The Hotel Belmond Das Cataratus is as magnificent inside as it appears from the exterior. So lovely, in fact that, a few chose to enjoy the hotel and “do their own thing,” rather than participate in the day’s activities which were now to begin with a wake-up call at 05.45hrs! I, too was tempted to chill out at the hotel. However, missing the best views and experiences would be a great pity all because I couldn’t get up in time. I awoke at 02.45 feeling strangely refreshed and unable to get back to sleep. And, some three hours later, discovering how boring insomnia could be, I was up with everybody else, tucking into the earliest breakfast probably in my life!
Not long after 7 am, we were on our way to view the Falls from the Argentina side. It was a substantial coach journey to the border, and then to the little railway which would take us through part of the remaining 7% of the surrounding rain forest to Garganta Station where a round trip walk of 1.7 kilometers would take you across various rivers of the Iguassu Delta to the dramatic “Devil’s Throat.”
Worth seeing hey? Huge numbers of tourists and possibly day-trippers as well as I, certainly thought so! The walk was hampered by the number of people not only walking in the opposite direction, but stopping to take photographs of each other. Rather an insult to the magnificence they seemed to be less interested in! It was decided by our tour guide that the walk along the Green Trail and the upper circuit to see as much of the Argentine side of the Falls as possible, should be before lunch and was not popular with a few who were by now understandably hot and tired. Somehow, I had the strong inclination to carry on, which a good number of us did. We looked across to our hotel, by now, a slightly less significant pink structure dwarfed by its surroundings.
At last, we did have our buffet lunch at the El Fortin Restaurant, and by now, I was also ready for home. However, we on the coach were presented by our tour guide with two further opportunities before dinner at the hotel. A helicopter ride was on offer for a little under $200, and/or a river cruise with promise of a good drenching! I chose the latter not realising a trip down the rapids was a feature of this fun experience. Photography was not really possible; I handed in all stuff which was vulnerable to becoming soaked and damaged, including my phone. Two ninety year-olds braved the “terrifying” boat ride which would see us eventually parked ‘neath one of the huge cascades, the most powerful shower I shall ever take! Clothes were still a little damp back at the hotel…but, what an extraordinary day!
Buffet dinner rounded off this most unusual and fabulous day out. I took photographs until the sun had set and darkness fell. The promise of a nearly full moon was negated by the presence of cloud cover; no point then in viewing the Falls at night time, when a moon-bow would make for an unusual natural phenomenon.
I could write and illustrate more. However, I think that the day has pretty well been covered
Many thanks for reading, David: 17.24hrs, 16/2/20.
It seems the pictures take longer to upload. I shall send this blog as soon as possible.
David's Cruise 