The Devil's Throat (Garganta do diablo)

Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls
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Safely arrived in Iguassu after a night on the bus, very comfortable for a bus, special leg rests and the seat goes back horizontally, which made sleeping easier! Mad suffered at the bus change at Dorados. Popped her pills and was comatosed for the rest of the trip. Arrived at the hotel, very nice after the last place we stayed at and they let us check in straight away, must have looked weary! Saw Anish (one of the guys from London that we met in Bonito). Got into the very clean looking room, chuffed that we had made it! Mad then spotted a slight problem with the wiring in the bathroom, mainly down to the fact that you could see the live wiring coming straight out of the wall by the sink!!!! Shortly after we strangely moved to a room that was double the size! We suitably refreshed ourselves and headed out to check out the town centre.

The Devil's Throat - amazing with the force throwing spray hundreds of feet into the air!
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The following day we caught the incredibly cheap bus to Iguassu Falls, on the Brazilian side. Caught the bus from the visitors centre to the start of the falls trail. We walked following the river where we got our first look at the falls on the Argentinean side of the river. Beautiful, tonnes of water dropping down a hundred plus feet but not the epic sight that we had expected. We continued the trail thinking that we had been ripped off, then walked up some steps then ‘Holy crap!’ we saw the Devil’s Throat falls, millions of tonnes of water hurling itself off the top of the falls with so much force mist was travelling hundreds of feet into the air! Amazing! We continued the trail with led us to various view points, then finally a long gantry almost dropping you into the falls, we were nicely cooled off in the spray. We went for food after going up the less than exciting panoramic lift and saw a Quati, racoon type of chap, heading straight for our food. Luckily a ranger saw it heading our way and chased it off!

the Devil's Throat...

A Quati - one tried to nick out lunch but was thwarted!!!
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We headed back along the trail and were followed by numerous butterflies and a gang of Quati’s. The sights seemed even better second time round!

Headed out for food in the evening to Buffalo Broncos (this one’s for you Van), where we were presented with yet again a meat fest! Very good we left feeling meated out again. One of the waiters presented me with another skewer with meat and placed a bit on the plate, he said “it’s very good”. I had my suspicions as to what the item was, so why not they cooked it I’ll eat it. Yes ladies and gents it was a testicle!!!! Not something that I would have again through choice but I braved it! Mad will tell you about her encounter!

Oh balls!
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Yes…I was trying to help out my cooking teacher colleague who’d asked me to take some pics for her and as I was snapping they ushered me into the barbecue kitchen, shoved a skewer in my hand and put a chef’s hat on me and took my picture!!! It was a side show that had everyone in the place laughing!

We met Devi and Rasila whilst at the Argentine side of the falls and spent a lovely evening with them drinking Caipirinhas and then having dinner...had to wonder around for a restaurant as they're both vegetarian - tricky in Brazil!!! More really great people to keep in touch with!!!!

The new BBQ chef!
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The next two days we spent at the Argentine side of the falls. We had an organised tour the first day which was great as they ushered us around to all the best views and made sure we saw everything. We had a great day and it was even more awesome than the Brazilian side as we were closer to the falls. We did a brilliant boat trip which took us under the falls – my waterproof camera came in handy there! The last stop was at the Devil’s Throat again and this time much closer and near the top. It was incredible…there aren’t words and I don’t think pictures can capture the power and massive torrent of these falls!

Mike at the Argentine side of the falls
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The next day we decided to go back (entrance fee half price the second day so why not!) and walk the Macuco trail which was great as there were hardly any people on it and we really felt out in the jungle. We saw a few birds – the funniest were 3 little black and red birds doing a courtship dance around a female – they were going nuts! After doing the trail we headed back to have another look at the Devil’s Throat – just to make sure we’d really fixed it in our minds…it was sooo hot by this time. We headed back on a little dingy ride and saw Caiman and baby turtles however the ridiculous heat detracted from this as we sat stewing in our lifevests! On our way back we saw a temperature reading of 39 degrees and realised why we felt so hot! Also Mike was very pleased as we saw a Coral snake – one of the really venomous snakes here – he’d really wanted to see snakes…I was glad it was a few metres away and heading away from us!!!!!

Us and Devil's Throat
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After 3 days of walking around in 35 – 40 degree heat we were ready for a day off so we spent the next day chilling at the Hotel – researching Chile, having a beer by the pool etc and then went out for lovely Sushi in the evening.

On our last day we went to the Bird park by the Brazilian falls which was good. Some of the aviaries were quite small which made us feel very sorry for the birds but the bigger walk through ones were good as we got up close to Toucans and we loved the Butterfly and Hummingbird house too.

Devil's Throat - Argentine side
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Left Iguassu for Sao Paulo on Sunday and we now understand why there was a crash here – the runway is ridiculously short and followed by a large drop then city buildings! I’ve never felt the brakes slammed on so hard in a landing! Which reminds me…now we’ve finished our TAM flights…back on the way to Manaus from Rio we had an interesting experience whilst landing in Brasilia…we were a few metres off the ground coming into land when suddenly we took off again! Everyone on the plane went silent until the announcement in Portuguese explaining – we were still none the wiser but finally they told us in English that they had been advised at the last moment by air traffic control that another plane was on the runway so they had to do an emergency pull up!!!!! Did they not perhaps see the large plane as they were coming into land??!!! Scary! Still, we’ve survived the Tam experience!

No Swimming here!!!
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We’re sad to leave Brazil as we’ve had good times here. I am looking forward to being in a country where I can understand more of the language!

Mad has neglected to tell you about going on the pull while on the bus. Too many lagers me thinks!! Just getting up to get off the bus and it braked, Mad with rucksack swung over one shoulder was taken somewhat by surprise, not quite as surprised as the Portuguese gentleman who now had her sat on his lap and taking a rucksack to the face!!!!!!!!