South American Adventure - Part One - Iguazu Falls

Day 0 and 1 - Getting to Iguazu and our first impressions.

Twenty-Six Hours ... that it how long it took, counting flight times and layovers, for us to get to Iguazu.  I watched three movies (all animated of course) during our flights and I didn't sleep much so when we arrived at our first destination, the first of seven, I was pretty tired.  The Wife was tired too.

Our guide and driver picked us up at the airport and, on the way to our hotel, told us about the falls, the park surrounding the falls, and the wildlife in the area.  The guide asked if we wanted to start our tour that afternoon but we were tired and thought it would be better to start the tour the next day after we'd had a chance to sleep.

They dropped us off at our hotel, located in the park, and we marvelled at the view across the road.  After getting out bags in our room we headed across the street and admired the view of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side.  Last year I'd been somewhat disappointed with Niagara Falls but Iguazu did not disappoint.  The multi-tiered falls seemed to go on forever.

The falls seemed to go on forever.

From the lookout point a trail followed the river canyon wall down.  I followed the trail for a bit taking pictures along the way.  About half way down I stopped and turned around.  We would be walking this trail again tomorrow with our guide so I would see more of it the next day.  On the way back up the Wife and I stopped at a small snack bar and had an ice cream bar and watched the coatimundi harass people for their food.

Day 2 - Taking in the amazing Iguazu Falls.

Iguazu is the land of rainbows.

It was winter in Brazil and there was frost on the grass this morning.  Our guide met us at our hotel and we crossed the road to the overlook we'd visited the night before.  Yesterday it was clear.  Today, the chill of the air brought on clouds of fog obscuring some of the falls.

The mist cleared as the morning warmed up and we walked along the trail.  At the bottom the trail connects to a walkway that extends over the lower tier of the waterfalls.  We walked out onto the walkways and were doused with spray from the upper falls.  Everywhere we looked there were rainbows.  I saw more rainbows in this one park than anywhere I can recall.

We returned to the road along a steep path and were picked up by our driver.  We crossed the border into Argentina to see the sights from the argentine side.  After being dropped off we walked along a trail that offered incredible views of small and large waterfalls.  It seemed to go on forever.

The path we followed ended at a train station.  We took the train to a point closer to the main falls.  From there a walkway built over the river took us to the Devil's Throat falls.  The overlook platform was full of people watching the power of the falls.  It was very impressive.

We walked back to the train station.  Along the way we saw turtles sunning themselves and birds waiting for food to be dropped. This vacation would become a bird-nerdy type of vacation.

A ride back on the train and a short walk took us to a place for lunch.  We rested from our morning walking with good food and a few magnets for our collection.  I watched some coatimundis try to steal people's picnic food.

The Devil's Throat.

The day before our guide had offered us a couple choices for afternoon activities.  We could take a helicopter ride over the falls or we could take a boat ride under the falls.  We'd seen, from the overlook near our hotel, the boat ride we could take and we chose that option for the afternoon.

We walked down a steep trail, past smaller falls, to the boat docks.  We were given dry sacks for our valuables and lifejackets before getting in the boat.  The boat took us near one of the falls.  Some people had ponchos but the spray still got you all wet.  The boat backed off of the falls, turned a corner in the river and approached a smaller set of falls.  If you were not wet now you would be soon as the boat went straight into the falls.  We were totally submerged in the falls.  I got soaked all the way down to the underwear.


We boated down the river to a second dock where we got off.  There was two small bathrooms where people crowded into to change into drier clothes.  I only changed my pants.  We got in the back of a truck and drove through the jungle as a guide pointed out types of trees and birds and explained the history of the area and park.

The truck dropped us off at the park visitor's center where we were picked up by our guide and driver  We saw our first toucan in a tree at the visitor's center..

We headed back to the hotel stopping along the way at a store to buy more magnets and a Mary for the Wife.  We were pretty exhausted by the time we got to the hotel room.  We sent a load of wet clothes to housekeeping to get dried (a free service of the hotel) before eating a delicious dinner at the hotel bar.  We ended the day warming up in front of a fire in one of the hotel's sitting rooms.

All in all a wonderful day.

 Day 3 - A day of transition.

Our guide and driver picked us up and took us to the airport. After checking in and passing through security I heard my name being paged. I was taken back through security to find our guide. Turns out we both forgot about paying for the boat ride. I went back through security to get my money and back out to pay him before going back through security. Fortunately I was waved through security each time and bypassed a few security steps each time.

The flight was on time and nothing special. We were served ham flavored toasted snacks which were a bit unique but tasted great. Can't think of an American snack that is meat flavored.

Pictures can be found in my 2016-06 Iguassu Falls, Brazil Google Photos album.

NOTE:  We took pictures of the Wife's cousin's Snuggle Bear during our travels.  I will put together a post about his travels along with all the pictures I posted on Facebook in the next few weeks.

Book: Randall Munroe's "What If"

I try to read a few comic strips every day.  They are a little pick me up each morning.  One of the cartoons I read is the exquisitely nerdy XKCD.  On the site there is a column called "What If?" where the author, Randall Munroe, answers all kind of nerdy questions.  My latest read (finished before I left on my South American adventure) was a compilation of some of these columns.

Randall Munroe's "What If?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions" is a very entertaining collection of odd, weird, and often fascinating questions and even more interesting answers.  Munroe answers every question with rigorous argument and enlightened humor.

The nineteen questions answered left me wanting more.  Fortunately for me, I can always access more of Munroe's witty and intelligent answers on his website.

I gave this book four out of five stars on Goodreads.  A few more questions in the collection might have pushed it over into five out of five territory.  Highly recommended for math and physics nerds worldwide.

Another Awesome Adventure

Last night ... or was it this morning? ... our latest adventure came to an end.  For twenty-four days the Wife and I traveled around South America hitting three countries, touching another, and visiting two sets of islands.  I hope to get around to documenting the travels by the end of the week but I make no promises.  Until then, here are seven pictures, one from each of our destinations.

Iguassu Falls straddling the Brazil and Argentine border.

Our cruise on the M/Y Turcana on mirror like waters of the Rio Negro.

Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The snow capped Andes mountains are the backdrop for Santiago de Chile.

The famous fifteen Moai of Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

The Madonna of Quito, Ecuador.

From the highest point of Saint Bartholomew Island, one of the Galapagos Islands.

There will be a lot more to come ... once I get caught up.

The South American Journey Of Snuggle Bear

We're leaving for a trip to South America tomorrow.  Traveling with the Wife and I will be the GodSon's daughter's Snuggle Bear.  For those who follow me on Facebook, I will be posting Snuggle Bear updates along the way.

Our travels will take us to three countries and islands associated with a couple of said countries.  This is what we and Snuggle Bear will see and do along the way:

• Iguassu Falls in Brazil/Argentina.
• A four day cruise on the Amazon aboard the M/Y Tucano getting off the boat to hike or take smaller boats up shallow tributaries.
• Tour Manaus, Brazil.
• Spend two days/three nights in Rio de Janeiro visiting Christ the Redeemer and Sugar Loaf mountain.
• Spend a day in Santiago, Chile in the Lastarria district.
• Spend one day/two nights on Easter Island (a chilean territory) gawking at the Moai.
• Spend a day exploring historic Quito, Ecuador.
• Cruise around the Galapagos Islands ( an ecuadorian territory) aboard La Pinta stopping at various islands to hike, kayak, and snorkel.

I will try to document Snuggle Bear's adventures on Facebook as often as I can.  After returning from our adventure I will post both about our adventure and about Snuggle Bear's adventures for those who are not my Facebook friends.

NOTE:  Both the Wife and I are a little stressed out by Snuggle Bear.  If something were to happen to him we probably wouldn't be able to return home.  If we did we would feel the wrath of a five year old ... I shudder at the thought.

A Passing

Yesterday, Cecil, my Father-in-Law, passed away after struggling with heart disease.  He was a good man, a good father, and a good husband.

Cecil
December 30, 1933  - June 2, 2016

We will all miss his good humor, his unending work ethic, and his gung ho support for all things Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Chicago Cubs.  Every life he touched was made better.

Here is a link to his obituary.

My Appalachian Trail Poll

It's been just over three weeks since I asked people to suggest a trail name for my Appalachian Trail hike.  As predicted, I received only a few suggestions.  I received seven suggestions from three people.  I'd hoped for more but ... I apparently have few readers and many of the ones I have are not interested in giving me an AT name.  Kind of disappointing as this was a wide open opportunity for hilarity that few took advantage of.

I whittled the names down to one suggestion per person, added one of my own, and put up a poll at the top of the sidebar on the right.  I also added an option for "Let the AT name me".  The choices are:

• Jello - an inside family joke.  I do like eating jello but I don't do it as often as I used to.
• Pilgrim - a reference to my walking of the Camino de Santiago.
• Shuffle Monkey - From a good friend of the Wife.  Not sure about it but it does make me smile.
• Chigger - another inside family joke.  The Wife doesn't believe in chiggers.

The poll will be open until the end of June when I expect to see measly three or four depressing votes.

NOTE:  This poll is for my edification only.  The final decision of an AT name will be solely up to me and may not be one of the names listed.

An Important Day

Today is a very important day.  It just so happens to be my mom's birthday. so ...

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!
Love you!!!!

It's also Memorial day.  Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who have died defending our country and remembering those we love who have passed.  Please keep them in your thoughts.

A Senseless Act Of Stupid

I think I've mentioned Little Free Libraries before.  I shared a picture of a cool one earlier this year.  The Wife's students decided to make one and install it along a bike/walk trail behind the school.  The Little Free Library was formally installed on the 7 May.  It was very nicely done as you can see in the picture.

The Little Free Library before the act of stupidity.

Sadly this little contribution to society, a gift to the community, a bright spot, could not survive the swinging of a bat.  Three weeks after its christening, someone apparently did not appreciate the freely given gift of literacy and destroyed the Little Free Library.

Why?!?

It doesn't really make sense.  Did this free gift offend you in any way?  Did the satisfaction you felt in its destruction surpass the good it would provide the community?  Did it remind you of you own illiteracy?  Or are you just petty and selfish?

When I see senseless destruction like this, and I see too much of it, I wonder if the Trump candidacy is exactly what we deserve.  Maybe Trump is all that bad karma coming back to punish us for letting all this stupid go unchecked.

Book: Terry Pratchett And Stephen Baxter's "The Long Earth"

I checked this ebook out from the library since Terry Pratchett has a pretty good reputation and I was interested in starting a new series.  The book, "The Long Earth", is about parallel Earths and what happens when the world learns how to "step" from one copy to the next.

Unlike most parallel world stories that often involve meeting alternate versions of ourselves and strange variations of our society where the Nazis won World War II or something like that, the alternate earths in this book are all uninhabited by advanced life.  All these empty worlds offer humanity an unending frontier to explore and colonize.

We follow a natural stepper, someone who doesn't need the stepper box to move from Earth to Earth.  Joining with a sentient machine they travel along the Long Earth exploring the multiple variations.  They eventually find hints of a potential threat to humanity coming and they go to find out what it is.

It is the conclusion of the book that was disappointing to me.  They find the threat and, frankly, it's quite ho hum.  It is a relatively interesting and unique threat but it is also hard to call it a threat too.

There are currently four books in the series and I hope things will develop in a more interesting direction.  The first book of a series can sometimes feel incomplete and that might be the case for this series.

I gave this book three stars on Goodreads.  Hopefully the starts will increase with the next book.

An OK Picture Of Me

I saw this picture the other day while I was walking.  While I have a ringing in my left ear I'm not deaf and both of my eyes are blue.  But it's still an OK likeness.

An OK picture of me ...