The Goal.
Seeing Iguazu Falls, and Parque de Aves within one weekend and over 20 students.
The means.
A large bus we rented, complete with freshwater and and a cooler in the back. This stored wine and spirits, and would come in supreme importance along the trip. In Brazils Winter, we left from the coast of Florianopolis at 6pm for a 14 hour bus ride into the night and the back country roads of Brazil. We made 4 or 5 stops at various stages into the night/morning with frost coming from our mouths as we all settle into laugh. To add an adventure while already visiting a foreign country adds a novelty to the idea of travel, "well I'm already here, so why not go". The second image you see is the sunrise right before reaching our hostel, we arrived an hour late and were fortunate they kept breakfast for all us to eat before dropping our bags, changing and heading immediately out to the park.
It's another short bus ride to Parque de Aves and inside we got to see a wealth of biodiversity that South America has to offer. I've always wanted to see a Flamingo in person, so I felt pretty awesome to see how social and playful they are.
Even though I never photographed them, I did get a chance to see a couple of the worlds most endangered falcons and ancient birds. After lunch, it was to the main attraction, I figured I needed to go, for a few reasons: it would allow to me see an entirely different part of the country and give much needed good energy, 2.) its a waterfall between 3 countries. Walking along the path I heard Spanish, German, English, and Portuguese. Here not only had good energy, It was a moment of reflection. In Taos, NM I remember how all of this negativity seemed to evaporate away, I had somehow made it that far and looked back and laughed on it. But standing over Iguazu I felt as if only good tidings had been gifted. Think of all the travelers and the families, and the gifts and lessons of those before them, and how no one in my family had been this far south alongside so many others to marvel here. This carried implications, that perhaps while I was here now, I could bring back the same energy and tidings the falls gifted us. Many children laughed while tons of water sheared mist into the air, and old couples helped each other down the stairs, in this too among Argentinians, Brazilians, Americans, it was nice to sit down and take it in.
We spent the night drinking and celebrating Nik's birthday, and the next day want to a dam and buddhist temple around the falls. While on the dam we were briefly in Paraguay, and were taken to another area where the 3 countries meet. In the temple, a few of us meditated, and I saw the many buddhas of different countries and times. But what was most calming was the ride back and seeing the sunset and talking with everyone. It took 17 hours to get back, but I enjoyed seeing another side of the country. The book I'm reading is from a class I took on travel and African-American imagination, but I want to read it cover to cover, as we only read select chapters. Alot of the history of Black travelers and explorers and the U.S is never taught, and I feel pride in carrying the tradition.
The photographs are presented in sequential order of the trip taken on a Sony Nex-5, and two Iphone images. I'll more than likely have an iphone gallery before the end of my stay here.
-J