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Published: March 7th 2011
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Thursday 27th January
Overnight trip to the Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Argentina
We were very excited about starting this trip.
We took an early morning one and three quarter hour flight to Puerto Iguassu where we would be staying at the Sheraton hotel. Our flight was delayed and our late schedule meant we did not have time to check in our hotel, freshen up or change our clothes. We went straight to the Brazilian border which took ages to cross to get into the park where the Brazilian side of the Iguassu falls were. We were given a packed lunch which described as 'gourmet' .... Not!! Anyway, complete with beetle it filled the hole!!
The falls are taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide. They are spread out over 2 miles on a horseshoe shape. We were very excited about this trip. The coach journey was interesting seeing all the countryside, farms and wildlife!! Big butterflies and colourful birds.
On reaching the Iguassu National Park we bundled out of our coaches and assembled ready to start our walk of a lifetime! Our good friends Jill and David were on the trip too but in a different group, however once
walking we all intermingled.
We set off and it was only a matter of minutes before all the cameras were clicking at our first glimpse of the marvellous waterfalls. The guide (who was excellent) kept saying though 'this only tiny, bigger ones to come.' How right he was, all along the path we came to bigger and better ones, eyes feasting on all the sights available, water, flora and fauna, including nice lizards along the way. The weather was very warm however we were assured that we would get a cooling down if we wanted soon! We were taken to a bridge that walked over the falls, the spray soaking and cooling us as promised. Breathtaking and amazing, words can't describe the experience, hopefully the photos will show it's splendour and delight. I left a little part of me there when my hat blew off, swirled around in the rapids then rested itself on a rock!!!!
After we got back on the coaches we were taken to the obligatory tourist gift shop which did have some nice bits and pieces and best of all cups of thick melted hot chocolate... mmmmm!! On the coach again, but this time heading for
our hotel. We had to pass back through the Brazilian boarder back into Argentina. The police were very strict and it took quite a while to process, they looked at every passport. This gave us a chance to take in the different world around us.
The hotel was nice and in a lovely location. Our room was very comfy and had a balcony that overlooked the falls. I sat Herbie on the balcony rail to take a photo and the wind picked up and whisked him down onto another's balcony!! Poor Herbie, it took quite awhile before the poor fellow could be rescued. We watched the sun set over the falls before we showered and changed for dinner. We arranged to meet our friends and we sat and enjoyed our meals together. It was a buffet style with allsorts of fish, salad and veg. We tried the famous Argentinean steak which we had high hopes for. Unfortunately it was as tough as old boots despite it's lovely flavour. There was a man playing the harp beautifully whilst we were eating. The hotel was quite spacious. And although a little shabby round the edges, I thought it was lovely.
An early
rise the next morning had us going to bed not long after dinner. Snuggled up in bed we had an enjoyable fix of real TV and watched a very corny movie’ the children of the corn'. Back on the ship we only get sky news, some rubbish fashion thing and ship TV. Poor Murdo has not said but I think is missing CSI etc!! We slept well that night, happy bunnies :-)
Friday 28th January
2nd day at Iguazu Falls
An early rise today to pack and have breakfast with Jill and David before our visit to the Argentinean side of the falls. We all wondered what today's marvels would bring.
No coaches this morning, we were going to be treated to a train journey. With an air of jovial excitement we set off walking through the hotel grounds which were pretty. We came across a building that looked like a light house... can't remember what it was used for now!! A Toucan bird was spotted in a treetop... much to everyone’s excitement, cameras clicking furiously. Dearest Murdo wanted a better shot of it so walked right up to the tree much to the dismay of
the rest of the party..... Stop stop you'll scare him off' they called.... I think Murdo was nearly subject to a lynching!!! The bird flew away and we continued sheepishly along the path.
It was a very hot day and we had a 30 min wait for the train. It was the summer school holidays and the queue was long. Anyhow the train was fun and our eyes were everywhere animal spotting. All I saw were pretty yellow and blue big butterflies, the anticipation was fun though. We got off the train and divided into two groups and given instructions to stick to the path, don't touch the wildlife, be back in one hour and ... oh yes ... you will get wet so watch your cameras!!
Off we trundled along a wooden/metal grid walkway over many contributories where we were told we may see crocodiles, turtles and cormorants........Oooh ..... It was lovely... You will see from the pictures!! We only saw a cormorant and a pretty butterfly which landed on my finger!!
We reached the end of the walkway only to be greeted with an unforgettable experience. The noise was deafening, the falls spray soaking and the view breathtaking.
We could have stayed at this mesmerising paradise for hours!! Our return train and plane beckoned us back though. On our walk back we saw a basking turtle and a giant blue butterfly.
Back at the hotel train station our guide said that if we did not mind rushing lunch he would take us up to see some more falls. We all agreed that filling our tummies could wait!! Well this 'extra' walk was in my mind the best sight, we had very little time to spend there but it was worth it. Many cascades of water and a close up view. We all wished we could have spent an extra day there, which would have been possible because the ship was docked for 3 days.
Back at the hotel an outside picnic buffet was laid on for us, I thought it was very tasty. We had to rush to begin our coach and plane trip back. We were bedraggled and tired on our arrival back to the ship, but oh so very invigorated by our experience... A trip of a life time... Lovely.
Saturday 29th January
Day in Buenos Aires
A long sleep in and a leisurely
breakfast was our treat this morning. Buenos Aires looked immense when seen from the aeroplane yesterday, and highly populated. We thought it was going to be a noisy, dirty and overcrowded city. We were very wrong and realised it lived up to being one of the worlds loveliest cities. We went into the city on a complementary R.Steins jewellers bus into a lovely area. The streets were wide and clean, full of interesting old and new buildings. We walked up a main pedestrianised street full of street traders and performing artists, in so much that it reminded us of Les Rambles in Barcelona.
Today's quest was to try to find the church where the pioneers from Lewis came to. I had read in the Return to Patagonia book about the church and it's records and pictures of the early Scottish settlers. The Rev ????? Had been most helpful in contributing their history and we were keen to find it and talk to the minister if possible. However we had not a clue to it's whereabouts so enquired of a young tourist guide in the port as to it's whereabouts. To our delight he said he belonged to that church and
showed us on the map more or less where it was. Result.
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Duane Storey
non-member comment
Iguazu
Glad you guys enjoyed Iguazu Falls. I was there the weekend before you and had a great time. If you're interested, I did a little write up here. Take care!