The Honeymoon

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So after 3 1/2 months of married life, we finally were able to take our honeymoon. Since I started a new job and a new semester 2 weeks before the wedding, we figured it wouldn't look so great for the newby to ask for time off. Plus i have a 3 week break in between semesters in July so we thought a honeymoon in July would be best...except 1 thing. In this part of the world we are in the middle of winter in July. oops. Didn't quite think that one through but it was a wonderful, great, amazing trip. I will probably do this in 2 or 3 parts since I have so many fun photos to show.

And a few fun informational tidbits and stories from the start of our trip:

1. It started with a drive in Carlos' mini from Vina to Santiago. After breaking down 2 times, once on the highway where there is barely a shoulder to pull off on, we get to his family's house in Santiago. wife a little upset and frustrated. It's decided that we will fix up and sell the mini on our return.

2. I bought the airline tickets with LanChile online. We had to fly to Buenos Aires first then change planes to go to Iguazu. We arrive in BA and no one has any idea about our connecting flight....because there are no flights to Iguazu from this airport. Unbenounced to us, our connecting flight was out of Jorge Newberry airport which just happens to be on the other side of this huge city (16 million people). We have 3 hours to find our luggage, get there and check in. And it just so happened that this very day the entire center was shut-down due to massive protest and riots. After losing my bag, finding it, running to catch a 40 dollar taxi and race across town, we arrive with 30 mins. to spare. Phew! That was close.

3. We arrive at Iguazu Airport, go to pick up our backpacks and Carlos' doesnt arrive. We wait and wait and nothing. We bought tickets on a shuttle to town, the shuttle arrives but Carlos is filling out a claim form. The driver was getting impatient but then when he goes to start the van, it won't start. It buys us a few extra minutes to finish Carlos' claim. Van finally starts and we head to town without Carlos' backpack. No clothes, poor guy.

4. The hostel I reserved online was very basic. And on the main road. Didn't know that when I made the reservation. They don't devulge that type of informationon their website. I don't know why not! Construction here doesnt include insulation or sound reducing material...at all. And no other rooms to change to. "We're completely book. sorry!" We heard zoom....zoom....zoom all day and night long. We went to bed but couldnt sleep so around 3am we asked to move to another room with bunk beds, a dormitory in hostel talk. Silent which is good but with 3 sleeping strangers in the same room. So Carlos and I spent our first night of our honeymoon in separate beds in a room with strangers. Weird. and funny (in hindsight.)

The first leg of our tour is to Iguazu Falls in Northeast Argentina, on the border of Brazil and Uruguay.

Here are a few facts about Iguazu:
-It has 90 yards-high cliffs.
-Iguazu Falls means "big water" in the local Guarana language
-It is four-kilometre wide
-Has approximately 250 individual falls
-Iguazu is wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara Falls.
-up to 6,500 cubic meters per second of water fall over Devils Throat.


Hope you enjoy the photos and learn a little about us and Argentina in the process.

God Bless!

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Photos

Carlos enjoying his last few minutes of his feet on the ground
Carlos hadn't flown in a plane since he was 16 years old. Needless to say he was a little nervious. This is us in the Santiago airport waiting for our flight to Buenos Aires

Us in the airplane
I have flown thousands and thousands of miles. Carlos has not. lets just say that my hand hurt after the first flight he was squeezing it so tight. Poor guy!

The Chilean Andes Mountains
We are flying over the Chilean Andes Mountains which is the border between Chile and Argentina. Beautiful sight!!!

Iguazu Airport
There are about 3 daily flights to Iguazu and it has only 2 gates, Gate 1 and Gate 2. For the first time, we deboarded on the tarmac, down the stairs and then walked into the airport. That was new for me. Cute and small

A plug-in on the ceiling???
I made reservations for a hostel on-line. We arrive and its on a main street and you can here motos (motorcycles) ALL night long. zoom...zoom....zoom. So as I was lying in bed finding this whole situation a bit comical yet sad, I looked up and saw a plug in on our ceiling. Never seen one before, couldnt figure out is purpose and thought I would take a picture.

The entrance to the Iguazu's National Park
We were very lucky with weather. It was shorts and t-shirt weather the 2 days we were at the park. Gorgeous. And yes mom, I wore sunscreen. Wouldnt want to burn this porcelne Nicole Kidman skin I have.

A mullet lady
For some reason the 80's is still really popular here. And a hairstyle that just won't die is the mullet. I see it everywhere. I hadn't had the opportunity to capture this lovely hair-do in action until now. I faked taking a picture of the surrounding nature and took this lovely lady;s picture with her outstanding hair.

Carlos in his american style dew-rag
I introduced Carlos to the bandana look. They don't have these down here and I was tired of his same, old blue hat so I gave him my bandana. makes him look kind of bad a$* but I find it very sexy. People kept mistaking him for a gringo. hahahaha :)

The calm before the storm
The walk to get to the Devil's Throat falls is about 15 min. through calm waters. Big change once you get to the falls. The mist cloud from the falls seen here in the photo can be seen from far away.

The falls
The approach to the part of the falls called " La Garganta del Diablo" which means the devil's throat. Which we find ironic since something so incredibly beautiful and awe-inspiring could have nothing to do with the devil. Apparently there is a movement to change the name to something in reference to God. I'll vote for that.

more falls pics
Iguazu Falls means "big water" in the local Guarana language

A few facts
90 yards-high cliffs
four-kilometer width
approx. 250 individual falls,
wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara Falls.

The rainbows
With the sun and all this water, the place was full of rainbows. There are 2 in this picture. Sometimes pictures just dont do it justice.

Our jungle tour
We took a park tour and part of that was a jeep tour through the jungles of Iguazu

the brazilian side
Iguazu Falls is shared by both Argentina and Brazil. I, being a gringa, cannot enter Brazil without a visa, so we didnt go but got as close as we could

The falls from the the river
The boat carried about 20 people and navigated up the river to the falls.

Comments

[Terry]

WOW!! WOW!! WOW!!
Unbelievably gorgeous! The pictures are fabulous, but I can only imagine how beautiful it was to see the real thing. Can't wait for the next leg of this trip =)