2012 - STAR PRINCESS - IGUAZU FALLS TO RIO DE JANEIRO

STARTING OUT FROM OTTAWA

I TOOK THE EARLY BIRD BALOON FLIGHT AND PASSED OVER THE EQUATOR ON ROUTE TO SAO PAULO FOR A CONNECTING FLIGHT TO IGUAZU FALLS

SAO PAULO - what a lot of houses

THE JOURNEY HERE WAS ALL QUITE UNEVENTFUL

with only a small delay.

The guide picked me up in a van & we stopped at a swanky resort to pick up an elderly Mexican couple who would be my companions on the tour of the Brazilian side of the falls.

Its not too far in the van before we stopped at the entrance. There is a nice presentation to watch while waiting for the guide to get our tickets. Then he picks us up again & we head for the falls, passing a little wildlife on the way.

Coming up is a seemingly endless progression of Waterfall views. I have seen Niagara & Victoria falls & this compares well with both.

AMAZING.

And it was not even at full flood.
I joked to the Mexican guy that someone has the job of getting up early & turning the tap on. Later I found that was not too far form the truth in that the flow is controlled from up stream for the hydro power

A rare shot of me, taken by the Mexican guy.

Next day I am off to the Argentinian side.

( and if I had realised how close I was to Paraguay, I would have popped in there as well ) The guide picked me up promptly & we went off to find the other passengers on the tour. Two girls of Indian ancestry from London UK & a lady travel writer who moved to Australia from Birmingham, UK. So with me also being originally from the UK, a proper British outing but a mixed bag of accents.

I cannot make my mind up about which side gives the best view, but this side is a lot wetter.

And another plane ride to RIO..

and a glimpse of the

Coppacabana

from my bedroom.

RIO DE JANEIRO - RIVER OF JANUARY

In the cab from the airport we passed a bit of water I said to the driver 'RIO De Janeiro' and pointed at the water. He shrugged. I later found out, there is no river of January here. You will have to read up about it to know the story..

My hotel is right on the famed COPPACABANA so I head out and turn towards the left where there are some hills passing all this.

I did it again. Some kids were fishing & I asked to take their photo but they insisted they take mine. He could have walked off with my camera. Mind you, I would have his fishing pole.

Note the T shirt. Morphs from the Canadian flag to the Brazilian. Some guy who works for the Canadian Embassy here gave it to my wife when she was on a trip with Mr Chretien - the Canadian Prime Minister. Name dropping, I know!!

Maybe COPPA means Copper! It could be apt here.

Then it's time for a climb up the SUGARLOAF Mountain

a look at the sights along IPANEMA BEACH

AND THE FAMED GIRL FROM IPANEMA or maybe her sister...

THEN THE TRAIN TO CHRIST THE REEDEMER ON TOP OF CORVOCADO MOUNTAIN

And back down again, with the monkeys entertaining the crowd waiting for the train. I am not on my cruise yet but meet a couple here who will be on it also. I must have met a dozen people who would be on the cruise later.

By now it is evening time and though Carnival has not yet started, the locals are gearing up for it as you can see...

I sat here for a bite to eat overlooking the Coppacabana. Sardinas - Sardines, little fish. You can eat a can of twenty. - right. Here I get five on a plate. Large & delicious. Maybe Sardinas means something else. Had it with a fresh coconut that a guy machetes the top off & adds a straw.

More beach shots...

until it's almost time to go to the ship

Carnival starts the day the boat leaves. A really bad bit of planning on the part of Princess who had a bit of a struggle keeping up appearances on this cruise.
Embarkation was chaos ( as was disembarkation in SF ) Lines like you would't believe all snaking in different directions. Lots of moaning in line. We had to fill out some form for something & it asked how many children I had. I mentioned to another passenger that I had none when I got on the end of the line, but who knows by the time we get to the ship.

My tours to get here were all arranged by my travel agent & were faultless. Spot on again Nisreen.

CRUISE OUT OF RIO IS UP NEXT....