Erik, Ann, Jordan, and I woke up early Saturday morning and attempted hopping in a cab to get to the airport. We walked around a bit, made a few phone calls, and we finally hailed one on a random street corner in town. We arrived at the airport in plenty of time (you only have to check in 35 minutes before departure!) and we were on our way to the terminal. As we approached our gate Zack, another group member, greeted us. He arrived hours before us in order to fix some problems with his confirmation. Earlier, we did not expect him to come, so it was a pleasant surprise that he got everything figured out. We also met Kelly and Grace, who were on a different flight not too long after ours. Our flight didn’t last long, as I slept through most of it. However, I somehow conveniently managed to wake up just in time for the food box they provided. I couldn’t have gotten luckier. I opened the box and two delicious Havanna alfajores were staring me in the face. I was in dessert heaven.
After waking up from my coma (not sure if I was just tired or if it was due to the sweets), we were on our way to the hostel. Our hostel was more like a resort compared to the one we stayed in Villa General Belgrano. We dropped our bags and set out for an adventure at the falls all day.
We roamed around the park and found our way to a few trails to stop and take pictures of the falls. I would attempt to describe how magical these falls truly are, but no words could ever do them justice. We all agree that the pictures don’t even remotely resemble the powerful, yet beautiful force of water. I kept asking myself all day how nature could ever create something so amazing.
After completing both upper and lower courses, we came across an offer we couldn’t refuse. A moonlight tour of the falls. Usually, the park closes at 6pm, but 5 nights a month (the days surrounding a full moon), they offer dinner tours of the “Garganta del Diablo,” which is the highest fall of Iguazú Falls.
We retreated back to the hostel to grab a snack and freshen up and we headed back to the falls later that night. After waiting for a bus for what seemed like forever, we decided that we needed to hop in a cab to get to the Falls in time for our tour. We made like clowns and stuffed eight people in a tiny car that seats five.
The tour consisted of a bit of the history of the Falls and its surroundings. We learned that the raccoon-like animals that we had come across earlier in the day were not actually raccoons, but coatis. They are suffering from high cholesterol and dying out. As sad as it is, I had to laugh when I heard the tour guide explain, “they should not eat French fries, chocolate, or Coke.”
After the chat, we finally arrived at the Garganta del Diablo. It was even better than I remembered just a few hours earlier. It looked as if I was at a completely different waterfall. The moonlight hit the water in just the right places and the mist of the water was unreal. Unfortunately, because of the darkness, pictures were impossible. However, I will never forget how nature looked right then and there.
By the time we returned back to the main part of the park, we had worked up quite the appetite. Lucky for us, dinner was included in the tour’s package. Little did we know that this dinner was an all-you-can-eat barbeque that was in-cred-ible. We spent most of our time in silence, barely stopping to breathe and we racked up close to thirty plates in food!
The next day, we woke up in time for breakfast (even though, I STILL felt full from the night before) and then we went to Tres Fronteras, the point where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay meet. Very similar to the four corners we have back in the States. After snapping some photos and making a few market purchases, it was time to head to the airport and back home for the night.
We arrived back home and immediately hit up the only restaurant that had room for us, as it was a big day for Argentina. The Argentina-Mexico game. Of course, we came out on top ☺
Speaking of fútbol, I am doing really well in my work’s competition. How cool would it be to win? The only American in the office….
Until next time…Arg-gen-tina! Ar-gen-tina!
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