I may still not get on the flight to Johannesburg.

I got all kinds of hell at the ticket counter for not having proof of onward travel out of South Africa. Of course, I did actually have proof of onward travel... just not what suited them. South African Airways seems to think that onward travel from their country can only occur on South African Airways. A bus ticket out just won't do... despite what the South African embassy in Buenos Aires told me.

So I had to buy a round trip ticket out of South Africa to Windhoek, Namibia... where my bus ticket is already going. $250. But I made sure it was fully refundable. I hope they weren't lying.

"It's been a lot of fun here."
Being so focused on starting a new continent, it's almost eluded me that I'm leaving one too. I think I'll miss Latin America. Spending six months somewhere will do that to you I guess. It's been a lot of fun here.

And coming to Brazil has taught me something else... I actually spoke Spanish fairly well. It's quite a shock to arrive here where I can't understand a thing, and others don't understand me very well either. In Spanish I was able to say and understand everything necessary to go about a tourist's life. I didn't really appreciate that until now that I can't understand bus departure announcements, hotel desk clerks and waiters. In the wise, immortal words of Cinderella, you "don't know whatcha got till it's gaw-awhn."

"I hope they take dollars."
Time to go see if I get through immigration. I wasn't charged the $35 Brazil departure tax at the ticket counter. Maybe it was included in my purchase price, but maybe that's the next obstacle for me. I have about two Reais left, which is about 80 cents. I hope they take dollars.

Off to Africa....