Today has been a day full of pleasant surprises. We check out of our gorgeous hotel and head to Iguazu airport - the Argentinian side this time. The weather is gorgeous today and the jungle around the hotel looked gorgeous in the sun.
We are heading to Montevideo today to meet a certain Mrs Eric but have to go via Buenos Aires. Unfortunately our connecting flight had been changed and we now have six hours to kill in Buenos Aires. However, pleasant surprise number one - the airport we are landing in in BA is Jorge Newberry which is smack bang in the centre of town, right next to Palermo and we are able to leave the airport for the six hours we have between flights.
Our Aerolinas Argentinas flight is on a brand spanking new plane which is very comfortable and spacious. Even the windows are a lot bigger.
We take off and soon realise we are in for great surprise number two. The pilot takes off and then proceeds to go out of his way, staying at a lower altitude to fly right around the falls. We get the most spectacular view I have ever seen in a plane as he does a 180 degrees turn right around the falls.
Approaching the falls I quickly realise I am on the wrong side of the plane, luckily I have the whole back row to myself so I make a quick dart across, getting told off by the air steward in the process. Always better to ask for forgiveness than seek permission I always say!
It gives us such a great perspective of the falls and helps us put everything into place where we visited yesterday. We fly towards and then over the huge river flowing up to the falls.
The thin river below the falls is the one we travelled up in the boat yesterday.
Great view of where we got on the boat yesterday (the sandy beach part).
We explored all of the right hand side of these falls, which is the Argentinian side.
This pic is my favourite, it really shows the extent and beauty of the falls.
As we fly south we fairly quickly move from flying over the jungle to large flat lands with great looking patterns made from the field and forests.
Mum just chilling on the back row to herself.
Loving the clouds. They look really cool.
As we approach Buenos Aires we start to see the huge estuaries running into the River Plate.
As we fly over BA it looks really nice and very wealthy. The houses look amazing, set in some really nice complexes, almost looking a bit like Dubai. I have never seen so many swimming pools in my life. Pretty much every house has a swimming pool.
Heading over the race track.
And then a large football stadium that I think must be either Palermo or River Plate.
Fantastic views from start to finish on this flight. Glad we could make full use of bigger windows.
We land and head to a place in Palermo recommended in the wallpaper guide. Unfortunately it is closed when we get there so we get the taxi driver to take us to Plaza Serrano. We find a lovely little restaurant called Sans and sit outside on the upstairs terrace. It's a fantastic way to spend the time between transfers.
After another drink at Calves bar we find out that Jane has arrived safely in Montevideo. I had arranged her pick up from the airport...
Eric has well and truly arrived when we hear what she has been up to at re airport. It's a very funny story.
The driver we booked from the 'Hotel After' (which is where we are staying) greeted her and upon meeting him the conversation went as follows;
Jane: "so, you're taking me to the hotel?"
Driver: "the hotel...after"
Jane (thought process): Oh my god he wants to have his way with me before taking me to the hotel. SHIT!!!
Jane stammers: "Is it OK if we go straight to the hotel, please?"
Driver: "Yes, of course, but is it the Hotel After?"
Absolutely hilarious.
Mum gets an early birthday present from me and Nat - a nice pair of RayBan's. Randomly it's the first pair of sun glasses she has ever owned. It has only taken 55 years.
We are treated to even more great sights on the very short flight to Montevideo. We fly down the River Plate past Colonia de Sacremento where we will be heading on Saturday.
Gorgeous sunset.
We finally get to the hotel and meet an very excited Eric. I think she is more excited to now be featuring on the blog than actually seeing us.
The reunion. Great to have her here and the gang complete (albeit with a Y'ster shaped hole).
We go for a few beers and a bite to eat at an Italian arond the corner. Montevideo looks really nice from what we have seen so far. There are some gorgeous places along the waterfront including some cool looking buildings. Looking forward to exploring tomorrow.
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