spring break: iguaçu falls

we talked and talked about how we wanted to spend nate's last two-week spring break (ever!). our friends are also in business school right now and invited us to travel in brazil with them. of course we jumped at the chance. there were lots of good things about this combo: we really like the hamills, they have a little girl too, robbie speaks portuguese (mostly) and totally navigated the country for us, we got to go out sans children at times, and it was highly amusing to overhear nate and rob's enthusiastic conversations about airlines, points, and everything travel (i can't complain—i reap the benefits of this side hobbie). 

we flew straight from family time, skiing, and wedding festivities in utah to são paulo, brazil. with a quick 36 hours there, we didn't see much. we slept in shifts and tried to get our bearings. the city is so expansive and felt like a mix of malaysia and the philippines to us.

our sole photo from sp

and then it was on to iguaçu falls! we splurged on the hotel das cataratas, the only hotel inside the national park where the falls are located. that was when spring break truly started. exotic birds and interesting animals roamed the property and we took full advantage of the amenities: bathrobes and havaianas sandals for all (including mini versions for the girls!), a night at the spa, and babysitting from the sweetest brazilian woman. 

i thought the coati were cute at first, but then i noticed the sign depicting a bloody hand admonishing people not to touch them. nevermind...

the falls changed each day...sunny and misty, cloudy and humid, and then just gorgeously clear on our last day.

straight from the pool on the most beautiful sunny afternoon

nora was all about that brazilian cheese bread

we spent the second morning hiking the trails near the falls. it was breathtaking—waterfalls as far you could see. sage kept exclaiming, "paradise falls! we're at paradise falls!" (from the movie UP).


we took turns walking into the devil's throat, where 50% of the falls flow into a narrow section.

and got soaked!
 
nora took a nap under that sweaty poncho and wasn't even bothered by the pounding falls



 

hot and sweaty + that's argentina across the way 


felt like we were back in asia for a second

we spent lots of relaxing time at the pool and roaming the grounds. i think we all agreed it would have been nice to end our trip here since it was the highlight of our time in brazil. everything was just so easy.

the boys took a helicopter ride above the falls and snapped this shot. our hotel is on the left.

 

goodbye iguaçu!