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Hola from Iguassu...
Let me back track to the bus ride as I feel I need to express how enjoyable a 26 hour bus ride in South America across Argentina can be.. We got on leather massive reclining seats... hello Argentinean bus services... was possibly better then Cruz Del Sur in Peru... although they did have wifi.. The movie selection on this bus was much better and was in English.. Another win.. I recline my chair, wrap myself up in the blanket and set in for over a day's travel on a bus.. First movie... Yes Man with Jim Carey.. Not a Jim Carey fan but did enjoy this movie.. And the concept I guess.. Movie finished and it was snack time.. After snack time was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.. Wow what a fantastic movie.. Quite enjoyed this movie.. Then it was dinner time.. Hot meal and glass of wine.. Don't mind if I do... and the best movie of all... Die Hard 4.0... Nothing like a little bit of Brucey action right before bed.. After the action pact movie was easy to fall asleep... was about 11pm.. Next thing I knew I was being woken up and it was about 9am.. 10 hours sleep not a bad effort at all..
Time to do a bus swap.. Then head on the last 5 hours to Iguassu... this bus wasn't as enjoyable, seats were ok and mostly had a double to myself.. However there were 2 creepy European older guys who kept starring at me.. I can't confirm that I may have after about 3 hours stuck my finger up at them.. This may or may not have happened... anyway we roll into Iguassu, get the bags and taxi it to the hostel.. And what a sight for sore eyes that was.. Palm trees, amazing pool and good looking bar.. Complete and utter bliss..
I check in get some cash and sit by the pool.. I skyped home as it was dads birthday and had a long good chat to him about all the happenings back home and what I had in store and all of that and had an enjoyable meal.. The night was rather uneventful.. I wasn't in a socialising mood so when the power cut out at 10 I bowed out and hit the hey myself as the next day I was off to see Iguassu falls... rather excited..
I get up, get ready, and hit the complementary breakfast.. After this I await my transfer to Iguassu. It arrives and the van is full.. All young people.. Like my age a few solo travellers I befriend a German guy and a Dutch guy... they were both travelling alone as well so naturally us loners clung to each other.. We had the option of doing a boat trip that takes u nearly under the falls and in amongst all of the spray.. So me and Dutch, Roderick in case u cared for his name decided we would be game to give it a go.. Philipp the German thought better of it.. But as a group we headed down the lower boardwalk of the falls and towards the boat ride...
W walked for a bit seeing monkeys and racoon looking animals that apparently had rabies.. I laughed at the tour group of Asian tourist that were trying to pick them up and patting them.. Disaster waiting to happen.. Hated the monkeys so when they were swinging around I vacated the area quick smart.. This amused Dutch and German... whets with sth America and monkeys though.. Seriously?
Anyway we kept walking surrounded by rainforest and butterflies.. you could hear the roar of the falls and you knew they had to be close... all of a sudden you come to a lookout in the path and there they were in all their fury... they were breath taking... there are like over 200 waterfalls in a 4 km stretch of river and the amount of water that passes through per second is phenomenal... we stood there listening the thunderous sound the falls as the water hits the Iguassu river below.. To the left the Brazilian side and the Brazilian waterfalls and to the right the Argentinean waterfalls.. We took some happy snaps, posed for the tourist shot and then moved on along the path... We got to the next lookout and wow if we thought the first view of Iguassu was impressive, this was incredible. There were rainbows and so many different falls.. We were dumb founded by the enormity of these falls.. I haven't seen Niagara Falls but have heard that Iguassu makes Niagara look like a dripping tap.. And that I think I can now understand..
We kept walking and continued to be speechless and gobsmacked by how spectacular these falls were.. The sound was deafening at times and the scenery surrounding, rainforest and natural beauty was a sight that makes you think.. However, whoever or whatever created this world and created these natural wonders really deserves one massive high five or pat on the back because this was mind blowingly beautiful..
We got the stairs that take you to the boat and the 6 of us that opted to do it started to head down.. On our way I saw this girl and was like hrmm why is she familiar then it clicked for us both.. It was Ali and Brendan.. The couple from Sydney that I met in Brugge, Belgium.. small small world. They had been in sth America for awhile. I chatted to them very briefly and caught up quickly but then had to head on down for the boat.. Still blew my mind running into them again.. Anyway we lined up for the boat and a couple come up after me and Dutch.. I looked at them and they were two of the NZ kids I met in Uyuni.. We chatted for a bit whilst waiting for our turn and I kept laughing about the fact that Iguassu seems to be the place to run into people..
It was our turn.. We jumped on board.. Life vest secured Dutch gave me the seat on the edge.. He claims he was being a gentleman.. I claim he was smart and knew id cop the majority of water.. We headed off.. To the Brazilian side.. We got close to get a bit of spray but not that close then we headed off to the Argentinean side.. I had my waterproof camera taking some river level snaps.. And then all of a sudden bang!! We were in the soup of the falls.. It was loud and the water fell with such power you felt like you were stepping in the ring with Mike Tyson himself.. We were drenched like we had jumped in a pool fully clothed yet all we did was crack up laughing.. Everyone was cheering and squilling.. You couldn't see 2cm in front of you.. It was amazing.. Knowing that you were in the soup of some of the world's most powerful waterfalls in Argentina.. It was one of those wow my life is unreal moments.. We came out and everyone looked around at each other laughing and woohoo'ing.. Chanting and clapping and then we sped back to the Brazil side.. Everyone went quiet and looked around because this side looked angry.. there was so much spray from how hard the falls hit the river below that you look like you are about to enter the thickest fog you have ever seen.. We had no idea what was in amongst that fog, which was actually spray but we were about to find out.. We headed in and the boat would jolt this way and that.. We once again were drenched through to the bone.. The sound of the water crashing was so loud it was ear piercing, the water was chilling but you didn't care because you were having a once in a lifetime, unforgettable experience.. Dutch and I kept laughing and saying ohh its cold and then laughing.. It's all you could you.. Then we came out... only for a second to give you false hope that it was over and we had survived because then bang.. We were back in amongst it.. When we came out the second time everyone cheered.. And high-five and we made our way back to the jetty.. When we were back on land I was relieved but so psyched that I did it.. Was an amazing experience to not only see the falls but to be crushed and amongst the falls.. Leaves you speechless..
Anyway we drip our way back up to the group where we look at the pics with German.. They are waterlogged and rain soaked.. We look like drowned cats yet in every pic we have the world biggest grins on our face.. We cracked up laughing at the pics and had some lunch.
After lunch we did the upper trail.. It is here we saw so many rainbows and we walked along the top of the water falls.. Another amazing experience.. We saw some beautiful butterflies.. I have a new found respect for butterflies after my visit here.. They really are mystical creatures.. So graceful and colourful.. And to think before they were these beautiful images they were a caterpillar that just makes your eyes itch.. We again took so many pics we all prob filled up many memory cards and then we headed to the train..
The train was to take us to the Devils throat.. They are the Brazilian and Argentinean falls that is an arch and the mass of water that falls creates such a grand spray,.. We get off the train and walk a kilometre over a metal boardwalk that is built across the Iguassu River about 2 metres above.. The Iguassu River is almost 2km wide or just over it.. Something likes that.. Anyway you can see the mist of the spray as we approach and you can tell how spectacular this is going to be.. And then you come to the look out and there it is.. Devils throat.. It looks angry.. Actually angry is an understatement.. It looks mighty pissed off.. The mass of water falling is unimaginable and if I didn't see it with my own eyes I never would have believed it.. The rainbow the mist creates with the sun is spectacular and it was the perfect finale to one of the most amazing days of appreciation of Mother Nature and all her beauty...
We stood in awe of this spectacular sight for 15 minutes just repeating how much we couldn't believe how amazing it was.. We took a heap of photos hoping that one of them would capture the moment and grandness of this part of the falls.. Although we knew no camera in the world could possibly capture this.. This sight was something you have to fly to Argentina and see for yourself.. And if you love waterfalls.. My goodness you will be far from disappointed.. After some time we headed back to the train talking about how amazing the day was...
The train ride is a bit of a blur really.. Only happened yesterday but I have recall of what was discussed.. And then we got into the bus and headed back to the hostel.. I got dropped off first as everyone else came from Brazil.. I said goodbye to my new friends, also ran into a Sydney girl who was in Europe and did busabout with Kerri and Sheree my clients I hung out with in New York.. Again small world..
Back at the hostel I was still on a high from how amazing my day was I wanted to share the experience with my family.. You can say it's loserish but I don't care.. I uploaded the photos whilst enjoying a cold drink by the pool...
That night was Argentinean bbq night at the hostel so I signed up for it.. And met Nina.. An awesome Peruvian French girl living in Argentina.. Ok so her parents and Peruvian, she was born there but has lived in France her whole life till 2 years ago when she travelled Peru and moved to Argentina.. She was about to head back to Europe so was travelling around a bit first.. Anyway we chatted about so many things, friendships that have fallen apart or were falling apart and others that have been rekindled, relationships, childhoods, cultures.. You name it we prob talked about it over a few drinks... then we decided to hit the pool table.. First came went to Nina, second to me and third.. We broke the pool table by losing the white ball so we called it a draw.. Next was ping pong.. We both weren't very good, nor did we know the rules so even when the ball bounced off the table we would chase it around the room trying to hit it to the other person.. This was where ballet pong was created.. Nina hit it really hard at one stage directly at me.. whether it was intentional is still in doubt but this is where Matrix pong was invented... another time the ball went to the other side of the room and I couldn't be bothered picking it up.. This is where gold pong was invented and a few times we hit it a little too high and a little too hard and this is where ceiling fan pong was created.. We have no idea who won.. Or even how we could have kept score on any of the versions of ping pong that we made up but we most definitely had a good laughing during it.. After chasing that little white ball around the room and cracking another we decided that Ping Pong or any version of Pong wasn't really our game so next we teamed up with two Spaniards and took on the Foosball table.. Foosball is huge over here so I figured I couldn't leave sth America without having a match.. I am proud to say that I did get one goal and I did block one goal.. The scores and the rest of the stats I do not believe matter as they do not go in my favour of course.. What matters is my one goal and my one save... this I believe makes me a foosball champion.. You can disagree but it won't change my mind :)
Anyway after a few drinks and a night of extreme sports it was 1am and I was spent so it was bed time..
In the morning I woke up, Nina was one of my roomies so I tried to pack my stuff and get ready quietly.. She eventually woke up, I checked out and we had breakfast.. We spent the next couple of hours sunning ourselves by the pool.. It got a bit too hot so we moved to the shelter a decided to head into town for some food.. Nina obviously speaks Spanish so she got the taxi driver to take us somewhere with good food.. We had ensaladas or something like that.. Pastry filled goodness.. Typically sth American food.. After some more chit chat and lunch it was time to go to the bus station and get my bus to Buenos Aires.. This one was only 18 hours.. Not so bad... she walked with me as she needed to book a ticket to Santa Fe for Saturday... whilst their we met a really nice Israeli couple on their honeymoon..
Anyway 4:30 rolled around and the bus rocked up.. Said farewell to Nina and hopped on.. Was sitting across from the Israelis and the bus took off.. Iguassu was amazing.. And one day I will come back to the cool little town and the amazing waterfalls.. But now it's time to hit the big city... next stop Buenos Aires... in 18 hours
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