It's amazing I have so much time here to write but I feel so lazy to do so. But I think now is a good time since I'm happier than I have been after talking to Jaz, Alfredo and Marzhel. Don't get me wrong, I'm not unhappy but I'm freezing (it hurts my bones) and today it rained so it was kind of a chill day, too cold to explore... So I'm feeling a little lonely. My throat is starting to hurt and I wanna be at Tom and Rhondas or more specifically, on their couch with soup!! It's ok though and I know it'll pass very soon. Still glad to be abroad and experiencing new things.

Punta del Este is basically the San Diego of this area. During summer it's very touristy, pretty expensive hotels, cool beachy bars and clubs for young people. Tourists come from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. BUT at this moment it's off season. Cold, now wet, and most places are closed due to lack of tourists. But for me it's okay, it's calmer and quieter and the cool thing is it also has forest. So you have the water and beach area then on the other side of the street it's more trees and dirt roads, very peaceful especially with rain outside and lit fire place inside.

Most interesting thing I've found so far: instead if house numbers they have names. And that's used for your address, cool huh! I love it. And the houses are so cute here, very country :-), with names like "New Life," "Golden Roof," "The Macarena," and I'm staying at "The Grandchildren"... Funny.

Tomorrow if it doesn't rain I hope to go to Piriapolis, a nearby part of town that I heard is nice. Then tomorrow night at like 11pm I take the bus to Brazil!!! In all honesty, Im liking buses more. I know it sounds longer but its less complicated and more comfortable. You have your bags safely with you, and can stop and get off and stretch. I like it. Arriving Friday morning to Porto Alegre and Tuesday Rio de Janeiro. And THAT is how I'm surviving this cold... Imagining tropical fruit, beans and rice, San Diego temperatures, good music... And I also can't wait to see Maria Elena and Paulo Cesar, the couple I'm staying with (who were tutoring me in Portuguese in San Diego). They are so warm and funny, they said I could stay there the whole month. They live in a good area of Rio, Botafogo where you can see the famous Jesus statue! Plus, I'll finally have time to unpack my bags and be comfortable. And wear sandals again!!! I'm very appreciative with them and I think I'm going to love Rio.

Now I just need to survive one more cold night in Uruguay!!