Advertisement
Published: March 23rd 2006
Edit Blog Post
The bus ride was fairly standard and boring. It started at 8pm and ended at 2:30pm the following day. I thought I had the two seats to myself, but a guy got on at the next stop and had the seat next to mine. Fortunately he didn´t talk to me until the next morning, and then only briefly. I couldn´t understand anything he said - I know it was Spanish, but could make out about 3 words. Akward. They served us dinner which was remarkably like airline food - meat and cheese appetizer, crackers, bread, a little hot dish and flan for dessert with orange soda. Then they showed a Steven Seagal movie - why?- and turned the lights out so I couldn´t read. Slept on and off all night and woke up when breakfast - 2 mini crossaints - had passed me by. I had to go get it myself.
I had some more space for the last hour and a half as almost everyone had gotten off by then and I could spead out. I checked into the Peter Pan hostel - I know - and then went in search of lunch. Had pasta. Ravioles. Surprised? Then walked
Lazy monkey
He certainly wasn't bothered. around a bit. It is hot here. Hot and humid. I am back in the tropics, abruptly. Uncomfortable. And to think two weeks ago I was nearly in Antarctica freezing my butt off. Went to the internet and have now uploaded several pictures to some of my blogs...check it out. On the way back to the hostel my ice cream and I got soaked in a downpour, but it was quite nice actually. Talked to a roommate Hila, Israeli, as is everyone in the hostel. They say Hebrew is the second language of South America, and I believe it. In case you haven´t traveled much, the Israeli´s have to all join the army after high school and afterwards they tend to get out for six months or so and travel. Such a good idea. So there are bunches in S. America since it´s pretty cheap here. They go where I go and for the same reasons.
Got to sleep eventually, though I slept poorly, and then got up early to get to the falls. If you´re not familiar with the Iguazu Falls, let me be your tour guide. I can, at this time, not give you any impressive facts
Be careful
Or you'll slip! Love these signs. like the exact size and such, but let me just say first and foremost that you must come here and see them. They are simply amazing and enormous and breath-taking. They straddle Argentina and Brazil, but I did not go to Brazil as this would require a $100 visa and I am unwilling to part with that $100 when the falls are so gorgeous from Argentina. There are several falls and you can see them from several different catwalks and vantage points. When I got to the park I ask a park guard for some info and he gave me some very detailed directions on what to see first, second, and so on to make the most of my day. Like a good girl scout I did exactly what he said and it worked well. I started at 10am and ended at 6pm.
First I headed down the Green Trail to the lower circuit to see the falls from the catwalks down lower and a bit further away. Next I bought a ticket for a boat ride, which Christoph said was worth the $15. He was right. They actually drive you into two different waterfalls twice, so that you
Wee one
This is the wee waterfall I hiked all that way to see. get completely drenched and afraid you will drown and die. It was great. And hilarious. After that I took the little ferry over to San Martin Island which is in between some of the falls. There is one great look-out there where you keep getting soaked from the spray from a waterfall right across from you. I should have stayed there longer, but I was worried abut not having enough time for the day. Next was the upper circuit. This gets you up higher and closer to several of the falls, so you can appreciate the sound and size better. When the sun was shining, which it did a great deal of the time, there were all kinds of rainbows in the spray from the falls. Beautiful. Next I got on the internal train that brings you to La Garganta del Diablo, the Devil´s Throat. This is the most impressive of all the falls here. Once off the train it is a 15 min walk on the catwalk to get to the fall itself. And it is just amazing. You get wet from the spray, and when you look down to see where the water is actually falling, all you
Again
Just relaxing can see is the upspray and just tons of white nothingness. This is where you would come to throw yourself over if you wanted to end it all.
That said, this was such a beautiful day that it helped me put my life in perspective. I realized I am really happy. Happy with the way my life is going. I still question choices I´ve made and am not sure what I will do next, but I am sure I am where I should be right now. Come to Argentina - it will bring you clarity.
After the falls I went to walk a three hour trail to a smaller waterfall. Nearly first thing I saw and stayed to watch a troop of monkeys, Capuchin I think. I didn´t think I would be seeing monkeys again on this trip - it was a nice surprise. After a long hike the view was rather a let down, but how could it not be after the falls I had just seen. On my way back I heard something in the bush and realized it was a coati (a raccoon relative). What I didn´t realize was that there would be 32 of them - but that´s how many I saw as I waited for them to cross the trail. Very cool.
Once back from the hike, I still had some time before the park closed so I made a mad dash back to the upper circuit to see the falls one last time. It was very nice and relaxing. Some toucans or toucan relatives even made an appearance. Very nice. Finally got back on the bus to Puerto Iguazu, showered the day off, and got some dinner. Yup, ravioles. When I got back to the hostel I discovered I had the room to myself, so I changed beds and slept in the double. It was such a treat. Next morning got up and got ready to go. Ran into a couple I met in Ushuaia and then had to get to the bus for another 20 hour ride back to Buenos Aires - for the last time.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.05s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 8; qc: 23; dbt: 0.0298s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1mb
buffalo bill
non-member comment
the falls we take
yeah, we will be there soon. are you still with scott? and who is this christoph fellow? be careful with strangers, and watch your top knot.