San Ignacio / Posadas / Rosario

Marcello, below, took me on an early morning Kayak trip down the Rio Parana (which meets the Rio Iguazu at the falls) while I was in San Ignacio. In the process he convinced me of the merits of extremely left-wing Jesuit Bishops, and pointed out the vultures which were nesting in the trees. When we paddled past a dead deer floating in the water he laughed and said 'Ha ha party for vultures!'. Sadly, I don't have a picture of the deceased animal.









A vulture. Probably.



San Ignacio is more famous for the ruins of a Jesuit monastery, one of the largest in a chain that stretches across Paraguay, the Misiones province of Argentina, and into Brazil. Quite spectacular, and these photos don't do justice to the scale of the site.











Futher down into Misiones is the capital of the province, Posadas. When I arrived it was the 33rd anniversary of the beginning of the dictatorship, so students from the University held a memorial in the street.





There were many invocations of Ché that night. He spent the first 2 years of his life in Rosario, further south in the Province of Santa Fe, in this building which is now owned by an insurance company. There is a park in his memory.





The Cathedral in Rosario.



Rosario is also famed for the enormous monument to the Argentinean flag, raised on the spot for the first time by General Belgrano. It really is big.









There is also another public memorial to the Falklands War dead. Lest there be any doubt, there's a quite clear statement of Argentinean feeling on the issue of sovereignty.





Rosario in general is a bit more relaxed than Bs.As. Less polution, and the peatonales are much more pleasant than Calles Lavalle & Florida. The Parque de la Independencia nearly rivals Colchester's Castle Park in terms of boating fun.

Iguazu

The waterfalls at Iguazu are right on the border between Brazil and Argentina's Misiones province.



The above shot is the view from the Sheraton hotel, which from a distance looks a lot like the set of a Bond movie.



Wildlife was abundant. Despite failing to get a good photo, the most impressive part is the variety and size of the butterflies. We bumped into a snake on the way to the falls in the morning.

















Bridge with water below, cue cheesy tourist shot.











On the boat on the way to the Island in the middle of the river. Cool lifejackets included free.



La Ventana, or The Window.







The Coatis, closely related to Racoons, were loving the visitor centre.



The next day had terrible weather, but at any rate this is a shot from the Brazilian side.

Boca vs. Argentinos

Boca won 3-0. Great game, although (to underline the dangers in attending the Bombonera) shortly before the match a woman was shot in the crossfire between rival groups of fans.