For many, Easter is a time of renewal and rebirth - a time of cleansing. Of course, normally spring is right around the corner in Indiana. Down here, it's getting a tad chilly.
Still, what better place to reflect on purity than the Iguaçu Falls, where water - in all its abundance and majesty - seemingly flows from the heavens.
Words and pictures don't do the falls justice. They are something you have to see to truly understand. After a 15-hour bus ride, I spent the first day viewing the falls from the Brazilian side. I caught my first glimpse of water under gravity's influence on a boat ride in the pouring rain in which the definition of "soaked" was taken to another level. On normal rides, the boats explore more of the falls, but with the rain and high rapids, my group got the abbreviated tour. It was still an entertaining ride if only for the large swells that occasionally overwhelmed our craft.
The rain persisted throughout the weekend, but when you are viewing waterfalls you kind of expect to get wet anyway. Saturday, I took a bus to the Argentina side of the falls. A majority of the falls are found on the Argentina side, and we finally saw some sun Saturday afternoon. I was lucky enough to capture one picture of the falls with a rainbow streaming down nearby. No sign of Noah's Arc, however.
The Argentinian park also contained more paths to view the falls from, including one trail that takes you right to the mouth of Garganta do Diabo, the largest of the falls of Iguaçu. Approaching Garganta do Diablo from the side, it appears as if the water supply of the whole world is being sucked into nothingness. Up close, it is still difficult to fathom the amount of water rushing down its neck. I felt very small and insignificant in the presence of Garganta.
Just to contend with all those Americans studying in Europe, we took a trip to Paraguay on Sunday to record our third country in as many days. Paraguay is one of the poorest countries in South America, and the border between Brazil and Paraguay is notorious for drug smuggling. Many tourists in Iguaçu flock to Paraguay to buy things at a considerably discounted price. Beyond the bargains though, there wasn't much to see - unless neglected buildings and trashy streets count. After a few hours of shopping, we took the most delapitated cab in South America back to Brazil.
My decision to visit Iguaçu last weekend was spontaneous, but not random - the falls were definitely on my list of "Places To Visit While In Brazil." Pleasant surprises became a theme for this trip, however, since I traveled with a group of Americans that I hadn't spent much time with previously. Bunk beds and pool-side bars can make you familiar real fast, however. Four girls, two guys, one room. 'Nuff said.
I had a few flashbacks from my counselor days at camp Lutherwald to say the least.
I made it back to São Paulo around noon on Monday. I may have only one 10+ hour bus ride left in me.
This week I finished reading Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath." Originally, I was reading the novel for my U.S. History course, but then I found out we were only watching the movie. I finished the book anyway.
It's interesting to note that parallels can be drawn today between Brazil and one of the most American books ever written. While Steinbeck's novel focused on the struggle of migratory farmers in California during the Depression, reading this book helped me empathize with the thousands of homeless and displaced people that live in Brazil's large metroplises. Despite being abundant in natural resources, 80% of Brazilian's live in urban areas.
Like in California during the 1930s, this country is divided into the Have and the Have-Nots, and unfortunately the Haves always seem to do everything in their power to make sure things don't change - including manipulating the law. So much money in this country is poored into security. Personally, I find it hard to live where such obvious descrepancies exist between rich and poor.
It was tough not being in Bloomington last Wednesday as one of my favorite sports writers - and one of the best writers in journalism period - visited campus. No one will ever be able to tell a sports story with the old-fashioned charm of Frank DeFord in today's world. But nobody could back then either.
You can read about his visit here. I especially liked the end of the article related to the "power of sports." That's something that is strongly evident in this country as well.
Still, what better place to reflect on purity than the Iguaçu Falls, where water - in all its abundance and majesty - seemingly flows from the heavens.
Words and pictures don't do the falls justice. They are something you have to see to truly understand. After a 15-hour bus ride, I spent the first day viewing the falls from the Brazilian side. I caught my first glimpse of water under gravity's influence on a boat ride in the pouring rain in which the definition of "soaked" was taken to another level. On normal rides, the boats explore more of the falls, but with the rain and high rapids, my group got the abbreviated tour. It was still an entertaining ride if only for the large swells that occasionally overwhelmed our craft.
The rain persisted throughout the weekend, but when you are viewing waterfalls you kind of expect to get wet anyway. Saturday, I took a bus to the Argentina side of the falls. A majority of the falls are found on the Argentina side, and we finally saw some sun Saturday afternoon. I was lucky enough to capture one picture of the falls with a rainbow streaming down nearby. No sign of Noah's Arc, however.
The Argentinian park also contained more paths to view the falls from, including one trail that takes you right to the mouth of Garganta do Diabo, the largest of the falls of Iguaçu. Approaching Garganta do Diablo from the side, it appears as if the water supply of the whole world is being sucked into nothingness. Up close, it is still difficult to fathom the amount of water rushing down its neck. I felt very small and insignificant in the presence of Garganta.
Just to contend with all those Americans studying in Europe, we took a trip to Paraguay on Sunday to record our third country in as many days. Paraguay is one of the poorest countries in South America, and the border between Brazil and Paraguay is notorious for drug smuggling. Many tourists in Iguaçu flock to Paraguay to buy things at a considerably discounted price. Beyond the bargains though, there wasn't much to see - unless neglected buildings and trashy streets count. After a few hours of shopping, we took the most delapitated cab in South America back to Brazil.
My decision to visit Iguaçu last weekend was spontaneous, but not random - the falls were definitely on my list of "Places To Visit While In Brazil." Pleasant surprises became a theme for this trip, however, since I traveled with a group of Americans that I hadn't spent much time with previously. Bunk beds and pool-side bars can make you familiar real fast, however. Four girls, two guys, one room. 'Nuff said.
I had a few flashbacks from my counselor days at camp Lutherwald to say the least.
I made it back to São Paulo around noon on Monday. I may have only one 10+ hour bus ride left in me.
This week I finished reading Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath." Originally, I was reading the novel for my U.S. History course, but then I found out we were only watching the movie. I finished the book anyway.
It's interesting to note that parallels can be drawn today between Brazil and one of the most American books ever written. While Steinbeck's novel focused on the struggle of migratory farmers in California during the Depression, reading this book helped me empathize with the thousands of homeless and displaced people that live in Brazil's large metroplises. Despite being abundant in natural resources, 80% of Brazilian's live in urban areas.
Like in California during the 1930s, this country is divided into the Have and the Have-Nots, and unfortunately the Haves always seem to do everything in their power to make sure things don't change - including manipulating the law. So much money in this country is poored into security. Personally, I find it hard to live where such obvious descrepancies exist between rich and poor.
It was tough not being in Bloomington last Wednesday as one of my favorite sports writers - and one of the best writers in journalism period - visited campus. No one will ever be able to tell a sports story with the old-fashioned charm of Frank DeFord in today's world. But nobody could back then either.
You can read about his visit here. I especially liked the end of the article related to the "power of sports." That's something that is strongly evident in this country as well.
1 comment:
Hi, Jonathon,
Your time in Sao Paulo sounds fantastic so far, as do your trips to Rio and the falls. Your blog is really fun to read! It makes me think back to my exchange student days in Mexico, and the stories of friends who also were students away in Brazil. I got the website from your mom. I'm her friend from Angola who grew up with her; Jana Miller's mom. (I'm going by my maiden name). Take care of yourself, and do every interesting, fun thing that you can. Kathy
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