The Pantanal

The Pantanal of South America is one of the most immense, pristine and biologically rich environments on the planet. Often referred to as the world’s largest fresh water wetland system. Many people go to the Amazon but this place is just something special.

We stayed at an Eco Lodge, very nice place to stay, food, room, and a great guide.

I will just let my pictures tell the story of this beautiful place.

Yes we saw monkeys can you see him.

Travel Day

Today Friday the 25th is a travel day. We got up at 3 am for a 530 am flight leaving Brazilian Foz do Iguaçu International Airport (IGU) with 2 stops before we get to Cuiaba, The Pantanal (Portuguese pronunciation: [pɐ̃taˈnaw]) is the world's largest tropical wetland area, and is located mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

One of our stops was Brasilia airport, big and beautiful. This airport is places art on the walls made  by various Brazil artists on the walls.

Yes, I ate at a MacDonalds, thre was not many options,we were very hungary.

As we got off the plane, an outdoor airport,so we walked in the weather. The weather was still not our friend, cold,raining,damp,overcast...

After arriving at the airport in Cuiaba, we found our guide and we were off to the Eco Lodge Araras. It would be a 3 hour rider in a bus. We drove through town and felt  like a typical town in Brazil .

I knew I had picked the right  group, when Marcko picked us up and Rocko was our driver. The rain was hitting  the bus top and  yes, water dripped onto my leg. The driver Rocko, was using a  towel to wipe the fog of the window the  heater  or defroster was not working as it should.
What added to the joyful ride is that is was bumpy, just like my street in Grosse Pointe Woods, but this was a dirt road, I felt like I was in a popcorn popper, it was ruff.

The road has over 100 bridges over very tough terrain.

Lots of  beautiful wildlife  as we travel to the lodge in a light rain.
The journey continues.

Here are pictures of our  day.

Getting ready for the first  flight

Inside Brasilia airport

Landed last leg done

just a few more bridges to go over and we are almost there

Wine

On our way back from the mission our guide told us how good Argentina wine is and we should buy a bottle. So, we stopped in at her favorite wine store and tried some.
I am not a wine drinker but the red wine they let me taste was excellent.
So I bought a few to bring home for Thanksgiving dinner.

Our Guide during our time at the falls

San Ignacio Mini - Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis

All I can say is I wanted to go see the mission . I did and it was just wonderful.
I am still not sure what I am going to write. So we will just start with a few pictures and add as I figure out what  to write.  The story of what they did inspires .

Lunch

We ate lunch before we went into the mission. A nice restaurant across from the entrance. Good food,clean,nice price. Stop before you go in and get a quick bite before you go to into the mission.

Drinking Meta

Drinking Meta

Mate sometimes spelled maté in English, also known as yerba mate, chimarrão is a traditional caffeine-rich infused drink, particularly in Argentina (where it is defined by law as the "national infusion. It is prepared by steeping dried leaves of yerba mate (llex paraguariensis, known in Portuguese as erva-mate) in hot water.

Mate is served with a metal straw from a shared hollow calabash gourd. The straw is called a bombilla in some Latin American countries, a bomba in Portuguese, and a bombija or, more generally, a masassa (type of straw) in Arabic. The straw is traditionally made of silver. Modern, commercially available straws are typically made of nickel silver, called alpaca; stainless steel, or hollow-stemmed cane. The gourd is known as a mate or a guampa.

Well, Peter and I had this drink on the way to the mission. It was very good we liked it.

Here are some pictures.

The Rotary in Argentina

The Rotary in Argentina

Well, on the trip to the mission, I had the driver turnaround so I can get a picture of the Big Rotary Statue as you go into the town of  Monte Carlo, AR. This was not the only town that displayed the Rotary Sign in Argentina, I saw others, was very impressed.

Enjoy the picture.