Adios Buenos Aires

Sounds of a distant tango playing from a second floor studio closed tight to keep out the cold air that’s invaded Buenos Aires. Carnes sizzling on the grills of the restaurants that line the street (almost as numerous as the maple trees)….the smoke so thick and juicy that I just know that if I take a bite as I disappear into it, I’ll surely taste it when I came out at the other end. Malbec swirled with wafts of strong tabacco leaves and a trace of the sweat of a Cuban cigar master. Through the dust encrusted window of the taxi, the orange-ish street lights of Buenos Aires cast Dali-esque circles escorting vehicles to the airport like many small suns refusing to die on an early winter evening. My business trip was successful; my personal time worth every bit of effort. Iguazu Falls are nothing short of a miracle to behold. They took my breath away like a slap in the face with a soft bouquet of gardenias. Buenos Aires was . . . so civilized. It made me think of the title of a book yet to be written:“Quiero Vivir en Buenos Aires” (I Want to Live in Buenos Aires). Enjoy my trip through my photos!

Jorge

More Photos

Iguazu Falls

I am sitting by the hotel pool enjoying (rewarding myself with) a pisco sour. Those of you who have traveled to South America know it is a kick-ass drink (that will kick it if you don't watch it . . . I’m watching it!). I kept smelling a very subtle egg smell (NOT like sulfer!) and realize that the foam on the pisco sour is from slightly beaten egg whites. Ah, what we won’t drink with our alcohol!

Mate is next on the list. Not sure exactly what it is, but it sounds like a tea that people here drink like coffee. I am assured that it has no mind altering properties, but I have not quite been convinced. You see people around all drinking it from beautiful looking wood goblets--that look like coconut shells—through "straws" made of silver and very ornate. If it isn’t mind altering or illegal, people nevertheless talk about it and drink it in public like it is at the very least, sacred. Hmmmm . . .

Had a great today. Woke up this morning to the sound of gallons of water crashing on rocks. Right across from our pink hotel (pictures) is the view of the waterfalls from the Brazilian side. Spectacular, but my views and experiences were just beginning. My taxi driver picked me up at the hotel and took me to the Argentine side where I spent 5 hrs walking around. The place is magnificent. I’m attaching a number of photos of the falls which are quite extraordinary. In some spots it felt like what it would be to stand over Niagra Falls—if it were 5x larger! The main sight on the Argentine side is “La Garganta del Diablo”—the devil’s throat. It is a “U” shaped fall that goes down about 300 feet. You’ll notice in the photos, the top of la garganta and then another view that shows more of the force. Tomorrow I’ll be on the Brazilian side which will provide a fuller view of it.

Also got to see some wildlife. There’s a photo of a toucan and one of a monkey swinging through the trees (yes, trust me, it’s a monkey!). Don’t confuse it with the photo of me. I actually got someone to take a photo of me . . . I usually forget to get myself in at least on of the photos I’m taking.

Had a great dinner tonight at the hotel and now I am ready to go to bed and get some zees.