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Friday, March 11

The Famed Falls of Iguazu

Finally, after four hours of dodging dodgy trucks and highway robbery patrols, we made it to Ciudad del Este, crossed to Brazil on a tiny bridge covered in a sea of pedestrians carrying huge bags of discount, duty-free and contraband electronics, and made it to our destination, to the beat of some native Bossa Nova on a Brazilian radio station, and how cool is that? Finally, after four days of fighting the slowest internet connections known to man, I've been able to upload all the picture I will need to do full justice to this Natural Wonder of the World. Grab a seat, the tickets are free, and all the sweating has been done for you by yours truly. The Falls are over three kilometers (two miles) long, so we'll take them in the order of the nature trail that borders them, and finish at the breathtaking view from the pontoon the Brazilians have throw over one of the steps and to the edge of the void.
First View
As you walk down the trail, you suddenly see, between the trees, the first stretch of the Falls, which spill down into a round bay which you can visit by boat, bungee cord, or helicopter.
The Second Strech of Falls...
Further on, the Falls become multi-level affairs, like a cascade or a set of stairs, with trees growing on the intermediate levels, mist covering the whole affair, and it all makes you want to film a true-to-the-original movie version of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World.
Taking the Bend
As you walk farther, and deeper down into the main canyon, you take a turn to the left, and get a better view of that intermediate level, and altho you can't see the dinosaurs, you can hear them roar and shake the ground beneath your feet. You can just make out a stone archway at the top right of the falls in the previous picture, through which you can see the white water behind it.
Where the Author Gets Wet...
You push on, despite the heat, and the exertion of going up and down with the terrain, and dodging all your fellow tourists, and suddenly catch a glimpse of the promised land : the pontoon, where you will see sights you can't imagine, and more importantly, you will be covered with a fine mist of cold water, and subject to a strong breeze off the Falls, and consequently well rewarded for the hot, sweaty work you put in so far...
Life at the Edge!
Not for the faint of heart, the pontoon will take you to the very edge of the mist-filled void!
Rainbow
Yet you will be surrounded by roaring water, blue sky, deep void and sparkling rainbows!
Teetering...
Plant life has carved out a living teetering at the very edge... with tons of water flowing past it to fall hundreds of feet below.
Full Power of the Falls...
Giddy, soaked, half-deaf from the roar of the falls, you will retreat to the side of what you can't believe is just one of the smaller sideshows of this titanic THX, cinemascope and 3D version of what Niagara does in boobtube format, and wait for the elevator to take you back to the world of man, nestled at the side of the fall, and feeling its full power rush past you in a blind, irresistible FALL!

6 Insights :

Blogger Pat intuited...

WOW - what absolutely fabulous photos!!! Looks like you are having a great time there. Good for you!

3/12/2005 11:37:00 AM  
Blogger niki intuited...

I must admit that I envy you for going to Iguazu.
Thank you for this detailed description. I felt like watching a movie.
Have a fun!

3/12/2005 05:51:00 PM  
Blogger Mathieu intuited...

Hi guys! Having a WHALE of a time here, and today is the wedding, which promises to be something else again :D

Salut Tonton, je ne manquerais pas de faire la bise à la Princesse. Bonjour à la tienne!

3/12/2005 06:31:00 PM  
Blogger Trojan intuited...

I sat staring and repeating 'wow' like some sort of mantra. Brilliant photos, the falls must be breathtaking.

The pontoon would have been my highlight.

3/13/2005 08:22:00 AM  
Blogger Mz. Gydnew intuited...

All I can say is WOW! Absolutely incredible. Beautiful photos and a wonderful decription.

3/14/2005 12:48:00 AM  
Blogger Handsome B. Wonderful intuited...

God. Blogger has been KILLING me today. It took forever to bring up this comment page. Anyway, I LOVE those pictures of the falls. WOW indeed!!! That is a place that I would LOVE to visit at some point in my life. Stunning!!

3/14/2005 11:27:00 PM  

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