Friday 28th February 2025 Foz do Iguaçu
Day off the bike today, doing the touristy bit, visiting Iguazu Falls should be great day.

Breakfast was manic this morning, people all over the place, felt like being in Butlins or Benidorm, loads of tourists staying here, hoping there not all on our bus.

Thankfully not, just a small minibus for us, picked a few other people up from various hotels, then transferred to a bigger bus, all very well organised. Bit of a drive out to the National Park about 15 miles, you can see they are beefing up the tourist trade, building a massive road now.

We got a little jeep down to the river for the first bit, then walked the final 1/2 mile, all good in the forest, then had a little ride on a funicular railway down to the pontoon, bit like the ones at Folkestone, that they are currently overhauling.

We boarded the ribbed craft for a river cruise, more like powerboat racing two 250HP mercury outboards on the thing, it did go, took us to the base of the first set of falls, truly amazing, went under the falling water got soaked, but we knew we would. Good chance to wash the clothes as we both only have one set of “going out clothes” even had to wear our cycling shoes! then captain Pugwash gives us a feel for the beast on the way back twisting and turning all over the river, good fun.

Took no time at all to dry out, just had to be a bit careful with your phone, little ride on the funicular railway back up the cliffs, then a jeep ride through the forest, ready to start the next phase of the visit. A three mile walk through the forest with suspended viewing platforms overlooking the falls.

The stunning views, that just kept getting better and better, the pictures do not do it justice, you just can not capture it all, well I couldn’t – tried to do that panoramic view, but still not doing it justice. Few monkeys in the trees above us probably black howler (Alouatta caraya) and South American coati (Nasua nasua) frolicking in the grass and hedges, seems like they were used to all the tourists.

All in all a good day out, really pleased we did it.

Back on the bikes tomorrow, riding into Paraguay.

Day 46 March 1st 2025 Foz do Iguaçu to Juan Emilio O’Leary
[Juan Emiliano O’Leary Urdapilleta (Asunción June 12, 1879 – October 31, 1969) was a Paraguayan journalist, historian, politician, poet and essayist. He is considered one of the most important figures in the Colorado Party. Ed]

Early morning start as we wanted to be over the bridge of troubled waters, as early as possible, its actually called the “Friendship Bridge” what a lovely name. So back to the normal regime forgo breakfast and have porridge in the room with the added benefit of some milk taken from last nights meal, with chocolate and honey better than their chef could concoct.

All packed up and ready just before 6, if we was out in the countryside we would have just rode on, but its a massive three part city, so built up we decided to wait 15 mins for the light to get better. All the early morning risers in the hotel just looking at us in disbelief, they now realise why we only had one set of clothes!

Off we go into the bustlingly city streets, only early Saturday morning but still busy, just gently pedaling listening to the commands of Bingo, to dark for me to see anything. As we turn on to the road leading up to the so called “Friendship Bridge” it just gets manic, motorcycles all over the place, lorries beeping their horn, with Mr Magoo trying to navigate his way through this carnage. Always a bright spot on the horizon Bingo spots a group of cyclists going the same way as us, me I can only see in front of my wheel, but hey how follow them, bit like the Pink Panther film, “Follow that taxi” sums up this tour pretty good.

Good result though with Bingo bird spotting eyes he knew they were a local cycling touring company offering tours to Paraguay for a day trip, not sure that bit is true, but thats what they was doing, what a result they expertly guided us through the process, with a massive caution you will have to lug your bikes up three set of steps. Mate that was difficult, I even enlisted the help of a Brazilian border guard, I put on my sad face then anyone will help me! Then a one minute examination of our passports, all good, exit stamped go back the same way. I did look for my friendly border guy, he was probably having a lie down, don’t blame him. Then the Friendship bridge I guess they call it that as everybody is so close, very, very leary, just keeping a line and carrying on, it was terrifying to be brutally honest, but travellers we are, so kept going.

Crossed the bridge then met our every friendly cycling group again, “put your bikes here, queue and get your Paraguayan passport stamp, what a good guy, funny how good guys always meet up, “Karma” . We joined the massive queue thinking this could take a while, which it did, not as long as we originally thought. All done in just over an hour, regrettably we did not get the name of the guy leading the tour, or a picture as it was all in the restricted zone, what a great bloke. (note to self do bit of research when sober and get the tour companies name).[Might be this Bike Tour Experience 3 Countries in one Day: Ed]

So into Paraguay, the fifth country so far and the one we know the least about, always best to start with an open mind. Well it was bedlam for the first 5 miles, which is very normal through most borders. Vendors on the street selling anything you want, all we wanted to do, was get out of the chaos, but need some Paraguayan Guarani, so stopped at a street vendors stall and swapped over our Brazilian Real, allegedly that’s how to do it, all done good so off we go for the first day in Paradise sorry Paraguay.

We knew it was just urban sprawl for at least 30 miles, just ride the route as we always say, to be perfectly honest, the drivers showed us some respect, just looking at us in utter amazement i think. It was good to get out of the urban stuff, still not much countryside, but least it was open fields, with a surprisingly good hard shoulder to ride on. We the came up to a toll gate, read the signs with my ever improving Spanish, we need 2000 of their things to get through? about £5 I think, we queue up with all the motorcyclist no-one pays! just after there is a sign keep your ticket, what ticket and for how long?

Carried on riding in the midday sun, actually very pleasant, most drivers giving us plenty of room as do the mad motorcyclist weaving in and out of the traffic carrying all sorts of things, wheelbarrows, strimmers, four abreast it’s great.

Stopped in a hardware shop for no apparent reason other to get a soft drink and ice cream, fair play they had the soft drinks no ice creams, no worries sat on their bench and enjoyed the drink, not sure they enjoyed the publicity, but we was thirsty.

Just rolled it in to Juan Emilio O’Leary, sounds like an Irish place, sure enough the first sign we seen was O’Leary Bar, what a surprise. found our little hotel that we had not booked, but soon sorted that, not a proper O’Leary Bar as it was closed, will tell him tonight.

All sorted in the digs now to spend and enjoy the fabulous donations to our beer kitty by the lovely guys and wives (hope they know, I am sure the do, well now at least), it’s with great thanks and appreciation to both Dave Austen and Dennis Price, thanks guys your support means so much to us, we are both humbled and grateful for your donation to the beer kitty, as its looking it will last us a while, even with me in control of it.

It is a pleasure to be involved with these sort of guys, cheers from the humble Bingo@Gringo.

Thats it for tonight, good night.