandma for me. Cam i always new that you liked to do naked snow angels but really your New Years sounded like something outa high school!!!! Kory and Jen if your reading and not writting you should write!!!
Bud thanks for all the info, cant believe Cowher retired. Dad I´ll do my best with the Argentina Versacold. Barbara we havent heard from you and you did not respond to my phone message. Gi, Tani, Amber thanks for writing. Love you guys. Gi sorry to hear about aunty Gloria, thats horrible news! Cant believe grandmas in the hospital, I´m so sorry. Give her my love and tell her I´m praying for her.
Well we are going to eat and there is no lack of good restaurants here! Awesome buffet last night. Karalynn liked the dessert. We hope you all have a good laugh or cry over our story and we will talk to you all soon!!!
Much Love
Karalynn and Matt
JAN 3/2007 at 7 pm- we get on the bus for along journey! We were trying to go from La Paz, Bolivia to Cuidad de Este, Paraguay. The reason we were trying to go there is because there are world famous waterfalls that border on Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. You know how everyone likes to see some good waterfalls!!!!!!
Jan 4-2007 at 12 noon. We get off our first bus in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, yep thats 17 hours!However this bus had beds and was relitively nice. We managed to make it a fun bus ride! 8 hours till our next bus left so we got a room at a close hotel and got prepared! The next bus was the big one! 25 hours!
Jan4- 2007 at 8 pm we get on the bus. This bus however did not have beds like we paid for and was not nice at all. Matt and i were not so happy but well what are you going to do?
Jan 5 2007 5.30 am The emigration check stops begin! First one is for Bolivia, no problems here! Next stop they get everyone and there bags and get a crazy sniffer dog to go over eveything and then after that you have a police guy search your entire bag, this included Karalynns panty bag hehe.Were backpackers right! that means everything in your bag is placed there perfectly. Did we mention this is when it started to get really really hot and humid!!!!! LIke +40 HOT! Ok so we get through that!!! Now the next one was the imagration to Paraguay. There we are eating some shitty chicken dinners and its our turn to go in the office. No problem. Then the imigration guards start going off about how we Canadians need a visa to get into Paraguay. We had asked this question of many people not to mention going through all those previous stops, knowone said a thing. Ok so all it took was $100 dollars and we got 4 days to get through and then out of Paraguay. Back to the bus!!!!!!! +45 now!
Jan 5 2007 at 9.30 pm we get to Ascuncion, Paraguay. Now we had paid for a night at a hotel in this town, and the following day we were saposed to arrive at out final destination. Of course when we asked what hotel and where no one had an idea, so our only option was to get on another bus and get to Cuidad de Este that night. We are pissed right off now! Beacuse if you having been doing the math this will make it 45 hours on a bus in just over 2 days. What do we do, well we get on the stinking bus at least this one had air condtioning and pass out!
Jan 6-2007 5 am We arrive in Cuidad de Este YAHHHHHHHHH!!!! But nothing is open. We go to the best three hotels and they are not taking guests until 7 am. We end up going across the town to find the shittest hotel. There were beatles in the bed, and matt was freaking out. Not really though.
Jan 6-2007 1 pm project get us out of Paraguay starts and with every idea we get a big fat NO. We did need to eat during our mission, and lets just say everyone is skinny because they dont. When they do eat they memorize what the restaurant serves because restaurants dont have menus. Did we also mention that Karalynn could not understand anyones spanish nor could they understand hers so just one more problem! The day ends with no options out of Paraguay because nothing is open on the weekends.
Jan 7-2007 Another shitty start as we cant find anywhere to eat. We walk forever and finally the only thing we find is a sign that says Burger King 1 min. We give in!!!!! We walk way more then just 1 min probley a good 45 mins and all we can find is a MacDonalds. By the way the Mcdicks is way better here. Karalynn tries to use the internet and even though they are open and other people are using the computers the man simply wont let her use the computer. We finally find away to get to Buenas Aries, Argentina which is another 12 hour bus ride away and $120. We buy a ticket and all is good right? We have come all this way to see the waterfalls so lets go see the waterfalls. As we are driving to the falls happy as can be, the driver turns to us and says we are crossing into Brasil. Mucho problemo, no visa for Brasil Either. The driver explains that it will be fine. This gets us thinking so we ask him if we can do the same thing for Argentina. Yep we can. It wil cost $30 and 40 mins!!! Now we have to get our money back for our tickets to Buenas Aries but refunds really dont exist here! We go back to the bus station Karalynn turns on the waterworks and 1 hour later we are in Argentina at one of the nicest hotels in one of the nicest towns we have been in. Its hot and jungle like!!!! If your paying attention that means we crossed into 3 different countries in just about 40 minutes. Kinda cool we thought, plus we got to see Brasil with out having to buy a $100 visa.
Jan 8-2007 We went to see the Iguazzu Waterfalls. They were beautiful. We took a speed boat right underneith and got soaked! It was so much fun!!! Got some great pics dads! Tommorow we are going on a multi adventure! We are going on canopys, some wet repelling and we also get to do some trekking in the jungle!
Sorry Fernald we dont think we can make it to Cuba, but we would definetly love to. Aunty if your reading dont screen your phone calls all the time please! Grandpa i am going to do my best to find your friend John! I have already started! Say hi to grandma for me. Cam i always new that you liked to do naked snow angels but really your New Years sounded like something outa high school!!!! Kory and Jen if your reading and not writting you should write!!!
Bud thanks for all the info, cant believe Cowher retired. Dad I´ll do my best with the Argentina Versacold. Barbara we havent heard from you and you did not respond to my phone message. Gi, Tani, Amber thanks for writing. Love you guys. Gi sorry to hear about aunty Gloria, thats horrible news! Cant believe grandmas in the hospital, I´m so sorry. Give her my love and tell her I´m praying for her.
Well we are going to eat and there is no lack of good restaurants here! Awesome buffet last night. Karalynn liked the dessert. We hope you all have a good laugh or cry over our story and we will talk to you all soon!!!
Much Love
Karalynn and Matt
posted by Karalynn at 2:12 PM
7 Comments:
hey matt its amber grandmas fine now she didnt have to have a surgery. sounds like ur having fun haha miss you lots talk to you l8tr
hi guys, good to here from,was worried about the flooding.so sounds like bus trips are out of guestion when you get home,and i cant beleive matt was ok with the bugs in is bed,plus not being able to find a restaurant.he must of be pissed.write soon
love mom.
HI TIFF AND MATT: WOW. First of all, GREAT to finally hear from and of your recent adventures. Mom and I have been checking the blog site two or three times per day, looking for news. She is off to work now but I will call her to let her know you are safe. Isn't international travel fun. Now you are really into it...as I was thinking before that "this trip is really going smoothly". My take is that in every country of the world it is customs and immigration that rule. And you can never predict what will happen as it is so dependent upon the person you actually have to deal with. Sounds like you got off with still some dollars left in your pocket. This is why I take Casio watches, American cigarettes, magazines, etc--as they often serve a very useful purpose. What a great experience and story you have for the rest of your lives. If you want contacts in Brazil, let me know, as you know Tiff, I have fantastic connections there for you and they have already said that you should come over and they will take care you and all of your needs. Snow, blizzard warnings for tonight and tomorrow here in Calgary. Junior Canadians won the gold medal game against Russia (4-2). Canada had a great first period. Plus 8 on the temps today then mimnus 20 or so tomorrow with a wind chill of minus 30 they say. So, Matt, I can sympathize somewhat with you but not for very long :). What's the big news today--Calgarians all confused over the smoking ban which came into effect this year. Some pubs are letting people smoke anyway and others are lodging complaints. Cam, Joe Wiebe, and I went to the motorbike show this past weekend. This was definate "eye candy" for us all. I was looking for a motorbike for you Tiff. The new Ducati is one sweet bike--but its around $20,000 cad. But I did find some good options for you to look at. I really am enjoying the new truck. It really is too big--so, have to go look for a trailer or 5th wheel to justify it now --just kidding--I am truly thankful for it. Well, let me know your plans re hotels, and if you want to meet my friends in Brazil. Love you and miss you. Dad
Hi guys! Am relieved to finally hear from you! What an incredible adventure! Am lloking forward to hearing about where you're planning on going next. Your comfort zones are really bing stretched. Am not sure I could do it. I did get your message and: Yes to the city package - am working on it and will get in in before the date, even if I have to drive downtown. Lost the number for the results, found it on the w/e so will call on Thur. And I've forgotten what else you asked me to do. love you-mum
Hi Tiff: I just booked Marriott rooms in Buenos Airies. The reservation confirmation number is
81253961 from Jan 25 and checking out on 27th. It includes buffets, lounge access, and is junior suite--should be very nice. It is the only marriott in the city, so you can likely get the address off of the internet. We can cancel up to the evening of the 24th. Please let us treat you on this. Dad
Hi Karalynn, and Matt,
Sorry I haven't written in a while; things have been a little nuts. School has started up again, and I got an essay assigned the first day. I've got a new job; I will be dealing bacara on camera to gamblers in Asia. Sounds a little strange, but it's $15 an hour and you're only on camera for 30 minutes, then you get a 30 minute break, so I can do readings and research for school. James and I are doing well; we managed to sort through everything, we're just taking things a little slower. I sent you cuba pics (to your e-mail) but I sent it under my sylex@bust account so don't delete it as spam. Anyway, I just got back from school and its been a hectic day so I'm going to go chill out, but I promise to be better about writing you. It sounds like you're having a crazy time; hope all of it isn't spent on buses.
Love you so much,
Jenn
i was getting worried for acouple days there when you guys didn't write glad your good but sounds like a ruff trip! i don't think i could do it you guys are tuffer than me! sounds like this place is pretty nice so i guess it was worth it. ejoy it while you can. have fun! ttyl sheila
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