2013-01-07

【Aiden in English】

        The calm wind blew in my face as a ferryboat zipped along with the water docking on the beach of San Martin Island. San Martín was a small, lush island in Argentina's Iguazu National Park, offering the closest views of the falls. The island was rough and strenuous to climb. The stairs never seemed to end! When Mom and I arrived at the top, I felt my legs were made of jelly, and crawling would be the next best option. Luckily, I spotted some seats, hobbled to them, and propped myself comfortably on them. When I gained control of my legs, I walked on and soon stared at the enormous falls. The waterfalls came in torrents and splashed against the granite rocks. What came next, however, completely soaked me like a drowned rat. 

        After we took the ferry back to the mainland, I saw another jet boat going into and under two medium-sized falls. It looked wild but exciting. I pulled my mom and told her that I wanted to go. When she finally agreed, I hopped with glee. But I was disappointed that she would rather stay dry. She decided to leave me alone, and I had to go on my adventure. She might chicken out, as I thought.

        The captain gave me an empty bag of shoes and a life vest. I was almost gagged by my vest and had to loosen it a lot. Before I knew it, I was blasting away from the shore. The first fall wasn't bad, and my boat didn't come under since this fall was too large. But I got soaked on the next one. The ship plunged into the waterfalls at top speed and stayed underneath for a while. Once it passed through the falls, I felt like I was being poked with ice bars. I wish I could do it again. The captain had his plans and steered the boat back to the dock. At this moment, I appreciated the heat for drying up my clothes again!

        We did not take a taxi until 3:3:00 pm when we crossed the border from Argentina to Brazil.

        Unlike Argentina, Brazil not only asked for the reciprocal fee of $160 from each tourist but also required visas before entering the country. Our taxi driver handed in our passports with stamped permission to customs while we were waiting in the car. In less than 40 minutes, we hit a new destination- Hotel das Cataratas (Hotel of Cataracts) in another part of Iguazu National Park. On the Brazilian side, we would like to stay one more night in a Portuguese-style hotel before the falls and indulge in a serene world where Mother Nature thrives. The very Brazilian spot provided a better panoramic view of the Iguazu Falls over great close-up details of Argentina. Although over 20% of the falls were left out of Brazil, UNESCO recognized it as a heritage site in 1986.

        We did not plan any exploration until after the park closed at 5:5:00 pm. When the thick of tourists vanished, it became a perfect time to beat the queue without congestion!

        Mom and I came out to explore the park. We followed the only trail leading to the falls to the Devil's Throat. The spectacular scenery took our breath away. As I jogged along the footbridge, the mist densely showered me. The thunder ruptured my eardrums and made a pervasive rumble wherever I went. The closer I came to the falls, the louder the sound became!

        As I turned to leave, I heard another sound of raindrops hitting the ground. So, I ran full speed ahead without stopping to rest. Then, Mom spotted an elevator as a shelter. We watched the rainfall for a while and felt like the rain would never stop, like the Iguazu Falls. We decided to run to the hotel. So, in the blink of an eye, we were waddling in the rain as swiftly as fish in the Iguazu River. Halfway there, a terrible smell came abruptly from the trees. It was three times worse than an angry skunk. Luckily, I didn't just have a feast. Otherwise, my stomach would turn inside out. The last thing I did before returning to the hotel was promise to bring an oxygen mask next time.

【红霞译】

        凉风吹拂着脸颊，我们乘摆渡从瀑布一侧来到阿根廷伊瓜苏“洪水”国家公园中央圣马丁“战神”岛沙滩，周围绿木葱郁枝叶繁茂，堪称近距离全方位观察瀑布的最佳去处。小岛面积不大，但山路回转，石梯盘旋，若想扼守“魔鬼喉”天堑峡谷，狂揽三千尺飞流直下，非得经历一番艰苦跋涉。好不容易爬到顶端，我两腿软作一团，几乎不听使唤。不过有福之人不用愁，眼前出现几个座位，我蹒跚而去，“坐看银河落九天”。等体力恢复之后，我继续从一个景点移至下一个景点，前面激流直泻，后边浪花飞溅，我出落得像只落汤鸡。

        从圣马丁岛返回陆面，我发现乘坐橡皮艇去冲击两个不大不小的瀑布既刺激又好玩，我赶紧要求妈妈一起尝试。妈妈倒不反对“冲瀑”娱乐，但并不想打湿自己的衣服，因此我只好耍单，一个人冲锋陷阵， 其实我猜妈妈恐怕因为胆怯而不敢体验这种挑战。

        船长给了我一个空包用来存鞋，包里装的救生衣穿在身上，憋得喘不过气来，我只好松了一大节带子，不一会儿橡皮艇犹如离弦弓箭，带我疾驰而去。第一个瀑布没把我怎么样，但第二个的确叫我尝到了厉害，橡皮艇以全速冲进瀑布，先在里面停留片刻，然后再跑一个来回，只觉身上仿佛被冰柱狠狠地戳来戳去，真想多玩几趟，但船长另有安排，转舵返回码头。上岸后，我头一次喜欢这么炎热的天气，至少可以烘干身上打湿的衣服。

        直到下午三点钟，我们才乘出租从伊瓜苏国家公园阿根廷一侧穿过边境进入巴西另一侧。

        阿根廷重视实际，只要每位来访的美国公民事先在网上交付$160美元买路费，10年内随你任何时候进出国门；巴西则讲究原则，钱当然一分不能少，签证手续更要行前至少一个星期提早办理。此时，我们坐在车里按兵不动，将护照签证一并交给司机，由他全权负责海关过境检查，大约不出40分钟便又重新上路，头也不回地奔赴位于巴西伊瓜苏国家公园内的“大瀑布酒店”，到这里打算多呆一天，好好体味造物主如何厚待这方土地。预定的房间面朝瀑布，颇具葡萄牙风格，即使足不出户，我们照样可以目睹窗外瀑布景致。尽管仅有超过20%的瀑布群散落巴西境内，但因其特殊的地理位置，巴西将整个自然风光毫无客气地化为己有。如果说阿根廷独拥近水楼台之美，那么巴西则尽展远观全景之秀，正所谓肥水灌溉两家田！继阿根廷伊瓜苏国家公园之后尘，巴西伊瓜苏国家公园于1986年被联合国教科文组织纳入《世界遗产名录》。

        抵达下榻之后，我们稍事休息，成心等到下午五点公园关闭、游人散去之后，才不着急不着慌走近各个瀑布景点。

        妈妈和我漫步公园景区唯一一条小路，对面的美景交相辉映，令人叹为观止。我站在通向“魔鬼喉”的天桥上，层层雾气缭绕，串串水珠浇身，宛如淋浴一场。咆哮的水声震耳欲聋，我无论走到哪里，它就跟到哪里，而且越接近瀑布，噪声也就越大。

        游览过后正要转身离去，我听到雨点落地发出的另一种响声，于是我不由分说拔腿就跑。恰在这时，妈妈发现电梯顶层有一了望台可用来避雨，既来之则安之，我们索性静候其间，雨中观瀑。雨水继续哗啦啦地下个没完，如同眼前飞流的瀑布，看样子一时半会停不下来，何不一鼓作气跑回酒店？眨眼间，我们像伊瓜苏河里活蹦乱跳的小鱼，在雨中飞速狂奔。半路上忽然树那边传来一股怪味，比黄鼠狼发脾气时释放的臭屁还要难闻出三倍，幸好我尚未酒肉穿肠过，否则非得恶心地全吐出来不可。我发誓，今后出门一定要备好氧气口罩。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2010: 澳洲大洋路(Great Ocean Rd, Australia)

Overlook of Iguazu Falls Between Argentina & Brazil, Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984

(鸟瞰阿根廷与巴西两国之间的伊瓜苏瀑布·1984年和1986年先后被联合国教科文组织纳入《世界遗产名录》)

Ferry Boat @ Island of San Martín, Argentina

(阿根廷圣马丁岛·渡船 01-07-2013)

San Martín Falls, Argentina

(阿根廷·圣马丁瀑布 01-07-2013)

Chico Alférez Waterfall, a Hidden Gem of Argentina

(阿根廷奇科·阿尔费雷斯“年轻少尉”瀑布·隐秘的宝石 01-07-2013)

 Double Frontiers, the Bi-Border Between Argentina & Brazil

(双重边界·阿根廷和巴西之间的边界 01-07-2013)

Garganta del Diablo, the Largest & Most Powerful Waterfall, w/ an Incredible Flow of Water Generating a Constant Mist due to the Force of the Water Falling 

(魔鬼峡谷·伊瓜苏瀑布中规模最大、水势最强的瀑布，水流湍急，水流冲击力巨大，形成层层水雾 01-07-2013)

Adventure Boat, Argentina (阿根廷·探险船 01-07-2013)

San Martín, Argentina (阿根廷·圣马丁大瀑布)

Salto Bernabe Mendez, Argentina

(阿根廷—慰藉大瀑布 01-07-2013)

Argentine-Brazilan Border (阿根廷—巴西边界)

Iguazu Falls NP, Brazil (巴西伊瓜苏瀑布国家公园)

Water Rafting @ Iguazu NP, Argentina Viewed from Brazil

(从巴西近观阿根廷伊瓜苏国家公园·水上漂流 01-07-2013)

2-Step Waterfall Formed by 3 Layers of Basalt

(三层玄武岩组成的两步式瀑布 01-07-2013)

Chico Alférez Waterfall w/ the Serene Beauty, Brazil

(巴西奇科·阿尔费雷斯瀑布——静美之地 01-07-2013)

Iguazu NP in Brazil w/ Magnificent 360 Panoramic Views, Taller Than Niagara & Wider Than Victoria Falls

(巴西伊瓜苏国家公园·360度壮丽全景，比尼亚加拉“轰鸣洪流”瀑布更高，比维多利亚“胜利女王”瀑布更宽)

Lower Level of Devils Throat

(魔鬼喉底层瀑布 01-07-2013)

Trilha das Cataratas w/ the Spray & Roar of the Water Creating a Sense of Awe @ Iguazu NP in Brazil 

(巴西伊瓜苏国家公园瀑布步道·水花和咆哮声令人产生一种敬畏之感 01-07-2013)

Bosetti Waterfall of Iguazu NP Viewed from the Brazilian Side

(巴西伊瓜苏瀑布·博塞蒂“小森林”瀑布 01-07-2013)

Garganta do Diabo or Devil's Throat, a Portal to the Afterlife & Cast the Dead Chieftains & Warriors for assurance of Their Immortality 

(魔鬼喉·通往来世的入口，并将死去的酋长和战士埋葬于此，以确保他们的永生 01-07-2013)

Garganta do Diabo w/ About Half of the River's Flow Falling into a Long, Narrow Chasm

(魔鬼喉·大约一半的河水流量落入此狭长裂缝 01-07-2013)

Iguazu River Contributing to Brazil's Extensive Hydroelectric Network 

(伊瓜苏河·为巴西庞大的水电网络做出贡献 01-07-2013)

Espaço Tarobá w/ Its Prime Location as a Viewpoint for the Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian Side 

(塔罗巴“斗士”观望台·巴西一侧观赏伊瓜苏瀑布的绝佳地点)

Devil's Throat Canyon 80-90 Meters/260—300 Ft Wide & 70-80 Meters/230-260 Ft Deep 

(魔鬼喉峡谷·宽80—90米/260—300英尺、深70—80米/230—260英尺)

Waterfalls Flowing through Rainforest (流经雨林的瀑布)

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Brazil Viewed from Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa, Argentina

(从阿根廷喜来登伊瓜苏温泉度假村远望巴西贝尔蒙德“美景”瀑布酒店)

Façade of Hotel das Cataratas, Inside of Iguazu NP, Brazil

(巴西伊瓜苏国家公园内贝尔蒙德“美景”瀑布酒店 01-07-2013)

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas @ Iguazu NP Brazil

(巴西伊瓜苏国家公园·贝尔蒙德瀑布酒店 01-07-2013)

Brazilian Girls from São Paulo @ Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

(贝尔蒙德瀑布酒店·来自巴西圣保罗“谦卑”市的少女 01-07-2013)

Dinner @ Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

(贝尔蒙德瀑布酒店·晚餐 01-07-2013)

Menu @ Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

(贝尔蒙德瀑布酒店·食谱 01-07-2013)

Argentine Giant Tegu (阿根廷巨型树栖蜥)

Tegu, Dropping a Section of Its Tail as a Distraction If Attacked 

(树栖蜥·受攻击时能自我截掉部分尾巴以分散掠食者注意力)

Tropidurus w/ Sexual Dimorphism (热带蜥蜴·性别二态性)

Callicore hesperis (南美图八翅蛱蝶)

Julia Heliconian (火焰蝴蝶)

Capuchin Monkey (卷尾猴)

Coatis (南美浣熊)

Plush Crested Jay (绒冠蓝鸦)

Toucan (大嘴鸟)

Lapwing (凤头麦鸡)

Red Dragonfly (红蜻蜓)

Slug (蛞蝓)

Crosslink(相关博文):

2013: Iguazu Falls,the World Widest ARG(阿根廷伊瓜苏瀑布·世界最宽)

Brazil(出游巴西)

South America(漂流南美洲)

小学四年级(4th Grade)