Hello from very sunny Buenos Aires. We arrived here late yesterday after a
cracking couple of days seeing the Iguaza Falls. We caught our 22 hour bus
journey from Rio to the Brazilian side of the falls. It was fairly lengthy but
great to see a lot of Brazil. It is a very diverse country with jungle and then
more savanna like country culminating with some areas that alomst look like the
UK, with fields of crops and the like. It was really odd to see the wide range
of scenery. Both Trev and I listened to lots of tunes to help to pass the time
and managed to sleep a great deal overnight. We had met a Swedish chap at the
bus terminal, canīt remember his name mind. Anyway, at the last stop the bus
driver headed off without him. So Trev in pigeon Spanish with the assistance of
the phrase book tried to get the driver to stop. Not helpful in the fact that
the driver was Portuguese, but eventually the driver stopped and turned round
to go back and get him. The Swedish guy seemed relieved, even if he did get a
load of verbal from the driver.
Anyway, we eventually arrived in Foz DīIguazu in the morning, deposited at the
international bus terminal there. Back to the helpful tourist info guys to find
out how to get a bus to the local bus depo and then onto the falls. We bumped
into an English guy named Bill who had been travelling in South America for
about 6 months. He gave us some top advise about travelling on the buses which
we later came to use. We passed a bit of time with him as we got our packs
ready to move on again. A lot of people have been captivated by our pac safes,
one guy thought they were like an electric fence - weirdo !! Anyway, bus route
discovered, we headed off to see the falls. We decided to do the boat trip from
the Brazil side as we had a whole day there and only about half a day on the
Argentina side. We enjoyde the trip through the jungle to get to the boat but
the noise of the falls was driving us mad, we just wanted to see them. The boat
trip was wicked fun though and well worth it. The guy had the boat spinning
around in the rapids and the like. We then came round the corner to see what is
a breathtaking sight. The falls are absoultely superb and nothing I can say can
put across the enormity of them. Needless to say Trev snapped away so we have
umpteen snaps to show you all, perhaps some editing maybe required ! The boat
then took us into the falls - a little bit chilly I can tell you. It was a
sunny day mind so we began to dry off quickly, until the driver dipped the
front of the boat into the rapids and a wave broke over us. That was soggy
pants galore for both of us. Prior to that we were just wet on top, but now our
shorts dripped as we got out of the boat. Still we carried on on the walk to
get closer to the falls and dried out reasonably quickly.
After some much deserved lunch, we had not eaten much since getting on the bus
other than crackers (made a nice change from bread). We headed out of the
National Park to cross the border to Argentina to stay in Puerto Iguazu. The
bus dropped us off a little way from the border and so we donned backs and
began to walk. It was a scorching day though so guzzled lots of water. At the
Brazil border we managed to get a bus to take us across to the Argentina side
and we hopped off in Puerto Iguazu. After a fair hike to the road with the
hostels on it we realised if we had remained on the bus to the bus station we
would have had a 5 minute walk - not a 20 minute one. Still, you live and learn
and we are getting fitter all the time :o)
We found a great hostel to stay in though and had a shower and refresh before
sinking our first beer of the trip. After the two hot walks and copious amounts
of water that day, the beer tasted sweet. Then it was dinner and bed as we were
shattered.
We rose early the next day to head out to the Iguazu falls again. The
Argentinian side you are able to get much closer to and once again we got
soaked as the spray from the falls was being blown in the wind and standing on
the observation decks it was like it was raining. It was another superb
experience and the volume and noise of the water was immense. We had a good
walk around this side of the falls although had to dash off to catch a bus and
then a plane to bring us down to Buenos Aires.
The flight was short and we both crashed, remembering to wake up for the free
food ! We then found our way to a very nice Hostel in the middle of town. From
here we have been able to walk out and about today taking in the sites. It is a
lovely city with some great buildings to it. It seems more connected together
than Rio did and has more historical buildings to see as well. It reminded me
in parts to London with some of the statues and parks. We also headed out to La
Boca today to see the colourful buildings out there. I remember your piccies of
this Sal and Stu and it was great to see it in the flesh. There were many bus
loads of tourists but it didnīt detract from it. We sat and had a Valentine
beer watching a couple Tango dancing. It was superb. WE have spent the
afternoon walking around the city taking in the sites which has been grand. We
are going to head out tomorrow to San Telmo to see more Tango dancing and see
how it is all done.
After that we head off to Puerto Madryn and then Ushuaia at the end of the
week. Both of which we are really looking forward to. We hope this hot weather
continues though as so far we have been in Shorts and T-Shirts every day - tan
is progressing well !