The Ultimate Argentina Experience

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Many years ago, my friend Judith introduced me to the concept of "The Ultimate (insert destination name here) Experience." It's that moment, usually serendipitous, that defines the essence of a trip. Last night, I had my ultimate Argentina experience.

I was walking home from dinner around 11pm in this "frontier town" of Puerto Iguazu, which, since the currency crisis a few years ago, has been built entirely upon tourism to the incredible waterfalls on the border of Argentina and Brazil. While many of the tourists are American and European, many more are from Argentina or other Latin American countries. I had enjoyed a meal of local fish at a tourist restaurant and, on the way back to the Secret Garden Bed & Breakfast, heard music: a singer, guitar and bandoleon, the accordion used in folklorico music. I walked into what was a restaurant filled with locals, enjoying their dinner and in one case, celebrating a birthday. Both the owner and the singer greeted me with a handshake (as they did everyone), and I got to sit, drink a Quilmes beer or two, listen to the music and watch people live their lives. It was amazing, the kind of experience I hope for on trips like this.

On to the waterfalls...which are, indeed amazing. First, the Brazilian side. The saying used to be that, with the waterfalls, Argentina put on the show but Brazil ran the box office, because Brazil was first to capitalize on the tourism aspect and build an infrastructre to support viewing. Argentina has since caught up. One visits Brazil to get the panoramic view, looking back across to Argentina to see the sweeping views. The visits to the Argentine side allow you to get much closer, close enough to really feel the power of these amazing falls -- of which there are dozens, but the main set, the "Devil's Throat," is most impressive. However seeing toucans in the wild was almost equally impressive.

Looking forward to sharing some of the 500 photos I've taken once I get home and can upload 30 or 40 of them.

Saturday: back to Buenos Aires for a few days, heading home on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

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Photos

Iguazu Falls from Brazil
Looking at Argentina from the Brazilian side of the falls

Garganta del Diablo
The Devil's Throat, the largest of the cataratas (waterfalls) at Iguazu, as seen from the Argentine side

The Valley
Looking down the valley from the Devil's Throat

Mariposa
Butterfly, on the Brazilian side of the falls

Black Fronted Piping-Guan
An endangered bird, seen on the Argentine side. Note the bright red wattle and the bright blue eye coloring. More info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-fronted_Piping-guan

Coatimundi
Ring-tailed raccoon. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coatimundi

Toucan
One of about six toucans that flew into the trees over the falls