Riding around in an open, military-style truck at 7 AM on a winter morning in Iguazu is a surefire way of waking up. Which is for the best, considering our rappelling and ziplining ambitions that morning.
I remember the exact moment when the group of us harness-clad, mostly first-time rappellers (rappell-ees?) walked up to the railing on the bluff we were supposed to go over. There was a very perceptible "Holy shit, we actually have to do this!?" look in some people's eyes. Or perhaps it was just me, and I'm just projecting willy nilly.
The instructor, who had clearly seen countless groups of sheepish rappellers through this task, gave us clear instructions - keep your feet apart, stay perpendicular to the rock as far as possible, and kick off with both feet when you jump. Seems simple enough, right? Well it is. In theory. A little problematic to carry through when you're actually hanging off that rope, brain-bucket of a helmet on your head, and a 50 ft drop below you. But we did it. All 16 of us. I think the inspiration for a lot of us was the thought that a couple in their fifties who was part of our group was also going to it. And if they can do it, we definitely should. So it was shame, or the fear of shame that propelled some of us over the edge. And it all ended very well. Kicking off the rock and scooching 15 or so feet down the bluff with each jump was definitely fun. In the end, the most dangerous thing about the whole affair was the eager mosquitoes waiting for us at the bottom.
A quick trek and truck ride brought us to the ziplining platforms. The scary thing about the whole affair wasn't the zipping through the air, but standing on the rickety staircase (and I use that term generously) to the first platform. Don't let Nicole's radiant representation of St. Michigana fool you - we weren't happy waiting on that contraption.
Nighttime:
The evening started with (what I hope was) a romantical surprise for the MBA1 crew, as their leaders had wine, cheese, meats, crackers and candlelight waiting for them in the garden area by the pool.
[I wish I had pictures to prove this, but I guess I was way too busy pushing bottle after bottle of wine to man a camera that evening]
Later that night, the crew hit up Cuba Libre, an unsuspecting Iguazu night club that should be grateful to us. Because we definitely brought the party with us. The place went from three people (aside from the bartender and the DJ) to a thumping party in half an hour after we arrived.
My most memorable images from the evening: Yoon bringing shock and awe by break dancing and doing the worm out of nowhere. And.. a certain someone getting up onto the high top table with the.. err.. dancer girl. It was.. amorous. Let's leave it at that.
Good day, no?
A quick trek and truck ride brought us to the ziplining platforms. The scary thing about the whole affair wasn't the zipping through the air, but standing on the rickety staircase (and I use that term generously) to the first platform. Don't let Nicole's radiant representation of St. Michigana fool you - we weren't happy waiting on that contraption.
Nighttime:
The evening started with (what I hope was) a romantical surprise for the MBA1 crew, as their leaders had wine, cheese, meats, crackers and candlelight waiting for them in the garden area by the pool.
[I wish I had pictures to prove this, but I guess I was way too busy pushing bottle after bottle of wine to man a camera that evening]
Later that night, the crew hit up Cuba Libre, an unsuspecting Iguazu night club that should be grateful to us. Because we definitely brought the party with us. The place went from three people (aside from the bartender and the DJ) to a thumping party in half an hour after we arrived.
My most memorable images from the evening: Yoon bringing shock and awe by break dancing and doing the worm out of nowhere. And.. a certain someone getting up onto the high top table with the.. err.. dancer girl. It was.. amorous. Let's leave it at that.
Good day, no?
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