Well I haven't posted an update for awhile mostly because we haven't been able to go anywhere as it has rained just about everyday since we left Rio. And when I say rain think monsoon rains, torrential rains, or deluge. Even if one of the t-storms we sat through would partially hit California I am certain it would end the drought.
We did the airport shuffle to get to Iguazu Falls-flew into the International (EZE) airport in Buenos Aires, grabbed our luggage to catch the shuttle to the domestic aeroparque (don't call it an airport or it will confuse everyone at EZE) to catch our flight out of AEP, and landed in Iguazu with only being delayed for an hour (later you will understand why "only" was used). There were about 40 Chinese tourist also waiting to get on the plane but it did not appear that they had a tour guide with them. As soon as any sort of announcement was made about the flight they all got up and headed to the gate. After about the second time the gate agent motioned to them to sit down before they got up. We were flying the State owned airline AeroLineas Argentinas which later I found was not best choice and flights were often cancelled for no reason. Well the price was right.
The flight was reasonable and the legroom was pretty good. As we were landing in Iguazu you could see the mist rising from Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo in Spanish or Garganta do Diabo in Portuguese) and all surrounded by jungle.
The agreement with our hotel was to have them pick us up at the airport. We looked for the driver and did not see him so we started to book a taxi (beware it can be a scam) when he suddenly showed up. There was a payment issue but it was worked out in the end.
Along the road to town there are several signs cautioning you to be aware of jungle animal crossing the road. The signs look like our deer crossing signs but have Warthogs, coati, tapir, and anteaters instead. We didn't see any of them nor any roadkill.
Here are some photos taken at Puerto Iguazu, note that the streets are wet. We never saw them dry no any blue sky.
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| Waiting for the bus to Falls |
There are two sides to the Park - Argentine and Brazilian. The park was created in 1934. Across the Iguazu River lies the Brazilian counterpart (Iguaçu National Park). Both sites were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, in 1984. We could have gone to the Brazilian side but chose to do the Argentine side as we were heading to Buenos Aires afterwards. May not have been the best idea but who knew what the weather would be like and it wasn't any better across the river the day we went. The Argentine access, across the forest, is by a Rainforest Ecological Train (you need to change trains halfway) and is very similar to the one in Disney's Animal Kingdom. It is not very weatherproof. The train brings visitors to the entrance of Devil's Throat, as well as the upper and lower trails. The Paseo Garganta del Diablo is a 1-kilometre-long (0.6 mi) trail that brings you directly over the falls of Devil's Throat.
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| Iguazu River along the walkway to "Devil's Throat". There is a short glimpse of the Sheraton Hotel in the background. |
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| Everyone is getting wet from the rain |
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| The river is pretty wide and flowing rather fast |
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| First glimpse of the "Devil's Throat" |
By the I got to and back I was extremely wet, even wearing a raincoat, and as it was still pouring rain we decided to head back to the hotel. The bus ride back the AC was on and just about everyone was soaking wet and cold.
Then things went downhill from there. We ate dinner in town and by bedtime I was feeling rather queasy. By now I know what the signs of food poisoning are like having experienced it more than once in the last few years, even in California. I spent the next 24 hours very sick and feverish. Our flight out was scheduled for 11 am. We got the the airport, did the usual checking the bags, going through security, and waited to board the plane. After about one hour of waiting we were told that the flight was cancelled due to mechanical problems and that we needed to get our bags and wait. The next flight out on Aerolineas was not scheduled until after 4 pm but there was a LAN flight leaving at 3:30 pm which they rebooked all of us on. So we went through the whole process again to arrive back in Buenos Aires at 6 pm.
And it continued to rain. When we landed we were not at a jetway and had to climb down some stairs to board a shuttle to the airport. It was blowing wind and raining fairly heavily. Our luggage arrived wet of course. I am at this point just wanting a bed and sleep.
We have had some interesting taxi rides while travelling but this is the first time I can say that a bath was included. The taxi that picked us up at the airport (okay it is the Aeroparque) was so small that one of our suitcases had to be put in the front passenger seat. Either the AC wasn't working or there wasn't a heater in the taxi as the driver kept his window open and would constantly wipe the front windshield dry. At one point a car passed us on the left and splashed water into the taxi. It managed to get Dick wet and he was on the far side. My backpack was open and in front of me behind the driver so it too got rather wet.
It is still raining and raining here so not certain what sightseeing we will be able to do. BTW most people walking around in Buenos Aires do not use umbrellas. Not certain why but maybe due to the winds or that the sidewalks are very crowded. So just about everyone is wet when they arrive at their destination.
More about Buenos Aires later.
