Jan 9 – Mon. Today, we start by making our way across the border from Argentina to Brazil. We arrive in the Brazil national park ready to view the falls from a completely different perspective. Unlike the Argentinean park’s train system, visitors are shuttled around by double-deck buses with the top level open to enjoy the scenery and listen to a narrative about the park and its tour/adventure (repelling, rafting, jungle walks, etc.) offerings. We start our walk across from the pink colonial Brazilian hotel by means of a series of walkways following the river toward the U shaped basin of the Devil’s Throat. Along the way we experience a more comprehensive view of the series of waterfalls on the Argentina side and can appreciate where we rode on our boat ride yesterday. There are a number of coati, mothers and babies, playing along the trail and looking for snacks. The park service is becoming concerned over the health of these creatures since they are starting to show signs of tooth decay and diabetes from too much sugar and human foods.
We wind up on a platform at the base of the Devils’ Throat with the mist and spray from the falls cooling us and the crowds of visitors. To leave the bottom, an elevator tower/observation deck is conveniently located for our egress and view of the main falls from above. While there are lots of other ways to enjoy the falls, we have a plane to catch and leave the park around midday for the nearby Brazilian airport.
After a plane change in Sao Paulo, we arrive in Florianopolis late afternoon. We leave the island in rush hour and head north to Governador Celso Ramos peninsula where we are staying at Ponta Dos Ganchos Resort. This area was originally an early Azorean whaling community but has since turned into a farming bay for scallops and oysters. Along the northern point there are a couple of small hill side towns that are reminiscent of Italy and seem timeless. Our bungalow is complete with a fireplace, jacuzzi on the deck, hammock, sauna, and expresso machine. What more could we want?
We make a cursory exploration of the resort and then enjoy a glass of wine on our deck before a late dinner in the resort restaurant. We are experiencing some rain showers due to an offshore system but hopefully it will clear tomorrow for some beach time.
Rizbee On The Road 