Post 111: Iguazu Falls

Fellow adventurers,

Once there was a god whom planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipi, but she fled with her mortal lover Taroba in a canoe. In a rage, the god sliced the rivers condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. Legend has it that this is how the 1.7 mile wide waterfalls of the river Iguazu were created. Separate waterfalls and cataracts, as many as 150 - 300 depending on the water level, flow over the edge of the Parana Plateau. They vary in height from 200 - 269 feet high.

After a desperate attempt at turning in all necessary paperwork and about $300 to obtain a visa for our later entrance into Brazil, we caught a bus for a 20 minute ride to Iguazu Falls National Park. Entering the park we were greeted by a number of coatie's, a raccoon like mammal with a pointy snout, sharp canines, and long, striped tail. They rummaged around looking for food, not fearful of humans which made for catching close snapshots of them. They even tore a hole in the plastic bag we were carrying our packed lunch in. As we continued on, we crowded with many others into the rows of seats of a small open train which transported visitors to different parts of the park, where once there the option to hike to different viewpoints of the falls was available.

The train reached it's farthest point of travel at the Garganta del Diablo, or the 'throat of the devil.'   We fought our way through the masses of people walking slowly or occasionally stopping for a photo on the boardwalk that takes you over the rivers towards the viewpoint. It's amazing to me how calm the water seems to be around the massive waterfall, where most of the water flows.  It's no wonder Eleanor Roosevelt said "Poor Niagara" when she saw the u - shaped, 152 ft wide, 2,296 ft long waterfall. Gavin and I were in awe, attempting to snap what photos we could without getting to wet by the thick mist in the air.

All the trails in the park are constructed off the ground in order to not to disturb the natural habitat. Along them we saw many butterflies, some in groups whom would land on you; as well as some species of tropical birds and long legged spiders. The rain started to pour as it briefly does everyday in the tropics, just in time for us to board the train once again. This time we got off at a stop that took us along varying higher and lower points of interest, just as the rain began to pass. We continued to be impressed by the velocity of the falls, and just how many there were. Such geography is almost indescribable, and could only be understood by putting yourself there. I feel like no description or photos could do such justice.

Today we picked up our Visa's, and switched hostels as the one we were in seemed to have a problem with bedbugs that luckily didn't bite us, but others weren't so fortunate. It's 2 weeks until we fly home,  and tomorrow we set on a 25 hour bus journey into the giant nation of Brazil. Just as I was getting more confident with my Spanish speaking skills, I now must learn some Portuguese phrases.  I look forward to Brazil, but also to returning home, although I know once I settle in, I'll be anxious to get on the road again (Turkey and Jordan, perhaps?).

June y Gavin