Wild of the Nature

We were picked up in Iguazu by a van that took us to a vintage old army truck with seats in the open back. There were 5 other people all going to Yacutinga Lodge.We drove thru mile after mile of yerba mate fields, formerly rainforest. Two bumpy, dusty hours later we were there. The lodge was built inside a nature reserve set up by conservationists who are trying to preserve remaining rainforest , assist the indigenous tribal people and protect the wildlife. To do this they charge people like us luxury hotel prices, but deliver a retreat that is simple, yet totally comfortable,so that remaining funds can help the nature reserve and its various projects. All the buildings are constructed of as much local material and labor as possible, and they were incredible. Fanciful use of wood, plants, stone, all melding in with surrounding jungle. Vines and flowers everywhere. It was cold, but a fire was heating up the main lodge, putting out aromatic smoke, while they served us mugs of hot coffee and rolls made from manioca to recover from the trip. Then we were shown to our individual cabins, only pitcures will describe these. Private, dark, vine covered,well screened, candles and lanterns around as electricity only used for a few hours in the evening. The whole resort is build to house 40 people, but it turns out the 7 of us were the only ones there. Immediately our biologist guide Gustoffa, lead us on our first hike. He was extremely knowledable about birds, plants, bio systems, bugs, you name it. His curent research involves monkeys. His english was great and he carried a backpack of well thumbed bird and plant books to look up any details, or help explain things. The other people in our group included orchid botanist from Argentina, a engineer from Valencia Spain and a dairy farmer from New Zealand, so all had to be explained in both languages. I´m so grateful that all of them knew enough to be quiet as we hiked along, and walked softly, were´nt afraid of spiders or climbing small ladders. We didn´t have to coddle anyone and all could learn and observe wildlife to the max. We saw red and black faced vultures, parrots, 3 kinds of toucans, exotic hummingbirds, on the next day we went out in a rubber raft down the San francisco river, a tributary that divides Brazil and Argentina. Headed to the area where they are replanting trees, and they had each of us plant a tree, we planted an Anichuco. Nearby they are raising capabarros, dog sized rodents whose numbers are being depleted for their fur ( saw lots of them in designer stores in Buenos Aires). At night our cabin was warm because of the aromatic fire in the wood stove.While we slept soundly,one of their staff kept feeding the fire from outside. The food there was incredible. They try to use as much of the local produce as they can, but with gourmet recipes. Cabbage stuffed with corn, squash, peppers. Beef rolled around slices of pumpkin and egg. Yerba Mate sourbet !! Baked banana with chocolate ! At night, under the full moon, Gustaffo lead us for still another hike to see even more creatures. Other than one siesta on Friday afternoon ( in a hammock in the sun), we were hiking the whole time. Lucky us, no rain in the rain forest. It was cold but we wore all our layers.
Saturday, reluctantly, we climbed back into the truck and ended up at Iguazu airport to wait 4 hours for our evening flight back to BA. But, I asked if there was anything earlier and they let us get on a Boeing 747 that was passing thru on its way to BA, so we got back to our hotel in Buenos Aires 3 hours early.
Enough time to wash off as much as we could of the red dust of Yacutinga , and make plans for the night.
Tango, of course, but thats a different wild of the nature story.

love to all, CT ( SC is off shopping for wine and a new wallet)