First thing in the morning, I went over to the embassy to pick up my passport. For 200ARP, a Brasilian visa sticker had been successfully added on a new page. Multiple entry. Perfect.
But then I realized that it came with a validity of only 30 days. Hmm...that could cause a problem. I'd indicated "1 month" on my visa application thinking I'd be leaving in exactly 1 month (April 20th). When you actually count the dates on a calendar, though, it ends up being 31 days. Oops. My bad.
When I relayed my conundrum to the embassy guy, he told me that I wouldn't be able to reapply for a longer visa right now. Instead, I should go to the police station in any large city for an easy extension. It looks like I'll have to figure out a way to do that later on. Somehow...
Anywho, yesterday was Argentina. Today will be Brasil.
I think there is a Paraguayan side to Iguazu as well, but I'm gonna have to skip that this time around. I've come to accept the fact that I can't see everything, with only a month left on my RTW trip. Sigh.
Logistically, it might make sense to pack up all my gear, cross the border, get to the falls, store my stuff there, and move onwards up Brasil once the sightseeing was done.
Waru, however, felt like being a tad lazy. Plus, Iuggage storage at the falls wasn't guaranteed.
So instead, I packed up my gear, checked out of the hostel, left my stuff there, and took the hostel-provided shuttle bus to the Cataratas do Iguaçu. At 40ARP for the roundtrip, I don't think it's much more costly than public transport. Then, I'll chill in the town, hopefully take a shower, retrieve my stuff, and board a loooooong overnight bus to Sao Paolo.
The entrance fee for the Brazilian side was much cheaper, at only 35ARP (vs. 60ARP yesterday). Yes, paid in ARP as I didn't have any Brazilian currency on hand. Why such the big price difference?!?!?!
From the visitor's center, there's a park shuttle bus that takes you to the walkways along the falls.
But before I started my walk, I decided to head over to the swanky Hotel Das Cataratas. Only because I needed to use the toilet and get some Brazilian reais from its ATM. Very convenient.
I could now try to be a writer and describe all that I saw and felt as I wandered the path, experiencing the infinite beauty of these falls through my five senses. However, as I have neither the time, nor the vocabulary, nor the artistic talent to compose such elegant prose, I'll pass. Better not embarrass myself. Better not torture my readers.
Instead, I'll abide by the simple is best mentality, and leave behind my overall, general impression.
Personally, I enjoyed the Brazilian side more than the Argentinean.
The walks were quiet and pleasant in a jungly settling. Colorful butterfly sighting (Although I really hate butterflies, he/she was photogenic enough to warrant my attention!):
And I liked the fact that you get to see more of the Argentinean action from afar. I admit, it looks similar to my photos from yesterday… Nonetheless, pretty ne! Rainbows everywhere.
And you get a chance to experience the falls' water power from the bottom. Wet, yet cool.
To top it all off, a cold can of Guanara greeted me at the cafeteria strategically located at the end of the path : ) Of course I had to pay a slight premium, but it was exactly what my body needed after a hot, sweaty couple of hours! Refreshing.
And I liked the fact that you get to see more of the Argentinean action from afar. I admit, it looks similar to my photos from yesterday… Nonetheless, pretty ne! Rainbows everywhere.And you get a chance to experience the falls' water power from the bottom. Wet, yet cool.To top it all off, a cold can of Guanara greeted me at the cafeteria strategically located at the end of the path : ) Of course I had to pay a slight premium, but it was exactly what my body needed after a hot, sweaty couple of hours! Refreshing.(FYI - For any of you who want to be more frugal with their time, there was a huge locker at the visitor's center. No need to backtrack as I did!)
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