Monday, December 25, 2023
Merry Christmas! Our Christmas this year has been like no other.
After breakfast, we took a 45-minute van ride to a lodge in the jungle, La Reserva. Our hosts, Alejandro and Nadia greeted us with ready bikes as we drove up. After a short break to use the restrooms and to explore the nice facilities, we mounted our bikes and pedaled along a paved road through the sub-tropical rain forest. Along the way, Alejandro would stop and explain some of the surrounding environment. One stop was to demonstrate the use of a small blue flower. He plucked one and as he squeezed it, a clear gel extruded from the flower’s base. He explained that this gel was useful for treating tired red eyes and skin abrasions. As we continued, we observed rustic homes of the native Guarani people. Alejandro also stopped at a large Ybira pita tree with a termite nest on its stem. He probed the nest with a stick and a few minutes later, termites appeared to repair the damage he had inflicted. At the end of our 6k ride, we socialized and ate bananas that our hosts provided before loading up in the van and heading back to the Gran Melia.
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| Ready to Roll |
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| Patricia (center) with our Biking Hosts, Alejandro & Nadia |
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| La Reserva |
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| A Pool in the Jungle |
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| Gel squeezed from this Flower is Good for soothing Red Eyes |
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| House of an Indigenous Guarani |
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| Alejandro probes a Termite Nest |
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| The Repair Team responds Quickly |
Back at the hotel, we embarked on another hike to see Iguazu Falls, this time on the Upper Trail. On this trail we had more spectacular views from another perspective, along and down the falls. The return route was through the forest crossing many boardwalks that connected small islands of land. As we approached the hotel, we stopped at a restaurant along the trail and had a buffet-style lunch.
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| At Iguazu Falls |
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| View from the Upper Trail |
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| Plush-crested Jay |
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| Jane above the Falls |
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| Another Upper Trail View |
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| Jane and Patricia on one of many Boardwalks |
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| Restaurant in the Park |
But wait, our Navidad activities weren’t done. We were scheduled for La Gran Aventura, a boat trip to and under the falls! We were vanned to the adventure headquarters, boarded a jungle buggy, and were provided a narrated drive through the jungle. At the end of this trip, we descended steep stairs to the river and were provided dry bags for our possessions and fitted with life preservers before boarding the boat. The boat ride to the falls was exhilarating as the waters became ever rougher during our approach. We watched as another boat became soaked under one section of the falls, a foreshadowing of our fate. Soon, we were under the falls first one side of the boat and then the other. Totally, drenched, the boat headed to another section of falls and each side of the boat was repeatedly drenched as shrieks and laughter erupted from its passengers. Then, we had a chilly boat ride back to the dock, shed our life jackets and dry bags, climbed the steep stairs back to the jungle buggy, and eventually were vanned back to the hotel, blissfully weary.
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| Our Gran Adventura Transport |
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| Our Gran Adventura Guide, Christina |
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| Rough Waters |
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| Patricia and Harriet survive the First Drenching |
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| Jane takes a Shower |
Back at the Gran Melia, we took a warm shower and changed into dry clothes. Later, the Viking group gathered in the dining room again to enjoy good food and wine together before retiring, exhausted from a unique and active Christmas Day.
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| La parrilla (the grill) at Sunset |
Merry Christmas!
Looks like an amazing trip!