Iguazu Falls - Part 1

At the beginning of September, we traveled to Iguazu Falls on the border of northern Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. These waterfalls rival Victoria Falls in South Africa and are actually a candidate for the New Seven Wonders of the World (voting takes place in the Fall of 2010). This trip was one that we will never forget! Iguazu Falls is, by far, one of the most beautiful places either of us have ever been. In fact, this trip was so breathtaking that we are having trouble explaining the beauty in words.

So, we decided to take the easy way out...here are the pictures! (If you are interested, we included a synopsis of the aboriginal legend of Iguazu Falls following the pictures. We were constantly reminded of our Almighty Creator when staring at these powerful falls. It is no surprise that the aboriginals looked to higher beings for an explanation, as well.)

In order to get to to the falls, we took a 19-hour bus ride. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Argentina claims to have invented bus transport. We were served warm meals and sat in leather reclining chairs...this is better than we can say for any bus travel we have done in the U.S.

The waterfalls:

(Wildlife pictures to follow)

The Legend of Iguazu Falls:

The Guarinis were an aboriginal tribe that inhabited this land prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. Their elaborate legend of Iguazu falls claims that these beautiful falls are in fact a curse of two heartsick lovers. As the legend goes, every year a virgin was sacrificed to to serpent god M'boi who lived in the river. There were women who were "bred" for this sacrifice, so the Guarinis thought nothing of throwing them into the water to their death. Well, one day Naipi, a woman who was not set to be sacrificed, was walking by the water's edge. M'boi saw her reflection and found her to be the most beautiful woman in all the land. He ordered her to be sacrificed to him. Unfortunately, Naipi was in love with Taruba, a great warrior of a neighboring tribe, and was to be married to him very soon. Devastated, Naipi and Taruba got into a canoe and tried to run away. M'boi tried to follow them, but they paddled too fast. This infuriated M'boi. He grew as large as the river and made new twists and turns in the river and in all his rage split the river. Naipi and Taruba were thrown from the canoe. Before Naipi could reach the land, M'boi transformed her into a rock so that she could not run. At the top of the falls, Taruba was thrown onto an embankment. He saw Naipi's transformation and before he could run to help her, his hands grew into roots and he was transformed into a palm tree. The Guarinis believe that Iguazu Falls was M'boi's revenge. These two lovers are now separated by these enormous falls destined to always see each other and never be together.