last words on wild life

I left Argentina in real life–but before I leave it on my blog…

There’s no way to fully describe– or exaggerate– the impact of Iguazu.    I mentioned that it’s an Indian name meaning “Big Waters”. I didn’t mention that the name also applies to tourists.   You can’t really experience Iguazu without getting wet.

Even at the top of the falls, the spray is intense.  Here’s the closest I can come to sharing the experience—(BTW I’m pretty impressed with my computer skills for figuring out how to upload this on my own.  But my camerawork leaves a lot to be desired.  Please bear with me;  I’m just learning how to use the Flip video I”ve had for a year.)

You get way more drenched if you take the boat ride at the bottom of the falls…which of course, Daniel and I did.

Right after I shot this,  the guy has everyone pack up their cameras in special water-proof bags.   And then he drives the boat straight ahead into the falls.   Besides the fact you get completely soaked from head to toe, it’s a WILD ride.  Like a Disneyland Jungle Cruise/Splash Mountain on steroids.  For real.

And as thrilling as the boat ride was, for me the scariest part came afterward when Daniel bought a sandwich and sat down on a bench to eat it.

The instant he unwrapped the paper, there was a movement behind us.  Then two.  Then ten.  And then suddenly we were surrounded by an army of every coati in the entire jungle.

Oddly enough, these raccoon- like rodents didn’t seem to bother the other tourists ….

They continued to sit calmly on their benches —watching me leaping on top of a bench and scurrying to get out of the way,  screaming at the top of my lungs.

This I did not document on video.

Although this was a first.

For me, my first encounter with coatis in the wild.

For the other tourists,  their first encounter with a drama queen.