From Foz do Iguacu to 'FOG do Iguacu'

Today we got up at 5:15 am on time. A taxi picked us up from the hotel around 5:45 am. It was still pitch dark outside and we hadn't realized the fog of horror yet. I still wonder how the driver managed to get to the airport. When we arrived at the airport, everything went smoothly again. We looked out the window at the gate and could only see a few meters outside. Everything was covered in thick fog. There are only 4 gates at the small airport and there was no plane at any of them. We were skeptical and were proven right. All flights were cancelled, the airport was closed. The fog of horror had struck :-)! For me, it was the first time a flight was cancelled due to weather conditions and even an entire airport was closed.

We had to pick up our luggage and go back to check-in. Fortunately, we were second in line. There were such long queues in front of each counter, it was terrible. People kept going up to the airline employees at the counter and asking what was going on. Surprisingly, the passengers reacted very calmly and quietly. It took the airline staff almost 30 minutes to rebook. We were glad when it was our turn. Our only alternative is a flight tomorrow at 5:50 am. We have decided to take that and spend another day in Foz do Iguacu. The airline has booked us into an airport hotel. Since we were already at the hotel around 9:45 am, we had to think about what to do all day today. PARAGUAY!!!

Since Paraguay is only 12 km away from us, we took an UBER to the border. On the way there, we drove through the center of Iguacu. We were both rather disappointed with the sight. I had imagined it to be more provincial. Instead, there were some run-down high-rise buildings and many houses had barbed wire fences - not a nice area. The driver dropped us off at the border and we walked across the Friendship Bridge on foot. Crazy... and suddenly we were in Paraguay. According to advertising, this is a shopping paradise. There were different malls and street vendors positioned around the malls with their junk. All streets were designed like this. It was nice to see how things were going and every now and then we were approached if we wanted to buy some sh*t, sorry.

In the late afternoon, we returned to the hotel and that was funny. The UBER driver said just before a gas station: ANKE....then he said something in Portuguese and pointed towards the gas station....I had understood that he wanted to drop us off there and I just said: oh, no, no. He looked somewhat confused and Daniela said: hey, I think he wants to refuel :-). Hmmm, and that's what he did. Of course, he should do that :-)!!!

Hoping that our flight will take off tomorrow at 5:50 am and that we will be driven to the airport at 4:00 am, we turn off the lights early today. Keep your fingers crossed for us, we would love to continue our journey :-)!

Ewww, I just turned to the window and there is a huge spider hanging there. I ran out screaming and asked for help at the reception. Daniela stood bravely in the room and watched Spidy! The caretaker came and told us that Spidy is hanging on the outside of the window! Oops, how embarrassing :)!

Best regards from both of us :-)