THE PHENOMENAL IGUAZU FALLS OF BRAZIL - ARGENTINA

After Paul and Juana returned from the glaciers of Calafante, we spent a couple of days in Buenos Aires. We then flew to Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian/Argentinian border, which was almost a two hour flight.  I guess I didn't do my due diligence, because I was unaware that their were two international airports by Iquazu Falls.  One airport on the Brazilian side is Foz de Iguacu/Cataratas International Airport, and is about five miles from the waterfalls.  The Argentinian airport is called Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport, which is about the same distance as the Brazilian airport to the Iguazu Falls National Park. 

We landed on the Argentinian side.  Our Airbnb hostess who was going to pick us up at the airport; informed us when she learned our flight tickets were for the wrong airport, that we would have to rent a taxi and drive to the border, pass through customs with our passports, and then she would pick us up on the Brazilian side of customs. It turns out that the town on the Argentinian side is called Puerto Iguazu.  While the town on the Brazilian side is Foz do Igacu, (Portuguese) and our Airbnb was in Foz do Igacu. It took almost an hour of riding with no more than ten minutes in customs, possibly because of wherever the customs office was located on the border, it may have taken us further away from the Falls.  

Foz do Igacu is spread out like a typical suburb in the U.S.  A car is needed to go practically everywhere.  We were fortunate in that our hostess or her son, often took us to destinations.  Otherwise we used taxis, since there is no Uber service in the town.

We did some grocery shopping, got settled in to our Airbnb, and rested for the next day's adventure.

Hotel Das Cataratas


The hotel above is one of the first things one sees when entering the National Park.

Paul went on a separate tour from Juana and myself.  He took the full day tour,  which included a boat ride on the river near one of the falls.  Juana and I took the half day tour.  All of us were on the Brazilian side, which provides spectacular panoramic views of the falls on the Argentinian side.

The Falls are impossible to capture in one panoramic view.  They extend quite a distance. 

Below is the Iguazu River.

Wherever you find a you-tube link under a photo, click on it.  You can experience the rushing sounds and sites of the moving falls.

Click on my Iguazu Falls 1 video here:

https://youtu.be/V8vnsdxAlkE

Click on my Iguazu Falls 2 video here:

https://youtu.be/vtDNor7xrDs

Click on my Iguazu Falls 3 video here:

https://youtu.be/tt6lgfpf9tE

Click on my Iguazu Falls 4 video here:

https://youtu.be/y6uPyC7H3Ls

Click on my Iguazu Falls 5 video here:

https://youtu.be/dxqc_wrQm54

Juana and Jim

Click on my Iguazu Falls 6 video here:

https://youtu.be/qi5rQB6cVzs

Click on my Iguazu Falls 7 video here:

https://youtu.be/spv85LozrWo

Below is an elevator that takes people down to the parking lot level.

People debate which side is it better to view the falls--the Ar gentian side or the Brazilian side?  Although we only visited the Brazilian side, it is the best for panoramic views of the falls.  On the Argentinian side it is best for getting up close and personal to the falls.  There are four walking or hiking paths on the Argentinian side.  The lowest brings you to below the falls, and you get very wet.  The second path takes you above the falls, as if you are looking down immediately above them.  The other paths offer different proximity to the falls as well.  It will take at least one full day to visit the Argentinian side, and two days if you choose to explore and walk all four paths.

The afternoon  tour in February (I try not to do morning anything, if I can avoid it on any day) was warm in the mid-80's, some humidity, and the forest around us was temperate.  In this part of Brazil, we were not in a rain forest.  Juana and I had great walking paths, and plenty of shade from the trees.  Our guide would appear at different locations along the way to be sure we were all right, and she provided a very good background of what to expect before the hike began, as she drove us to the entrance for the water falls in the national park.

Paul returned to the Airbnb later.  He was disappointed in the boat ride.  He didn't get close enough under the falls to make it exciting.  The ride was too long, and those who were on the tour with him and chose not to do the boat ride, basically walked on their own or stayed on the dock waiting for the boat to return. Paul also said their hiking paths offered little shade, so the sun made it very hot.  I would recommend the half day tour on the Brazilian side that Juana and I took.  The Iguazu Falls are spectacular, and a must see on any visit to Argentina/Brazil.

The following link will take you to the folder where all seven videos of the Iguazu Falls appear together in You Tube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL08BY9q17T9ukn5PccbAi2DVztCiWcb5d  

CALAFANTE, ARGENTINA: GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Well, I need to progress toward completion of my trip to Argentina, even if no one is traveling at this time.  There is always hope for another time in the future for those who enjoy traveling.

When Paul, Juana, and I arrived in Buenos Aires, they spent a couple of days with me.  Paul and Juana, being from Ecuador, had only seen snow once before in their lives in the high altitude area of the Andes in Ecuador.  They were excited to go to Calafante, Argentina to the National Glacier Park. The National Park is located southwest of Buenos Aries almost to the tip of Argentina and close to the Chilean border.  In air miles, Calafante is approximately 1,266 miles from Buenos Aires and takes about 3 and 1/4th hours to fly.  

I have seen all the ice and snow and cold I ever want to experience in my life being from the Midwestern U.S.A.  I chose to remain in Buenos Aries, and complete our plans for the last part of our trip in Argentina.  Paul and Juana were off, stayed the first night upon their arrival, explored the National Park the next day, slept in Calafante that night, and by the following afternoon, they returned to Buenos Aires. 

Juana, being older, took a different trip from Paul.  Paul went with a group who were allowed on the glacier itself.

The silence was something to behold, and the quiet and stillness was greatly enjoyed by both Paul and Juana, especially after their time in the large noisy cities of Lima and Buenos Aries and being around such large crowds of people. Often the sounds to be heard were from voices in the group, or the crunching of snow as they walked.

The tranquility and beauty of the ice and snow made Paul and Juana's visit to the glaciers the highlight of their trip to Peru and to Argentina.  Both very much enjoyed the town of Calafante, and wished they could live there as well.

In the photo below, you can see the group as they trek through the glacier surrounded by its open isolation.

People often think that South America is hot the year round, which is generally not the case.  The Equator, located in northern South America and running through Ecuador,  and the attitude of the Andes,  as well as ocean currents all play a role in the heat index in South America.  The further one moves south of the Equator the more likely, like in Argentina, one will experience the four changes of the seasons.  Buenos Aires, for example, can get snow and get cold in their winter months, which would be the North American summer months; but even then it will not be as cold and snowy as the North American Midwest or Northeast in the United States.  As one continues south toward the tip of Argentina, which is also the tip of South America, one is getting closed to Antarctica; and therefore, glaciers like in Calafante become a reality.

Naw, there were no penguins in sight.  I just threw this photo in to amuse you or to amuse me.

*Photos taken and provided by Paul Tacuri.

CIRCUITO MAGICO DEL AGUA--LIMA, PERU

When visiting Lima for the first time, I would highly recommend the Water Park. It consists of thirteen fountains, and other entertainment for the kids as well.  The park is large (19 acres), and holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest water fountain park in the world.  Therefore, be prepared for some serious walking. or take the train around the park.  Of course, the best time to view the park is in the evening.  Otherwise, one misses the fountains bathed in colored lights, and the hologram program scheduled at various times in the evening which takes place in the largest expanse of water fountains in the park.

 Entrance to the Park

                          

The park was transformed into a water park in 2007 at the price of $13 million U.S. dollars.  Many critics thought the price was outrageous, but it has become Lima's biggest tour attraction.  Lima, because it lacks rain, is also perfect for such a park.  Not a day goes by, that rain prevents the park from being accessible and enjoyed.  There's no raining on our parade.  The park is closed, however, on Mondays.

You can choo-choo around the park. 

Juana Carchi, one of our two Cuecana traveling buddies.

The fountain below was decorated for Valentine's Day.

The Fantasia fountain is the park's premier fountain at a length of 130 yards.  With all of the fountains there are endless changes of colors, and the continuously changing sizes of the sprays. 

I myself,  have never been to Disney World.  However, one reviewer on Trip Advisor commented that after seeing the Disney water presentation, they did not expect much from the Lima water park, but were surprisingly blown away by its size and spectacle.

I had visited the park before in my July 2015 visit to Lima.  My companions and I were tired that evening and almost didn't go.  My friend's husband chose to stay behind at our Airbnb.  My friend and I trekked out to the park, and  were so glad we went.  It rejuvenated us, and we spent a couple of hours walking around, and having time to sit and just enjoy the fountains and the park.  This time in later January, the night was humid; so not quite as relaxing, but still enjoyable.

Children's water park play area.

The fountain below with calibrated sporadic water flows and other surprises was a big favorite of the older kids, teens, and young adults as they maneuvered around the unexpected sprays and drenchings.  Definitely repeated soakings were a promise.  There is also a change area and lockers where people can change into dry clothes after they've had their water fun.  

    

The fountain in the three photos below is a walk-through.

Juana Carchi and her son, Paul Tacuri, our traveling companions in Lima.

Below is the hologram of laser, light, and water presentations from my 2015 visit, because the clarity was far better than my photos of the laser show this year.  Also, the program was different, which may change every year; but I enjoyed the 2015 performance better.  That past performance included classical, pop, and Peruvian folk music.  Besides people, as seen in my photos; it also included nature scenes, flowers, and psychedelic patterns.  I found the 2015 presentation to be more creative and imaginative than this year's program.  

One of my favorite spots in the park as seen in the photo above and a number of them below is this pillared walkway which leads to what may be a reception hall.

It is like walking through a colonnade in a Roman palace from antiquity--simply beautiful. 

Paul, Juana, and Leo Mola

Jim, Juana, and Leo

Imagine the immense amounts of water used to facilitate all of these fountains throughout the park simultaneously.  I marvel at the engineering and the computer programming and the power of the pumps for everything required to work without a hitch and be synchronized accordingly.  The people of Lima have much of which to be proud in their urban park, which has a well deserved international reputation.