Log Sixty Nine – Iguazú falls and Rio

1 December 2019

It’s hard to look at Iguazú Falls and appreciate all that water when the east coast of Australia is in the grip of drought.  Niagara Falls might have the most water going over the edge and Victoria Falls might be the highest but these are the widest and they are spectacular.

Iguazú  falls are 2.7 km across (1.7 miles) and they include some 270 separate cascades.  About 1740 cubic metres of water go over the falls every second.  I can’t imagine what we could do with that amount of water in Australia.  They get 20 metres of rain every year in Iguazú!

As with other marvels like the Grand Canyon, photographs of the falls never seem to do it justice.  Every new trail around the falls reveals a new vista.  The walkways across the top of the falls provide a view over the edge which is literally breath taking.

The tourists haven’t swamped this place yet but they are coming.  In 15 years the tourist traffic to Iguazu Falls has increased from about 300,000 pa to 2 million this year and there is no sign of this growth slowing.   We ventured on the trails around the falls early in the morning to avoid the heat and humidity, and people.

Apart from the falls the Great Dusky Swift is also pretty spectacular.  These birds seem to fly straight through the water to get to their nests which are behind the falls.

Sitting in a roof top bar drinking cocktails and overlooking Copacabana beach at night invoked an urge to break into Barry Manilow impressions.  We strenuously resisted the urge.

Rio de Janeiro is set amid a panorama of amazing granite monoliths.  On the top of one is the statue Chris the Redeemer and you can travel to another, Sugar Loaf,  via two breath taking cable car rides; not something for the faint hearted.   Between these monoliths are the suburbs and favelas that make up this city of 7.5 million people.

While I am talking numbers, Brazil has a population of about 240 million in an area slightly bigger than Australia.  We have just 23 million.  Of those 240 million in Brazil we are told only 50% have access to sewage systems.  Pollution is everywhere to be seen in Rio, be it litter in the streets or the bays for which swimming is to be avoided.

I mentioned  the two passions of Chile, Peru and Argentina.  Brazil has four.  Catholicism, soccer, carnival and corruption.  In regards to corruption, the last four governors of Rio are all in gaol for corruption.   They do it so well down here.

I cannot go without commenting on Copacabana beach.  If you walk along the beach in shorts and shirt you will quickly realise you are so over dressed.  Exposed flesh is everywhere and I have to say it would be better for all if some was less visible.  Of course there is much to be admired on the beach and not just the beautiful bodies.  Soccer games are everywhere along with a form of volley ball that is also a variant of soccer.  Soccer is everywhere in this country.  It’s no wonder they win World Cups.

We are almost done…..