Yesterday

Pure, light mist rising in the air. The pounding force of water falling over the edge causes the continuing billow of cotton near the water falls. As I look, it's hard for me to even imagine exactly how many tons of water are being tossed off the river bed for a thriller belly flopper ride to the bottom. Water is powerful. Shattered by the fall, the fine mist rises as a sideways cloud from the bottom. With a sudden blast of air, it's hard not to breath in the “cloud” as it glues bits of wetness to my skin. It feels good though. The sun is shining brightly and the wet coolness is refreshing, giving my parched sun dried skin a drink. This is Iguazu Falls.

Under my feet, lies an appearing thin metal floor with holes in it. It has to be strong, but I can't help but stand to one side of it as I watch the water underneath me. The water that on one side of the bridge seems quite calm, but that too is deceptive as it rushes forward and flies for just a moment over the edge before beginning that long deep descent. Who knows how far exactly for there's so much mist, it looks like the ground is a cloud.

What a day...from riding through the jumpy waters in a boat and being sprayed by the falls to walking and exploring them within a feet or two. We ate lunch near a few lizards with the music of water in the background. Of course I had to throw a few leaves into the water and attempted to watch them ride over the edge. It was hard with the current! Sometimes it would suck the leaf under so quickly, you'd never see it reappear! We couldn't take enough photos. Every angle of the falls looked different...and trying to capture was defeating. How can you capture on a small 2x2 inch 2D screen what you see in front of you? It just doesn't work.

We finally took our Jeep ride (just in the jungle instead of the desert) and seeing a few unique wild animals was wonderful. Especially the variety and immensity of the butterflies. It wasn't unusual to have one land on your head, arm, foot and to see crowds of them gathered on the ground. If they were so beautiful, they would have almost been annoying. We also both received a late reminder to put on more sunscreen from the bright hot sun and today are a bit multicolored.

Currently I am sitting in a chair looking out into the courtyard of our hostel. Brightly colored with red, blue, yellow and green walls, it complements the flowers and plants that form an archway tunnel outside my door. The sky is turning blue after a rainstorm and the birds are telling the world the storm is over by their gentle chatter and variety of singing tunes. I'm thankful for the rain. It is no longer sweltering hot!

Tonight we are planning to visit the falls once more and see the moon reflect on the water. (We hope!!! It only works if it's not cloudy!!!!)