Nov. 18, Rio

Gosh, we love Rio!! Slept til 8:30!! Day was on our own. Took a cab to a shopping center in copacabana. 6 or stories, but didn't see anything. Then walked to beach and walked along the famous walk. Tried to walk to the water, but burned my little feet, even with sandals on! The hotels wet a walkway in the sand to prevent burned feet. Walked along the beach on another perfect day. Then took a cab home which made an 8 hr day. J and E went on the optional tour so we didn't meet up until happy hour in the lobby bar before our farewell dinner. Oh, when R and I got back to hotel we put our footies in the Atlantic.

We had our farewell dinner in the hotel with another mojito-like drink. All delicious. I think even my neck has gained weight!! I don't remember my necklace being so tight.

Anyway, it's been a great trip with some great folks. We four are brand new to GCT. Many have been many times to exotic places. One lAdy has been on 17 trips. One guy goes on a trip every other month!! Must be nice to have that much money!!
Most go at least 2x a yr. and have their next trip planned and paid for.

I'll reflect tomorrow, but our program director has been the best!! We're trying to figure out how to stuff her in our suitcase!!

Nov. 16, 17, Iguassu to Rio

Spent the 16th mostly hanging out at hotel waiting to get our 2hr. Flight to Rio. Rio is home to about 16 mil. On bus to hotel, passed by favelas or shanty towns that are depressing, but evidently they have established their own communities. An optional tour is offered to visit one. I think we'll pass.

Arrived in the rain The Sheraton is on the water and we have as great view of Ipanema beach. Spent the evening having dinner at the hotel.

The city tour started early at sugar loaf passing many city spots and beaches. Sugar loaf is the highest of 2mnts and you have to take a tram to the first on and then another one between the 2 to the top of sugar loaf! Spectacular views frm top. You'll have to wait for pix. The next stop was another mtn. Where Christ the Redeemer is. For this you need to take a small train straight up the mtn. The trip took 1/2 hr each way and went through a rain forest.

The view from the top is another one of those times where words can't do justice. We could see The Redeemer had been rained on from Sugar Loaf, but the weather got better and better until it turned into a gloriously sunny day, hot, boy with a tropical breeze blowing.

Back on the bus to the national cathedral which is cone shaped and looks nothing like a church. The best part was the included lunch in Copacabana at a churascuria, where they bring all kinds of BBQ meat to the table andshave it off for you after the huge soup and salad bar. Very fun.

The next stop was the gem store where they showed us a museum, and explained how and where the gems were mined. Then we were given another mojito-like drink while we were ambushed by sales people and pressured to buy. There may have been good deals, but 10k was out of price range. I'll stick to jewelry tv.

After escaping, the four of us walked along Ipanema beach until we found a cab. Elaine caught Rodger's cold and felt crummy, so we had a dinner picnic in the room.

Tomorrow rodg and I will do some shopping and walking along the beach. No probs with stealing or anything----so far, although there is a strong police presence everywhere, ESP. along the beach walks.

More to coMe, but not much more.

Btw, the beaches are pristine and very inviting.

Happy bd. Katie!

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Nov. 15, Iguassu Falls, Brasil

The breakfast buffet was incredible. There was even an omlet chef, which was a welcome change from runny scrambled eggs!

Then a short bus ride to the park entrance. One of our gals opted for a helicopter ride so we waited for her before entering the park. Again no waiting in long lines and our own bus. The guide told us the walk wouldn't be as long and thankfully is was cloudy and not so hot!!! And he said we would be up close and personal or under where we were yesterday. There were tons of people everywhere and all of them in my way.

It was a downhill walk with several breathtaking stops along the way. Words cannot adequately describe nor can pix record the sound of the scenes before us.

We continued to almost the bottom of the falls and took another catwalk to overlook part of the falls. The mist was so thick--you got soaked!! It was worth the cost of the trip. Thankfully an elevator took you back up to the top where we had lunch. The 4 of us signed up for an optional trip on a jeep through part of the forest and a zodiac under the falls. So here we are in a rain forest and it has the nerve to rain---and rain hard--so we couldn't go. Darn.

So back to resort to listen to thunder whilst we napped. We are all going to a dinner show tonight that promises to be colorfully cultural.

It was a great day. Tomorrow, back to airport for Rio!!

I love being retired!! : )


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Nov. 14, Iguassu Falls, Brasil

Breakfast at 6:45 and on the bus at 7:30!! Sure like the airport experiences with lots of help.

1 1/2 hr. Flight. Got off plane and into the muggy rain forest area to the I. Falls national park on the Arg. side. We met our new local guide who took us into the park. We never have to wait in line for tickets or anything. It's easy to get spoiled. It was sooo hot I had to wear a wet paper towel around my neck. We took a small park train to the catwalks of Devil's Throat area of falls. Covered with100 percent deet, I saw not one mosquito, but thousands of kinds of butterflies. You literally had to shoo them away from your face.

Then we walked 1 1/4 miles on catwalks over the Iguassu river in the midday sweltering heat to a magnificent view of the falls. As frigid cold as Bariloche was, this place is frigging HOT!! about 99 pcent humidity. You really feel you are in jungle like surroundings. Anyway, the falls were breathtaking!! They have had about 3x more rain than usual, so there is lots of iron oxide sediment in the water so it all looks muddy. The guide says the falls are super full and loud. The falls are the widest in the world- over a mile wide. We gawked for as long as we could stand it and then hiked another mile and some back. Myclothes were absolutely soaked. We were sure a sorry looking bunch.

Back on air conditioned bus to cross the border into Brasil. Another smooth crossing to our hotel which is a very nice resort. We were given the Br welcome drink which reminded us of mojitos sin mint.

There was time for a nap before another included dinner at the resort, complete with entertainment. Evidently, B. Is known for buffets. It was wonderful.

Then back to our room for happy hour with E and J and one our $8 malbecs we toted across the border.

Let's see if the falls pic below gets sent.

Love u





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Nov. 13, Buenos Aires

Today we went by bus to the delta region of B.A. full of little isolated islands that are inhabited. Parts of it had been developed for the wealthy in the early 1900s. Now it's full of rowing clubs. We took a river boat along into the islands and visited a school that GCT sponsors. $10 from each person from each trip goes to a GCT foundation that supports schools in primitive areas. GCT has added a wing on stilts because of flooding and equipped it with classroom furniture. There are about 300 kids attending up to the 8th grade. After that there is no opportunity for further education unless they can live off the island. The kids had a little program for us and then we each were escorted around the school by a student. Ladonna, my escort, was 7 and very bright. She was fascinated with my camera and figured out how to view all my pics. She took some pics and was thrilled. The area was very hot and depressing.

We went back to hotel for a free aft (shopping at a very cool mall) and then the farewell dinner for the 12 folks going home. Dinner was at A restaurant in the ver cool port area. 11 of us are going on the post trip to Brasil. We had a delicious malbec which was $8 so we bought 3 to take with us to Brasil! No probs crossing the borders with liquids.

Early start tomorrow for plane to Iguassu Falls on the Argentine side.


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Nov. 12 Buenos Aires

In Argentina, they say Buen Dia intead of the typical because they only look at one day at a time. They never know about tomorrow because of instability.
They also pronounce "ll" as "sh" instead of a "y. " So it's como te shama- not Yama.

Our city tour was very interesting and full of beautiful buildings. The people here look very European and find the men are very attractive as a whole

Our first stop on the city tour was the cemetary. It's huge and very ornate--about 7 x fancier than New Orleans. In some you could see and almost touch the caskets. This ia also where Eva Perrone is buried. Our guide told us her history and what the peopllw thought of her. She was quite controversial and now has become what our guide described as a myth.

Then to a leather factory where they shoes us different kinds of hides used. Then we only had 1/2 hr to shop. Rodg and I didn't buy anything , but I almost did--a pink leather jacket for $140. Already have leather jackets so did't buy it.

Then we saw the "pink house" where the Pres. Conducts business and Evita made her last speech, as well as other gov. Buildings. It's a popular place for demonstrations which there were many and the riot police present.

Our next stop was an Italian area where they had handicrafts which were way overpriced. Then back for aft.on our own. Had lunch nearby at an outdoor cafe then nap until our tango lesson which was at the hotel. What a stitch. Rodger and I are getting good at the leg kicks and swivels, but have not perfected throwing me overhead and around his body like a baton, but we have high hopes. : )
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Then we enjoyed an optional dinner and tango show in a beautiful building. The show was amazing and so was dinner, but it made for a late nite--1 a.m. And an early day tomorrow. A fun day.
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Nov. 11 Buenos Aires

Flew two hours this a.m to B. A. home to 13 mil people. Our hotel is close to most everything, but no ice machines or wash cloths sadly. We have been warned repeatedly about crime. When we took a guided walk around our hotel, some raggedy street children tried to steal a pocket watch from one of us. Rodg calls them varmints and really reminds you of slum dog mil.

This eve we were divided into 3 groups and were taken by bus to homes (apartments) of local residents for dinner. This is a hallmark of GCT- our tour company. Our hosts-a single mom and her mother, who spoke 5 languages, spoke very good Eng. We talked of politics, economy, and raising children. The older woman was from Croatia and so is one of our travelmates, so it was even more interesting. It was very fun.

Tomorrow ia a city tour for 4 hrs. and then time on our own. Then Tango lessons in the evening followed by a tango show and dinner. Will take lots of pics.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Love ya

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