Overland in Argentina

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If I was awe struck by Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side, then I soon learned it was nothing compared to viewing them from Argentina. From Argentina it´s possible to get much closer to some of the 275 thundering falls - rather than just getting a grand overall view which is all that´s really possible from Brazil.

The Argentina side is set in a vast tropical national park which is home to an array of wildlife and a thousand fluttering butterflies that dance out of the mist. At every turn there is water crashing through rainbows, cheeky Coatis (raccoon like animals who make a sport out of pilfering food) and the sweet smell of freshly rained on soil.

My trip so far has been the best of times and the worst of times. The worst being: bush camping beside a motorway, getting up at 5.30am, making breakfast for 13 people, driving of 12hrs straight and then - to put the icing on the cake - setting up my tent in the pissing rain. The best being getting to see amazing things like Iguazu Falls which makes it all worthwhile.

Putting 12 strangers in a truck together for two months is an interesting social exercise. Of course there is always someone who could be your best friend, someone you´d happily send over Iguazu Falls in a barrel and someone you haven´t really spoken to much, but by the end of the trip you will know everything about.

As for the camping, well I thought I´d got used to it...that was until a few nights ago when I was woke up by the wind ferociously whipping my tent. Before I knew what was going on the tent had collapsed on me and I was pinned to the ground by the supporting pole. I couldn't move and lightening was now cracking with alarming frequency. I began to have visions of being fried alive whilst trying ( in vain) to hoist the metal pole back into position. Thankfully one of the guys came to my rescue. He had woken up convinced we were in the middle of a hurricane and was running around the camp like a whirling dervish yelling, "wake up! It´s a hurricane... or sum-thing". I didn't have the heart to make a sarcastic comment as he had freed me from my canvas prison. However, I wasn´t so kind the next day when he was boasting about buying a yacht in Switzerland and said, "Yeah man, I´m wanna sail it round the world from there, init". Or when, to everyone´s amusement, he decided to attempt break dancing in a salsa club, but got stuck in the splits position. Someone pass that barrel!!

After some more long drive days we went high into the hills near Cordoba to spent two days on a working cattle Estancia (ranch) to ride with the Gauchos (cowboys). The Estancia has over 100 horses and around 1000 Aberdeen Angus cows. My experience of horses is limited to the horse I had when I was growing up, Morag. Morag had a barrel like stomach and wound have much preferred to further expand her waistline than be ridden. I spent many an hour creeping up on her in the field trying to get her saddle on - only to be thrown off in the stinging nettles when I did final manage to mount her. As the Gauchos galloped towards us with the Estancia horses I somehow doubted that they had spent the morning saying, "come here nice horsie, horsie". Riccardo, the Estancia horse breaker, whipped the back of his stallion so it made an impressive rearing display while we all looked on wondering if we would be expected to do the same. Unfortunately the riding was not as white knuckle as I would have liked, but with miles of empty hills, the hot sun baking down and birds of prey circling above I just could not complain. An amazing two days was only topped by the BBQ that the Gauchos did for us on the last night. Gaucho Little Joe sang some local folk songs, while we tucked into sizzling steak, ribs, sausages and black pudding - washed down with smooth local red Malbec.

With tummies full we were ready to ride off into the sunset.

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Photos

Horses arrive at the Estancia
Horses arrive at the Estancia

House at the Estancia
House at the Estancia

Rainbow at Iguazu
Rainbow at Iguazu

Comments

[oli]

where is it?
where's the next blog....look lively, we've all been waiting ages for it.....!!!!