I did SP to Iguaçu—worst ever ride (21 hours) because it was a regular bus, no cama, don’t remember why. May have been cheated.

I do remember that date however, we arrived the morning of 9/11. Yes, that one. Checked into hostel bleary-eyed with neck-ache. “Norte Americano?” “Si,” clerk points to TV above, a building in NYC is on fire, looks like a plane crash. I think, that’s really weird but can’t understand the discussion of what happened. I go straight to bed for several hours.

Later get up in the late afternoon for a walk around the falls from a distance. It’s beautiful. Come back about 6pm to catch Dubya making his speech with the other hostel guests in the living room. They also replay the video of the day over and over. The dread of what’s to come lingers in the air.