When we left Uruguay we didn't anticipate such a mammoth day of border crossings. First we crossed into Argentina on a boat; then our night bus took us all the way to Puerto Iguassu right on the border with Brazil; so after picking up a private van to take us across the Brazilian border we finally arrived at our hotel in Foz de Iguassu, our base for the next three days while we explored the amazing Iguassu Falls.

But on this first day we didn't visit the Falls…instead we made our final border crossing of the day and popped into Paraguay for the afternoon (as you do!). It was a bit of a chaotic border, as many are, but this time there was to be no stamp in the passport as we entered the country by the back door so to speak. Not quite sure how, or even why, but it was a case of the driver knowing a man on the border, who knew a man, who knew a man kind of thing. We were free to wonder around as we wished and make any purchases we wanted, which was really the main point of coming as things like electrical items are much cheaper here. But anything you did buy had to be removed from its box and hidden away so that if we were stopped at the border on the way back there was no evidence of anything!?

All a little strange, and as it turned out I didn't really find any bargains…but not a bad afternoon.

On the way back to the hotel we also stopped off at Yacyreta Dam, back on the Brazilian side. It was a huge structure, much bigger than the Hoover Dam, so much so that you have to go around it by a guided bus rather than walking. Impressive as the size was though it wasn't the most interesting thing I've seen on my travels!