Day 30 – 25 January 2013. Bird Park, Helicopter ride, Brazilian - Iguassu Falls.

Awoke early, did some photos, then the sound of rain- tropical type rain. Might mess up helicopter ride, but has cooled things down for now.

Will leave a little later for Brazil to check out the bird park and Brazilian side of the falls - hopefully the rain will stop.

So off we go, first stop Argentinian border crossing stamp out on passport. Over River Iguassu with Argentine flag colours half way then Brazilian on the other side. Then stop again on Brazilian side, Juan takes passport to be stamped.

Started with Parque de Aves - park of the birds- toucans - you betcha plus lots more it was really worthwhile.

Then to Helicopter ride over the falls. Only10 minutes but worth the Birdseye view. The rain had stopped on drive over. Helicopter all good if a 'little' queasy. Got a window seat!

Then to Parque de Iguazu care if Brazil. Much less walking but some different views. Not as hot today thank goodness and not as many people either.

 

Home to Secret Garden a bit earlier, so took a walk around town, got some more money etc. Not a lot to see, but worth a look.
Returned home again, to another new pair – Hanna and Dave from East Malvern – wow it’s a small world, turns out Hanna and her sister travelled with Rob/Gay/Linda/David and Heather Harrington when they did their Mongolia/Russia trip prior to the Arctic. Hanna is over for a month or so travelling with Dave who has been on his travels for 12 months. They are both lawyers. It was really lovely to have some Aussie company and on Australia day too. Thanks guys! We went for dinner to Aqva again, home a bit later.

Hanna works for Mellison’s, not sure about David.

We also walked to dinner with Lesser – a Danish exchange student living here in Puerto Iguazu for 8 months – school is on three months vacation, so he was visiting Secret Garden for something to do, and chatted with us for quite a while, before walking us to dinner, where he left us to go home.

Forgot to mention a slight hiccup getting back from Brazil today, got out of Brazil no worries, but Argentina wanted to see the reciprocity tax printout – which was safely back in the Safe at Secret Garden – my passport was clearly stamped from my entry to Argentina on the 21^st that I had paid for 90 days entry. Anyway after taking passport and going back into the building several times, the officer, said it was OK but to have the paperwork with me next time. Turned out Hanna and David encountered exactly the same issue – OOPS!!!

 I GOT TOTALLY CARRIED AWAY AT THE PARQUE OF AVES TODAY, SO APOLOGIES FOR SO MANY PHOTOS. THEY WERE CAPTIVATING. I ESPECIALLY LOVED THE TOUCANS AND HUMMINGBIRDS.

 

Flamingo

Grou - Coroado

Flamingo - above and below

One of several different types of toucan - this guy was smaller.

 

These two were different again.

Back to the first little guy.

Then my absolute favorite.

Guara - Scarlet Ibis

Pink spoonbill - made this name up

Stork

My toucan was back again.

He took a liking to my shoe, was pecking at it and shaking it too.

Caiman.

Sort of patriotic = green and gold. It was Australia day at home.

The only butterflies I could catch were the shabby looking ones.

Then there was a hummingbird, then several different types.

Brown butterfly

Different hummingbird -  black and white.

Hummingbird flying in to suck at the nectar flowers.

And again, those wings were so quick, even sports mode couldn't do it. I didn't have time to play with manual shutter speed etc.

Multi-coloured green hummingbird.

Macaw.

Macaw.

 

Here comes my helicopter.

Looking over the pilots shoulder.

view of the falls.

and again...

...

...

...

Juan, my driver, waiting at the helicopter ride.

Falls from Brazilian side.

Coatis live on this side too.

 

 

After leaving the park we stopped on bridge to take a photo of the border, marked by the changing of the colours of the flags.

A look around Puerto Iguassu - here's the bomaderos.

a flower in John's garden, they said on ecologica tour yestrday, that they make team from this one.

The Secret Garden room.

 

Hanna and I at drinks...it sure is a small world.