Thirty-three wishes...
Miracle: "Thirty-Three Wishes + Parade of Carnival Champions 2018". Countries: Argentina - Uruguay - Brazil - Venezuela. AT THE CARNIVAL, AT THE CARNIVAL…
Of course, this time my friend and I set off for such distant seas - oceans, primarily because of the Brazilian carnival (the famous sambadrome). But if we climb so far, no one would understand us if we did not look at the nearest neighbors. Like that unlucky student in a geography lesson: "Before we talk about Germany, let's talk about its neighbors. " So, about the neighbors. Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro. Perhaps even childhood impressions from what I read and heard drew in my imagination something fabulous, fantastic. Now, having looked at the white light, these cities seemed to be completely ordinary provincial towns. Although, perhaps, this impression is formed because I do not like cities at all. My forte is nature. The only thing that struck me in Montevideo was the guide Marta. For the first time in my practice, she refused to take a tip when I handed her five dollars. She said, “Four hours is a lot. ” But I didn’t have smaller ones, in Moscow you can’t get a dollar in any bank. Persistently I try to give five - does not take. Perhaps she realized that the person in front of her was not rich. Taking advantage of the moment, the partner did not try to give even a cent, although Martha would obviously have taken it from him, who littered with money.
Unlike the cities, the sambadrome is different, impressive. However, it was with him that our disappointments began. The route was planned for us in such a way that out of the seven schools passing by the stands, only four looked. The plane, they say, will not wait. The planning didn't end there. For the same reason (the plane won't wait) we were picked up from hotels four times before the restaurants opened. That is, left without breakfast. But we paid for them. Who went to a lot of money, hotels, tour operators, or all together? The itinerary was incredibly stretched. Let's say two three- to four-hour excursions could well fit in one day. But no, they laid it out for two days (more than once). Why: to pump more money out of a tourist? Three times we were simply “thrown” with the villages of natives promised under the program - aborigines, they did not even show their imitation. And after all, everything was paid for. In the same program, they savagely advertised: “A boat trip along the waters of the Amazon River. ” (Shadow on the wattle fence. There is no water area near the river). We never saw the Amazon itself, because we just drove along its arm, where our lodge was for an overnight stay. So read the brochure more carefully and specify it so that you don’t be disappointed later: it flowed down your mustache - it didn’t get into your mouth. They did not see the symbol of Rio, the famous statue of Christ the Savior, in my opinion, only because of the irresponsibility of the host company. They know very well that the statue is often covered with clouds. On the morning of her arrival, the sky was perfect for her visit. Instead, we were allowed to hang out because the guide went to the airport to pick up new tourists, which the driver might well have done. From lunch and the next day - overcast. They flew past the Savior like plywood over Paris.
Not everywhere and not always met the hosts on time. And it is very difficult to remind yourself without knowing the language. Thank you, guides from other meeting companies helped. The only company that has worked well is the Venezuelan Araguaneru Tours (I apologize if I misread English). Her guide Dina Kruglikova (by the way, the daughter of her parents - guides) took care of us from all the hardships of a tender mother from beginning to end. Although, to be completely honest, she also had to be strongly persuaded in the Canaima National Park to find a couple for us to visit the Kavak Canyon (the plane took off only when fully loaded - four people). To persuade because, according to the program, Dina was not obliged to look for a couple for us, although we also paid for this flight back in Moscow. A person who is not obligated and works accordingly. However, I really wanted to go along the bottom of the river of the narrowest canyon in the world. I had to get Dean interested. Although it turned out later, it was possible to do without it. One volunteer from the other group was originally, the second one was a local employee from the canyon.
A small lyrical digression about how US propaganda successfully works all over the world. Dina's father introduced us to Caracas (unfortunately, I forgot his name). A highly loyal person to Russia. But even he is not happy that Putin is still in power. Like, it's time to leave, aren't there other talented leaders in Russia? A typical point of view of the US establishment and their so-called independent press. The brainwashing of the whole world carried out by them has reached such limits that even a completely pro-Russian person, our guide, fell for the bait. And this despite all his dislike for the United States. I didn’t understand, or rather, they don’t let him, in every possible way prevent him from understanding that Russia is still alive and, even with all the American pressure, continues to develop thanks to Putin and his team. And we have already swallowed other "talented" leaders. Suffice it to recall Gorbachev and especially the bastard Yeltsin. Where is the guarantee that such monsters will not replace Putin? This is what the American Goldwaters sleep and see.
I will not talk about the natural charms, which, of course, were there. You can easily read about them and look on the Internet. I will only confirm that waterfalls in all countries correspond to advertising. But the supposedly highest waterfall in the world, Salto Angel, may disappoint you. It may be true that it is a kilometer high (it is difficult to determine from the board of an airplane). But in the dry season, as we got, this is a thin match against the backdrop of the mesas of the "lost world". However, in any case, in general, both of us were not disappointed in the route. So much so that my partner wanted to return to these parts again. True, this time only to Venezuela. Vladimir Antonov