Iguazu Falls-Part 8: Brazilian Bird Sanctuary

From the Dam we headed straight to the Bird Sanctuary that was right outside of the park on the Brazil side.  We had heard some incredible things, so we didn't want to miss it!

 I think our all time favorites were the Toucans.  They are hysterical birds and simply do not look real with those plastic beaks!  One stayed with us the entire time we were walking through the atrium.

 No telephoto lenses on these.  They let me get right up close to them!

 What I captured next was classic.  Luke had been asleep the entire time.  He woke up to this toucan looking straight at him.  Remember I had to coach Luke to say that butterflies were nice?  So you can imagine what he thought of these strange looking birds.  

He had been snacking on an apple when he fell asleep, so it was in his hands.  Maybe now we know why the toucan was following us!  The next thing I saw was this:

and then this:

And the rest of the trip, (and even still when we talk about the trip) all we heard over and over again was, "The toucan took my apple!"  With this dejected tone.  Poor Luke.  

 What a surprise when we went to see the emu's and about 20 wild monkeys came in, swinging on the trees, eating the berries right above them!  Notice there are no pictures of the emus :)  We were more interested in the trees!

 The boys were stoked to touch teh python.  Kate didn't want to.  I made her get in there for one picture.  Is this not a classic shot?!

 I'd say the sanctuary was a complete success and added so much to our trip!  

So happy we took the time to check it out!

Iguazu Falls-Part 7: Brazil and the Dam

We had one full day in Brazil.  We started it off at the Itaipu Dam, one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.  It's a hydroelectric megadam on the Parana River that produces 35% energy for Brazil and 90% for Paraguay.

 It was HUGE and I learned that the Parana River is one of the biggest in the world!

 As we were driving along, we saw a city on the horizon and found out that it was Ciudad del Este-- one of the areas Joe served on his mission.  It was this particular area where he was held up at gun point and shot at.  I laughed and told him I'd take a picture from here because it was the closest we'd get with our family to that city :)  There it is below: 

 Very cool to see.  Apparently only 2% of Americans come to visit this place.  We can stand a little taller now, knowing that we can claim a bit of that :)

Iguazu Falls: Part 6: Last Day with the Whitt's

We finished up the Argentina trails at the Sheraton for a couple of hours to enjoy some AC and an amazing view.  With every new place we've moved to, I've always expected us to grow closer as a family and have wonderful adventures together that will help shape our lives together.  I never expect to find those special friendships that enrich these experiences so much more.  Yet, Heavenly Father puts them in my path anyway because He loves me.  So grateful for that love.

I came down after getting the boys tucked into bed, and found that Kate had narrated every picture in this post in Spanish :)  I think I'll leave it just the way it is.  It's perfect.

my presiosos!

KATE Y SARAH!

tres BFF ninas!

los dos ninos!

los ninos!

mira a las cabezas!

muy bien viaje!

Iguazu Falls--Part 5: The Rest of Iguazu Argentina

The sheer number of falls and the power of all of that water is what was so impressive.  We were completely surrounded by them.  Completely breathtaking.

What was below them on the other side of the railing:

 The pictures just can't capture the grandeur of it all, but I tried!

 The Whitt's and the Berryhill's:  

We got more family shots here than on any other vacation!  There was always someone to take it for us :)  

 Going for it!

 What would we say about the Argentina side?  LOVED IT.  You are up close and personal with the falls.  You don't get to see a full panaramic view, because there is an island that blocks a bit of it, but who doesn't like a tropical island thrown into the middle of all of this beauty?  You feel like you are almost a part of the falls because you can stand right on the edges on top and watch the water spill over and then you walk a little ways and you are getting drenched down below.  

Everyone agreed.  It was a hit.

Iguazu Falls- Part 4: The Wildlife

We didn't even know we had planned our trip for the most perfect time of year.  It was spring... and all of the butterflies were hatching.  So along with all of the incredible funny and striking looking animals, we were surrounded by fluttery wings.  There were so many of them that they looked like falling leaves in autumn time.  

We had a tally going as to how many butterflies would land on us!

 The butterflies and birds were amazing, but when we started seeing animals completely foreign to us, that was when we really got excited!

 This little guy is a member of the Capybara family.  It's called an Agouti.  They didn't like to get too close to us.  Would have loved to have actually seen a Capybara, but they must have been staying cool in the shadows when we were there.  What do you think...a giant rat-like rodent without the tail?  That's kind of what I was thinking too.

This is a Coati.  They were completely not afraid of humans and going after food.  The funny thing was that on the Argentina side, there were all of these signs and actual graphic images of body parts that had been injured by the claws and teeth of these animals.  It was gross! 

When we were on the Brazil side, there were no signs and the park workers actually pet them and treated them almost like domestic animals!  We didn't get too close.  We were scarred by the photos posted earlier in the trip!

 These huge lizard like iguanas were everywhere!   Don't know the name of them, but they didn't seem to notice us and would take their time getting to where they wanted to go.  

 A little visitor while we stopped for a snack.

Each one of those "clumps" hanging on this tree is a nest!  The little birds living in them appeared to be all black until they spread their wings-- then their backs transformed into fiery red.

The wildlife was a huge bonus on this trip.  We LOVED discovering all of these new species!!!