Waterfalls and then some.
Trip Start
Aug 22, 2004
1
9
12
Trip End
Apr 21, 2005
Foz D'Iguacu, Brazil
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
For our trip to Puerto Iguazu (a different spelling for a different country), it meant an early start. 8am to be exact.
I got up, had a shower and decided after hearing about other people's experiences at the falls on the Argentinian side, to wear a swimming cossie under me clothes.
We got on the minibus which was full and it was great that Rachel and Olivia were there and so we got together for the day. The minibus driver was mad as a hatter and get doing silly little noises but very entertaining.
We stopped off for some water and some snacks for the day and then made our way to the border, where we had to hand over our passports for a few minutes and to just do border formalities.
This took about half an hour and then we made our way across the bridge to Argentina. Literally the countries change halfway across the bridge from Brazil to Argentina and the way you can tell this is the case is from the fact that Argentina is marked by the colours of the Argentine flag.
It was great scenery and we arrived at the Argentinian falls entrance after about an hour.
We went and had a talk by one of the guys at the falls who told us that to do everything took about 6 to 8 hours and that we'd have a great time. He was right.
We made our way to the viewing platforms and it was great as although you could hear some noise you couldn't see a thing so it built up the excitement massively.
The first glimpse was stunning and given it was such a gorgeous day, I cant describe the sights that met our eyes.
The trees set against the falls and all the rainbows were amazing. The higher rise platforms were great as were the lower ones. It all seemed so well organised too. Rachel said it was compared to some of the other falls she had seen round the world.
We walked up and down and round and about taking so many photos which I promise I will try to upload on here very soon.
Then we decided to take the adventure boat which was included in the price of our trip which had been something like 150 brazillian reais. The adventure boat involved leaving your daysack on the side of the cliffs, putting on a lifejacket and then being given a plastic bag to put your purse, camera and shoes in and then being taken right underneath the falls. Yes, completely underneath!
That's why I wore me cossie!
It took me breath away going under those falls and was just brilliant. We were saturated and I loved every minute of it.
Next, we went on the little boat that took us to a little beach and where you could go up about 300 steps to see another perspective of the falls. We sat for a while to dry off and bask in the sun before heading up the stairs and realising how unfit I felt.
We got to the viewing platforms and got saturated all over again. Who should be there though, but Dave!!!!!!!!!!!! Was great to see him and he'd made friends with a guy called Jasper (I think, Dave, tell me if that wasn't his name). We both said how wonderful the place was and Dave said he'd see me the next day and would be happy to take the report back to the UK for me. Hurrah.
We said ta-ra and then I carried on back over to the other side of the falls with Rach and Olivia.
After all the walking and water, we were starving so went for some lunch and came across some bizarre little animals that were like dogs/ant eaters and were apparently big pests, they looked cute though and were after everyone's food!
I spotted Dave again and then we went off to get the train to the final bit of the falls. There was about a mile or maybe two miles of walkways over quiet little stretches of water and then we came across what seemed to be the mouth of the falls.
It was incredible. And every adjective in the world that means lovely cant describe it properly. The noise is the most incredible bit about it. And the views too. And me, the gets bored of views easily person too!
Eventually we made our way back to the train station, and we all had an ice cream. After a quick phone call home which was lovely and then a mooch round the shops, we made our way to the minibus for the journey back to our hostel with the loonie driver.
He stopped a couple of times on the way where we saw wild Toucans which looked fabulous but moved too fast to photograph.
Just a wonderful day all in all, and we arrived tired but happy back at the hostel at about 8pm.
Time for food came and then after gibbering on over a few glasses of beer about how great nature was, we all went to bed and said we'd get up the next morning to see the brazillian side of the falls before I headed to Buenos Aires on my coach later on in the day.
Wednesday 1 September.
Sure enough, after packing and asking for a taxi in mid afternoon to take me to the bus station, I went with Olivia and Rachel towards the falls. They'd decided to take a helicopter flight and I was full of ummms and aaahs particularly as it was 35 pounds and that seemed such a large amount given the small amounts I'd spent so far in Brazil. They booked it through the hostel.
They continued to plug away though and in the end I thought why not and so we paid at the helicopter station, and am so glad I did. It was spectacular and put such a great seal on the sights of the day before. We were over the falls for about 10 minutes and it was just awesome and I couldn't hear myself cough or talk. My first helicopter ride. I love travelling.
And again I say. Amazing.
Next we decided to go to the falls but I needed to get some dosh so tried to but the cashpoint wasn't working so I tried to pay with my visa electron but it wasn't recognising my PIN. aaaarghhhhhhhh.
I had to sort that out so said my farewells to the girls, we exchanged emails and it was sad to say goodbye, they'd been great company after all.
I then got back to town and eventually after phone calls again to Mum, worked out that Woolwich had changed my pin without me knowing. The buffoons.
Ah well, alls well that ends well, could've done without the stress as I'm sure so could Mum. She called me back at the hostel and all was fine.
Then it was I had to say goodbye to Iguacu and it was sad. Despite the problems early on and at the last minute, I'd loved it and it had affirmed to me the reason I was travelling. It really doesn't get any better.
I headed off to the bus station, said my farewells to Brazil and on I got to the bus and my trip to Argentina.
I really couldn't wait.
