Our trip to Iguazu Falls

Blog IV:  To Iguazu Falls and Back!

Over the past two weeks, we've been enjoying a marvelous visit from my brother James and sister-in-law, Sally and one of the first things we did was take a flight north to Iguazu.

Iguazu Falls:

When she first saw them, the United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt reportedly exclaimed "Poor Niagara!" We had to see for ourselves.

Our flight to Iguazu was little more than a 90-minute journey, but straight north bringing us into the sub-tropical climes of Argentina.

And as the plane approached the airport, we could see a plume of steam rising into the air and when I asked,  the stewardess smiled saying that was indeed our destination. The “that” was the ever-present plume of Garganta del Diablo, Iguazu's Devil's Throat. What a feeling of anticipation!

Stepping outside the plane, the thick, hot, humid subtropical air shocked. Sure it was summer in Buenos Aires, but the “aires” in Iguazu was like a hot steamy sauna.

A night of torrential rains didn't stop until our little Iguazu adventure bus and our fearless leader, Diego, arrived. 

 What a day it was to be!

Although Argentina is the proud owner of 80% of the falls themselves, most of the water that tumbles over the edge of the Paraná Plateau, to form this unique attraction comes out of Brazil's ample interior.

A little miners train brought us out to the site where our tour guide, Diego, began his introduction in that seductive Spanish accent that had all the females swooning.

And yet, I found myself thinking how a pair of sunglasses and a head of hair can make any Argentinian look like a South American dictator.

Hombres, first ve vill take zeeths territory,

......and zen av a svim!!

Walking out to the falls, we could hear them before seeing them. 

I reminded myself that this UNESCO World Heritage Site was comprised of over 275 cascades stretching over 3 kilometers. 

 A true wonder!

But astounding too, is the fact that this area has been saved from exploitation. 

No dams or industries to compromise one's enjoyment of these amazing waterfalls and the surrounding subtropical rain forest.....

....home to countless species of rare birds and animals,

...including the endangered Vinaceous-breasted Amazon, the wild green parrot which everyone is looking at, 

...except me obviously.

...and this little vagabond, the Para Mini, that was hitching a ride on James' backpack.

Hey, number 88!

He's the "Eric Lindros" of the butterfly world.

You have to be very careful not to be too inebriated when speaking of the 
"Ring-Tailed Coatis". 

And you must look with intention if you want a shot of the many lizards.... and quick!  I was too slow with my noisy point-and-shoot to catch the bigger and fleet-of-foot.

Linda and Sally at the beginning of our ride.

Finally we made it down to the river's edge for what was, I think, the highlight of our day: the boat trip up the river to the falls. 

James, anticipation is half the fun.

The driver knew every inch of way and took us on what seemed to be a perilous journey through rapids and along precipices. 

The crescendo was absolutely the ride “under” the falls.

This picture was taken just seconds before we went "under", where...

...opening your eyes or mouth was an impossibility.

Only the pounding water and the sound of the falls filled our senses.

Soaked, we disembarked, ready to climb the precipice back up to our bus....

only to face the rain which had just begun to fall again.

No worries...just keep the cameras dry.

By the way, the first European to record the existence of the falls was in 1541 when the Spaniard Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca came across it. 

Loosely translated, his name was Sir “Cow's Head”, a very good reason, I would think, to get the hell out of Spain and work some of that anger out as a conquistador in the New World.  

For a quick look at James' video of the falls, click here:

http://youtu.be/tTN39C37wxA

For an extended version of his video, click here:

http://youtu.be/K3rKZ_r1sSc

Adios, Iguazu.

Food Tripping back in the city

Buenos Aires has been a city of wonderful surprises for us. One especially incredible one was a “Puerta Cerrada” (translated: Closed Door) in which you're invited into a private home to be tantalized by the food and atmosphere of a team of cooks.

It was Barry, a Buenos Aires connoisseur and admirer from Winnipeg, who introduced us to this beautiful little custom, that essentially ranks as one of my very favorite experiences in the city thus far.

These evenings of incredible dining usually start around 8:30 and end, oh, “whenever”. 

Entering the exquisite old building, we were guided up an open-to-the-sky stairway to a lovely apartment in “Old Palermo” where we were immediately given a refreshing cold “Mate” (pronounced mattay), Argentina's national drink.

These thematic evenings can touch on any and all specialties from around the world but tonight's was the foods of Argentina.

For just 250 Argentine pesos ($20.00 USD at the current “blue market” rate), we were treated to a gourmet meal including an appetizer, main meat dish, salad and dessert, plus Argentine wines and beautiful beverages: wine as well as a special blended infused drink that I couldn't get enough of.

Sitting in close quarters inside a stranger's home may sound like a recipe for stilted conversations and awkward silences, but our judging from the warm, funny and talkative evening we had, it's simply a recipe for an evening of bliss.

What an initiation to B.A. for James and Sally. Thanks, Barry.  

Blog Post V will be out soon.    Hasta mañana!