Paraguay, Foz do Iguaçu, a helicopter and a speed boat!

Long but all encompassing title I feel!! So, where did we leave off..... hmmm.. ahhh yes - Paraguay!

We only had two days in Paraguay (Asuncion). It was really too short a time to get to appreciate the country or the city, and as you can imagine the city tour was a little torturous in 43degree heat! (Sorry to all who are shivering in the UK!) So, we sweltered our morning away looking at some of the more interesting buildings, but not really appreciating them, as we were really more interested in getting from one air-conditioned building to the other. I´m not really sure why the tour felt the need to go into Paraguay at all to be honest, because although i´m sure it is a very interesting place, we had too little time and it took almost 2 days to get there from Bonito, and then another day to reach Foz. We also had to spend extra time going in and out of Paraguian and Brazilian imigration. And if you look at the map, it is a bit of a detour. Anyway.....

Next stop the famous and long anticipated Iguaçu Falls. We started off with the bird park (a place I am sure Julia would have loved ;-) ). Which would have been very interesting, if we hadn´t already seen many of the species in the wild in the Amazon and Pantanal. It was good however to see them close up, but sad to see them in cages. The Tucan´s were so tame they were trying to steel peoples sunglasses, whereas in the wild they are at the top of the highest trees. I was slightly the worse for wear with a dodgy stomach too. Next stop HELICOPTER ride over the falls. I was a bit worried that my stomach was going to let me down, but one imodium, one travel sickness pill and a number of trips to the "baneiro" later, and we were in the air. Fabuloso! Awesome! Such an immense place and amazing to see it from the air in a little chopper that seats 5 people. WOW....
Then it was off to walk around the falls on the Brazilian side. The place is just indescribable and pictures just don´t do it justice. You´ll just have to go!
The next day, it was off to Argentina for the day(!!) to visit the other side of the falls. And a speed boat under the falls. Now, at this point I guess you are imagining a boat, with a bit of water spraying down from the falls and everyone laughing merrily. Uh uh - on no! This was full on bikinis at the ready, speed boat speeding up the river, and then plunging us under the full force of one of the falls. We are talking having to put your head down because the force of the water forces you to, and keeping your eyes closed because you couldn´t keep them open! This was followed by walk to the upper path to look down on the falls, and a boat ride down a very tranquil river that luckily didn´t lead to the falls. But seemed to from the top!! (Apparently 6 german tourists were killed many years ago when the person rowing their boat got tired and they went over the top! yikes!
So, i´ll love you and leave you now, and try and update you on Curitiba and São Paulo tomorrow if I have the chance.