Iguazu Falls

I had my first foreign doctor experience in the beginning of August. This nasty cold had developed into an infection and I decided to finally give in and get some real medication to kick this cold to the curb…I wasn’t exactly resting in bed trying to get better anyways, rather I was out in the streets exploring the town in 35 degree weather to experience culture every chance I got!

I have accomplished so much that I already need to throw away 3 pairs of USA shoes I brought with me! I have blisters in strange places on my feet…and even my blisters have blisters! (Hard to imagine, I did not know it was possible.)

By this time I was beginning to get homesick…not sure why though. Buenos Aires has the most amazing food, I have a great relationship with the office staff and friends, I am adjusted to my apartment, and there is culture galore everywhere…. I don’t even have a place back in Florida “to miss” since I have lived in three different houses my last 6 months in USA avoiding a new lease, HA! I couldn’t put my finger on the origins of these unwanted, strange feelings, but I knew I was looking forward to meeting up with some Americans from Stetson’s Law Study Abroad Program.

The first week of August, I travelled 17 hours by bus to get to Iguazu Falls. It was a fantastic road trip being that (1) there was unlimited beer, wine, champagne and whiskey shots, (2) I travelled with a study abroad friend from MBA Europe 2009 program (Andrew) and (3) I met my soon to be best friend and Latin sister (Natalia). I should also mention the first class reclining seat-beds, dulce de leche snacks, hot dinner, movies and views of land, water and colorful sunsets. ALL this was less than half the price of a plane ticket…and I never had to worry about booking extra nights in a hostel. I would choose this bus travel over ANY international flight!

We arrived at Iguazu Falls in the morning, very well rested, and we checked into our hostel, which was within walking distance. Thanks to Natalia’s mom and sister, who were also traveling with us, Andrew and I enjoyed many Argentine perks. We put on our sunglasses and said Argentine slang, like “che boludo”, while Natalia’s mom bought the entire “family” discounted Argentina citizen tickets….which are 1/3 the cost of tourist price…and we were never asked for verification of Argentina citizenship!

We made our way straight to La Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat) and stayed there for over an hour in AWE of the massive amount of crashing water…we probably took 100 pictures each! To put into perspective how incredible Iguazu Falls are…think BIGGER and more POWERFUL than Niagra Falls! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZQLr_HitQE

We bumped into the rest of the Stetson Law group and hiked the entire park! We walked ramps that gave impressive views from above and below the waterfalls. We also climbed stairs and wound around slick paths to see the smaller, yet still big and important, waterfalls called Dos Hermanos, Adam and Eve, and Bosetti. Our side entertainment for the trip was refining Andrew’s (from now on known as Andres) Argentina Spanish. If you’re not careful you can really dig yourself into a hole. For example, talking about how you spread your wings like the Iguazu butterflies in this study abroad experience…actually translates into being flamboyant and gay in Castellano. Commenting on the sun coming out making you hot… and end up accidently saying you’re horny.

Our second day at the falls we decided to ignore the cold weather and go straight for the dive into the falls….via boat! We got completely drenched in icy waters, but it was the best experience to be IN Iguazu Falls, hearing the roaring and raging waters!!! There were clear skies the second day and a double rainbow over Iguazu! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aqmebMk6tE

There were also some interesting animals, called coaties, following us around the park and attacking our white grocery bags, regardless of its contents (wet clothes or food). It really freaked Natalia and I out when they started running in a pack of 8 towards us! We then hiked the 3 km Mocuco Trail….when we passed the 3 km marker we began seeing tourist who had aborted the mission because of the deceiving distance. Natalia’s mom and sister turned back and “Los Tres Amigos” (myself, Andrew, Natalia) doubled our hiking efforts to get to this hidden waterfall before park closing.

The site was charming and we bumped into a blonde model getting ready for a bikini photo shoot in 50 degree weather! Andres, nicknamed Tarzan from climbing vines in the forest earlier, began mounting the huge boulders for photo opts and swimming in the freezing waters to get underneath the waterfalls. We started calling him a “modelo” and had a photo shoot of shirtless Mr. Muscles.

The map wasn’t exactly accurate in finding Macuco trail or the hiking distance to the waterfalls, so we decided to ask for directions back to the park entrance to meet up with Natalia’s family. We followed the train…literally, we walked behind it on the tracks until the park police caught us and kept yelling at us until we back tracked out of the tree lined route. We weren’t happy because we were so close to the train station! Or so we thought. The guy offered to drive us three and so we made our grand entrance back to the park via park police car and greeted Natalia’s mom, LOL!

We then rushed to “La Triple Frontera” to see the sunset on the border of 3 countries- Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. Beautiful orange and red sunset while we relaxed in the park drinking mate. The entire law group met up for dinner that night for the well-known fish dishes of the frontera. It was my first fish experience in Argentina and I am always weary of ordering fish in another country…(In Mexico the shrimp came with its full body shell, antennas and eyes! In China the fish came fried over top of the skin and eyes!) This was the best foreign experience of seafood….just a few bones and no skin.

We had been debating over dinner if it was possible to enter Brazil without a Visa, or rather sneak in using Natalia’s family as cover. There were 5 in our group that stayed an extra day and only 4 could go in a taxi. Being a rushed week of last minute planning and packing, my passport was accidently left in the safe back at the office in Buenos Aires (per office rules of foreign staff). Betting I would end up in jail if I was caught crossing borders without a passport, I encouraged the rest to sneak Andrew in for the Brazilian view of the waterfalls. Andrew hid in the taxi while the rest of family checked in at the Brazilian border and all was a success sneaking an American into Brazil. Although I was not able to enter, I did get Andrew’s video of the falls from the Brazil side! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAkJkhAA83s

On the journey home, the bus overheated and we stopped in a small town to switch. There, we got our token picture of giant Argentine Jesuscristo.