#42 Iguazu Falls

After covering more than 1000 kilometres in two and a half days in drenching heat, electric storms, and thunderous rain, we arrived at our destination: a hostel complete with a swimming pool, table tennis, and a poolside bar. It was a tough decision to leave the cooling waters and caipirinhas. But we had come all this way so off we went five kilometres down the road for our first glimpse of the Iguazu Falls. The home of the falls, the Iguazu National Park, is shared between Brazil and Argentina though it seems Argentina won the war. While you can get a good overview of the falls from Brazil you really don't appreciate their immenseness until crossing the border. There is little to be said so I'll let the (inadequate) photos speak for themselves. 

The above pics were taken from the Brazilian side of the falls. Not willing to go through the hassle of getting the bike into Brazil for a second time we opted to take a bus organised by our hostel to see the Argentinian side the following day. There is some cheesy line about the falls that I swore I wouldn't put on the blog, but I don't have much else to say so here it is: on the Brazilian side you are looking at heaven but on the Argentinian side you are actually in heaven. And on first view it certainly did make me think of how a movie director might portray the afterlife.

These little critters were cute enough on the walkways, but
start eating around them and they turned into nasty scavengers.

What should have taken little more than hour took us three, our bus driver seemed more interested in taking a detour for 'much cheaper' water at his friend's business then getting us to the falls efficiently. At one point this slightly  chaotic man asked us to hand over our passports, which we were very reluctant to do. Then much confusion ensued over what time we were due back at the bus that evening, having gained an hour by entering Argentina. Anything would think it was his first trip. It turns out we had over 6 hours at the falls which was more than enough time. Fortunately we had met a newly married British couple, Tom and Amutha, to exchange travel stories with. 

And for the final, dramatic experience....

Looking at the point water fell over the edge
felt much like that point on a rollercoaster when
your about to take the stomach-dropping plunge.