Aground at Iguazu Falls

The Schooner Maggie B is in a “if you get a lemon, make lemonade” mode. As mentioned in a previous posting, Brazil ejected us (or at least all Norte Americanos) for not possessing visas before entry. Just as would happen to Brazilians showing up in the States. The Captain thought of either sailing back to Montevideo to pick up visas, or to the Caribbean, forgetting Brazil. Thomas suggested leaving the boat and flying to Montevideo or Buenos Aires. The Captain then spotted Iguazu Falls and thought of Paraguay. Curtis suggested that there would probably be a Consulate in Argentina at the border. And so here we are in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, with an appointment to meet the Brazilian Vice Consul tomorrow morning at 8 AM. Our position is about (not having GPS is shocking for the Navigator).

The distance from Florianopolis to Foz de Iguazu (the Brazilian side) is almost exactly 1000 kilometers (625 miles). It is mostly across the state of Parana. We rented a nice Toyota Corola from Hertz (won’t they be sorry they threw in unlimited mileage!). We were going to do it all in a hard day, watch on and watch off, but Janet wisely suggested taking a bite out of the trip Sunday night, so we went to Curitiba, a nice, big town about 350 km along the way. Curitiba while not particularly exciting, is clean, prosperous, efficient and environmental. One cool item is the efficiency of the buses on the main routes. They come in three long pieces. Passengers enter and pay in a tubular “space lock” sort of waiting area. The bus pulls up and drops three “boarding ramps” which are about three feet above the grade. Everyone gets on and off quickly and off they go.

The State of Parana is mostly red dirt and soy beans. With hundreds of brick factories scattered along. Also some corn and tobacco. In the heat, the buildings with smoke stacks working are either kilns firing bricks or sheds drying the ingredients for future cigarettes. The highway to Foz de Iguazu is full of hills and trucks with the road being the awful 2 1/2 lanes where passing is always a lottery.

So after our interviews tomorrow — all clean, shaved, scrubbed and sober — we are going to do all the tourist things on the Argentinean side — walks, boat tours, bird land, museums, four wheel driving in the park, and the such. Then collapse back at our “villa.” Hopefully then use our fresh Brazilian visas and go to the Brazilian Hotel des Cataracts, a lovely, high-end, old hotel which is the only one inside the Park. Perhaps we will even treat ourselves to a helicopter ride! Then the 1000 km back to the Maggie B, and the rest of the Brazilian “arrival” paperwork.

As one friend said, we bet that we are the only “’round-the-world” sailors to see the Iguazu Falls. Marvelous.

All is well.