South American Adventure - Day Twenty One, Wednesday 12th March 2014

An early start after a really good nights sleep!  We have got a tour booked this morning for the Argentine side of the Falls. The way through the grounds to breakfast there is a coati (racoon like creature) going through one of the bins to see what he could find.  What he didn’t want was just being thrown to the ground.   After a lovely breakfast we meet Arlete at 8.30am in the reception.  This is through one of the few companies that have access to the National Park in their own vehicles, so we are right ready to go.  There is a whole bus load of Japanese ready to get on their bus in reception – and another bus load just behind them.  Am I glad we have got a car!

We have to go through border controls again – the opposite way this time.  Arlete seems surprised we do not have a Brazilian paper in our passports – we would have had trouble with the next flight without it.  She has a few in her bag, so fills one in for us to get stamped on the way back.  It is quite quick, and then across the river.  In the daylight, we can see both ways up the river.  On the right hand side we could see to Paraguay.  The Brazilian side of the bridge had the colours of the Brazilian flag along the side, and after the middle it changed to the colours of the Argentinean flag.  Couldn’t see that in the dark last night.  We then had to go through the drive through Argentine passport control – we are going to have so many stamps in our passports!  From there it was straight to the Park on this side.  The driver left us at the main entrance, where there was a big map of the park so we could see where we were going. 

The first stop was a fall called The Devils Throat.  There was a fifteen or so minute walk to a little train station, where we had to queue to get on a train.  The queue was quite long, so we didn’t get on the first train.  Whilst we were waiting for the next one we were entertained by a family of coatis climbing up the trees opposite and pinching the fruit.  Fascinating!  The train took about ten minutes to get to the start of the walkways to get to the Devils Throat – so named because the sound it makes is like a throat noise.  It is the biggest of all of the falls.  It is about a kilometre and a half to walk along metal walkways to get there.  There is a lot of water to cross – this part is shut if the water is too high.  A few months ago parts of the bridge were swept away by the amount of water coming down the river.  It is all repaired now thankfully.  Once we get to a certain point, we can see the spray wafting high into the air that is coming from the falls. 

We also pass a little alligator in the water, and a huge catfish, and some lovely birds in the trees.  So much more here than just water!  As we near to the actual falls you can hear the water thundering down into the river below.  Deafening!  The walkways at the end are pretty crowded, and everyone coming back is soaked.  When we get to the end I can see why.  The mist and spray that comes off the water is fine when the wind is blowing away from you, but when a gust comes in your direction it is a wet gust.  All the water comes with it.  It cannot be avoided.  Does nothing for the hair!!  Or the camera.  Everything gets soaked.  Oh dear!  But hopefully got some good shots.

The camera does dry out eventually on the walk back to the train station.  There was a lovely condensation blob on the lens that I think may have upset some of the photos – not sure when it arrived.  Stopped me taking another hundred or so on the way back!  When we arrived at the station there was about a hundred butterflies flying around in the same area – they are so colourful, and there is so many of them, everywhere.  The train takes the ten minute journey back to the start, where we continue our walk to the Adam & Eve falls, and the Bossetti falls.  It is all on metal walkways, and really easy to see all of the falls.  That is, unless there are people in your way!  Everyone seems to want to take a “selfie” with the falls in the background.  It takes around an hour to go all around these.  The views are spectacular – with a lovely rainbow at the base of be Bossetti. 

We walk back via the Sheraton Hotel – and spy a toucan flying right overhead.  Arlete arranges for us to have a quick show round of the hotel – it is undergoing some outside painting at the minute, so has a lovely green coat on.  The rooms are very nice – and the ones facing the falls have a spectacular view.  I would say the rooms are better than the Das Cataratas lead in rooms, but the whole standard of the place is not quite there.  Second best if the Das Cataratas is full!

We then have to do the reverse journey – about an hour – through Argentine and then Brazilian border control.  At least we have our pieces of paper stamped now!  When we get back to the hotel we just go and have a quick word with the Tours people that should have arranged our transport last night.  They were very apologetic – boils down to they forgot!  They have arranged for a free helicopter trip tomorrow to make up for it.  Sounds fair enough!

Time for a chill out by the pool.  As soon as we get to the pool, an attendant is bringing us towels, followed by a waiter who takes the drinks order.  This is what you pay for here – and what was missing last night – service!  A lovely couple of hours recharging the batteries.  Cold towels come next, followed by nuts.  Ha!  I could get used to this.

There is a barbecue for dinner tonight.  Not just any old barbeque.  Soup, salad, ten sorts of meat with all the accompaniments and pudding.  So, not going to starve here then.  It is priced accordingly for a five star Orient Express Hotel, but you are paying for so much more than the food.  Apart from check in, the service has been exemplary.  We ate around the pool, the food was good, the service was excellent.  I love it here.