January 30, 2008 - Puerto Iguassu, Argentina
==================================
I woke up a bit later than usual. Post breakfast, I paid my bill for a night's stay ((ARP 110 - US$ 37) and checked out. I left my bags in the hotel's locker (somewhere close to the front desk). I utilized the free internet at the hotel to quickly check my e-mail and left the hotel at 9:30 AM. I took the local bus (A$ 8 round trip) to the falls. The bus was packed.
We reached the falls in 30 minutes. I paid the entrance free of A$20 (50% discounted). I took the train to the lower trail station. The trail here consists of hundreds of steps that take you to the Iguassu river (after it finishes its fall). Apart from a few areas where the descent (and ascent - when one comes back up) is steep, it is a pretty easy trail.
One gets to see the falls all the way during the descent. Simply magnificent and grand. The falls here are spread over a 4 kilometre (2.5 Miles) span. I can write reams about this, but one has to see it to believe it.
At the base of the steps, there are free boat trips to San Martin Island. There are also paid (speed) boat trips that take you NEAR the base of the San Martin Falls. One gets VERY wet during these Speed boat trips. I skipped the speed boat trip and took the free boat trip to San Martin Island.
At the landing of San Martin Island, there is a small beach consisting of the water flowing from the falls. One can also climb a set of steps to reach the top of San Martin Island and observe the different falls. I started my climb. These steps were STEEP but very safe. I was completely out of breath on reaching the top.
Rested for a few minutes and then started walking. The skies opened up and it started raining heavily. I cursed the rain gods! I could have cursed myself for NOT getting a replacement PONCHO (to the one I lost at Puerto Natales, Chile). I took shelter under a tree canopy. It rained for an hour before the clouds moved over and I saw a bit of blue sky. I walked around the entire Island of San Martin. One gets terrific views of different falls from all parts of Isla San Martin. The water spray near San Martin Falls in quite unavoidable. Made the best of it and tried to get a few pictures without ruining my camera.
CATARATAS do Iguassu - is quite majestic sounding and aptly so. The English 'Falls' is quite a limp description. I observed numerous birds (Eagles) nesting near the falls and the trees nearby. I need to get myself a good book on the bird and animal species to help me identify these creatures.
I walked down the steps and got to the landing area at Isla San Martin. The beach and water were inviting. I took off my shoes and socks and waded in for a bit. It was quite humid and hot and the cool water was very nice. Most folks who comes here, wear their swim suits underneath their clothes. Both yesterday and today, most locals (South Americans of all countries who visit the falls) were in their swimwear while wandering close to the falls. Men in swim shorts and women in 2 piece swimsuits. They love it.
I was carrying a large towel and had to stop and wipe my face frequently as I was sweating profusely and my glasses were constantly slipping off their perch! Oh, how I wish for the Humidity free climate of ANTARCTICA!
Excessive falls are like too many Icebergs or Penguins in Antarctica. You tend to move on after a bit. I took the ferry back to the main land and climbed back up the lower trail. It was not too bad. I accidentally came across the Sheraton hotel. It is situated inside the park and many of the rooms have good views of the falls. I did not have enough points to get a free room here and the cost per night was US$250 - a bit much considering that I would anyway go out of the hotel room to see the falls up close.
The clouds burst open again and I had to take shelter. It poured and delayed my departure from the park for close to an hour. I had lunch at 4 PM. I decided not to do the nature trail. I took the bus back to Puerto Iguassu and got back to my hotel. The hotel manager called up a friend of hers who quoted a price of 70 pesos to ferry me from this Hotel to my hotel on the Brazilian town of Foz do Iguacu. It was a bit pricey (US$25), but public transport did not appear to be an option as my Hotel on the Brazilian side was located far away from the city centre.
The taxi arrived in 15 minutes. I did not even get out of the taxi on the Argentinean side as the driver took my passport and got it stamped. On the Brazilian side, I had to go in person. I hand the passport to the official. The page was opened NOT to the Brazilian Visa page (US Citizens require a visa to get into Brazil) but to the Indian Visa Page. The official blindly stamped it. He did not even look at my passport to see if I had a valid Brazilian visa! Could have saved myself US$100 (that I paid at the Brazilian consulate in New York). My cab driver had not heard of my hotel. He drove around a bit and we located it after being lost for 10-minutes or so.
January 30, 2008 - Foz do Iguacu, Brazil
==============================
Luz Hotel was a Tall Building that stood out from the surrounding buildings. I was given a room in the top floor (8th storey) of the hotel. I had a decent view from my room. I did not have a SINGLE REAL (Brazilian currency) in hand. I had paid my Taxi driver in Argentine Pesos (as he was from Argentina). The local shopping mall sends out complimentary buses to many of the larger hotels to get their guests into the mall (and hoping that they open their wallets in a big way). I took the 7:45 PM bus to the mall, as there is an exchange place as well as an ATM within the mall.
I reached the mall in 10 minutes or so. I exchanged all my Paraguayan Guaranis that netted me a grand sum of 70 Reais (US$40 or so). As it was not a lot, I went to the ATM and withdrew some more money. Will wait to see how much I am being charged as a service fee. By the end of this trip, I may have spent a few hundred dollars just on these service charges! The local Mobile company (TIM) could not answer all of my queries. I will perhaps try again in RIO in a few days time.
Portuguese is far different from Spanish. Pronunciation is very different especially to someone who does not even speak good Spanish. I may need to pick up this language fast as I am travelling in Brazil for the next 4 weeks.
There was a health food kiosk that had a decent garden sandwich. I had the sandwich and a chocolate milk shake. I also found an Internet cafe with USB 2.0 connections. I used their services and was up to date in regard to backups of all my memory cards.
The shuttle came by to pick us up at 9:30 and I was back at the hotel by 9:45 PM.
Luz Hotel is quite decent. My room has a mini-bar (Frigo-bar as it is called here), twin beds, Air-conditioning and Cable TV. I am paying R$90 (US$55) per night, including breakfast.
I may take a public bus to the Brazilian side of the Iguacu falls. If I have time, I may also visit the 'Parque des Aves' (Bird Park) that has live birds from all over brazil - including the Amazon.
No comments:
Post a Comment