WOW. That was a pretty great 3 days.

Our hostel was enormous. Set on the road from town to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, it used to be a casino so it was apretty big building with a pretty big pool. Jumping in that pool was pretty much the first thing we did. We got alot of strange looks, the pool wasnt exactly warm, but it was so refreshing and Iguazu is a pretty hot place, right on the brazilian border.

We set off for the falls in the morning on a minibus from the hostel and set about walking the main trails of the iguazu national park. You follow the signs and do a circuit to see different bits of the falls. We were walking long the metal walk ways of the upper trail, seeing all these signs warning us of the wildlife and i said "where are all the animals, I want to see the animals". No sooner had I opened my mouth, a little critter popped out of the bush, and another, and another. They were these little racoon like creatures called coatis with stripy tails. they looked quite cute but the signs had warned that they `can and will bite´ so we kept our distance. we atched as about 10 of them crossed this bridge. The big ones walked along the handrail and the babies walked on the bridge. When they got to the other side, they flung themselves one by one into a tree. there was one podgy one left who looked worried that the tree couldnt take him but as he watched his mates disappear he finally went for it.

We had our second coati experience when we stopped for a lunch with a view on the lower trail. we´d finished eating and one came running up to us after aislinns crumbs. we jumped up and moved away but more came out of the bushes. one started chasing me and jumped up to grab our food bag, flashing its teeth. i dropped the bag and ran and within seconds about 5 of them were on the bag, ripping it to shreds.

just off the lower trail we boarded a speed boat which took us into the spray of the falls, completely soaking us but cooling us down.

the we headed for the star of the show, the garganta del diablo (devils throat). it was so amazing. the power and the sheer size of it was breathtaking. you couldnt see the bottom for all the mist, which was rising and forming wispy clouds overhead. we stood in awe for quite some time. we wandered back slowly taking in some of the wildlife and scenery. there were beautiful butterflies everywhere. theres was one especially bright orange one sitting on the head of a tortoise who was basking in the afternoon sun.

instead of following the crowds and getting a train back to the entrance, we got a really special and secluded boat tour. we were rowed down the quieter waters in a dingy by a guy who was obviously local and new the waters and the jungle well. there was only 6 of us and we sat almost silent as he rowed us towards each animal he spotted. we saw 4 caiman! there was a little one, a particularly scary medium sized one with its eyes poking above the water, a larger one on a bank, and quite a big one asleep on a rock with butterflies all over its face. there were plenty more tortoises and lovely birds and it was so nice to get away from the crowds and just be able to enjoy it all quietly.

in complete contrast, we had an equally brilliant rowdy night at the hostel. for 5 pounds we had an all you could eat argentine asado (bbq) with a big salad buffet and free caipirinhas. dinner waas followed by a samba show lead by this hilarious bloke who insisted on getting us all up dancin and limboing. by the end of it all we were boiling and decided to celebrate our last night and cool off by jumping in the pool. of course, once again , everyone thought we were completely mad. after a good while shouting at people and splashing them from in the pool we managed to get a little group together. we did aerobics to keep warm on the little island in the middle of the pool and played piggy back wars.

the next morning we were sad to leave but we headed off to the bus station, catching the local bus which was rammed with argentinian school kids. then we boarded another cama (bed) bus for another long ride (21 hours!), this time to cordoba...