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Our day started at the Sendero Macuco trail in the Iguazu Falls park. It was away from the crowds and was a dirt path through the rain forest…leading to of course a waterfall. The trail was pretty quiet and was much more like what we thought all of Iguazu would be. We saw a few random things like coatis (relative of the raccoon), birds, butterfly, lizard and huge spiders with their webs literally connecting the trees on both sides of the trail.
We were prepared today with plenty of water but again the heat was sweltering. The trail was about 2.2 miles one way and when we arrived…we heard the splashing of water and the gentle mumble of people at the waterfall. Giff quickly took off his flip-flops and jumped into the water climbing over the rocks and onto another pile of rocks where the water was free-falling off the cliff. There was a big handful of other people also soaking in the water but moved over a bit so he could have his turn directly under the water stream while I took pictures and watched our stuff.
We stayed for a bit and then continued our hike through the lush forest up the wooden stairs and over the little wooden bridge to the top of the waterfall we were just sitting by and took a picture. This park does a good job of really getting the walkways close to the waterfalls and at all angles. After pictures, we turned around and took the path back the 2.2 miles we had just hiked. Once we arrived to the main area, we found a little store and sat at a table guzzling water and eating some almonds to re-energize ourselves…there was one more major sight to see.
A few steps away from our little rest area was a train…the train took people from this side of the park all the way up to the opposite and much higher side of Iguazu Falls to a trail called, Gargantua del Diablo or Devil’s Throat.
We took the next 10 minute train ride through the forest and were let off at the top where we began our walk to one of the most breathtaking backdrops in the world. We walked on the catwalk over the water at the very top of the waterfalls where it just simply looked like a huge lake. We saw big fish swimming below and although the sun was beating down on us and there were people everywhere, the anticipation was building as to what exactly is this Devil’s Throat?
The walk wasn’t too long, maybe 20 minutes or so and then we started hearing the roar of the water before we could see it. Finally we stepped onto the viewpoint deck and saw several falls dropping 350 feet below. We could feel the spray and there was about a 100 ft cloud of mist surrounding the falls…the water was so powerful. Add the rainbow which was shooting across a few of the falls to that and it made for a truly amazing experience. This is why they call it one of the wonders of the world…words can’t really do it justice, you have to go see it and feel it for yourself. Iguazu is higher than Niagara Falls and double the width, it was created by a volcanic eruption that left a crack in the earth and it is one beautiful crack!
We spent lots of time just watching the water fall almost in slow motion to the river below. Giff spread the remainder of his dad’s ashes that we had brought with us on our 400 day trip around the world. Those ashes have been spread in some of the most amazing parts of the world that Giff and I have been lucky enough to experience and see for ourselves. What an amazing experience…
After taking tons of pictures and embracing the magical scenery, we walked back to the mini train station and took it back, and then walked to the main entrance…we were officially finished exploring Iguazu Falls. It was a little more touristy than we would have liked…we had imagined more of a rustic feel but so many people were coming from around the world to see the waterfalls, you can’t really blame them for making it a bit more structured. We did decide only 2 days are needed to visit the park comfortably, the four days we planned were definitely too many.
Since we had been out all day, we took the bus back to our hotel and ordered some gross food but were able to just relax in our room for the evening. How many world wonders have we seen now…?
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Published by Brandey Kabat
What I like: Dark chocolate, yoga, fresh squeezed juice, laughing, hiking, wine, travel, food, lush products, being warm, having long hair, the ritual of drinking something hot first thing in the morning…
What I don’t like: When people smell their fingers, pushing elevator buttons, confrontational situations, not being able to fall asleep quickly at bedtime…
Most random job ever: Plastic surgery consultant
As for my love life: I met my husband mid way through my junior year in college, as soon as I laid my eyes on him I was attracted to him. In fact, I made the first move which was a bit out of character but there was something about him…probably the fact that he was smokin’ hot!!
Where from and where to: I grew up in NY, went to college at The Ohio State University and then headed to CA after graduation. My boyfriend (Giff) and I had a map, a borrowed van and used stuff from his mom’s basement aka a vacuum, silverware, old Christmas ornaments etc., and about $1000 each. We thought it would be a good idea to head straight to CA since neither of us had been. Being we didn’t know anyone there nor did we have a job or job interviews set up or a place to live…I would say we did it the hard way! However with a bit of help from Giff’s mom who flew out to put us up in a hotel, bought me a suit for interviewing and co-signed a lease to get us a place to live we eventually found jobs and an apartment and have been in CA for 10 years.
Our story: After moving out to CA and living together for about 3 years we got engaged. He popped the question while down on one knee on the beach at sunset after we finished our picnic he had packed of bread, cheese, shrimp cocktail and wine. He even had the ring in a box that had a light shining down on it when opened so as it was getting dark, this amazing man was asking me to be his wife as he handed me a huge rock…Yes! Yes! Yes!
In 2005 we were married (I am biased but our wedding was absolutely amazing). By the end of 2005 we were new home owners. 2006-2009- we were both happily married, attached to our 3 cats and were focused on building our careers.
Giff and I got pregnant mid year 2009 with our first baby but what should have been one of the highlights of our life was soon distracted by the news I received at the doctor’s office.
The lump in my breast that had been dismissed the year before as nothing was now being diagnosed by a different doctor as breast cancer. Thankfully Giff is a persistent person and when we went in for our ultrasound (to hear our baby’s heartbeat) he brought up the request for testing to be done on the lump rather than dismissing it based on feeling it.
The going gets rough: Things began to move so quickly at that point, it was hard to breathe. I was 30, pregnant with my first child and going into surgery to remove breast cancer. I was about to go through what would be the worst year of my life. The plan had been discussed, we were going with the most aggressive regimen possible- double mastectomy, port surgically placed in my chest, chemotherapy, drug therapy and radiation. We also had to terminate the pregnancy. This cancer was estrogen positive and the hormones were actually feeding the cancer. That little angel whom was the cause of our going into the doctor saved my life.
Giff was my rock through every step…interviewing a team of the best doctors, memorizing which medicines I needed to take and when, driving me to chemotherapy and sitting next to me while I was so scared, telling me I was beautiful when I was bald, and so many other things…words cannot express. When you say your vows, in sickness and in health…you would never guess sickness of this magnitude at this age would be in the near future. In addition to this hardship, Giff’s dad died of a complicated prostate cancer the day we came home from my surgery. I could not hold my husband as he mourned for his dad because of the pain I was in from the mastectomy. How did Giff handle all of this pain at one time? How was he so strong for me? He is amazing. Giff’s dad was one of those people whom you naturally wanted to be around…his smile was contagious, his love for life was invigorating and he listened so intently when you talked in a conversation with him. He made you feel special. We think about him often and will miss him so much.
My family and friends were also by my side…my mom flying out from NY several times to help us with cooking and cleaning and holding my hand. It must be one of the most awful things in the world to watch your baby girl be diagnosed with breast cancer. My girlfriends also flew out to take care of me and help with anything they could. Other friends living closer would come by just to sit and talk or watch movies. There were so many cards, letters, flowers, cookies, and other gifts that came from all over the country. It’s amazing to have such great people in my life. In addition to my amazing circle of friends and family, there were the strangers with whom crossed our path. Whether it was a letter in the mail from a breast cancer survivor, the anesthesiologist who called Giff during my surgery crying happy tears that the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes, or our fertility doctor who promised to watch over our frozen embryos as if they were her own. There were so many small gestures that made such a big impact on our lives.
Looking at the bright side: Thankfully this was caught in stage 1, had it been caught a year prior by the first doctor I had gone into about the lump, it may have been caught at stage 0. Please learn from my lesson…insist the lump be tested – a lump cannot be diagnosed by touch. They were able to cut all the cancer out and after I finish the entire regimen including a pill I take over the next 5 years, they said there is a 95% chance the cancer will never come back.
Our exciting future: We’ve decided to re-prioritize, we are taking 400 days starting February 7th of 2011 to travel the world! We will travel to new places, eat new foods, taste new wines and meet new people. We will focus on healing ourselves both physically and mentally. This will be one of the best years of our lives.
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