RIO TO IGUAZU FALLS

Day 5 – 10/08/09
Early flight to Iguaçu Falls, Brazilian side. 82 meters high 5th largest in the world. 3 countries meet in the middle of the Falls- Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. We decided to head to the Brazilian side first for a day then the Argentine side. Each side gives its own spectacular views on the Falls.
Getting off the bus with our oversized 23kg rucksack praying that they would have a locker to store them or else we would have to trek 3km around the Falls with them on our back or with 2 of them on Rob’s back!! Luckily enough that didn’t happen. When walking over to the viewing point of the Falls for the first time, I know a lot of people say words can’t describe something in life but in this case words could not describe what we were seeing here, 80.000 Gallons of water per second traveling over the falls. To get a closer look you could travel along a board walk that brings you out to the middle of the Devils throat, this is the strongest point of the falls. Half way out I was thinking this wasn’t such a good idea because we were soaked to the bone already so when we got to the end it was worth early second, standing 15metres away from the bottom of the waterfall, you can only imagine the power of the water hitting the ground and the noise. Well enough of me saying how amazing Iguaçu falls was, you just have to go and view it for yourself. Here is a taster below!!!!

We made our way to the border of Brazil and Argentina, who the Policia Federal thought it was funny to open Rob’s bag to have a look inside which was packed perfectly and instead to just flirt with Danielle and having a laugh with her!!! But got into our second country with no problems thanks to our Irish passports. Quickly got a taxi, checked into our hostel which was 5 minutes away, ready for the Argentine side of the Iguaçu falls the next morning.


Day 6 – 11/08/09

After a perfect nights sleep, we got up to have breakie outside in the hostel garden….it is so cold!! But cups of hot coffee and cornflakes with hot milk hit the spot! Mmmm…

We headed off with our massive bags to the Iguaçu Jungle Park. We booked the Grand Adventura, which brought us into the jungle on a big 4x4 through the Yacaratia Trail….we only saw birds and butterflies, no pumas unfortunately they are nocturnal!!
Then we got into a speed boat and went up the rapids of the Iguaçu River and luckily all our belongings and shoes etc. were packed away because we drove straight into the Devil’s Throat canyon and got “baptised” under San Martin Fall! It was so much fun!! We got totally drenched, and Rob literally went for a bath!!!

After that thrill! We walked through the lower circuit trail, which took our breath away; the falls we saw were unbelievable, rainbows and everything!! (from now on I will sound completely star struck but I’m not messing this place is so spectacular…and our pictures won’t even do the place justice!) After the trail we got on a train to the Devil’s Throat Station. This brings us to the top of the falls. We walked out along a long bridge and then came to the top….. WOW!!!! The sheer power of the water falling is unbelievable and the feeling you get from the place is indescribable. I was speechless! You just forget about everything and it makes you feel so happy!! J The place is really surreal and totally hypnotic, honestly this is something everyone should see in their life time!!!

From the Park we headed to the airport to fly to our third destination - Buenos Aires!! We arrived quite late but even at night the city looked amazing. It looks like a mix of Paris, London and Barcelona. Our hostel is so cool it had huge wooden double doors with wrought iron detail, like a French apartment block! And our room is massive with a TV!! Ha ha!