where the water falls

We went on Saturday to Las Cataratas de Iguazu on Agentina and Brazil's border. We began the day right (though leaning on the wrong foot - I'd forgotten to pack socks for a long day's walk). We got on our Omnibus, all 20-or-so ISA students, Guillermo and Gonzalo our ISA bosses, Margarita (Maggie) our National Park guide and Ormiga our bus driver, plus myself. I sat with Gonzalo during most of the trip because he was the only one who didn't speak much English, "more for me I say." We arrived at the Park around 9:15 disembarked the big 'ol bus and began our long trek through the dense subtropic forest of Northern Argentina in a province called Misiones.

The day started off wonderfully and if I could justifiably describe the numbers and colors of the butterflies we saw the entire day it would still not bring you to understand the magical beauty of it all. I said "magical." That means I'm nuts, a dork, or the scene really resembled a bit of the mystic.

We first walked a short stretch to a train yard specially constructed for National Park transport, took several photos of butterflies while we waited and finally choo-chooed to Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat). Our guide said the name was ironic: an ugly name for such a beautiful scene. When we arrived I could see both the irony and logic. It was incredible, yes, but just as I would never want to go anywhere near the throat of the devil, nor would I want to find myself in close proximity to this monster. We'd walked a good 1/4 mile to arrive at the lookout of the falls, through selva, on a man-made mesh-metal bridge-walkway. We turned a corner around the lower-growing greenery and we were met with first the sight of huge clouds of mist dancing and changing shape in the sunshine. Soon after we encountered that sight we came upon the source: The Devil's Throat. The only way to describe the giant is to say it was very nearly indescribable, powerful, loud, and hugely panoramic. You could feel, hear, taste, touch and even smell the majesty. The spray on my face was a refreshing reminder of how good it is to be living in a moment so worth treasuring.

The vision of the Swifts (birds) flying in and out of the wall of water as though they were super flying fish was another cause for wonder. I thanked God in that moment for allowing me to see, touch and experience such beauty.

We also walked along the same constructed metal pathway built seemingly right smack in the middle of the river to see the rest of the falls. At one point near the end of the tour we were nearly just below one of the smaller rushes of water and we in effect took a shower togther - clothes on, camera in hand - under the loud cascade of millions of liters of water. Afterwards we strolled down down down the metal constructed path that was now in the form of a gigantic staircase to a boat launch area. We strapped on our life vests (the size of two watermelons across your chest), climbed in a 30-seater speed boat for one of the best "waterpark" amusement rides of my life. Speeding through the rapids as close to the falls as the experienced driver dared was a rush I had never imagined experiencing. Gustavo and I were the only fools brave enough to sit all the way in the back of the boat - where our driver was decked out in rubber - since we knew that was were we would get the wettest, and we did! :)