3 March 2023, Iguazu Falls, Argentina –

We might have seen next to nothing of Buenos Aires, not managed to see a tango show or exchange money on the blue market – but we did go to a Parilla (steak restaurant).  We had a nice, plain steak and salad – exactly what we needed after eating cruise food for two weeks.

It was an uncomfortable night when the temperature didn’t drop below 28 degrees. The alarm went off at 4.45am, and an hour later we were packed and ready.  Ezeiza Airport is starting to become all too familiar, as we spent another couple of hours waiting for our 8am flight.

Once on the ground at Iguazu Airport (Argentine side), we found a remise to transfer us to the National Park.  The driver spoke good English and his car was spotless, so we booked him for our later trip into Puerto Iguazu.  He helped us buy entrance tickets and locate the lockers.  Before long we had stepped through the turnstiles and into the biggest tourist attraction in Argentina; and it was suitably crowded.  Despite that, we inhaled fresh air that wasn’t bitingly cold, or furnace-like.  It felt great to breathe.

The jungle at Iguazu looks very much like the rainforest of Far North Queensland.  We boarded the “ecological train” which chugged along through the park at 5 kmh, giving us plenty of time to look at the vegetation, and try to spot wildlife.  At the furthest station, everyone disembarked, and set out on a 1 km long metal walkway.  This makes its way across the ever-widening river, flowing swiftly after recent floods. In fact, our driver told us that this walkway had only just been re-opened, after being repaired after flood damage; we could see clear evidence.

We made our way at a leisurely pace, partly because of the crowds, but also stopping to take photos, and look at huge catfish swimming below.  At one spot we thought we’d stepped into the Hunger Games, as we spotted a group of comical crested jays.

We could see the spray from the falls from some way off, and the roar grew increasingly louder.  The first thing we saw was an enormous cauldron, seemingly bottomless as all we could see was volumes of water plunging over the edges, and thick curtains of spray gushing up like a fountain.  This was the Devils’s Throat, the most dramatic part of the falls.  “Time to put on the raincoats” said Ian.  We couldn’t come up with a suitable record for them to break, but our DROC jackets made another appearance.  Standing on the walkway right on the edge of this incredible display of the power of water, was refreshing; despite our rainjackets, we were soon drenched.  It was quite a spectacle.

We retraced our steps back to the train station, where we watched the coatis – the quokkas of Argentina.  These deceptively cute critters with sharp claws and teeth, know all too well where humans stash their food.  Ian had one take a dive at his backpack.

During our picnic lunch, the heavens opened and the short showers we’d had so far, turned into a downpour. Deferring plans for walking further today, we beat a retreat via train.  As we were walking back to the entrance, we spied a toucan, high up in branches overhead.  Most of us have only seen toucans on breakfast cereal packets, so to see one in real life was quite a treat. The rain set in, and our driver dropped us off at our apartment – the very comfortable Marin Apartments.  After a short incident with a recalcitrant can opener, which threatened to stymie our dinner plans, we are fed, watered, and looking forward to a very long sleep.  Best of all, the temperature is not too hot, not too cold – but just right!