Puerto Iguazu - Part 2

Iguazú - day 2

There is a long list of things in our relationship (now marriage) that I am grateful for, and one of the top things on this long list is definitely our shared love for outdoor activity. 

I hope to never take for granted how we both enjoy training outdoors and the companionship. 

Needless to say on our 'off' / 'no specific plans for the day' day we kicked it off with a lengthy run. 

Las Tres Fronteras

Our very friendly hostel host advised us on a route and what a spectacular one is was! 
The route took us to the outskirts of town and all along the Iguazú river and to this beautiful view point, where the Rio Parana and the the Rio Iguazú , two mighty rivers flow into one another. Here you are also a river crossing from Brazil and Paraguay . We stood in awe, not expecting a run to turn out quite so scenic. 

The rest of our day we explored the streets of Iguazú, just wandering about...

We made ourself delicious sandwiches, bought a liter of beer and headed back to where the rivers and countries meet and enjoyed a picnic on the river bank. Albertus sharpening up on his Spanish, and myself trying to grasp counting to 20.. Uno , dos , tres, cuatro, cinco, cinco, seis..- thank you "Offspring"

And because of the warm weather...some afternoon helado (ice-cream!). It was actually one of the few things that cost less than it would back home...great excuse!

We decided to go out for dinner, we saw this buzzing, colorful street on our jog that looked as local as one could get. So we headed back there.

Colorful plastic chairs scattered about, salami hanging from the ceiling , a massive bbq on the side, a live band to which people were clapping, and plates of deliciousness flying all around. As to date, we have had relatively nice meals, but though Argentina has a lot of selling points, her culinary side isn't something we would highlight...but that night our food was just amazing. Simple meal, a plate of delicious steak strips, perfect salsa to compliment it and a fresh bread to eat it on. 

Sitting there in the buzz, with Spanish all around us, a good plate of food and each other we were as content as could be. 

The next morning was traveling day, having to catch a 24 hour bus ride to Salta. Since we only had to be at the bus terminal at 10am, we decided to visit this garden on route that apparently was known for all its hummingbirds- and YES they have them in the hundreds- buzzing about the sugar water, all 8 different species.. Even though I forgot my most prized possession there, my traveling pillow, it was well worth it! 

The artist at work

Puerto Iguazu, Argentina

Ons voorvaders van ouds het op 'n tyd geglo dat die wêreld plat was, en sou daardie siening wel die waarheid behaal het, sou ek kon indink dat die eindpunt van die aarde moes lyk soos die plek waar ons onsself nou bevind...Iguazu watervalle. 
Dit is 'n massa bruin water wat diep uit die tropiese oerwoud uit vloei en dan die afgrond in val met so 'n donderende mag dat die bodem verewig verskuil word onder 'n briesende wolk van mis...Geen wonder hul noem die deel waar hy die hardste val "Garganta del diablo" nie, die duiwel se keelgat... 
- Albertus van der Merwe, Puerto Iguazu, 9 Mei 2016

Puerto Iguazu and Las Cataratas del Iguazu 

We arrived in Puerto Iguazu on Sunday morning the 8th of May, tired from our first overnight bus trip but happily surprised by the mild tropical weather when we stepped off the bus. First thing we did when we checked in at our hostel was put on a pair of shorts and some plakkies...man did that feel good...breathe voetjies breathe!

We stayed at the Petite Hostel on Caraguata street, a very quaint and relatively well priced hostel not too far from the town center. We headed straight back into town after donning our summer gear only to be caught 10 minutes later in our first tropical rainstorm...asi es la vida! We bought our bus tickets to the Iguazu National Park for the next day and found a local supermarket to buy some groceries for the next couple of days...Have to budget "n ding dood" after Buenos Aires!

Directions to waterfall: Just follow the river...

The following morning we headed to the park to see the main attraction of Puerto Iguazu, a series of waterfalls situated about 20km from the town and surrounded by lush tropical jungle. I don't even want to know what the guys who discovered this place must have thought when they first laid eyes on the 'Cataratas' because it's an awe-inspiring sight!  

Kristi in awe...

The entire waterfall is huge, not so much in height but in width, it's as if an entire section of the river just caved in leaving a broad, sheer, single cascade and creating the awesome spectacle that we see today. 

The Iguazu National Park has done a great job in laying a series of walkways, each section allowing visitors to see different views of the falls and running through swathes of beautifully lush jungle to get to the different viewpoints. 

There is even a little rail track with a train to take you to the Garganta del diablo, or the devil's throat, which is a viewpoint from right on top of one of the fiercest sections of the falls. This viewpoint allows one to come breathtakingly close to the 'abyss', so much so that you will be soaked by the mist spewed up from the thunderous mass of water being hurled into the bowels of the earth...

We spent all day walking along the walkways, the lower and upper levels, and still did not manage to get to all the spots, which includes going over to the Brazilian side for another different view of the cataratas. Then you can also get on a boat (quite costly) that takes you close to the falls but I thought the walkways already take you as close as you could get before yelling Geronimo00000! What does look quite cool though, and which we didn't get to do is crossing the river to San Martin island which is situated right at the bottom of falls - there's a short hiking trail around the little island which should be fun and with some spectacular views of the falls.

It was a great outing which Krisit and I thoroughly enjoyed and well worth a visit if you are ever in Argentina.