With memories in our pockets.

(28 janvier, 2009)

On n'aurait pu imaginer une meilleure façon de quitter le Brésil
que par un aurevoir chaleureux,
et un dernier coucher de soleil à couper le souffle.

We could not have imagined a better way to part from Brazil
than to be sent off by a warm farewell,
and one last breathtaking sunset.

''Et avec toute cette grandeur,
j'vas toujours être un rêveur.''
- Paul Miranda

Um pequeno paraíso.

(January 28, 2009)

In the wonderful company of Kelcy (from Brazil) and Ran (from Israel), we took advantage of our last day in Foz do Iguaçú to visit the lively Parque dos Aves (Bird Park). We were there for over three hours, in awe at the wide variety of tropical birds, butterflies, and reptiles. We could even walk freely among some of them inside large cages... truly a mesmerizing experience. A highlight was this one area specific to butterflies and hummingbirds, where we could wander around quietly as gorgeous butterflies and hummingbirds flew literally right in front of our eyes, by our ears, and over our heads. We all wanted to capture a photo of the impressive metallic blue morpho butterflies, but they seemed a little camera shy and never stood still. But all in all, it was nothing short of magical.

We saw birds of unimaginably vivid colours (and even one bird species with stylish mullets), we nearly got attacked by a few toucans, we got our feet pecked at by curious large birds with puffy hairdos and a fetish for shoelaces, we held a parrot on our arm and a boa constrictor around our neck, and we finished the day off to the acoustic sounds of a salsa band, enjoying a good meal with two genuine individuals.

To quote one of them : ''I don't know if heaven exists, but if it does, I imagine it to be something like this. Birds, butterflies, harps, good friends, and complete serenity.''

Around the world in a guitar.

[ 27.01.2009 ]

Another highlight,
more subtle than waterfalls,
but just as grand in a sense:

A small crowd of travelers
gathered around a table...

One Portuguese, one Argentinian,
one Brazilian, one Chilean, one British,
two Israelis, and two Canadians.

Mingling cultures,

Sharing strings.

Everything from Bossa Nova
to Neil Young classics
to an acoustic melody in Hebrew.

At one point,
even all joining in to the chorus
of a Radiohead song.

Amazing.

Music is universal,
and never more beautiful
than in such moments of simple,
human compassion.

What this world needs is
less guns,
and more guitars.

Cataratas, y nada más.

(January 27, 2009)

Today, I experienced water
like I have never experienced it.

A deafening roar,

a phenomenal sight,

the most natural of aromas.

The taste of rivers coming together
in the swell of an engulfing mist.

An untouchable feeling,

both real and surreal.

Today, I experienced Iguazu Falls
with all five senses.

Un spectacle naturel toute en grandeur,
d'une puissance insaisissable.
Des chutes, des centaines de chutes,
parmi une forêt vierge.

Devant moi, elles se dressaient comme une forteresse.

La brume s'élevait comme un drap blanc,
dissipant les nuances et les contrastes
de ce qui se cache derrière.

Avec les visions d'un rêve,

la vue embrouillée,
le corps mouillé,

je suis entré dans son intimité.

De plus en plus près,
je pouvais sentir son coeur battre.

Il y a de ces endroits
qui sont impossibles à décrire,
là où l'expression ''un image vaut mille mots''
prend tout son sens.