Today is art 2 of my great Iguazu (or Iguacu in Portuguese) falls adventure. Now let me tell you firstly, the travel agent lady here is the biggest liar there ever was. She was caught out the other day and she lied to me today. I missed “her” direct bus to the Brazilian side of the falls for 50 pesos. As a result she would not help me (similarly the other night when i’d already booked my luna walk). The reception guy is fortunately a good bloke. He suggested the bus from the bus terminal was about 30 pesos. Then the #$%^@ (insert expletives) told him it was 30 pesos each way and I should wait til tomorrow to catch “her” transfer bus, which of course is not possible as I’m leaving.
Anyway, I got there and back for a whole 38 pesos a lot less than she was offering. She sold a ticket the other day to a guy for 512 pesos as she said its the only bus and there is no other way to go where he wanted to go. then he went to the bus terminal and the tickets there were 350 pesos! Enough whinging and back to the adventure.
Exit and entry from Argentina into Brazil, was smooth with no forms to fill out either. There was a compulsory Brazilian wax on entry to Brazil. The screaming had me worried for a while, but it didn’t hurt that much and it feels as smooth as a babies bottom. I arrived at the falls and paid the entry fee, that looks incredibly similar in price to the Argentinean side. A bus then drives you into the park. There was a mad rush to sit on the top deck of the bus. Not sure why, but I sat near the door downstairs and got off the bus first. It worked for me and its not like the animals were hanging out for the bus to pass before crossing the road.
The Brazilian side has all the activities of the Argentinean side like rafting and bushwalking, which most people seem to skip. Effectively its one walk, although there are numerous places to start. I started from the beginning and in minutes the falls were visible. The trail meandered down the hill each bend bringing a different view of the falls. From here you could only marginally see the Argentinean side, as there is an island in the middle. So it seems it was well worth the trip to the other side, without even finishing my adventure.
Iguazu Falls from Brazil
This side was less crowded also, but still had the standard annoyances of mine, like people walking slowly, or stopping to photograph themselves every 5 metres. Eventually at the bottom of the trail was a platform that extended out into the river and almost mid falls. People were walking back from the platform absolutely drenched and thats with a rain poncho on!! I walked out to the first viewing platform area, deliberately ruining as many photos of people as possible. It wasn’t too bad there, a little bit of spray but nothing too bad. The furthest platform didn’t look too bad either. It did sound like an almighty roar all around me though. I started to walk out further and within seconds I was drenched. Thats in itself didn’t bother me, what bothered me was I just put my laundry in to be washed. I should have just worn some dirty clothes today. It was hard to get decent photos from there though.
Iguazu Falls from Brazil
I walked back briskly to the confines of the viewing tower with a lift as well. The views from the tower were just as awesome. The Brazilians in the gift shop made me buy a pair of havaianas and a coffee cup though. Besides souvenirs on the Brazil side were decent and much cheaper than the Argentinean side. Note to self, visit Brazil again sometime.
The rest of the day was just a late lunch and bus back. Nothing much to say, but it feels like my holidays are winding down, like they are. Tomorrow I’m on a 18hr bus trip to Buenos Aires, so it may be a blog free day, although i do have an idea of something if I get time, before the bus. Otherwise i’ll see you back in Buenos Aires, hopefully for no more pickpocketing attempts.
Oh better do spanish phrase of the day, there are a few of you who find it the highlight of my blog. “Mojarse en Brasil es divertido”, yes getting wet in Brazil is quite fun. A bonus though is because they speak Portugese in Brazil, I’ve run it through a language convertor for a Portuguese phrase of the day too “Se molhar no Brasil é diversão”.
Update: No I didn’t go to Paraguay (or as the locals like to say Parra’s Gay), although I did see it from Argentina, just like I saw Chile from the Andes 🙂 However I will probably visit Uruguay for a day.