Ted, Christi and I woke up early on Saturday and decided to go and visit the falls. It is a 20 kilometer ride to the east of Puerto de Iguazu, where you pass large hotels, a military base and the bridge that crosses the Iguazu River into Brasil. After paying the 40 Pesos (about 13USD) in order to get into the park, we strolled right up to the entrance where we parked the motorcycles next to the other local bikes. There is something about pulling up in a motorcycle to VIP parking on the other side of the world, which gives you the James Dean feeling of 'cool'.
The park entrance was filled with Easter weekend tourists, and the grounds looked as if it could have been a zoo. Paved sidewalks lead you through a maze of souvenir booths and hot dog stands as you go to the end of the line and wait for the miniature train to take you around the park. I was honestly waiting for Donald Duck to pop out of the bushes to greet us.
The train takes you to the largest waterfall, called Devil's Throat, overlooking the Brasilian side of the park. After exiting the circus train, you walk along a steal bridge over the river, or segments of river, which split off into many different parts separated by large Amazonian trees and fertile ground. The bridge takes you over the slow moving stream, filled with bottom feeders, geese, and even alligators. As the bridge comes closer to the turn around, you see a large group of people, look past them, and there it is. If Dante were here to describe to you the unbelievable power of the Devil's Throat, it still may not be an adequate explanation for these falls. Not even pictures could describe it's majestic beauty.
All I remember after that was the cool mist that was sprayed over 75 meters back up to the platform from the rocky landing below. Meditation took over, as a permanent smile attached to my chin and I looked down onto heaven's rainbow, which had come to an end directly in front of my eyes.
The many other waterfalls of Iguazu are just as magnificent. The Amazonian storm front came over us and cooled us down, as the mist continued to moisten our skin. We saw rodents that looked like Raccoons in North America, and are called Cutis. Vultures flew above our heads in circles, watching the boats take tourists into the mouths of the falls. It was a very happy day, and even though our ride back into Puerto de Iguazu was in the middle of a jungle downpour, only smiles and warm feelings reigned from our parade.
Really cute Argentine with the coolest butterfly in the world.
A little comparison knowledge.
Ted Hedy and Christi Ferrel, my riding partners.
Alligator.
The Devil's Throat.
Devil's Throat.
Cutis.
