Power Boats and Helicopters

Up and out for 10:00 to see the Brazilian side of the falls. First up is a little train ride through a jungle - it quickly transpires that I know more than the guide with it comes to water vines and useful palm trees. I acquire my first audience and recite jungle stories, facts and episodes to swoons and disbelieving faces. From here on in, I'm known as "*Jungle Steve*"!

We hop into a powerful speed boat and are told to prepare for a soaking. It then blasts off up the river to the waterfalls, stops and bobs around for a bit enabling us to take photos. Then powers up some rapids and into the falls itself! The spray was so hard it hurt as it ripped into your face. A soaking we do get. Isabella, being a non-swimmer, gripped the grab rail with impunity the whole time. Brave girl.

Off the boat, back through the jungle and onto... a HELICOPTER! I've never been on a helicopter before. I was really excited about it. It lived up to every heightened expectation - it was awesome! Even better, I was led into the best seat in the house, the co-pilots seat in the bubble cockpit. The helipad is on the road side, so as soon as you take off you see cars and tree tops whizzing past just meters under your feet! Over the falls themselves we pull a few stomach churning tight turns as not to invade Argentinean airspace and pull a few Gs to boot! It's way cool! On landing I bounce out of the helicopter with an ecstatic smile on my face and skip down to meet the other passengers. Yeah!

Come evening we all opt for the Italian buffet dinner at the hostel to save cooking. When everyone complained the food was really bad I realised I'll happily eat anything!

Posted by Steve Eynon