January 31, 2008 - Foz do Iguacu, Basil

January 31, 2008 - Foz do Iguacu, Basil
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I woke up at 8 and was done with breakfast by 9 AM. Buffet style breakfast. Had Orange Juice, some fruits, cakes, half-a-baguette and coffee. The long distance bus station (Rodoviaria) is right across from the hotel. I could potentially take a bus to Rio or Sao Paolo from here! I took a local bus to the city centre (R$ 2). The driver dropped me outside the main bus terminal. I had to pay R$2 more to enter into the bus station. The bus to CATARATAS do Iguacu arrived in 10 minutes. One enters through the front and has to pass through a NARROW turnstile before taking a seat (or standing if no seats are available). Definitely NOT for fat people.

The driver to the Park (on the Brazilian side) took round 30 minutes. On the way to the park, it stops at the Foz do Iguacu Airport to drop off or even pick up passengers going to the falls. I may explore this option (of taking the bus to the airport) for tomorrow's departure to RIO.

The bus dropped us off at the Park Entrance. The entry fee is R$20 (US$12). The entrance is situated 8 Kilometres (5 Miles) from the falls area. A Park bus takes you from the entrance to the viewpoints of the falls.

We were dropped off near the Cataratas Hotel. Similar to the Sheraton Hotel (located inside the park on the Argentinean Side), the Cataratas Hotel is located quite close to he viewpoints of the falls. I had spoken to these folks as well and they wanted to charge US$300 per night. Paying R$2 (US$ 1.2) and a 30-minute ride each way is NOT bad at all. One can see the Sheraton Hotel (Argentinean side) from the viewpoint near the Cataratas Hotel.

A 1.2 Kilometre (0.75 miles) trail from here takes one through all the viewpoint on the Brazilian side. The trail is mostly a concrete path with very few steps. Very easy compared to the lower trail or the climb up San Martin Island on the Argentinean Side.

The Argentinean side has the waterfalls dropping from the Rio Iguassu. The Brazilian side gives an frontal view of all these falls. The Brazilian side truly complements the Argentinean side of the falls. One is able to see appreciate the majesty of the falls without getting wet :) At the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's throat), the Brazilians have built a walkway that goes very close to the Gorge (aptly named Devil's Gorge). As I had purchased a Poncho after yesterday's random showers, I donned it and protected self and camera from getting wet.

Near here, one can take an Elevator or climb a set of steps (around 150) that puts you over one part of the Garganta del Diablo. I took the steps and walked up. It was a truly terrific view from the top overlooking the Garganta del Diablo. It was a perfectly Sunny day with blue skies and a few clouds. Great for Photographs.

As always the tour groups were here in force. Man of these dimwits take eons to 'Compose' and 'Shoot' their pictures. If all you have is a P&S (point and shoot) camera, what difference does it make? You'll still get a crappy picture anyways. Sorry, but this is the 5-D speaking :) One lady even went to the extent of COMBING (you cannot make these things up) her husband's and children's hair before letting a park photographer take their picture! (Park Photographers are for Souvenir Photographs for which one pays). I look as poor and sweaty as possible when someone takes my picture in these places :)

I had lunch at a cafe at Porto Canoas overlooking the falls. What a moment to remember. The Brazilian side also offers many options (yep, extra charges) that range from 4-wheel drive adventure in the jungle surrounding the park to hikes (for a few hours) in the Jungle. There is apparently good wildlife here. Will probably save it for the next time. The Brazilian side also offers Helicopter rides for 3-10 minutes over the falls. As the racket created by the copters are said to disturb the wildlife in the surrounding Jungle, the copters fly very high over the falls thereby lessening the experience. I skipped it.

I purchased a few postcards and stamps and mailed to family and friends. Hope they get to the recipients. I take a bus back to the entrance of the park. The Parque des Aves (Bird Park) is located very close to the park entrance (they know how to rope you in as well!). I walk the 10-minutes to the Parque des Aves. The entrance fee is payable ONLY in US$. I pay the $12 entry fee and enter. Knowing I was going to be visiting this place, I had carried my tripod with me.

The place was cackling and screeching with all kinds of birds. Flamingos, Peacocks, Parrots, Toucans, Vultures (King Vulture and one other species I cannot recall now), Macaws and more. The parque also houses Anacondas, Caimans and large lizards. Unlike the Anacondas and Caimans, the large lizards roam free. One needs to be careful not to step on any of the birds, animals or reptiles as the tourists enter the large (and tall) cages where they were housed. Vultures and vicious predatory birds as well as some rare bird species were in cages by themselves.

The Macaws created quite a racket when I entered their cage. I was warned by young park ranger to be careful with my tripod as they would shred the plastic and rubber (that surround the metal tripod) in minutes. There is a large sign here that says "One is advised to enter at their OWN Risk and the parque bears no responsibility (if the Macaws decide to have a go at you)"

After spending more than an hour at the Parque des Aves, I take a bus back to the City Centre. This time, the bus drops me inside the bus terminal thereby saving me 2 Reais! Within 60 seconds, a bus pulls up that is headed to the Rodoviaria (where my hotel is located). I hop on and reach the hotel in 20 minutes. I spend an hour reviewing (and deleting) pictures from the day.

I take the free bus to the shopping mall again. I have dinner at the Natural cafe again and copied the memory cards to my hard drives. I had to do this, as I had all my pictures from the past 2 days of the Iguassu experience, sitting in a single memory card. I checked my e-mails and noticed that my ATM W/d of BR$300 the previous day had resulted in my bank account being debited for $175 (including fees). The rough exchange rate was 1.7 Reais to a dollar.

I got back to the hotel by 9:45 PM and spent a bit of time packing up and writing my diary. I may leave the hotel by 11 AM tomorrow for my 1:30 PM flight. I may even think of leaving a 10:30 AM if I am planning to take the bus to the city centre and then another bus to the Airport.

It looks like Brazil may turn out to be an expensive place to visit. Cataratas do Iguassu are a MUST SEE. Iguassu following Antarctica. Pretty good nature spots.