Iguazu Falls

The Iguazu Falls are located at the juncture of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay ( http://wikitravel.org/en/Igua%C3%A7u_Falls).  For the most part access is gained either on the Argentina or Brazilian sides.  We were on the Argentina side.  Iguazu means “big waters” in the Guarani language.  The number of waterfalls depends on the time of year.  During the “wet” months there are up to 270 waterfalls and during the “dry” months about 150.  The falling area is about 2,700 square meters.

We started our adventure by flying (Noreen’s favorite activity) from Buenos Aries to Iguazu.  About 90 minutes.  No jet ways to slow things down.

About a 30 minute ride from the airport to the falls area.  Yes, I see the different spelling on the bus.  We seen it spelt 10 different ways between the three countries.  I’m using the spelling from the park layout map you get when arriving.

This is a map of the majority of the falls showing the Argentinian side in detail.  The Brazil side is to the left of the river.  No idea where Paraguay is.

We started with a small gauge railroad trip to the Devil’s Throat Falls which are located at the top right of center.

It is about a 2,000 meter walk out and back from these falls or about 1.7+ miles.  They are located deep in the rain forest.  By definition it rains in a rain forest.  The fun of walking through the rain and mud to get to a waterfall was not lost on Noreen.  Here she is thanking me for making this side trip possible.

Getting ready to start down the trail.

Some views of the river approaching the falls.

First view of Devil’s Throat.  The haze is actually rain and falls mist.

Hard to see but gives you an idea of size.

Noreen wishing we could have down this sooner.  The spots are raindrops on the camera lens.

After a while the sun came out and things got drier…..and hotter.  After a train ride back we passed the headquarters for the area with the symbols of the national park service on left and the Falls park on the right..

Then we started our next walk to the lower falls by the Upper Trail.   Government naming around the world doesn't have to make sense.

As I said, the sun was out.

Noreen told me how happy she was that she had done her hair that morning for the trip.

After the upper trail to the lower falls, we took the lower trail to some other falls.  Remember there are up to 270 waterfalls and I think 80% of them had a name.

These are known as the Sister Falls.  side-by-side and very similar.

Looking down a waterfall.

The area was full of these cute little critters called Coaties.  This is a mom and her babies.

They had no fear of humans as seen by this guy at the train station.

However, there were some cautions on trying to pet or feed them.

And with that look at kind Mother Nature we’ll bid farewell to Iguazu Falls.  After a return flight we arrived back at the ship 16 hours after we left, tired, wet and a bit bedraggled.  However, the ship had late dinner set up for us so we survived.  Hope you enjoyed the trip.

Buenos Aires, Argentina February 10-11, 2013

Buenos Aires was really two separate trips for us.  On day one we wandered about the town and attended a Tango show that evening.  On day two we flew to Iguazu Falls located on the border of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.  Since we had problems posting last time I am going to use two separate blog entries for the two days.

Of course no visit is complete without first stopping by our old friends and saying hi.

Then we had to get an internet connection to see how things were going.  You remember I spoke of McDonalds and Starbucks as contact places.  Noreen seems more at home in the oak and leather bar of the Marriott with a glass of wine and snacks.  She says the internet feels more friendly there.

We swung by the Presidential Place located at the end of Plaza de Mayo.  From the balcony you are looking at Juan and Eva Peron appeared before their supporters.  It is where Eva sang “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”  Only kidding.

Palace Guards

Noreen with a palace guard.

A portrait of Eva…...and Ken  Not exactly like our presidential portraits.

Of course we have to give Juan equal time.

Looking the other way from the Palace down the Plaza.

In this area between the palace and the white pyramid mothers rallied to protest the “dirty wars” of the 1970s and the disappearance of their sons.

This monument celebrates Argentina’s independence in May 1810.

Some views traveling around.  many streets were tree lined, lots of green spaces and very clean.

Wall art.

That evening we went to a Tango Show.  Buenos Aires is very proud to claim the Tango as it’s own.  Of course there are other claimants but we were here so we’ll go with the locals.  It’s hard to show the Tango in pictures.  I have video but haven’t been able to upload it to YouTube yet.  We’ll keep trying.

Hope you enjoyed this brief trip.  Day two at Iguazu Falls coming soon.

Falkland Islands February 7th

Remember you can increase the size of a picture by double clicking on it.

Update. Remember I wrote it snowed on the ship in Antarctica and how many of the crew had never seen snow. As they all come from Indonesia, Philippians, etc. they have no history of making snowmen. However they do know about fish….so they made snow fish.

Welcome to Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.on February 7^th. The Falkands were first noted by a visit of the HMS Beagle (remember Beagle Channel in Chile) with Charles Darwin on board. Some of his works included the unusual flora, marine mammals and birds of the islands. Port Stanley became a key resupplying and repair stopping point for ships sailing around The Horn. Technology (Panama Canal and engines on ships over wind) changed that. The Falklands became a sheep producing industry (today sheep to people 250:1). Notoriety came again to the Falklands with the invasion of the islands by Argentina in 1982. The British won the short war but ownership of the islands is still disputed. All Falkland citizens have British passports. Around the island you’ll find the saying, “Keep calm and keep the Falklands British.”

An interesting note, this is the last cruise from Holland America that will stop in Port Stanley. Tendering is so unreliable due to the harsh weather that HA has dropped the port from all future itineraries. At least that is the HA story, there is another school of thought that thinks that Argentina brought pressure on HA (Buenos Aries is a lot bigger Port of Call than Port Stanley) to stop the calls. There is still a great deal of animosity and political actions between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falklands.

We were lucky, on our day the winds were calmer then normal and tendering was possible. The locals told us if we had arrived the day before we could not have landed. A few years ago the weather changed so rapidly that the ship had to leave the harbor with 300 passengers still in the town. They spent the night in local homes, the hospital, and pubs. The ship came back and got them the next day.

Port Stanley, West Falkland Island Panorama

Noreen at the welcome sign.

Some island architecture, very reminiscent of English homes.

The island is a challenging place to live and the vehicles reflect the lack of paved roads. The ambulances at the hospital.

Fire Rescue Department.

The Falkland’s War Memorial.

Rocks are placed on all the wreaths due to the constant wind.

 

 

Familiar English phone booths outside the post office.

One of the more famous locations in Stanley.

Sophisticated signage.

Enjoying some Fish & Chips with a pint of local beer.

I carry a lot of NASA material from the Kennedy Space Center for schools in out of the way places. I dropped a packet off at the Community School and got a thanks from the senior science teacher.

This is a picture of part of the police station. I took it to show the rescue harpoon gun. I later found out that the portion of the building shown in the picture was destroyed in the war by a British missile when intelligence indicated there was a meeting of senior Argentine officers inside.

Hope you enjoyed this quick tour. stay in touch.