NB - this a LARGE post with many photos -- depending on your internet connection, you may benefit from giving things a few minutes to load first. I promise -- it's worth it! And please stay tuned for Alex and Simon's versions: They are working on revising and editing their travel journals, and will post sometime next week.
Finally, FINALLY! After months of semi-anxiety about this trip and its ”big-picture” worth, the payoff came in full form today, in the middle of Iguazu’s rain forest!
Simon, who had been the more anxious of the two boys about this extended adventure so far from home, was completely overcome with fervor at being in the midst of such a magical place. After we had seen our hundredth Coati (a common, food-snatching critter that runs wild all over the park) and our 4th lizard or iguana, and were surrounded by the roaring thunder of the falls that make Niagara look like a Mickey Mouse operation at best, Simon burst out with, “Mommy, this place is AWESOME! Thank you for bringing me here! This is the best thing I’ve ever seen, better than all my toys, better than my Wii (OMG, did he really just say that? I thought, as I almost wept with joy), Mom, this place is better than cable!!!”
All I could do was laugh and smile and hug him close, telling him I loved him, and was glad he was enjoying himself.
We were so blessed with a beautiful, sunny day for enjoying the National Park, and we took full advantage of it, heading into every last nook and cranny to look out onto the various falls and get soaking wet!
Simon, who had been the more anxious of the two boys about this extended adventure so far from home, was completely overcome with fervor at being in the midst of such a magical place. After we had seen our hundredth Coati (a common, food-snatching critter that runs wild all over the park) and our 4th lizard or iguana, and were surrounded by the roaring thunder of the falls that make Niagara look like a Mickey Mouse operation at best, Simon burst out with, “Mommy, this place is AWESOME! Thank you for bringing me here! This is the best thing I’ve ever seen, better than all my toys, better than my Wii (OMG, did he really just say that? I thought, as I almost wept with joy), Mom, this place is better than cable!!!”
All I could do was laugh and smile and hug him close, telling him I loved him, and was glad he was enjoying himself.
We were so blessed with a beautiful, sunny day for enjoying the National Park, and we took full advantage of it, heading into every last nook and cranny to look out onto the various falls and get soaking wet!
The park is truly an all-encompassing experience, and at one of the look-out points, we could see a young man up ahead of us with his arms outstretched towards the magnificent rush of water, yelling into the roar, his words to God being absorbed by the thunderous falls before him.
Truly, wherever one looked, above or below or all around, the grandeur of God was evident in the form of a great and colourful artist!
Truly, wherever one looked, above or below or all around, the grandeur of God was evident in the form of a great and colourful artist!
Many of the look-out points offer professional photographers who hound you for an over-priced family or group photo-op; we elected instead to have another trustworthy-seeming tourist take our family photo; I guess when you don’t pay for pics, you end up with a thumb in the lens… oh well!
After spending most of the morning walking the trails through the rain forest below the “inferior” falls, as they are called, we had our lunch -- boiled eggs, some crackers and an apple -- on the train (well out of reach of the ever-present, food-snatching coatis) bound to the “Devil’s Throat”, the BIG falls.
The boys commented that they didn’t know how anything could top what they’d just seen in the morning. But that soon changed, once they saw the actual MAMMOTH fall ahead: It was an absolutely mesmerizing experience!
After spending most of the morning walking the trails through the rain forest below the “inferior” falls, as they are called, we had our lunch -- boiled eggs, some crackers and an apple -- on the train (well out of reach of the ever-present, food-snatching coatis) bound to the “Devil’s Throat”, the BIG falls.
The boys commented that they didn’t know how anything could top what they’d just seen in the morning. But that soon changed, once they saw the actual MAMMOTH fall ahead: It was an absolutely mesmerizing experience!
Apparently, over 1000 species of plants exist in this area, that are not found anywhere else on earth, due to the unique conditions of the constant and immense rush of water and resulting mist and ecosystem!
After returning from the Devil’s Throat, Alex was ready for a break, but Simon was game to accompany Tats on one last trail, this time above the “smaller” falls, where we had been exploring in the morning.
They soon returned from said expedition, determined to convince me and Alex that we absolutely HAD to see this, too!!!
So I stayed with Simon while Alex and Tats went back to that trail, and after Simon had had a little break, we, too, set out for it, Simon eagerly leading the way. (They had been right, it was worth it, and I am glad we went!)
They soon returned from said expedition, determined to convince me and Alex that we absolutely HAD to see this, too!!!
So I stayed with Simon while Alex and Tats went back to that trail, and after Simon had had a little break, we, too, set out for it, Simon eagerly leading the way. (They had been right, it was worth it, and I am glad we went!)
Despite being tempted to spend some time at the interpretive centre, we were all tired and hungry, so after a quick stop at the market to pick up a handicrafts (from the boys, “Mom, how do you always get such a good deal?!”), and spotting some toucans IN THE WILD!!! (sorry, didn't get photos of that treasure, but the boys were super excited to see them!), we found the front entrance, and prepared to board the bus downtown for dinner.
Finding that we just missed the bus, however, I set out to negotiate a deal with one of the cab drivers parked outside, and we headed into town moments later, comfortably installed in the man’s vehicle.
Dinner was at La Roeda 1975, a restaurant recommended to us by some of “our people”. Once again we ate way too much food, and decided this time to walk it off a little after dinner, but wandering through the town, before catching another cab home.
What an incredible adventure we had in the rain forest and at the falls today!
Tips for Travelers:
- Sunscreen and a hat!
- Mosquito spray and/or yellow fever vaccine
- Lots of water!!! (You can buy it there, but it's much cheaper to pick it up at the grocery store in town ahead of time!)
- Bring your own food (we did, and it tasted better than the crap they were selling at the park, plus it saved us a whack of dough!)
- You need at least one full day at the falls (for the Argentinean side)
- minimum age for the adventure boat ride is 12, but there is LOTS to see and do without it, seriously!
- if you are planning two consecutive days at the Park, get your ticket stamped for a discount on your next visit
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