No water, no K-Nine and no Rabies!

Yesterday the six of us went to the world famous Iguazu falls.

On the right is what it is meant to look like. Below is what it did look like. We have been told that the water level is the lowest it has been in 100 years.

Visitors are staying away in droves! Hotels are empty and taxis follow you about the streets of Foz do Iguacu looking for business.

A great disappointment.

We had intended to cross over into Argentina for a day or two to see the falls from the other side, but we have decided not to bother. Having seen what is left of the falls and the nearby (good but expensive) Bird Park, we have moved to another (better) camp site in Foz do Iguacu.

This campsite (Camping International) which is very well signposted off the main road between Foz do Iguacu and the Iguazu falls, (turn off at S25.548883 W54.576172) has water, electric hookup (both 220 and 110 volts!) a pool and a restaurant. (S25.559473 W54.576010). Charges are about $5 USA per person per night.

K-Nine is still at the Mercedes-Benz garage in Asuncion, Paraguay. Clive hopes to be ready to travel tomorrow (Saturday 2006-08-19). Because of the lack of water at the falls, Clive and Ann have decided to postpone their visit until we return from our excursion north to Venezuela etc. in a couple of months. We are therefore aiming to meet up at Dourados, Brazil in three days. Unfortunately our departure from Foz do Iguacu has to be delayed for medical reasons.

One of the attractions of the park that surrounds the Iguazu falls are the groups of coatimundi that roam around the visitor centre. Although there are signs warning you not to feed them, there are no signs telling you not to eat food near them! Unfortunately one particularly aggressive (or hungry) coatimundi crossed the road and took a swipe at Judy's leg whilst she was eating potato crisps (potato chips for any North Americans reading this) and scratched her knee with his claws.

Coatimundi in Brazil can carry rabies. Although Judy had been vaccinated against rabies in the UK, after possible exposure to rabies it is necessary to get two more vaccinations, one immediately and one two or three days later. As a result we have to stay in Foz do Iguacu until Saturday. The Centro de Infectologia e Clinica Medica were able to prescribe and provide the required two doses of vaccine for $150 USA. (That's one expensive bag of crisps!)

Mike and René (who had not been advised to get rabies vaccinations in the USA) decided to get the first of their three prophylactic rabies vaccinations at the same time as Judy.

Rabies is not a disease to take any chances with, as it has a perfect, 100% mortality rate (after symptoms develop).