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Iguazu Falls

Braving the Falls!
Braving the Falls!
All Photos

Photo Album

Our Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words

Sep 25, 2013
Capuchin Monkey
Capuchin Monkey (Jenica Vose)
She's always had a talent for capturing a moment and seeing something in a scene that I have never been able to do. While her husband was leery of her bringing her professional camera on our trip, Jenica assured him that she would be very careful. Meanwhile, I still had my circa 2004 point & shoot camera (way dated in this ever growing world of technology) and wasn't sure what I would bring. I kept thinking Jenica, my cousin, who shoots family portraits, weddings, maternity pictures and more would simply take all the pictures for me. I did finally find a camera to borrow, but honestly - my photos may as well have been taken on that ancient point & shoot after all! I shall divulge the benefits I encountered while traveling with my oh-so-talented photographer cousin: - She took pictures when I wasn't thinking to do so! I work in the travel industry, so along the way, there were some hotel inspections made and overall checking out the scenes and neighborhoods on these trips that we offer. Did I think to bring my camera and take pictures . . . sure didn't! Thankfully she snapped some shots at each place and now I can prove to my bosses that I did, in fact, do those hotel inspections! - I did learn something about cameras and moisture - bad combination (okay - I might have known that on a surface level already). What I didn't realize is how those little  silica packs you find in new shoes in shoeboxes, other household items that you buy packaged up actually do help draw out moisture from your electronics (I will make a note to recommend this to anyone planning a trip during rainy season - came in super helpful after those long rainy days exploring la Selva and Iguazu Falls). - While I completely fell into the Argentinean lifestyle and constantly craved the afternoon siesta, she would stay awake and go photo hunting. She came up with some incredible shots (case in point below) and saw wildlife I missed out (what was I thinking)?!  I will say that I was able to capture a really neat moment of my uber talented photographer cousin.  And this picture says a lot more about our trip for me than it might to anyone else.  It's part of what makes that Adventure last a lifetime!
Photo by Jenny Passuccio

Are You Ready?!

Sep 25, 2013
"Hey Cuz!  Want to go to Argentina with me?" So began the planning stages of our trip.  When I say planning, I'm talking everything from coordinating our busy schedules as full time working mothers to ensuring our full time working husbands were going to be able to handle the household while we were gone. We talked about what to pack, what to wear, what not to pack and what not to wear and who was bringing what so we didn't double-up. Luckily, we were able to utilize some knowledge of Adventure Life's past travelers and gather a few tips (like bringing a headlamp or flashlight when you travel to an EcoLodge in the Argentine Rainforest - lights out at 10PM!  Or - buying a cheap rain poncho rather than a super expensive Gortex for your trip to Iguazu Falls).  Alas - the trip date approached and we were as ready as we were going to be.  My cousin and I have been the best of friends since we were kids and have been through MANY adventures together . . . . this trip to Argentina was sure to be nothing less than spectacular!
A Champagne Toast to our first night!
A Champagne Toast to our first night! (Jenny Passuccio)
 

A 4x4, a Jungle Lodge and Yerba Mate

Sep 25, 2013
We had an amazing opportunity to travel into the Argentine Rainforest and stay at the incredibly beautiful, Yacutinga Lodge. It was quite the journey to get there, two hours on a back road and having rained for days before we arrived (we were there the first week of winter - another post about this coming soon), that road was essentially mud and large ruts. We were driving there with our guide, Nestro and a couple, Carlos and Maria from xxxx in Lakes District, Patagonia. We only spoke english and the couple mostly spanish and for people who couldn't speak one another's language, we exchanged a great deal of emotions in that car ride: fear, laughter, nervousness and uncomfortable closeness while we are bouncing in our seats and into one another. It was quite the trip, but thank goodness for the 4x4 Toyota Truck and someone that knows how to drive it, because what was in store was incredible. Yacutinga is wonderful - they've brought so much of nature inside to create the lodge, common areas and cabins. We were welcomed with a warm fire and cup of tea and immediately eased up after the long journey.
Yacutinga Lodge
Yacutinga Lodge (Jenny Passuccio)
Our time at the Lodge was spent eating good food, hiking and exploring. Our first night, we also spent time learning about the Rainforest and elements that are contributing to it's diminishing state as well as what Yacutinga and other Eco-friendly and sustainable lodges and organizations are doing to help combat those elements. During this presentation by our guide, we shared in the traditional Yerba Mate. Nestro, our guide, had brought his container, made out of a small pumpkin gourd, along with Yerba Mate (a type of green loose-leaf tea) and the filtered straw. There is a thermos of hot water and after having a few sips, you basically take turns passing the Mate around the group and refilling the water when necessary. Nestro explained that while a tradition in the U.S. may be to offer a guest a drink like water, cup of coffee or a glass of wine;  Mate is offered as a sign of hospitality and shared among friends, "Sit down, let's have a Mate" (some consider it rude if you say "no"). I've read about this tradition quite a bit and thought it was something of the past, I didn't think I'd actually be able to partake in it as a tourist. While I didn't think to get a photo (refer to blog "Our Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words") - I appreciated being invited to share in their culture in such a unique way.  
A Yacutinga Bird - courtesy of Jenica Vose
A Yacutinga Bird - courtesy of Jenica Vose

Discovering the Falls

Sep 25, 2013
I'll be very honest - I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Iguazu Falls when planning my trip.  I knew it was one of the "Seven Natural Wonders of the World" and obviously very popular, but it's hard to capture that with your imagination or from pictures.  Powerful is the first thing that comes to mind whenever I think of it now. We traveled there in June - the beginning of winter - and the water levels were very high (so much so that the walkway to Devil's Throat was closed the day after we were there due to water flowing over the walkways - yikes)!  It drizzled the entire time we were there but thanks to our ever-stylish $10 rain ponchos, we stayed pretty dry and comfortable.  An umbrella was a desired supply we should have considered (once again - new tip to give to travelers when going during rainy season)! The overall day was really fun - we were able to see so many different perspectives of the falls and while there was an incessant need to capture every moment on camera - in this case - none of the photos can really describe what it's like to be standing there with the roaring and crashing water overhead (or below your feet in some of the areas).  Nonetheless - we sure tried to capture those moments!
Braving the Falls!
Braving the Falls! (Jenny Passuccio)
Rainy day at the Falls (Jenny Passuccio)
   

The Lady of the Water

Sep 25, 2013
Photo by Jenica Vose
While staying at Yacutinga Lodge, we were given the opportunity to go on a night walk in the jungle. Not really sure what this could entail, we were the only two who signed up to go (we were two of four guests there at the time)! We met about an hour after dinner, our flashlights and/or headlamps ready, and were off! We walked among some Yerba Mate plantations and tracked footprints of what looked like some wild animals. It was a full moon while we were there, so the light was just enough in some areas to not even need our flashlights. After a while and a little bantering back and forth about our histories, Jenica boldly said, "my cousin will probably kill me for this, but are there any Argentinean ghost stories you could tell us?". Growing up camping in Glacier National Park with our families in Montana, this was a favorite pass time when we were kids. As adults though, what's the point, right? He said there wasn't much in the way of ghost stories - more just legends which are re-told. He told us of the legend of how Yerba Mate came to be - a Guarani Legend of two Goddesses (of the Moon and of the Clouds) came to Earth and encountered a jaguar who was about to attack.  An old man saved them from their peril and in return, they bestowed a new plant to him, from which a "drink of friendship" could be prepared.  Lovely. He then began to tell of another legend from Patagonia - Southern Patagonia.  There was an unknown lake where a young woman had died due to the rough conditions surrounding the waters and the hiking trails.  People eventually stopped going there as they feared it was haunted by this young women.  Ignoring the warnings, a young man ventured to go to this lake and camp overnight.  During the night, he had a vision of a young women walking out of the water.  The next day - he met the same young woman from his dream the night before and when he asked her if she was the "Lady of the Water", she said.  . . .. YES!  Okay - so it may not be as dramatic in writing as it was in person (he actually yelled out YES)!  We SCREAMED soooo loud, I imagine that any animal nearby went running.  We then laughed hysterically and gave major kudos to Nestro for being able to capture such a great reaction from his story and not even doing so in his native language.  I still giggle every time I think of that evening. Our night walk in the Jungle - one of my favorite moments from the trip!    

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