23 June 2013 - Iguazu Falls

The city of Santa Fe has a loaner bicycle program, so on Tuesday we decided we'd go for a bike ride around the city.  We met at the old train station, which as with many old train stations around the world, has been turned into a tourist information center, coffee shop, museum, and shopping area.  Alas, the tourist ladies informed us that 1) they didn't have five bikes available for us, even though I'd made a reservation; and 2) our girls were too young to ride them even if they'd had them, which they didn't bother to tell me when I made the reservation.  So our plans for a family bike ride were dashed.

So we set off on foot.  We crossed the suspension bridge to the east side of the city.  As you can guess from the attire and posture, it was cold on Tuesday, especially on the water.

Then we walked back along the river, stopping at a ship and a shopping mall along the way.

This week was Argentine Flag Day, so I had a long weekend off work.  After much investigation, we decided to rent a car and drive to Iguazu Falls National Park in the northeastern region of Argentina. We broke the 1,500 mile round trip up over several days.

It rained hard on Friday, so we decided to make Saturday our day in the park.  It was sunny and relatively warm (about 65 degrees).  Here are the girls on the train that takes you to the falls once you're inside the park.

This was my fourth visit to Iguazu.  It was the first time however that I did not visit the Brazilian side of the falls.  Unfortunately, the borders between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina have become *a lot* less porous than they were in years past (especially for Americans).  I've always preferred the Argentine view of the falls anyway, but I was a little disappointed that I could not take the girls to Brazil.  Here are two of the smallest falls at Iguazu.

I have been to Iguazu during the month of June once before, which is traditionally a very rainy month and thus, high water, but I've never seen this much water going over the falls.  Usually Iguazu is a ribbon of hundreds of slightly separated waterfalls spread out over a nearly 2 mile rift.  This time, almost that entire distance was one continuous waterfall, as you can see here.

Joanne took the panoramic photo below using her phone.  On the left is the Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), which James E. Faust once talked about in General Conference.  In this photo, it is almost completely hidden by the mists generated by the powerful force of the water pounding over the falls.  On the Argentine side, there is a sidewalk that allows you to walk to the very edge of the Garganta, however for our visit, this was closed because it was under water.  On the right are the other major falls.  The two main portions on this side are referred to as Adam and Eve.  In the center is the Island of San Martin, which visitors can sometimes hike on for additional views of the falls.  Unfortunately, in my four visits to the falls I have never had the opportunity to hike San Martin Island because high water prevented the shuttle boats from accessing the island.  This trip was no exception with the water around the island so high that stepping off the boat onto the island would have been impossible.  Perhaps someday....

Until then, here is someone's video taken from San Martin during a time of year when the water was much lower.

This little coati was friendly, but quite scared of people.  Joanne got a nice photo of him before I accidentally frightened him back into the jungle.

This angle gives you some idea of just how extensive the falls are.

Joanne captured a rainbow in the mist of the falls.  You can also see in this photo just how close some of the elevated sidewalks get you to the edge of the falls.

All three girls on the walkway above the Eve falls.

This is the edge of the Adam falls with the Garganta in the distance.  Yes, that's Madeline, leaning over the railing to look over the edge of the falls.

Madeline couldn't resist a little bow and arrow from the many Indian souvenir stands inside the park.

After such an amazing trip, I can admit it was a little hard to come back to work on Monday, but if not for this work, I would not have had the opportunity to take the family to Iguazu at all, so we look at all thinks in perspective.