10:15 - I seem to have come full circle as I sit here waiting for boarding at the same gate that we left for Salta from just over 5 weeks ago...although there is one marked difference: I now have so many great memories of the places I have seen and the people that I have spent time with over the past 6 weeks.
The flight for Iguazu leaves in about an hour and after a difficult start this morning where Sunitta managed to keep my driver waiting 20 minutes even though she was not even supposed to be on the transfer, I have managed to loose her here at the airport :-). She does have a cheek...she jumped on the free transfer (paid for by me) and as I tipped the driver that was lugging her bag to the trolley for her, she didn't so much as make a move to say: I'll tip him! She then proceeded in complaining about Nina and Graham as they had shrugged off her attempt to jump on their private excursion and transfer to the Brazilian side of Iguazu. She hasn't so much as a conversation with them over the entire 3 weeks! Oh well, luckily I won't have to see her again. She is without doubt a very selfish person...and I think I have said it before, lacks any kind of idea as to what is acceptable socially. That reminds me that during the short trip to the airport, she asked me about last night and I pointed out that she should have made an effort to come as it was the last night of the trip for everyone. But again, she saw nothing wrong with it. She got her hands on the passenger list (and I have to say that I'd like my privacy to have been protected better) and said her goodbyes to the people in the group that she wanted to say goodbye to.
They've called the flight...lateeeeeer!
15:00 - Sunitta attempted to approach me as we were getting on the plane and then again when we landed. I took very little notice of her as otherwise I might end up having dinner with her! I think she misses not having someone to talk to but knowing her she will find someone to bug. My transfer chap was waiting with a sign and took me and a few others to the hotel. There was an italian couple from Florence that I am guessing will be on the same excursions for the next couple of days. Puerto Iguazu is a small town of 40.000 people although having driven through it it seems more like 2.000 at most! And i have to say that I would define it a sh@thole (excuse my french) although a relatively clean one at that. It was clear from when we got off the plane that it was hotter here than in Buenos Aires and in fact the temperature hovers around 35 degrees (celsius), and it really did feel hot as I walked around looking for a supermarket so I could by some food for lunch for the next couple of days. I did also manage to find a laundry and I will have everything folded and clean by this evening...what more can a girl ask for? The hotel is the best I have been in since La Paz...about a month ago! I have a huge bed, a flat screen TV and a beautifully modern bathroom. And it all looks and feels lovely and clean (that hasn't always been the case). The hotel also has a small swimming pool...real luxury!!! I guess I have only this afternoon to enjoy it as tomorrow I will be out all day at the falls on the Argentinian side, and the next day I get taken to the Brazilian side and then straight to the airport.
23:00 - Oh well...I didn't actually get to enjoy the pool. I took a brief nap and only woke up at 8pm thanks to the fact that I had set the alarm on my watch to go and pick up my laundry! I guess I must have been tired...I quickly got dressed and went to the lavanderia. The washing was not quite ready so I waited just outside. It was still hot...possibly 30 degrees. A young man with jeans and no top turned up to pick up his laundry and he looked as if he'd just come out of a CK advert :-)))))...worth the wait! On the way back, I decided to go and see what one of the restaurants that Sally had recommended was like. It looked ok (speciality barbecued meat of course), so me and my washing stepped in and ate. There was also live music in the main dining room: far enough to be enjoyed but not close enough to be bothered by it. Great food...loved the purè de papas. I think I might go back tomorrow also...the added bonus is that it is about 100 metres from the hotel :-). Incidentally, the town did look a lot more lively in the evening than it had done in the full heat of the afternoon.
I have another early start tomorrow as I get picked up at 7.30...