On The Loose In Iguazú Falls

The following events Im about to unfold are totally true. Why would I make this up. So, Iguazú Falls. One of the Unesco World Heritage sites (that's 3 I've visited in Argentina, if anyone is counting)... I took a plane from Salta and at this point have left all my previous travelling buddies and am literally flying solo. It's how it all started actually, so I was happy with this little full circle moment of mine. I meet the new french roomies at the hostel, and explore the town with them. Later on, I went out to dinner with other hostel mates and had a really lovely time. We went to a place where they let you write on the wall with chalk, like in the kindergarten! So blah blah blah 3 bottles of wine later, we start writing. I get really deep and write "Go Big or Go Home". New friend Tigger said it best with "Big Dogs Don't Sit On The Porch". This is way more interesting than mine, and I've adopted it as my own saying. Trust me, this is important to my already long story. Oh, I also wrote LA Lakers #1. That's not important to the story, but important to my people that I repreZENT wherever I am. Anyways...

Next day Iguazú Falls! I've been so excited to see these falls. We get to the park and walk through the trails and viewing platforms. Each view gets better and better and just more incredible. It's hard to put it into words... The falls are intense and stunning not just in sight but sound as well. It's absolutely roaring. It was a beautiful sunny day which means rainbows were everywhere! Is this for real? Yes. We picnic for some lunch and take a ride on our little adventure boat! This 12 minute ride takes you into the falls, gets you nice and close, and at the end, drenches you. Woo! Exciting. Then I was cold and wet, but don't worry, I came prepared. I changed into my bathing suit bottoms... AFTER the boat ride. Winner.

The time finally came to take the train to visit the one and only Garganta Del Diablo Falls (Devil's Throat, ooh). It's been said to save this darling for last, for the grand finale, so we did. We were pumped. We get to the little train station, and the park rangers are all "oh, the last train just left 5 minutes ago". Haha so funny! No, really. ... haha? so funny? no. last train, gone. They literally said "que lastima". So, shit! It's like going all the way to Egypt and not seeing the pyramids. not seeing the Eiffel Tower. which is in France. Um, ok. We try to flirt our way into getting a ride in a truck, no go. (Granted I washed my hair twice in 2 weeks, it's understandable). We see there is a long (3km) path to get there, and we decide to walk really fast. The park rangers whistled us back and said we'll never make it and we're not allowed to go anyways. So we were literally totally screwed, and the jefe park ranger was a major jerk. But then he left. I told the girls, look, we have nothing to lose, let's just make a run for it. We might get kicked out, but what's the difference at this point. Game on! We casually walk to the path, and dart to the right really fast and start hauling ass. Then the park rangers whistled at us again. So we kept running faster. I turn around, 1 girl has stopped so i got worried. But I kept running. I look behind me again and all 3 of us are running through the dang jungle (on a path along the train tracks). We think we hear a car coming so we jump into the bushes and hide. No car, dale, let's go. We keep running (me speedwalking) and a train passes us going in the other direction. More park rangers are on there, and one of them gives me the "no no you cant do this finger wave" So i waved back, hey! Still running. Then another train comes by in our direction, and i really thought about hopping on the train vagabond style, but decided it could end really badly right then and there, and I realized I am not Indiana Jones. We're making good time we think. Then a truck comes by. Shit. We get pulled over by a lady ranger. All in spanish, she's like you didnt hear the whistles when you started running? Huh? What whistles? You understand you can't be walking here right? Im all (in between huffs and puffs), well we just missed the train and its our last day and it was only by a few minutes and we really have to see these falls. She's all, ya, but you disobeyed the rangers. Get in the truck. DAMN!! She starts driving and is all... so, you're only going to have like 10 minutes to see these falls, then you HAVE TO LEAVE and don't miss the final train back to the entrance. YESSSS!!!!!!! We were on our way! I finally get to the viewing balcony and the other ranger was like, sorry it's closed. I FREAK OUT. After rambling some kind of nonsense... he's all just kidding rubia!! Just a joke!! Una broma! So not funny. But it was.

The Garganta del Diablo was absolutely incredible, I can't believe we almost missed it!! What a stunning view, being right over the pounding and the mist of the falls. I could have stayed there for an hour at least. Me and the girls were so triumphant and giddy we were out of our minds. We laughed the whole train ride back to the main station, and blew kisses as we passed by the park rangers on the way back. Neeener!! Friends, go big or go home. Or better yet, remember the big dogs don't sit on the porch.

PS. The park ranger ended up being pretty impressed with us.
PPS. Garganta Del Diablo is the top 2 photos.