Iguazu Falls - One of two main reasons I am on this trip!

The big day at last.  The main reason, other than to travel with friends, that I booked this trip was for the Falls.  Tacked on to the front of a cruise made it affordable.  We checked out of our hotel at noon so had a late breakfast and a walk about as well as a swim before a short drive to the domestic airport.  Most of our bags were left in a security room at the hotel.  PanAmericano hosts many tour groups, airline personnel on layovers, and business meetings.  There was even a film crew scouting to use it for a movie!  Services are definitely geared for the short term stay and conveniences like leaving checked bags is a must do.  The prices must be right because both Gate One and OAT were here now and one is much less expensive to travel with than the other.

Luckily our flight was early on this day of n airline pilot strike.  We joined a very long line but after a certain time it split into two lines, one for Northern flights like ours and the other Southern.  It didn’t take as long as it looked like it would and we did not have to wait long before boarding. The flight was about 2 hours and turbulent all the way as though the Gods were on the pilots’ side!  There was no drink service but on Domestic flights you can take your bottled water on board through security even if it has been opened.  I did get patted down as I always set off the scanners but nothing had to be in a separate Baggie, electronics didn’t need to be removed and pretty much it was just a formality.  Not stringent at all.

First view of this wonderful site.  Not one of the Wonders of the World but maybe it should be!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls

When we arrived at the little Iguazu International, Leandro was waiting for us.  We boarded the bus and he introduced himself.  He was from Brazil.  This area of the country also has a border with Paraguay and for locals no visas are needed to travel between the countries.  The Iguazu National Parks are big employers for there is a need for park workers of every kind and for guides, bus drivers, and retail personnel.   Tomorrow we are visiting the Argentinian side of this Modern Natural Wonder of the World.  Tonight there was time for Anna to have a walk and a swim while I dealt with weird electrical situations in our room at the beautiful Loi Suites Hotel.  Our room had a French Balcony with a tree top view bath tub! Yea!  Dinner was steak, but once again there was no one to lead an introduction so I really do not even know everyone’s name.

Dan and his Linda dined with Fred and his Linda!

I always enjoy dessert!  Anna seemed to enjoy everything on this trip.  Her enthusiasm was contagious!

We were on the bus by 7:15 to get an early start and beat the heat.  I cannot say much about this experience.  We ended up walking about 5 miles by the end of the day.  We hiked a trail of about 2 miles to Devil’s throat where the mist and spray pretty thoroughly soaked us.  Not a bad thing on such a hot day. We crossed small falls and waterways.  Unfortunately much of it was over open grating with a single rail on either side.  It would not have been so scary if it wasn’t directly over the water just above the Falls and over actual falling water!  I did not keep up with my friends who may I say “plunged ahead!”  Leandro was good about keeping track of everyone and I just tried to be near anyone from our group.  This was an unbelievably thrilling experience.

Next was a several mile truck ride.  The truck reminded me of the good old safari days.  This was a flatbed that held 20 people in chair like seats.  There were no seatbelts as we bounced along the dirt road and into the jungle.  We arrived near the boat dock and proceed to walk down a 250 meters of stairs!  Luckily there was a hand rail.   After we passed the medic who was on site to be sure no one who was boarding the boats appeared to be out of breath, walking with a cane, or unable to be strong enough for the Zodiac tour we did more steps down to the river.  About half way down the 100 meters of steps we donned life jackets.  Then we were given large dry bags to put our shoes in and whatever else we wanted to keep dry.

What a ride!  Unbelievable!  Not the Maid of the Mist!  As we zoomed along the driver made sure everyone got wet, tipping the boat to one side and then the other as he created a high spray.  Not so much a spray as a soaking.  We went past as much of the 8km of falls as we could and then…smack headfirst into and under the Three Sisters Falls.  Yes, dead on. Just when you thought you couldn’t laugh any harder her would head out and then, zoom!  In again!  Soaked?  No.  Drenched!  SO MUCH FUN!  But crazy to do I’m sure.  We hated the half hour ride to end.

Looks innocent enough.

Anna, Linda, Gordon

Fred and his 'dry bag!'

First close up views.

Yep.  That is us going under the Falls!

No. It has not gotten stormy.  This is just the view up from the zodiac to the falls at Devil's Throat.

 

Now, as you know, what goes down must go up.  We made our way part way up the stairs then were allowed to sit and put our shoes on again.  We continued hiking back up to our truck, which took us back to our train which had brought us out here to start with.  Everyone was so excited and couldn’t stop jabbering and laughing.  Out buffet lunch was included at the restaurant and was quite good.  Of course it also had beef on a bar-b-que and many choices for sides.

After this 45 minute break we hiked the Upper Trail which was quite the easier one.  Actually, even Handicap Accessible.  The paved walk did lead to bridges and overlooks that were definitely out over the water.  Then we were back to grates and the outlook over the highest point of the widest falls.  I was terrified!  Actually I asked John to stand with me by the rail so I could really look over it and then we started to walk back.  Then Leandro took over and talked me all the way back to land.  That made it seem easy since I was distracted.   He was very nice and answered all my questions.  Unlike Niagara, not many try to go over the falls, and actually, no one ever tried to use a barrel.   But in 2016 two people died.  Probably suicide.  Two more in 2014 but one is unique.  A young man walked out and was peacefully chatting with folks.  No sign of distress.  Then climbed over the rail and fell in almost a slow motion manner.  He was turned in such a way that his calm expression was caught in the movies of many of the bystanders.  These videos were on news shows but then were taken down from sites like Google and YouTube.  God rest his soul.  What internal fear and struggle and pain he must have been experiencing that peace was brought by such a horrible death.   No opportunity to change your mind.  His body was found down river two weeks later on a bit of a sand dune.

Literally walking right over the falling water!  Terrifying.

A little wet from the experience!

Simply fascinating from every angle and although walking over open grating scares me I kept going to the farthest point.

To the right of the walkway the water is deceivingly gently bubbling.

The warning shows bite marks, not scratches!

Gentleness after fear.

The drive back to the hotel was short. Guarana people, indigenous peoples, live freely and simply in this region.  They do not pay taxes, can use the schools but many choose not to, have homes that are a cross between a hut and a cabin. Many work at menial labor or farming.  They have a more subsistent life.  They worry about today and do not plan ahead which makes for a difficult lifestyle, especially in times of flood. Many were walking along the long dirt road.  The children were not playing but beating at the bushes with sticks.  There are many wild animals including Jaguar, Puma, Capybara (like giant rats weighing 155 pounds!) and Tapirs.  These giant relatives of the rhinoceros roam the jungle and instead of deer crossing signs along the road it is these scary guys to watch out for.

We took the time for a short swim in the very large and beautiful pool complex.  I had a Pisco Sour at the Tiki Bar. 

At the hotel we enjoyed another nice dinner but Linda sent her totally rare, cold centered, steak back to be Medium rare.  It never returned.  Others at our table did the same but they were re-  Linda demonstrated righteous indignation and found a bottle of sparkling wine in her room when she got there.  That was quick.  They brought it down to share and we brought out the Rice Krispy treats and nuts to add to the celebration.  (The next morning they had a meeting with the hotel and restaurant manager and the result was an apology and forgiveness on their bar bill.)

served promptly.

We settled in for the night.  I had taken a shower after the swim so skipped my bath.  My check out time for the morning was 7:00 a.m.!  Anna’s is at 11.