A breif pause in BA and some lunch down the docks, we jumped on our bus for the 16hr journey to Puerto Iguazu. Sharon had the nutter sat next to her, bless, like two
peas in a pod! Puerto Iguazu we all agreed was "a bit bloody hot!" and thankfully we found a hostel with a pool and we spent the afternoon lounging round it grateful we could cool off. We soon
settled into the slow pace of life necessary in the heat of the tropical town. After the obligatory steak dinner we hit a couple of bars and ended up in Puerto Iguazu's hottest night spot 'Cubre
Libre' where we showed off some shapes to the locals. The night didnt end there as Sharon and Emma took a dip in the pool at 5am.A relaxed afternoon by the pool, although we upset the local parrots
as when sitting in the shade of the trees they would bombard us with fruit seeds. Dinner in a popular looking Parrilla complete with atrocious Folkloria band! Saturday we decided we should do
something a little active, so we took a stroll out of town to the huge Rio Parana through lush tropical forest to the triple border where the river divides three countries; Argentina, Paraguay and
Brazil, a pretty bizarre sight. A massive asado lunch of ribs and salad, but we still managed to cram in another steak dinner that evening in La Rueda, we are such pigs! Peeling shouldered Sharon was
keen to have a day in the sun to even out her tan and it seemed like the right thing to do on a Sunday. Finally getting round to the main reason for coming to Puerto Iguazu we hired ourselves our own
personal chauffeur for the day and headed across the border to Brazil. First stop was the heliport for a 15 minute flight over the falls. Sharons first time in a helicopter, and a small one at that,
max number of passengers 4, and as there were only three of us our lovely female driver got her first ever flight for free, she was made up. After a bit of a hairy take off, the pilot managed to clip
the tree tops on the way up, we flew for a few minutes over the dense tropical rainforest before we banked hard and the falls came into view. A truely breathtaking sight and fantastic way to be
introduced to the falls. Back on firm ground, giddy with excitement we jumped into the car and headed for the Brazillian side of the park. The Brazillians say their side of the falls is better and
they certainly did provide spectacular panoramic views. We oohed and ahhhed our way along the walkways, and as the Garganta del Diablo (Devils Throat Fall) finally came into sight we were all
dumbstruck, it simply took our breath away. Still buzzing with adrenalin that evening we decided to give the fernet and cokes another go, and surprisingly it wasnt too bad, it must grow on you! Steak
dinner for a change and we retired early eager for the next day to start. Words, expletives, picture or song cannot describe the views we saw from start to finish of our day on the Argentenian side
of the falls, at times it was almost religious or other worldly. This was how our day panned out.First we took the open top 4x4 through the jungle down to the valley floor to board the jet boat.
Warned it would be a wet and wild ride we set off up the river at full speed. The enormity of the height of the falls hit us immediately as the Diablo at the gorge's head came into sight and all
around us smaller falls tumbled and roared into the river. After a drenching under one of these smaller falls we thought the ride was over, but a bigger drenching was to come. Skipper gunned the boat
around Isla San Martin and headed for the massive falls on the other side. We spluttered and giggled deliriously as untold volumes of water fell on our heads. Pulling away from the fall everyone in
the boat was chanting for 'una mas tiempo' and even after our third soaking we weren't bored of it but unfortunately we headed for dry land. Drenched we climbed up the Circuito Inferior, the falls
are half as high again as Niagra, and around every corner we saw vistas each more amazing than the last. Dodging lizards and racoons we headed for the little train to take us to the Garganta del
Diablo. The silence and serenity of the walk out across the expanse of the river past basking caimen and shoals of catfish is the starkest contrast to reaching the top of the Devils Throat. We stood
on the viewing platform and if we could have spoken we would not have been heard over the thunderous roar of the biggest waterfall ever seen. Speechless, awestruck and not embarassed to say welling
up a little, we stood totally mezmerised by this most amazing of natural phenominums. As we watched the rainbows below and the swallows seeming to frolick in the spray the world and its problems
disappeared and you could see euphoria on everyones faces. Eventually tearing ourselves away we headed for the Curcito Superior. A walkway across the top of the dozens and dozens of lesser falls.
Just totally, totally amazing. Each fall with its very own rainbow and jaw dropping views. Anyone with even the smallest inclination and means should visit the mighty Iguazu Falls. With only a few
days left of Sharons visit we made the most of Puerto Iguazu town. Needless to say steak, Fernet, shopping and Bianchi Chablis made prominent appearances. On our last evening together, still in forty
degree heat we headed out to complete Sharons final day wishes; eat steak, drink champagne, drink red wine and party! We did this in spectacular fashion and after leaving Cubre Libre club at silly
o'clock in the morning, followed by dawn swimming, the poor girl only had a few hours sleep before making her arduous journey home (non existant flights and all!).It was a tearful farewell. We'd
shopped and clubbed until sunrise in BA, sat in gutters and talked nonsense to locals in Villa Gisell, were gobsmacked by the ugliness of Mar del Plata but laughed uncontrollably through it all and
of course it was all crowned by the amazing Iguazu Falls. An amazing two weeks never to be forgotten.