Day 293
Puerto Iguazu, Argentina
Last night we had a bbq fest at the hostel which was fun. They provided samba dancing and music as well...the hostel we´re staying at certainly knows how to be good hosts. Apart from the all night music we´ve enjoyed staying at this hostel, which is a converted casino.
We met a guy last night at dinner called Ben, who is about our age, and who has been riding his motorcycle through South America! Certainly meet some interesting people!
At least it was until he and Greg got into the state of the South American aircraft and the mechanics of them..and how small they are.....I ended up in nervous hysterics.....
It was a good night...although we sampled the local drink called Caipirinhas...which tasted like it had pisco (remember peru had pisco sour!) and lime in it...which was nothing less than rocket fuel. It was included in the bbq prices..so we had a couple...and...we shouldn´t have!
Gawd..this morning we managed to get up and have our breakfast by 7am... But...just as we were about to leave to go to the Iguazu Falls...and were back in our room after breakfast....and i was all dressed up in my travel pants with zips galore, shoes for trekking...and hat, sunscreen etc and i thought...maybe i should take my coat seeing we´ll get really wet when we go under the falls...
Then, I realised....i couldn´t find my coat!
It´s GONE!
I´ve lost my beloved, well travelled, good for all occasions coat...ohhh....
All the way on the bus to the Falls..i was trying to work out what happened to the blimin thing!
I had it at the Dam, got it out of the locker where we stored it while we were on the tour of the Dam...had it in the taxi back to the Hostel...and had it when i got out...had it at the computer.....
And didn´t have it next the morning when i went to put it on again! All i can think of is...someone from the Hostel is now the proud owner of a great Mont coat that cost me over AU$200!! I think it was about $300!!
Geepers...it was a beauty!
Anyway, I got over it when i started thinking..maybe i can claim it on insurance...and maybe i can get a new coat!!! It did compensate for the loss i was feeling...honestly, it´s been one of my most valuable assets. I was just grateful i didn´t have my mobile and wallet in it!
Unusually, i zipped them in my pants because i was considering not taking the coat seeing it´s so hot here..so that was a blessing in disguise!
Today we decided to to to the Argentinian side of the Falls.. We were told the Argentinian side of the Falls was very spectacular...and wide...whereas the Brasilian side has the overview of the whole falls.
We arrived at the Falls, on the Argentinian side, early, to avoid the crowds and because we had the Ädventure Tickets¨ (P100 ea) it meant we had passes to the boat that goes under the biggest fall as well as to the train and access to all areas of the park (which was another additional admittance fee of 40 Paesos once we got to the gate!).
We decided to go do the daring thing first and lined up for the boat under the biggest fall..Salto Rivadavia. The truck we hopped on before we got to the boat was a lot of fun. It veered through the jungle and rocked and rolled and a guide told us the history of the park which was really interesting.
After arriving at the spot near to where the boat took off.. we were given canvas bags...so weput all our valuables in the canvas bag and headed for the boat ride....and yep, we got really WET!!!
Drowned in fact.
Much more than in Niagra where they provided ponchos!
It was great fun.....we bought the video for a nominal fee and will view that later tonight when we pick it up! Gosh, we´re such touro´s!!!!
Iguazu National park is huge...it took us all day of walking through the jungle and walking the trails to see all the Falls..and there are lots. I think someone said there were about 275 individual falls!
We stopped for a lunch break..which was a ham and cheese sandwich and an apple in a plastic bag provided by the hostel who organised the tour for us (which was basically a drop off at the park and a pick up with tickets for entry and boat ride!).
And....guess WHAT?
We were sitting at these tables admiring these cute little creatures called Coatis which look like mini anteaters...and one stuck his sharp claw into our plasic bag that had our lunch and our hats, extra shorts, etc and ROBBED us of our lunch!
What a thief!
Such a cute thing..with a mean set of claws and teeth. It scampered so fast away, with my sandwich in it´s chops! I couldn´t believe it!
We found out later that he also damaged Greg´s glasses in the process! Talk about quick as lighting!!
We walked the Upper Walk which is a 560m long walk that took us to the upper lip of the falls...
Then.. We took the Rio Superior trail..
And finally, at the end of the day, and the most spectacular part of the day..we walked the trail to Garganta del Diablo...or to the ´´Devils Throat´..and that was the most amazing part of the Falls.
It´s 1100m long and started at the Garganta station where we took the train from Cataratas station. We then walked through the jungle on the pathways to stand on the viewing balcony.
The water thundered and roared down..and swirled and fell in monstrous amounts..and we decided these falls by far surpassed any that we´d previously seen..we were riveted and mesmerised by them!
We were also spoilt by seeing a beautiful rainbow on the falls...so, so, glorious! You can see it in the pictures..but nothing like how it was to be there..just incredible to be looking down into this huge expanse of water and then have a huge arc of a colourful rainbow to appear...out of the devil, appears the ray of god!
Dinner was in Iguazu township...where we tried typical argentinan food...little pastry type pasties with vegetables and mince..and a tapioca savoury cake..which was delicious!
Was a great day..not many tourists to compete with..and being in the rainforest under a waterfall..what more could we ask for...so...apart from the loss of my coat..and the robbing by the coatis it was a perfect day!
Tomorrow..we go to the Brasilian side of the Iguazu Falls...
