Another World… and new arrivals!

    

  

It couldn’t be more different and yet it couldn’t be more beautiful.  Here we are in the middle of nowhere on our first WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) having the most exhilarating time.  Tierra and Betty are our hosts (not pictured but they will be soon!) along with their two adorable chicas, Sophie and Ixchel, as welll as Alejandro, David and Oliver.  Today was Oliver’s birthday and we celebrated with pizza cooked outdoors on an open fire (pizza a las brasas) but that was not the highlight of the day… the sow gave birth to five little piglets! Mother and children are doing well. We are loving our time here in Villa Serrana La Gruta and will post something soon about our daily capers.  Peace and love.

Buenos Aires

Ok we admit it: we've been very lazy with our blogging duties of late.  A little short of 3 weeks ago, we took a 22 hour bus journey (these buses were the best - huge chairs that folded out into comfortable beds, personal DVD player and as much food and drink as you could stomach!) from Puerto Iguazu in north Argentina and arrived bleary eyed but bloomin' excited about our adventure in the capital of this beautiful country.

Lady Luck had dealt us a very good hand - we had managed to rent a stunning apartment from someone who was away on business for 3 weeks, right in the heart of Palermo, BA's most gorgeous neighbourhood.  It has been the most exhilarating last couple of weeks here: we have attended 2 weeks of Castellano lessons (that's Spanish to you and I); had Tango lessons; stuffed ourselves with a gut-full of their famous beef and met some wonderful people.  Some highlights would have to be the antiques fair in San Telmo on a Sunday, where dealers jostle with street performers jostle to ply and peddle their wares and also La Boca, the district famous for Tango; red, yellow and blue buildings and of course Boca Juniors F.C.

We leave this city on Monday with heavy hearts, as we have most certainly fell for it's charms and will definitely return.  Buenos Aires we love you!

The Mighty Iguaçu

  

Bordering Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, the mighty Iguaçu Falls is truly one of the Earth’s greatest wonders and most definitely one of the highlights of our trip so far. Having left our tropical home of Itacare at 12 noon, we arrived (via Salvador) at 3pm the next day. Two bus journeys, a ferry, a taxi, a night at the airport and two planes later (well, three really – after an hour on the runway the engine failed and we had to get off and board another!) we made it!

It didn’t disappoint.

We decided to make our way straight to the falls, as it was a cloudless beautiful day. What stunning, panoramic and expansive vistas the Brazilian side has to offer! There are 275 separate waterfalls and cataracts varying between 60m and 82m high, just one would have been beautiful enough but this place is insane. We wandered along a pathway by the waterfall edge and took a walkway INTO one of the double drop sections – getting soaked to the skin by all the spray.

The next day we considered visiting the falls a second time, but decided instead to take a day trip to the local tropical, rare bird sanctuary (filled with macaws, parrots and toucans), which was located next to the falls. As we approached the entrance to the aviary, we heard a thunderous racket above our heads… it was a small helicopter, returning from the falls. We looked at each other quizzically and both shouted, “Shall we?” Ten minutes later we were climbing into the aircraft, grinning like 7 year olds, and rising up and above the beautiful rainforest. To witness the immense power and beauty of Iguaçu from above was easily one of the most thrilling experiences of our lives – unforgettable.

Next stop Argentina!