Wrapping Up Brazil With Lunch in Paraguay
/Iguazu Falls wow! Stopping here was the cherry on top of a wonderful three week visit to Brazil.
We planned just four Brazilian destinations throughout the country on our first-time visit, starting in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina in the south and sandwiching in a terrific four-star hotel stay in Sao Paulo for a long carnival weekend, museum visits, finding great food and getting a mani/pedi. Next, we flew north to Salvador, Bahia, a culturally important center of Afro-Brazilian history with a sweet historical core teaching us all about Portugeuse colonialization and an intriguing modern Brazilian culture. [Note: the men (and women) are so welcoming — and gorgeous, outside and in!]
Only then came our day in the sun — actually two days — at Iguazu Falls. There we found a three country border region with two rivers and a world-class waterfall system drawing international tourists year-round. We were smart to stay three nights living it up with great restaurant choices on the Brazil side, then two chill nights at a rural lodge relaxing on the edge of the Parana River in Argentina, just over the border. That left just enough time to find the third nearby border crossing and visit Paraguay, have lunch and walk through a big Chinese import, duty-free mall.
Both the Brazil and Argentina sides have very nice national waterfall parks. We spent a day at each park comparing amazing vistas including Devil’s Throat waterfall. Damage from a recent episode of big water has closed a portion of the Argentina park. We took a boat ride INTO one of the waterfalls at the peak of the afternoon heat — a total blessing and baptism. A parting gift. Thanks Brazil!
We were lucky to meet a young man at the airport who was our driver full of recommendations during our visit. His name and number, on our unequivocal recommendation, is Lucas Matheus +55 45 9152-5644 (WhatsApp).
Now, onward to the wine harvest festival in Mendoza, including our Sposato Family Vineyards tasting later this week! Before long, Easter Island, Santiago and undoubtedly more good wine in Chile!
