After spending so much time at high altitudes with dry, cold weather, we were looking forward to getting to Buenos Aires at sea level, where we thought it would be a little warmer. It was more humid, but at 34 degrees south latitude, it’s still on the chilly side.
We arrived in the Buenos Aires region and found the home of the amazing Herman Zapp family, who have been traveling for 15 years in a vintage car. They are currently in East Africa, but invited us to stay at their home outside Buenos Aires while we attempted to get our fridge repaired. Their home is being taken care of by Herman’s cousin, Eduardo, and his wife, Clarita, and their son, Gaspar. They gave us a very warm welcome and made us feel at home right away, even sharing meals with us.
By the second day we were there, Eduardo had already located someone who thought he could help with our fridge. Not wanting to send us out into BA traffic alone, he rode in the back of the van and directed us to the proper address. José, the fridge guy, was very helpful and to our great surprise had the original replacement compressor for our fridge in his shop. It wasn’t cheap, since imported parts in Argentina carry a 50% import duty, but the prospect of a working fridge in 3 days’ time was too good to pass up and we asked him to do the work.
We took a local commuter train into the city to visit a railway museum there. Unfortunately it was closed for a holiday, but at least there was a steam engine out front to play on.
Eduardo and Clarita took us on a wonderful tour of downtown BA. It was their independence day holiday, and we enjoyed some of the festivities.
The original port has been gentrified into a pedestrian walkway with restaurants and expensive waterfront condos.
We happened upon this amazing Gothic cathedral while in the town of Lujan.
Argentinians love their yerba mate, a tea made from herbs and drunk from special mugs. It’s common to see them toting around a thermos of hot water for making the tea.
Many gas stations offered a hot water dispenser where folks would re-fill their thermos for the road.
We spent a couple of down days enjoying the trampoline and other toys at the Zapp house.
Clarita, Eduardo, and Gaspar were wonderful hosts, and we left Buenos Aires with new friends.
From Buenos Aires it took us three days to reach the border with Paraguay at Posadas. We enjoyed a nice campsite along the river en route.
After about 24 hours spent getting Paraguayan visas, we crossed the border into the Paraguayan town of Encarnación. Jen found a recommended mechanic on iOverlander, and we decided to stop to get our oil changed. While that was getting done, we walked to a nearby supermarket to stock up on groceries and even found an ATM machine that dispensed US dollars to replace those we’d spent in Argentina. All in under an hour! We were able to leave town that day and make it to a very nice campsite in the countryside.
The next day we stopped to visit the ruins of a couple of Jesuit missionary churches.
We took the opportunity while in Paraguay to visit the Itaipu dam, the world’s second largest hydro plant. This is a 1/100 scale model of it built during construction. In 2013, the dam produced over 98 TWh, supplying 75% of Paraguay’s electricity needs and 17% of Brazil’s.
And leave we did, for the Brazilian city of Foz de Iguaçu. Everything was suddenly much more orderly on the Brazilian side, with actual traffic lights and drivers who obeyed them. We were happy to arrive at a hostel / campground near the national park that is home to the famous waterfall.
The next afternoon we went to visit the park. It being a weekend, there were lots of visitors, and we ended out standing in lines for tickets and bus rides to various parts of the park. It was worth it though, as we had a beautiful day to enjoy the falls.
Quinn enjoyed the double decker bus ride in the park.
Dad picks up a colorful hitchhiker
We went for a boat ride that got us up close, personal, and soaking wet to the falls.
This video provides a good overview of what the falls look like from the air (since we decided not to spring for the helicopter flight)
Thanks again for the photos, great side view of Quinn. The hitchhiker blended well with your hat. A clever dude. HT
Congratulations for making it to Argentina, Witt! My husband and I toasted you and your family with a glass of Argentinian Malbec tonight.
Thanks Trish!
We love the local Malbec too! When spring rolls around down here, we’re planning to head to Mendoza for some more wine tasting.
Thanks for commenting, and hope you’re doing well!
Witt
Loved your post and pictures. Very interesting and beautiful. I started wondering if you could/would have made this trip without all the modern technology–apps, Internet, GPS, etc. I also wonder how long it took you to plan it all out! Gives me a headache to plan a one week trip! Lol!
Hi Bobbie!
It did take us quite awhile to plan everything, from building the van to the rough route we would take, to what paperwork we would need to bring. But keep in mind we had been planning to take this trip for something like 3-4 years before we actually left!
As for our modern technology, yes, we have lots of it and we rely on it a ton. Your question made me think back to our trip to Africa 10 years ago, when our technology was much more rudimentary.
We did have a GPS on that trip, but it was a small handheld one, and its maps were very limited. Often the only way to know if we were leaving a city or town on the right road was to pick one and drive along it until we could tell from the GPS that it was correct. If not, go back and try again.
For this trip we have an iPad with the Pocket Earth app. It gives us a detailed map of everywhere we go.
Without a GPS device like this, the trip would certainly still be possible. We’d have to buy a lot more paper maps, and spend a lot more time talking to people asking directions. Getting places would take more time for that reason.
This is one way in which our technology isolates us – we can drive through a town and know exactly where to go – we don’t have to get out a ask anyone for directions. Yes it’s faster and less hassle, but it also reduces our opportunities for interactions with local people.
Thanks for the thought provoking question!
Witt