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Road to Hostel...
...we were dubious but a bus did arrive!Arrived at the main coach station in Foz De Iguazu. Managed to find platforms for local buses but not entirely sure of when next bus would arrive and where to get off! Anyway, convinced Brim we didn't need a taxi and we could do it, so we boarded a bus into town. Brim had to help me with my bag over the turnstile as I got a tad stuck ! At the local bus station we both looked at each other as there were a number of platforms and again no clear signs. We spotted the tourist information and thankfully the assistant spoke sufficient English to inform us we needed to get a bus towards the airport but to get off at Remanso Grande and then take a free bus called Alimentandor to the hostel! We got on the bus - no one getting stuck in the turnstile and asked the conductor (in Portuguese as we are experts by now) to tell us to get off at Remanso. We were on the bus for some time and Brim and I started getting a bit nervous, the conductor may have forgotten to tell us about our stop. However, as
either one of us kept looking over at her at each bus stop we passed she simply smiled and waved us to keep sitting. Finally, after about 20/30 minutes she waved us off at a stop on a main road. We crossed over to the Hostel Natura sign and duly waited for the Alimentandor. It was about 30 degrees in the shade and the locals had a good stare at the two of us laden down with bags and sweat. The rickety orange bus arrived. We asked the bus driver (no conductor this time) to stop at Hostel Natura. The bus proceeded to drive us down a red dirt track into the middle of nowhere. We asked someone else on the bus 'Hostel Natura' and she looked at us blankly. Finally we came to a sign and as the bus driver was about to go past we shouted hostel and he stopped! As we got off the bus into a field he wished us in English good luck and drove away! I kid you not that when we got off that bus we were on a dirt track with no idea of where the hostel was. We walked down a
Brim
does she look like she has been on buses for the last 24 hours! track and finally to a driveway with a hostel! Phew. As we arrived Zee and Carlos took our bags, gave us lots of information about the hostel which neither myself or Brimelow took in and showed us to the dorm. We had arrived but it was very quiet...with water and lunch however we started to feel abit more alive and enjoyed the sunshine with a cool breeze :0 some fellow travellers arrived, Mia, Kate and Peter, all from Australia and we had a lovely evening with a few beers and banter.
Next morning was our trip to the Iguazu Falls. As we were getting ready to head out up the dirt track to catch the infamous Alimentandor bus, Bastiaan arrived by taxi (how unadventurous!) and agreed to join us for our adventure. After chatting away we labelled ourselves the tag team and reached the main road. Brim and I, highly confident we knew which bus to take to the falls. Low and behold the bus arrived however as it sailed down the road with Bastiaan asking why we didn't get on
Hasta
for Fuzzy :) it we had to admit we were on the wrong side of the road. Ooops! Luckily he laughed about it and we agreed for the princely sum of 5 Reas each to take a taxi for the 5 minute drive to the national park for the falls 😊
Arriving at the falls we took the free bus to the beginning of the walking trail. At first the views were quite disappointing because there was a lack of water in both the river and from the falls however as we neared the end of the trail towards the “Devil's Mouth” the view was impressive. Along the way we tried to capture pictures of the racoons and butterflies - they just wouldn't keep still! The rainforest was hot and muggy but the light spray from the falls cooled us down as we posed for pictures and watched the water. I am really pleased we took the trail. In the high season the waterfalls maybe more impressive but as we are planning to go to the Argentinian side (you could see Argentina from our viewpoint in
the park) we wanted to get both experiences. It was also good fun having Bastiaan there to take photos with us “two old hags” . He was brilliant company especially when trying to perfect his English accent and teasing Brim for her northern twang! 😊
Back at the Hostel in the late afternoon, some more guests arrived as we played cards, table football and “pool” (called various names by various nationalities). Bastiaan and I duly won our table football game but unfortunately Brim and I couldn't beat the boys. That evening, the hostel provided a wonderful BBQ with some more beers!!!! Brim reliably informs me I also managed to drink nearly 2 litres of water before retiring to bed at 1am! You can see I am taking all of my travelling experiences seriously 😊
Hostel Natura was very special. Muito bon! As the hostel was out in the sticks the manageress cooked all the meals using mainly home grown veg, and fish caught from their lagoo (lake/pond). She also made some superb coconut and chocolate cakes 😊 I am sure if she had made one, her cheesecake would
have been an 11/10! The other staff took the time to advise on trips and how to travel to the next locations. In fact, Carlos agreed to ferry myself and Brim across the border from Brasil to Argentina the next day. It was sad leaving behind such a great bunch of people at a lovely hostel but the next country beckoned! More updates to follow. Take care all, Sx
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Fozzy bear
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You gotta take the pink hat off for photographs!
Hello Jeans...thanks for the great updates on the blog, great to hear how you're getting on and the waterfalls look absolutely amazing :-) I have a little bit of bad news from Blighty...Andrew McKay has become the latest victim of the MP expenses scandal and has resigned from his position as Cameron's buddy...not all is lost, as for the time being he will continue as MP for Brackers...judging by the letters page in the Standard however, his days may well be numbered. Suffice to say, Fairy is wearing a black armband... Have either of you got sunburnt yet?? Snogged any boys or girls? Eaten anything exotic? Come on...dish the dirt..I know what Brim is like ;-) xxx