Brazil for a Day

If you only have one day to explore Iguazu that's a shame. Ideally, you should spend one day on each side of the falls. While, Argentina is home to over 80% of the falls, the Brazilian side offers an unique perspective, not to be missed. Linda, one of the solo travelers I met the day before, and I organized a minibus in Puerto Iguazu and it couldn't have been any easier. The van picked us up in the morning in front of her hostel. We were the only two passengers for the day. The driver took us to the boarder, took our passports through customs and delivered us to the falls. We never had to get out of the van.

The Brazilian side of the falls are special for the vast panoramic views of the fall, not seen from the Argentine side. Here you are really able to get a feel for the scope of the falls.

Once through the main entrance a bus takes you to a midway point. Here you can walk the long, but easy, pathway that meanders along the cliff, stopping at several vantage points.

The path ends with a metal bridge spanning out toward the center of the mid-point of the Devil's Throat. Then, from there, you take an elevator up to get one last panoramic view of the area before returning back to the man entrance where our driver was waiting to return us to Argentina.

Here in Iguazu was the first time I was finally feeling like a "traveler", the same way I do in Asia and Central America. Most of this trip has been centralized in big cities, urban areas with five star dining and shopping. It's been more like taking a holiday in Europe than following the backpacker route. Here I started to meet people, and hang out with other travelers. Last night I took Sue and Linda back to the Brazilian market so I could share my find with them. It was great to just talk for hours about life and travel and the world. I missed that.

Linda made friends with one of the women who runs her hostel and mentioned that I was interested in learning more about the mate tradition here in Argentina. She let me try some of her mate, which tastes like a very strong, slightly gritty (although that's not the best word to describe it) green tea. I had been warned by some that it's an acquired taste, but I actually liked it. And it seems like the only way you can experience it for real is to get to know a local. She actually took us to the shop where she buys her mate and showed us her favorite brand. I picked some up. Now I just need a mate gourd and straw. But I might never have tried it if I weren't back on the traveler path and meeting people, making friends with locals.

Tomorrow Linda and I go our separate ways: Linda to Brazil and me to BA to see Marc. My solo adventure is coming to a close.