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| Waterfalls beyond waterfalls. |
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| High above the falls. |
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| Tree for depth. |
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| Peeping through the foliage. |
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| The people on that boat will shortly be very wet indeed. |
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| The water finds many routes through the rocks. |
This part of the trip felt a bit like a dream. I had almost recovered from whatever I'd caught on the ship, but the heat and humidity were exhausting. Consequently I have little recollection of actually crossing the border into Brazil. We were collected from our hotel and driven to an official building where our passports were inspected and stamped. There may or may not have been shops nearby selling touristy knick-knacks. I'm 99% sure I bought a fridge magnet from one.
Once over the border we were taken straight to the Brazilian side of the waterfalls. There we were given the option of going for a boat ride under them or waiting in a cafe area while a couple on our tour did the boat. We elected for the cafe, on the grounds that we didn't want to get soaking wet. This would be a moot point considering how humid it was, but more sensibly I wanted to keep my camera gear dry.
The Brazilian side was unsurprisingly similar to the Argentine side, considering they're both part of the same system. The walkways were generally in better condition though, and the Brazilians had built a superb network of walkways over the Devil's Throat, including a lift to the higher observation platforms which was a welcome convenience after all that walking in the fierce sun. The Devil's Throat is the crowning glory of Iguazu Falls. Everything leading up to it is an escalation of spectacles, and you might be tempted to think that the experience is softened by seeing it twice in as many days. However the viewing platforms on the Brazilian side let you get a lot closer to it. On the walkways you will get soaked by spray. I packed my cameras away so I could walk through this part. The power of the water rushing beneath is palpable. It's no wonder that further upstream the Itaipú Dam and hydroelectric plant is the second largest in the world (by power output) after the Three Gorges Dam in China.
With so much spray and sunshine around, there was an abundance of rainbows. It was ridiculously pretty, to the point that I eventually had to restrain myself from photographing them and just enjoy the spectacle unfiltered. I mentioned in an earlier post that I would say which side of the falls is the best out of the two. The diplomatic answer is of course that they are both magnificent. However if you really were pushed for time and had to pick one, I'd say go with the Brazilian side because of the superior walkways described above. But if circumstances dictate that you can only manage the Argentinian side, don't fret. You'll still be in for an amazing experience.
Afterwards we were driven to our new hotel. I know, so many hotels! This one was a step up again. On arrival we were presented with glasses of champagne. This was definitely a lifestyle I could get used to. A large stuffed anthropomorphic rabbit was prominently displayed in the lobby. It was part of an Easter display and there were rabbity Easter decorations all over the place. The conquistadors may have plundered the continent but they had given it Catholicism in return, which in terms of colonial gifts is up there with the clap. I sipped my champagne and decided the giant rabbit wasn't anything to worry about. The rest of the day was free, and the general plan was to do as little as possible. So far it was going very much to plan. Soon we would be off to our last leg in Rio de Janeiro, where we would have a pretty busy itinerary before going home.
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Bonus selection of digital 3D and 2D shots on Flickr
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