At the border you can get your Passport stamped with Brazilian exit stamps. However, you need a form you filled out in the airport. We needed a form which we filled out 17 days ago!!! Of course, Joe had the form but me and Ro didn't. We played dumb, saying we lost the forms, and got them to stamp our passports anyway.
Next to the Argentina border... I was sitting in the back of the taxi and when we got to the border the security guard was looking in the back of the car for Charles! At that moment, I knew the beard had to go!!!
We got our stamps and arrived at the Hostel Inn in Puerto Iguazu. This was not like any other hostel we had ever stayed in. I've stayed in many hotels travelling through Ireland but this place was as good as a three star! The hostel is on 3 hectares of land. It was a former casino but there was an economic downturn here in the 90s (according to Joe) and the casino had to close. Seeing the huge number of back packers coming to the waterfalls Hostel International took over the casino and changed it into a hostel, and they did a great job!
The reception area is huge, with pool tables, foozball tables, couches, tv rooms, a bar and a concierge! Out the front there is a huge pool and another bar! We got our own 4 bed dorm with our own toilet! All this for 36 peso a night. (That's e8.17!)
We headed to town and walked all over. We walked by the huge Rio de Iquazu. We finally reached the point where the three countries meet (Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay) and met a guy who took a load of pictures for us. We watched the sun setting over Paraguay and got the bus back to the hotel. (Sorry, hostel!)
When we got back Joe and Ro's dreams came true! There was an all you can eat BBQ that night for 25 peso, e5.68. Unbelievable! We sat in to eat and the food was amazing. Bean salads, rice, potatoes, beetroot (Ro's favourite!) and lots of other vegtable salads. However, the real interest was the meat. All kinds of cuts of beef, cooked to perfection on the BBQ. Steaks, cooked chicken and even sausages!
We ate and drank till we couldn't eat or drink anymore! Then the entertainment started. At first I thought it was just some guy playing a drum who would come around to us after and ask us for money, but no! He had two samba dancers hidden inside for our enjoyment! He brought Ronan up on stage and let him watch the dance up close and personal.
Ronan enjoyed the cultural experience and really got into it. Then everyone had to join in! It ended up with everyone up dancing samba like we'd been doing it all our life!
We ended up drinking with a group of guys and girls from England, Scotland and Ireland and had a great night until 5 o'clock that morning!
Already Argentina was living up to the reputation. Great hostels, brilliant craic, crazy dancing and late nights! Not to mention the meat! We knew we were going to like it here!!
Charlie
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