Day 27: We went to jail.

So, yesterday leisurely started out with your run of the mill Ash & Marg type of morning. A bit of facebook picture uploading with a dash of cachaça pining all mixed in with a hint of giggling about how funny we think we are. I attempted to use the washing machine so that we would have at least one pair of clean underwear for our 2 day plane journey to Ecuador, and let me tell you- easier said than done. First of all, the plug that it was plugged into didn't work, or at least I couldn't get it to, and I didn't really figure out that this was my problem for approximately 20 minutes. I moved the washing machine so that the plug would reach a different outlet.... Not sure if that was really necessary.... Second of all, I dont really read Portuguese all that well, and this washing machine was not like ours at home, so I am quite sure I was doing everything in the wrong order at the wrong time. Finally, I couldn't figure out why it just stopped and the water wasn't draining, so I started to take the clothes out and wring them by hand. Paula's sister Bella woke up and was like, "You don't have to do that, the cycle isn't done yet...." ummm.... ok, so no one ever said I had any patience. Luckily, Bella came in at just the right time and she helped me, and thanks to her I have fresh pair of clean underwear, and for that I will be eternally greatful. Clean underwear is definately a quality of life issue, and we all know that I am a firm supporter of quality of life issues.

Not long after the washing machine debauchle, Chico came home and scooped us up for lunch. He took us to this awesome buffet place, where I ate one of everything. (Don't worry Mom, the vodkarexia is also going away.... although Stick Stickly will be missed greatly....) The fried macaxeira was to die for. They also had sushi with strawberries in it. Apparently putting fruit in sushi rolls is a Brasilian adaptation, and like it. I also had so much delicious fresh weird fruit- add the happiness of Clarke when she get's a fresh can of meal worms to the happiness of a whale when she gets a giant mouth full of plankton and that is how happy I was. (For those of you that are a bit math-challenged, that equals a lot.) Chico kept ordering us weird fruit juices as well and they were also quite delicious, only adding to my euphoria. We went back for round two... three..... and I am pretty sure Ashley went back for round four to get us all some batatas fritas..... which she then proceeded to dip into the mangaba juice claiming that it was like dipping fries into Brasilian McDonald's ice-cream. Don't try to understand. Anyways, lunch was great!

Paula met us at the restaurant and they made the switch. Chico had to go back to work
:( because he may or may not be a workaholic. Or maybe it is just that most people work during that day and don't just travel around using one credit card after another. What a concept. I will have to ponder that one. Just kidding Dad. Anywho, Paula took us to the Casa do Cultura, which was sooooo freaking cool!! It was an old ancient jail that has been renovated into an indoor market. Each cell is now a small shop. She took us to the best one- wait for it....... you guessed it!! A shop that sells all kinds of cachaça, and we got to try some crazy flavors like banana (sooooo gooood) and cafe (Ashley wants to drink nothing but that forever). So, we did a little window shopping here and there and took some crazy pictures and had a great time.

Then, we went to see this giant Christmas tree, which reminded me- hey, it is almost Christmas! I honestly haven't known what day or time it is since about September, so the Christmas tree brought me back to reality. Time flies when you are having fun in Brasil! After the tree, we went to Marco Zero. (This is the point in the city at which all things radiate from. All mile markers in the state start right there. And I stepped on it. I love stepping on special points.) We talked to a little amiguinho with a boat, and he took us across the water to a long spit of some kind that is actually a monument celebrating 500 years of something. There were all sorts of crazy statues and sculptures that were apparently done by a crazy old man, and it was awesome. From there, the three of us watched the sun set, and then with the flash of a smile, Paula got someone to turn the colorful lights on and all of the statues were lit up just as dusk was settling in. It was beautiful. We could also see all of the Christmas lights and decorations that were in the city from here. The Brasilian Eiffel Tower is just near the Brasilian Twin Towers and they were sooo sparkly, it was amazing. Then, we climbed back into our little boat and our captain took us for a detour to a nearby cruise ship. There we were- this tiny, tiny row boat, next to one of the hugest ships that I have ever seen. I felt rather like a small flea next to a large dragon. It was all lit up too, and it was really, really cool!! I am pretty sure I also saw a shark do a back flip out of the water right in front of the Italian flag that was flying from the mother ship. We had so much fun, it was such a cool experience.

Then, we headed back to Francisco's house for some delicious soup that he cooked up. It was a bit like squash I think, but there is no way of truly knowing that for sure. Then, Francisco had this bright idea- 'Let's all go see the scariest movie ever!!' So we headed on over to the latest showing of 'Paranormal Activity.' I have bruises on my arm from Ashley squeezing it, and I have cuts on my hands from my own fingernails digging into my skin. That is how scary it was. Then, things just got weird.

1. I stepped in wet yellow paint in the parking garage, and then I left no foot prints.
2. Ashley gave a thumbs down to Nautico's rival futbol team fans on the way out, and they put a curse on us.
3. We got home, and the wind started howling like it has never howled before.
4. It also started raining. I haven't seen rain since I left AK.
5. Doors started slamming.
6. Bells started ringing.
7. A bat flew by.
8. We tried to put all of our awesome pictures from the day on the computer and somehow from the camera to the computer they got lost in space. (ÔXXXE!!!!!!!! Let me just take a quick minute here for some deep breathing exercises so I don' freak out and throw something. I want to scream.)
9. THEN THE SHOWER TURNED ON FOR NO REASON. (Seriously, at this point, I was freaking out. I tried to turn it off and it was still pouring water. Paula and Chico were sleeping, and Ashley was facebooking. I ran through the house from the bedroom to the computer room with no pants on. That is how scared I was. Luckily, Ashley was the only one awake, and she is quite used to seeing me with no pants on. And luckily, due to the aforementioned morning's events, I had on clean underwear. I didn't want to go back into the bedroom, so I waited in the computer room with Ashley for like an hour.)
10. I finally went to bed and noises and shadows were everywhere. (I laid there with my eyes wide open until Ashley came in and scared the hell out of me with the opening of a door.)

Thank goodness the ever-thoughtful Chico put a lava lamp in our room last night so we could have a night light. I had one terrifying nightmare about ghosts trying to get me, but luckily Ashley was sleeping right there next to me, and so she held my hand. You see, the problem with having a sixth sense is that ghosts try to reach out to you, and when something happens like you see a scary movie and you start to think about them a lot, that is when they go in for the kill and try to make contact. Not that they are are evil, but let's face it, my fragile state of mind may just finally crack if I start seeing ghosts. I am not sure there is enough cachaça in the world to deal with that right now. Oh, Dad, you must be so proud. And yes, aliens are walking among us too.

Anyways, I just packed up my stupid pack and now I am pretty sure it is about 90% Christmas presents from Chico to North Americans and 10% Marg's crap. hahahaha, but seriously, I am really proud of the packing job I just did. I think I could now give my own mother a run for her money in the packing department. Oh, who am I kidding, I would never win that contest, but I will continue to brag about this packing job for years to come. Paula and Francisco will
scoop us up for a farewell lunch and then we will be on our way to the other side of South America. We have 12 hours in Rio and another 12 in Lima. The Rio stint is at night, so we will probably just sleep in the airport, but we will be in Lima from 9am-9pm, so I think we will go explore the city. Maybe pay Juanito a visit. We will arrive tomorrow at about midnight in Quito, and yes Uncle Matt- I promise to check to see if my bags made it, I will not just assume they didn't....

So here I sit, very sad that I must leave my Brasilian primos, yet also very excited to see my Ecuadorian/immediate family. Beijos Brasil and hola Ecuador!!