We arrived in Iguazu after a 21 hour bus ride, which wasn't as painful as it sounds. We paid for the best seats available so the seats reclined right back into a bed, we received three meals and there was wifi available too. It was so good that Nick slept for 18 hours of the ride, and then complained when it was time to get off! It put our bus in Japan to shame!
We checked into our hostel in Puerto Iguazu, which was called Garden Stone, it was really lovely. The garden was really green and there was a swimming pool. The owners were really helpful too.
Feeling ok after lounging around on a bus, we hot footed it straight to the border with Brasil, and went to see the falls from the Brasillian side. Unfortunately as soon we reached the border, a big storm hit, which lasted just long enough to drench us, and only finished about 5 minutes after I decided to buy a disposable poncho. However, the rain didn't ruin the day as we got wet doing the walk into the mouth of the falls. It was really amazing, and was my first taste of 'jungle'. We saw monkeys hanging from trees. amazing lightning, and not to mention caught our first glimpse of the falls.
The next morning, afterbeing teased by the glimpse we had caught in Brasil, we headed to the Argentinian side of the falls where you can get really, really close to them. We caught the mini train upto the walkway furthest away from the entrance. This was a metal walkway that took us right to the point where the water dropped over the edge.
We also did the upper and lower trails where we explored bits of the jungle, saw brightly coloured butterflies, and ant eaters snuffling around the ground.
After getting our ticket validated, we could enter the park for half price on the second day, so we decided to take the boat ride that gave us a nice, refreshing shower right under the fall.
Feeling absolutely soaked afterwards, we decided to do the jungle hike that's in the national park. This closes at three to prevent people coming into contact with 'wild' animals. So I was a little panicked when we started the hike at 1:30, thinking that we wouldn't make it back in time for 3pm, and no doubt the jaguars and man eating snakes would all check their stop watches and creep out from their hidey holes at 3pm on the dot. Just as we had got into the walk, the heavens opened up, turning the path into a mud river. I had never been so scared in my life, thinking we wouldn't be able to make it back and that we would be prowled by jaguars all night!!
Needless to say, soon the rain stopped, and we arrived at the end of the walk where there was a waterfall and pool where you could swim. We took a dip as we were already soaked, and soon after were joined by a big tour group, which soothed my nerves about getting back without being bitten by a crazed monkey.
Our last night in Puerto Iguazu, we took a walk to the point where the borders of Brasil, Paraguay and Argentina meet. It was a truly magical place and I have never seen anything like it before. I think after this trip, every other water fall is going to be a disappointment in comparison.
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