Up the River Uruguay

29th July 2010

The Río Uruguay divides Argentina and Uruguay.  We followed it from Buenos Aires to visit Argentina´s north east.  Fist stop Colon.  From Mercedes we caught a local bus to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini to visit the wetlands of the Reserva Provincial del Esteros Iberá.

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Further north in the province of Missiones are the Jesuit ruins of San Ignacio Miní, Loreto and Santa Ana.  Between 1603 and 1767, the Jesuits founded 30 missions in this part of South America (15 in Argentina, 7 in Brazil and 8 in Paraguay – 7 of them are World Heritage sites).  The missions were laid out around a huge central plaza, the church on one side and rows of long houses for the indigenous on the other sides.

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Colón house on the River Uruguay

Colón house on the River Uruguay

Mercedes city hall

Mercedes city hall

Local bus to the wetlands

Local bus to the wetlands

Gaucho waiting for the bus

Gaucho waiting for the bus

This is gaucho country

This is gaucho country

Lots of horses and carts

Lots of horses and carts

Scale model of how San Ignacio Miní looked in 1767

Scale model of how San Ignacio Miní looked in 1767

How the church once looked

How the church once looked

All that remains today

All that remains of the church today

Seahorse shape in the railing

Seahorse shape in the railing

Flooring

Flooring

The priest´s entrance

The priest´s entrance

Rows of long houses

Rows of long houses

The jungle is taking over

The jungle is taking over

Not much is left of the Loreto Mission

Not much is left of the Loreto Mission

Strangler fig has a grip on this Loreto wall

Strangler fig has a grip on this Loreto wall

Santa Ana church ruins across the huge plaza

Santa Ana church ruins across the huge plaza

Santa Ana ruins

Santa Ana ruins in the jungle

Steps led to the church

Steps led to the church

Original wooden column still visible

Original wooden column still visible

The graveyard at Santa Ana

The graveyard at Santa Ana

Symbol of La Compañía de Jesús

Symbol of La Compañía de Jesús

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This stunning wetland reserve in Northeast Argentina, unspoiled by tourism, is the second largest wetlands in South America and home to countless birds and animals.  The name Iberá means shiny water in the Guarani language.
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Walking through the forrest, monkeys can be seen high up in the trees.  Capybaras munch on grass, oblivious to humans.  Timid deer don´t hang around too long.  An armadillo showed itself and a little bird carried on building it´s oven like nest of clay.
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From a boat, gliding quietly among the floating islands of aquatic plants, caimens and anacondas can be seen basking in the sun.  A vast array of birds have also made this protected area their home.
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The sleepy little village of Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, 8 blocks by 8 blocks, is the perfect place to watch the sun setting over the lake.

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Reflections on the lake

Reflections on the lake

Floating islands of aquatic plants support trees

Floating islands of aquatic plants support trees

Groves of palms

Groves of palms

Jetty at Colonia Carlos Pellegrini

Jetty at Colonia Carlos Pellegrini

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The capybara, at 75 kgs, is the world´s largest rodent

The capybara, at 75 kgs, is the world´s largest rodent

Armadillo

Armadillo

Timid deer

Timid deer

Frog hiding

Frog hiding

Caimen basking in the sun

Caimen basking in the sun

Not as aggressive as they look

Not as aggressive as they look

Anaconda on a floating island

Anaconda on a floating island

Beautiful anaconda

Beautiful anaconda

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Adobe house in Colonia Carlos Pellegrini

Adobe house in Colonia Carlos Pellegrini

Colonia Carlos Pellegrini has a tiny church

Colonia Carlos Pellegrini has a tiny church

Sunset over the lake

Sunset over the lake

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Uruguay

16th July 2010

Uruguay-120-animated-flag-gifsCarmelo lies 2:30 hours by boat across the Rio de la Plata from Tigre (to the north of Buenos Aires).  It was our fist stop in Uruguay.  World Heritage Colonia del Sacramento, founded by the Portuguese in 1680 and fought over with the Spanish for 100 years, retains its originality.

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In Montevideo´s old centre, the buildings date from the 19th and 20th centuries.  People also come to Uruguay for the surf beaches, but only a few are brave enough in the winter when it is blowing a gale and temperatures close to zero.

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Uruguay produces excellent cheeses thanks to the Swiss immigrants.  The wine is not bad either.  We enjoyed the homemade pasta, perfect in the cold weather.

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Carmelo´s church was built to give thanks after a Cholera epidemic

Carmelo´s church was built to give thanks after a Cholera epidemic

The Portugese ¨street of sighs¨ in Colonia

The Portugese ¨street of sighs¨ in Colonia

A bleak and windy winters day in Colonia

A bleak and windy winters day in Colonia

Would be nice on a warm sunny day!

Would be nice on a warm sunny day!

Sun setting across the Rio de la Plata

Sun setting across the Rio de la Plata

Church steeples in old Montevideo

Church steeples in old Montevideo

Horses and carts are still used for rubbish colection

Horses and carts are still used for rubbish colection

Building in the center of Montevideo

Building in the center of Montevideo

Hand in the sand sculpture on the beach at Punta del Este

Hand in the sand sculpture on the beach at Punta del Este

At least the sea gulls enjoy the wind

At least the sea gulls enjoy the wind

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Punta´s fishing boats are not going out in the windy conditions

Punta´s fishing boats are not going out in the windy conditions

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Iguazú Falls

07th July 2010

The impressive Iguazú Falls between Argentina and Brazil, consists of some 275 separate falls.  The most spectacular is the Devil´s Throat, a powerful torrent of water plunging down a narrow gorge, wetting viewers with rising mist.  On the Argentine side there are many walking trails to view the falls from all aspects.

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We took the thrilling boat ride under the falls getting completely soaked.  We encountered monkeys, coatis, caimen, birds and many colourful butterflies in the park.  Our day finished with a tranquil float down a calmer part of the river sunnounded by jungle.

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Some of the falls at Iguazú

Some of the falls at Iguazú

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Coatis are everywhere

Coatis are everywhere

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The Devil´s Throat

The Devil´s Throat

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The boat under the falls

The boat under the falls

Just before the shower

Just before the shower

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Tranquil end to the day

Tranquil ride down the river

Bird´s nests hang from the palm tree

Bird´s nests hang from the palm tree

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Sunset on the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay

Sunset on the borders of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay

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Flowers of Machu Picchu

01st July 2010

Along the Inca Trail is a surprising number of wild flowers and orchids.

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Stopping to look and photograph them was a good excuse for a rest on the steep track.

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