Exquisite Excursions

Iguazu Falls

Colonia, Uruguay

The wonderful part of studying abroad in South America is the proximity of so many spectacular natural beauties. Argentina’s vast landscape is rich with mountains to the West, bordering Chile; rain forests in the Northeast; bustling Buenos Aires borders the quiet plains of the Pampas, similar to the Arctic like tundra of the South. After a month of staying in Argentina, I have traveled across the Rio de la Plata to neighboring country, Uruguay. Uruguay is a small port country rich with cobblestone roads and deep history behind every wooden door. While in Uruguay, we discovered the beauty of simplicity. The small town we visited, Colonia, had long stone barricades still held up from the long ago Battle of Las Piedras. We climbed the many stairs to the top of the lighthouse which guides brave ships through the rocky coast. As a group, we explored the history in old homes renovated to museums. The homes, which were made entirely of stone, made us appreciate the warmth of our city apartments across the bay. We spent only a few short hours in the small country, but got a taste of true natural life, unaffected by the noise and life of busy Buenos Aires across the river.

After Uruguay, we traveled to Iguazu Falls in the North east of Argentina. The horseshoe shape of the falls has borders shared by Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. While visiting the falls, you can see all three countries at once. The small town of Iguazu does not measure for the beauty of its natural wonder on the outskirts of the town. While walking through the jungle like paths of the park, you can smell the rush of fresh water just beyond view. The falls are so massive, that you cannot see them in entirety from end to end. It really proves how amazing nature is. That fast moving waters can slice through tall mountains like butter. The falls pour out more than 400,000 gallons per second, with help from the Devil's Throat or the “Garganta del Diablo.” This massive U-shaped, 269’ high cataract, is the most impressive of all, and marks the border between Argentina and Brazil. Being in the presence of these massive falls makes you feel sorry for the first man to come across them on raft. The falls take your breath away with their majestic beauty. The mist swirling in the sun creates rainbows where ever you look. In the warm sun, the native butterflies scatter out of the paths underneath our wet sneakers. It’s an experience that cannot be justified by words. How lucky I feel to be amongst the land, the people and culture of such a beautiful place.