Our early night last night kind of backfired - we were both wide awake for about an hour around 1am.  Nonetheless we were up and at it by 5.30am and down for breakfast when it opened at 6.30am and all ready and waiting for Marcos (spelled it wrong yesterday) at 7.  The falls view at the hotel was stunning with the morning light and a rainbow.  

Today we were going to the Argentinian side of the falls - this is definitely the more spectacular side.  So about an hour's drive with border controls both out of Brazil and into Argentina but Marcos took care of all the details and we didn't even have to get out of the car.

When we arrived in the National Park on the Argentina side, Marcos suggested we walk to the first train stop as its often easier to get on there and saves standing in a line at Estancion Central - Central Station. We had a beautiful 600m walk to the first station and were able to get on the train there when it arrived without standing in line.  And meantime we saw a toucan high up in a tree - those bills are so bright and got a good close up view of the crested jay - such a colourful and friendly little bird.  The train ride up to the Devils Throat took about 15 minutes through the most amazing lush rainforest - everything is so green and vibrant.  Once we arrived there we walked along a walkway all the way out to beside the Devils Throat - a distance of 1.1km.  So a major feat to have constructed such a fantastic way to access this magnificent sight.

Here's a little quote I found on the net with a couple of facts, though I believe there are actually only 275 waterfalls!!

And so we arrived at the Devils Throat - wow - what a sight - the sound of the water, the huge spray which soaked you, the power and volume of water - absolutely breathtaking. No wonder Eleanor Roosevelt said what she did.  I took lots of photos as you can see though eventually my camera stopped cooperating - I think the water in the air wasn't doing it much good - though it was fine once it had a rest.  

Walking back from the Devils Throat we saw a coatie (pronounced co atch ee) which are like little raccoons, they're apparently very common round the park.  We also spotted a capuchin monkey up a tree but he had just swiped a massive wasps nest so we didn't hang around there for long!  We then came back and did the walk along the upper rim of the falls - so many beautiful sights and sounds.  We saw our hotel over on the Brazilian side of the river.  Iguazu means great water in native Brazilian Indian and boy does it live up to its name.  Along the way we saw a caiman - a little brother to the crocodile, a couple of turtles - only small freshwater ones, and lots of vultures circling as well as one perched high up in a tree.  The park also has jaguar, puma and tapir but we didn't see any of them.  It was truly an amazing visit with the contrast between the raging waterfalls, through the gentle pools with everywhere this lush green vegetation.  And the butterflies - they were everywhere!

We eventually made our way back to Estancion Cataratas, which was where we'd boarded the train to go to Devils Throat earlier.  Goodness, were we glad the Marcos had suggested an earlier start - the place by this time was absolutely heaving with visitors.  Once again rather than wait in line for the train we opted to just walk back to Estancion Central which is where the car was parked.  This was initially scheduled as a full day excursion - and it would have been if we'd left later and had to wait in countless queues at both the borders and in the park, however it was only about 1pm and we'd discussed with Marcos the possibility of doing another excursion.  We stopped off first by the helicopter pad for flights over the falls and had a snack lunch there - chicken empanada and a local beer - food of champions!

Our choice for our additional excursion was a boat ride out to the front of the falls.  Now you can do this as either a dry ride or a wet ride.  The dry ride goes sedately to the front of the falls and back, while the wet ride goes under the falls, does doughnuts and generally gives you a right good soaking and a hell of a lot of fun.  Can you guess which one we did? Not sure that it was Craig's first choice, but he was easily persuaded - think I must be a bit of a risk taker - good job I'm not still at BSL!! So we had to leave virtually all our gear with Marcos - shoes off, sunglasses and hats off and of course our back packs.  First of all we had a ride through the rain forest on a little jeep train, then a short ride in a cable car down to the side of the river, donned our life jackets, then into a big rubber duck which seated about 25 people, complete with two 200hp outboards - I only know that cause Craig told me!  

It was immense fun - we sailed off up the river, crossing the wash of other boats which of course made for a few splashes, then once at the front of the falls, I think we had a total of three forays under the falls.  Gosh it was exhilarating - I had to turn my face away as the power of the water was huge.  But it was such fun.  Then on the way back down the river he found a spot where he did doughnuts - plunging one side of the boat down almost to water level then of course there'd be a huge wave come over the bow.  By the time we got back to the shore we were like drowned rats but it was so worth it.  We bought the pictures and the go pro clips - it wasn't that expensive - about $35 for the lot and we figured it was nice to have the memory.  I've attached a couple of the go pro clips to give some idea of of how wet and wild it was.

We then headed back to the hotel.  My hair was looking pretty bedraggled so I had a quick shower and we changed and hung our wet clothes up around the room hoping they'd dry before tomorrow.  We then went down to the terrace and enjoyed a couple of drinks and got chatting to a Scottish guy from Bridge of Weir but who had lived in the US for  many years. His wife joined us soon after and we spent a lovely hour or so chatting to them.  Marcos had told us that you can access the tower above the hotel and that the views at sunset are magnificent.  I checked with reception for when sunset was and just after seven headed up there.  Initially it appeared that it was closed for a private function.  However one of the hotel staff said it wasn't being needed till 7.30 and that I could go up.  On the second top level a little table for two people was beautifully set up for dinner with a gorgeous floral arrangement.  I carried on up to the top level and got a few photos and then by the time I came back down the whole area around the table had been strewn with red rose petals and these trailed all the way down the stairs to the next level.  I think there might have been a proposal forthcoming - but have no way of  knowing.  It will just have to remain one of life's unanswered questions.  I came back down and nipped across to the falls viewing area and got a few pics of the sunset from there and then headed back to the terrace and we ordered a snack for tea.  Craig stuck with the club sandwich and I had chicken quesadilla - very nice.

Last night we went to bed too early for the turn down service - she came after we were in bed.  But tonight the turn down had been done - but not just our bed ready to hop in, but a bottle of water and a glass placed by each side of the bed, a little truffle in a box by each pillow, and a mat on the floor by the side of the bed.  I could definitely get used to living in a hotel like this!  And so ended yet another day of magic in this South American sojourn - it just keeps giving and we're loving it.