We have been home almost three weeks and after much pestering from friends, family and my husband I am FINALLY updating the blog with pictures from our trip to Argentina. I think the task seemed a bit overwhelming which is why I have been putting it off, but my excuses have run out so here goes.
We left San Francisco the morning of April 27th and after five airports, three flights, two cab rides, and one super shuttle ride we arrived at our final destination in Argentina - Puerto Iguazu, home of the Iguazu Falls National Park. A bit weary after two days of traveling we went to bed early that first night so we could be refreshed for our full day of seeing the falls.
We awoke the next morning to thunder and lightening which if you remember our Nicaragua trip (tropical storm and hurricanes), seems to have become a hallmark of our vacations. We weren't going to let a little rain slow us down and headed off to the falls.
This first picture which was really the last picture we took for the day is in honor of my father who had to have his photo taken at the entrance to every national park we visiting.
Even with the rain the falls were absolutely unbelievable. The park has trails of walkways laid out that take you over the tops of the falls as well as below them. We started on the 'upper circuit'. As we rounded one of the first corners the vista below opened up to us. It completely took my breath away and the pictures just don't do it justice. I promise Stephen's smiling under there!
The sheer size and volume of water pumping out of the falls was overwhelming. There are over 270 distinct waterfalls in the park however some get blurred together when there is a lot of rain. In the picture below you can see several small trees that are in the middle of the falls that get a constant beating all day long. It's amazing they are still standing, although maybe not for long.
Below is a picture of Stephen with the falls aptly name 'Dos Hermanos'. For those of you who need to brush on their Spanish that means Two Brothers.
After walking the upper and lower circuits of the falls, we boarded zodiacs (I didn't know what they were either) which were a kind of inflatable boat and headed out on the river.
The trip took us up the river to the base of the falls. If we thought the falls were powerful from our walks we had an up close and personal look at just how enormous they were. I have never been on the boat ride at Niagara but I have to think that this one is quite a bit more wild. After we took pictures the driver told us to put our cameras away and proceeded to drive us close enough to the falls to get us completely soaked. There was much screaming, laughter, and fun had by all.
Tater Tot and I didn't let a little warning like this stop us from going on that boat ride. She had a blast!
After returning from the boat ride, the skies started to clear and we headed back to the upper circuit to get some pictures of the falls with the sun. What a difference it made!
Here we are just a tad water logged from the rain and our 'shower' under the falls.
I guess the one silver lining to having all that rain was the number of rainbows we saw once the sun came out. Here you can see the double rain bow (you have to look kind of hard to see the second one on the left).
Some of the 'wildlife' in the park. I'm not sure what they are called but these guys were everywhere. I think they've been fed by just a few tourists. This guy was very intent on getting in the trashcan!
We capped off the day with happy hour at the Sheraton hotel overlooking the falls. What a day!
While we were in Iguazu we stayed at the Secret Garden B&B which is run by John - a crazy old expat from India. He is also a photographer and sent us this picture after we had gotten home.
From the falls to the glaciers. Up next El Calafate and the Puerto Moreno Glacier.
