... Thank God I brought toilet paper!!!

Trip Start May 17, 2008

Trip End Ongoing

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Where I stayed

Pousada do Viajante

(Canela hotels)

Flag of Brazil Canela, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Friday, September 19, 2008

September 19th - As soon as I got on the road, as before with my trip to Porto Alegre, I started thinking clearly and deeply. Leaving Santa Cruz do Sul was as if a fog was lifting from my mind and my vision. I was very much a child in Santa Cruz (Free from my past, learning a new language, a new culture and engaging in different social dynamics.) The further away from SCDS the bus got, the clearer my thinking became. I should have left weeks ago, but I had become very, very comfortable; a thing I tend to do. I extended too much my dear friend (Kelersons) hospitality, of which he gave freely and for which I am deeply grateful.

As the bus winded its way up the Sierra Ga�cha Mountains, my ears would pop continiously as vista (beautiful view) after vista of the mountainous region could be seen through the glass of my window.

Upon arrival at the bus stop in Canela, I departed and decided to hit the (bus stop) bathroom before looking for my hotel

Canela-01-My Pack

. After a really good release (you know what I mean), I realized that there was no toilet paper. None, (absolutely, none, not an iota, not a hint of any ever being there ... ever!) and I was guessing that this would be the case in the rest of the stalls. Later, I would find this thought to be correct.

Now, before I had went on this trip to Brazil, I had read many books about traveling and had created the ultimate (light) packing list. Three to five pounds of my pack is stuff I have been wondering about for 3 months as to if I would ever really need any of this crap. Examples: A serious, yet ultralight first aid kit, sewing kit (for wounds as well as clothes), duct tape (can also serves as a great band-aid in emergencies), quick-drying ultra-light towel, tiny but powerful hand powered flashlight, mosquito repellent, water purification tablets ... and most importantly, small, light, portable, emergency campers toilet paper.

THANK GOD for campers toilet paper. For the first time in my trip, I was truly grateful I brought all that crap (excuse the pun). Campers toilet paper saved my ass (excuse the second pun - oh trust me I�m full of ... uh-hum ... $*it, them puns, today! LOL) So I reached into my pack, pulled out the roll of quarters sized emergency campers toilet paper and sanged Hallalueh, for all the poor sobs who came before me and realized the hard way that people who backpack need some &�% (@&$ emergency campers toilet paper

Canela-02-Arrival

. From now on when I repack my pack and put in my 3-5 pound bag of (crap) supplies, of which I use to wonder if I�d ever need, I�ll be seriously grateful that they are there.

So after this almost religious moment, I asked the cabbie to take me to my hostel. He, of course, laughed and then pointed directly across the street. Cool!!! Walked in and absolutely loved my HI (Hostel International) Hostel. Man, these hostels are impressing the hell out of me. God, why didn�t I ever know about or take advantage of this before. It is sooo the way to travel on the cheap.

And again, another (bem-bom) day in Brazil.