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Time for another update.
After a 14 hour or so bus ride we arrived in Foz De Igausu keen for some breaky and to have a look around. The previous evening on the bus had been spent listening to the 6 or so culchies from Meath give each other a hard time and play 20 questions purely relating to retired GAA player. I lost count at 25,000 of the use of the word 'boyo' and decided the only escape was to down a sleeping pill and head to nod.
The thing was that we hadn't had any dinner as the bus hadn't made any scheduled food stops. I awoke at god knows when to everyone piling off to get food. So, drugged up to the eyeballs and with urgent instructions from an equally drug fuelled Laura to find yellow M&Ms, I ventured into the roadhouse. It was like something out of Alice in Wonderland and I don't really recall too much of it -being mostly asleep. I returned with fried snacks and what I thought was an acceptable alternative to M&M's. How wrong could I have been. Just because sweets are round and of various colours doesn't make them M&Ms. Laura was momentarily unhappy before falling back to sleep.
After a quick chat with the very well organised tourist information office, a coffee and cheese filled bun we were off to the Brazilian side of the falls. We were able to ditch our bags at the visitor centre there as we planned to stay the night in Argentina after crossing the border in the afternoon.
The walk along the path providing a panorama of the falls amazing but it was teeming rain. Not only this but the falls in places kicked out a lot of spray so it was a case of forgetting how wet we were and getting enjoying the sights. The falls themselves are impressive to say the least. Formed by differing layers of hardened lava the plateus for huge drop offs in numerous locations. Once we had a good look we retreated to the visitors centre to change and get the bus to Peurto Iguazu Argentina.
The border crossing itself was pretty straightforward. Although it took us a little longer than expected to get there. We found our way to the right bus stop on the brazilain side but due to what i can only hope was tiredness rather than studpidity, sure enough a bus pulled up with a big sign on the front saying ARGENTINA, but we didn't get on because the other people at the bus stop didn't and we assumed they were going across the border too. Laura asked them where they were going after the bus pulled away and an annoying english girl told her cheerfully that if we wanted to go to argentina we needed to be on that bus. Another half hour wait later we got on the next bus both hoping the english girl flights home was severely delayed. We discovered that you needed to keep the entry declaration when you arrive in Brazil to submit when you exit. By some miracle we both had ours. Losing it incurs a 70USD fine each.
Once we arrived, with a bit of sorting we were able to book onward travel to Buenos Aires and a bed for the night. At this stage we were feeling rather hungry and tired so headed out for a meal. One thing we had been missing in Brazil was red wine. Needless to say a nice glass was the first thing ordered. The dinner itself was interesting in that a decent electrical storm blew through cutting the power. The kitchen staff still pumped out the food by candle light cooking on gas hobs which made us think it was a regular occurance.
The next day was much warmer and drier than the day before. We embarked to the falls again for a close up look that is offered on he Argentine side. Getting up so close to the devils throat was mind blowing, those reading this who have been will confirm. It is hard to capture photos or video footage however but is a sight to behold. We have taken a few shots froom both the brazilian and argentinian sides - laura and i much prefered the Argentinian side.
We also wandered down to the lower levels of the falls and took a speed boat right under the falls. It was great fun, couldn't see a thing though cos the spray and the sheer force of the water forced your eyes shut. There is a picture of the falls and one of hte speedbooats heading itno the spray at the bottom of the picture on the site. Obviously we got absolutley soaked but it didn't really matter cos just as we got out, the heavens opened (again) and we trudged back to the main centre and got on the bus back to our accomodation, changed and headed to the airport to Buenos Aires.
Bye bye brazil!
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