South America is For The Dogs... Literally

So we said good bye to Uruguay today and I'm a little sad to move on, well to move on from Montevideo, but so much Salto. Salto was pretty lame. We arrived last night in Salto at 10:30ish and I hadn't really planned what would happen next. So I wondered around the bus station trying to find out where there was a cheap hotel or hostel, or at the very least an outlet so I could try to figure something out using the computer. Finally I found an outlet, but sadly my computer wouldn't connect to the Internet. Felling very frustrated and somewhat overwhelmed, I sat on the floor thinking of my options. I could call mom and have her look up info but it was 5pm in the states meaning she would be on her way home from work and not near a computer, plus I didn't have a phone card needed to use the bus station phone. Then I thought I could text message Adel with the name of a Hostel I knew and she if she could find an address but texting is expensive and I had no cell reception. Then as if by magic by computer connected, it still said it was not connected but I was opening webpages left and right. I found the address and we grabbed a cab and off we went. We got to the hostel which was set up more like a hotel, they had a room with 2 beds and the room even had a TV in it!!! It's pretty crazy that a private room for two people with AC and TV was 600 Uruguayan Pesos which is about 24 dollars US. Anyways we got some sleep and then the next morning we explored Salto, which lasted for about an hour. Salto is very small and not to exciting. We opted not to go to the hot springs but instead took the ferry and headed for Concordia, Argentina, working our way to the Argentine wetlands. When we first got to Concordia my spirits dropped, the town seemed to be such a dumb and I had no idea where we were going and where anything was for that matter. The streets where dirt roads, and other than a few stray dogs we were the only living things around. Finally after walking for several blocks in the heat with all of our bags we found a hotel. I went in side and was trying to asking for any information that could be helpful, when I noticed the WiFi zona sign. I asked the woman if I could use the WiFi and she showed me to a nice cool sitting area and off I went. The lovely woman was soo helpful, she even called the bus station for me and found out what bus company was going to where we need to go to next and the different times that were available. The best bus for us to take was the one that leaves at 2am... this way we arrive in Mercedes at 7 am rather than the other option with would put us there at 1:30am (much scarier to be in a foreign place at 1:30am than 7am) So I figured out a plan of action for getting to the wetlands, and then Jim and I decided to get a room at the fancy hotel so at least we'd have a home base until we left. The hotel staff is amazing, the woman set up a wake up call for us and will call us a cab so we don't have to walk 17 blocks to the bus station at night.

After all that was settled I decided to take a walk minus the gear and go to the bus station early to buy our tickets. The uber planning junky hasn't fully relaxed yet. So I walked the 17 blocks to the bus station and realized that the town of Concordia is actually rather lovely. The streets were clean and well groomed and the people were rather friendly. I greatly enjoyed the walk. When I got to the bus station I had no problem getting the tickets and even found a telephone cabinet and called mom and dad. I then wondered back and stopped again at the little bakery I had stopped at before and bought 5 pesos (less than 2 dollars) worth of little palm cookies, they are soo tasty. And well kids that brings us right about up to the present where I'm sitting on the hotel couch writing this blog.

So I'll finish up with a few little notes. One Argentina and Uruguay is literally for the dogs, we see stray dogs all over the place in every town we've been to, but all of them are mild mannered and don't bother people at all. They're actually kind of a nice addition, although you do have to watch for poop while out walking.

Also in Uruguay I discovered Caipirinha!!! Which is my new favorite cocktail. It's Brazilian liquor (similar to rum but better) mixed with fresh lime or lemon juice, lime or lemon pieces and sugar, served over crushed ice. It is very refreshing and just the right balance of sweet and tangy.

Well I guess this entry is long enough. So when we get to the wetland I won't have any access to phones, banks, or Internet. So unless I log on in Mercedes I'll talk to you all after the wetlands. Much love and miss ya'll lots.