On the 20th of March I ride about 200 miles from Posadas, north to Iguaçu Falls.  Puerto Iguaçu is within a few miles of where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet.  The three countries are separated by two rivers, the Rio Parana which runs north/south and the Rio Iguaçu which empties into the Parana from the East.

On the 21st of March Sandy departed Los Angeles.  Sandy leaves Los Angeles at 2:30 pm on Wednesday and arrives at 3:20 pm the next day (over 24 hours).

I ride around Puerto Iguaçu burning time. It is tropical, humid and hot here......
Monument for the 3 countries that meet at this point...
This picture is taken from Argentina. Paraguay is the country in the upper left of the photo. Brazil is in the upper right side. The river with the barges, is the Rio Parana.  The smaller river on the right is the Rio Iguaçu.  The falls are about 8 miles up this river.

On the 22nd of March, Sandy is to arrive at 3:20 pm.  It was tempting to get to the airport early, so I force myself to chat with strangers at the hotel to burn time.  I get to the airport 1 hour early and the flight has no scheduled arrival time.  There have been Radar issues in Argentina during the last few weeks.  There was no way to even check to see if the last leg of her flight had taken off (from Buenos Aires to Iguaçu). 

Very frustrating!  BUT... the flight finally arrives 2 hours late.

Spy cam.........
Our first dinner together in almost 2 months.....

How nice it is, to be able to share the experiences again.....

On the 23rd, we head to the Argentina side of Iguaçu Falls.  The Falls are on the Rio Iguaçu, which separates Argentina and Brazil.  So, to see the Iguaçu Falls completely, you have to spend a day or 2 in Argentina.  At least another day in Brazil and one more day on the river itself. 

There are hundreds of falls.  It is impossible to describe.  It is also impossible to give you a feeling of the place, with pictures.
On the Argentina side you walk above the majority of the falls. In places you can touch the water.

After walking a couple kilometers, you then walk over a kilometer on an elevated walkway out to the Devil's Throat, which is the most massive of all the Iguaçu Falls.  In 1992 there was a massive flood which washed out most of the walkways (see debris in picture below).

This is a small portion of the Devil's Throat.
This picture is taken from the same location as the last picture, with the camera now turned downstream.

Wildlife, observed from the elevated walkway, only a few hundred yards from the falls.

The fish had a choice.... Be eaten by this guy.... Or going over the Falls....
Butterflies are all over the Iguaçu Falls area.

As you walk along the top of the falls, you see these inflatable boats ply the river below.
These falls are about 1/2 the height of most of the falls.  Out of the cameras range, to the left, there is another series of falls, down to the river level.
Well, that is 11 pictures of the 120 pictures I took today!

On the 24th of March, we visit the Brazilian side of the falls. 

Many people have told us "Don't miss Iguaçu Falls"! 

We now understand why the falls are "Not to be missed". 

It is a definite "Do before you die" trip.

The signs on the Brazilian side of the river remind Sandy and I that our travels in Spanish language countries is nearly over....................

Coati, I believe....

From the Brazilian side, the views are panoramic in some places.

And close up in other places....
Note the walkways, above the falls, on the other side (in Argentina).
Took nearly 200 additional pictures today. Every few steps, the views completely change.

It is Hot and very Humid ........

After seeing the Brazilian side of the Falls, we stop for our first meal in Brazil, prior to heading to Itaipu Dam, which puts out more power than any other dam in the world!

It is a "All you can eat" buffet.... This could be bad for the belt!
The meat was cooking and I could hear it calling my name....

This is the Itaipu Dam.  It is now the second largest dam in the world, but generates more electricity then any other dam (14,000,000 mega watts).  When it was built, the lake behind the dam filled in only 14 days!

The white tubes, which feed the power turbines, are 30 feet in diameter!  The dam was built on the Parana River.  Although this is a different river than the river the Iguaçu falls are located on, only 2 of these pipes could supply enough water to supply the average volume of water which goes over the Iguaçu Falls!

Everything is big on the Itaipu Dam. 

This Dam supplies 25% of Brazil's electricity. 

It also provides most of Paraguay's power requirements.

Spillway for excess water that can't be directed through the turbines.
Bus ride across the top of the dam....

The 25th of March was a kickback rest day.  Lunch in Puerto Iguaçu. 

It is obvious, by the bugs on the motorcycle, that we are now in a tropical climate.

Well, we have visited the Argentine and Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls.  Today (the 26th of March) is our day to see the falls from the river.  This is our little "Villa" where we stayed for 5 nights.

The hotel was large and over looked the Iguaçu River. Across the street from the main part of the hotel, there was this small private cobblestone road to serve the 4 "Villas".

The trip up the river begins with a ride through the jungle, with many stops describing various things about the environment, the plants, the birds and animals.

The ride felt like Disneyland.... Except it is real....
Vests were worn by all.... And everything valuable went into "Dry Bags", including tennis shoes. Why..... just in case something happens?

This looks pretty timid....

Sandy is still looking relaxed.... There was "White Water", but no pictures, as I took video on that part of the boat trip.

And then you arrive at the base of the falls.

This was a lot of fun..............

Then they tease you with a little drenching in a small fall....

This picture was taken two seconds before they took us directly under the water fall.

When this employee put on the rain gear, I should have realized that we were going to get wet.

Fun...... and very wet!

I thought the last small water fall was fun, then they head for this large fall. 

In the picture below, you can see a boat coming out from under the water fall.

MORE FUN!

One last picture before I lowered my head to fight the weight of the water. When you go under the falls, it is not a spray.  The water pours on you, making it difficult to hold your head upright.
Another boat, just prior to going under the falls.... Not sure, with legal issues, you could do this in the United States! The boat ride was worth every dollar spent!
The boats go directly under the falls, then the current pushes the boat downstream.
You don't get wet.... You get completely soaked....

It is time to continue our trip.  This is our last view of one small section of Iguaçu Falls. 

I sure hate to leave, but I have been here for a week, and I feel the moss begin to grow under my feet!

That is it, through the 26th of March, 2007.

If only ONE person see's these pictures of Iguaçu Falls and then decides to makes the trip, I will be pleased.

It is a "Do before you die" trip.

For "Argentina 18"  hit the "Back Button".....       For "Brazil 1"  hit the "Next Button".....