Archive for January 2014

Iguazu Falls

Friday December 27, 2013 we left the Poetry Building at 5:30 am to catch our flight from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls. Leaving really early proved to be very prudent, as the airport was packed. We checked in for our flight and being early we were accommodated with upgraded seats.

Arriving in Iguazu some two hours later we were met by our guide, Alberto and driven first to see the confluence of the rivers, where three countries meet, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. We were still in Argentina, which is accessible to both Paraguay and Brazil by bridge crossings. As Argentina is much cheaper than the other two countries, people flock over the borders to refuel their vehicles and do their grocery shopping. The line of vehicles stretches for miles and takes for ever to cross the border. Tourist vehicles take a different lane, which was lucky for us when we returned from our trip to the Brazilian side.

After checking in to our hotel, the Orquideas Palace, we were collected and taken for a catamaran trip on the The Iguazu and Parana rivers. This was a very interesting trip viewing three countries at the same time. The rivers are somewhat brownish in colour due to the sediment therein.

After driving through the small, but vibrant, town of Iguazu we we returned to our hotel and enjoyed a very nice buffet dinner. The Orquideas Palace is located on the outskirts of town in a much quieter location than the downtown core. It is a very pleasant, comfortable hotel, set in beautiful gardens with a large swimming pool. The heat in Iguazu was intense so the large pool was very welcoming. Just as we finished swimming a huge tropical storm entailed.

Saturday, we were up early, had breakfast at the hotel then driven to the Argentine side of the falls where we met our guide for the day, Diego. We were joined today by Peter, originally from Thailand and now New York, along with his niece Pairin a professional tennis player from Thailand. They were great company, very entertaining and luckily for us spoke excellent English. It was extremely hot again, they said +42C, but luckily the spray from the falls cooled us down now and then. The falls were absolutely spectacular and we walked about 10km around all the various viewpoints and sometimes twice as we lost our guide. We saw some interesting wildlife, including a troop of coatis around sixty in all. There were several families all together with the sweetest little babies who played around like puppies. There were also beautiful birds, butterflies, iguanas and a cacophony of noisy cicadas.

Sunday, we were once again joined by our new friends and taken by Alberto to the Brazilian side of the falls. The Brazilian falls themselves are not as spectacular as the Argentinian side but you get better views of the Argentinian Falls from the Brazilian side. You can also get much closer to the Devil's Throat. The immense power of the water is deafening from the constant roar of it tumbling over the cliffs.

On both sides of the falls you can watch the Black Swifts that nest on the cliffs under the roaring water. It is truly fascinating to observe these small birds flying right through the cascading water to land on their rocky ledges where they build their nests. It is amazing that they are not swept away at every attempt but their timing is impeccable, or as they say down here, "perfecto".

There is not so much walking to do on the Brazilian side but nevertheless it is no less interesting in the way of wildlife. We saw a huge black catfish in the river and through sheer strength did not get washed over the precipice. There were also turtles, more birds and butterflies and this beautiful (nonpoisonous) snake.

The rivers that flow unsuspectingly to tumble over the falls to another river below are delta like and extremely wide.

After our last visit to the falls we prepared to leave Iguazu but not before visiting the wildlife refuge next door to our hotel. This refuge is home to many indigenous species, birds, mammals and reptiles. Some of them come to the sanctuary injured and will possibly be released back to the wild depending on their recuperation and others come as babies that have been seized from poachers selling them as pets. Peccaries and Coatis are very sweet as babies but as adults they resort to their wild instincts and are usually very vicious and destructive.

We returned to our hotel, retrieved our backpacks, had a final swim, a cup of tea and then off to the airport for our trip back to Buenos Aires.....................

Where three countries meet

Looking from Argentina across to Brazil and to the left Paraguay

Flora at the Orquideas Palace

Catamaran trip on the rivers

Jim on the Catamaran

The Bridge between Brazil and Argentina

Barbara by the pool at the Orquideas Palace

Looking across the river at Paraguay's second largest city after Asuncion

Barbara & Jim starting out at Iguazu on the Argentinian side of the falls

Iguazu Falls - Argentina

Iguazu Falls

Lizard at Iguazu Falls

Plush Crested Jay

Iguazu Falls - Argentina

Barbara with baby Coati - Iguazu Falls - Argentina

The river at Iguazu Falls - Argentina

Jim - Iguazu Falls - Argentina

Barbara boarding the train - Iguazu Falls - Argnetina

South American Rat Snake - Non Venomous

Looking at the Argentinian Falls from Brazil

Jim & Barbara - Brazil Iguazu

Jim & Barbara - Iguazu

Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side looking to Argentina

Iguazu Falls from Brazilian side looking to Argentina

Devil's Throat - Brazil

Brazilian Side

Devil's Throat - Brazilian Side

Jim, Alberto, Barbara, Pairin & Peter leaving Brazil, Iguazu Falls

Toucan at the Wildlife Refuge

Recoleta Cemetery

A small city within a city. The City of Angels, a 5.5 hectare walled site in the Recoleta district of Buenos Aires. It is home to the deceased rich and famous residents of Buenos Aires.

Recoleta cemetery stands in the gardens of the former convent and next to the church of Our Lady of Pilar which was founded by the monks of the Order of Recoletas in 1732 and was disbanded in 1822. That same year the gardens were converted into the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires and inaugurated on November 17th. It is not only a final resting place for the deceased but depicts some of Argentina's history of conflict and many beautiful artistic works such as sculptures in stone and bronze, iron work and stained glass.

The mausoleums and vaults are owned by the families in which the coffins rest on ledges at various ground and lower levels. Narrow spiral stairs descend to the lower levels some of which can be seen and others obscured from public view.

There are many famous people buried here including politicians, doctors, military, architects, poets, intellectuals, foreigners and arguably the most famous Eva Peron who lies in the tomb of her family, The Familia Duarte. She is not buried with her husband Jaun Peron whose body is buried at his country estate.

As you walk ahead from the entrance you arrive at Zonza Briano's life size bronze of Cristo el Redentor - Christ the Redeemer and from here the cemetery radiates into several large avenues from which the smaller lanes are accessed. Once inside this incredible site you are overcome by a sense of awe.

Apart from the military, goverment and some special sites all of the other tombs are solely maintained by the families to whom they belong, hence some have fallen into disrepair. This occurs when either the family has completely died out or the cost of maintenance is no longer possible. As with any real estate these tombs can be sold and currently fetch between $40,000. and $130,000. U.S. They must be emptied of all the coffins when they are sold. The government does not expropriate derelict sites.

I will not elaborate on the art and the history but let the following photos speak for themselves ......