At 6:35 AM, we get up. We had planned for a quarter to, but it's on the dot. It's just as well because just after we've showered, Guest Services calls us to come by. It's not busy there, and it turns out we're getting back $226. It's quite remarkable, and we don't think it's right, but we're not complaining.
Then we have breakfast and pack up the last few things. We have baggage tags with group 2 Brown at 8:45 AM. Approximately every fifteen minutes, a group is called to go downstairs. We say goodbye to Riri and will give her and Agung a good rating in the evaluation we'll receive by email. It's amazing how they already know who you are by day 2 without you being in your cabin.
At half past eight, we go down to deck 1 and wait there until our group is called. Then we go to A-deck with just one trolley and, of course, the camera bag and the laptop bag. We're scanned for the last time and can't go back anymore. They could have put a barcode on our foreheads; we've been scanned so many times.
We have to take a short ride in the shuttle bus to get off the container yard to the terminal where the luggage is on the left. We don't have to search; we grab them and head out of the building to the right, waiting outside for the taxi we ordered at home. We expected it to take a while, but we were done in no time. The taxi is also right on time.
We first head to the hotel where we'll be staying tomorrow and drop off our luggage there. This was arranged in advance, so we can stay here for free. We take another taxi, which has also been arranged in advance, as we now only have carry-on luggage, and it arrives promptly. We then make our way to the airport.
We don't have anything to check in, just security to pass through. We're flying domestically, and this part of the airport isn't great, but it gets the job done. All in all, it takes about 20 minutes. We thought we'd be there by 12 o'clock, but we arrived at 11:10 AM.
It's a bumpy ride with Jet Smart, but they fly right on time. When we disembark in Iguazú, it's hot: 34 degrees Celsius and humid. The airport is surprisingly large. We're quickly picked up after a message to Ramiro, the owner of Hotel Posada del Chamàn. The road to the hotel partly passes through the Iguazú National Park. We get hopeful when we see interesting warning signs along the road for monkeys, jaguars, coatis, tapirs... But we should have known better. Signs always mean no wildlife. Spoiler alert: that's not going to change tomorrow either.
It's a very nice hotel. It has a bit of a motel vibe, but without cars parked in front of the rooms. Several rooms are lined up next to each other with a little terrace in front of each. There's a microwave, dishes, cutlery, and a fridge. The ambiance is very tropical with large banana trees bearing heavy bunches of fruit. The overnight stay with breakfast, airport pickup, a liter of beer, and a trip to the city center costs $95. It's definitely worth it. This means that the liter of beer plus the round trip to the city center only cost $6 together. I'll transfer the photos to the laptop, and then we'll enjoy the beer together on our terrace. It's wonderfully peaceful here.
At 7 o'clock, we head into the city to grab something to eat, although Carolina, Ramiro's wife, could have cooked for us as well. We stroll around, and it's incredibly hot: 32 degrees Celsius, but there's rain in the air, making it uncomfortably humid. It feels worse than being in Death Valley at 45 degrees Celsius.
Iguazú doesn't offer much. It's very touristy yet simple, with pockets of decay here and there. It's kind of what we'd imagine South America to be like. There are plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops selling mate, hats, minerals, and jewelry made from them. Many restaurants look modern and inviting. Ramiro had recommended La Rueda, but when we arrive there, sweaty and exhausted at 8 o'clock, there's only outdoor seating available, which Jan isn't keen on. He's practically drowning in his own sweat, so we decide to look elsewhere.
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| The bridge between Brasil and Argentina |
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| A Piacere, photo internet |
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| photo internet. We had the table where on the right 2 people are seating |
On the way back home, it starts raining, and by the time we're nearly there, it turns into a downpour. The temperature drops from 32 degrees before dinner to 23 now. We have to dash through the rain to our room, about 50 meters away, part of which is covered, but we still get soaked. Quickly, we strip off our wet clothes. I blow-dry my hair quickly, and then we settle into bed for some reading. We have to get up early again tomorrow.