"If It Doesn't Hurt, It's Not a Sunburn"

Dear Travel Guides,
Do you mean to suggest that there are only seven wonders of the natural world? Do you truely believe that man has only created seven wonders in the modern world?
Love,
A confused backpacker

Perhaps the only thing more ridiculous than the number of "wonder lists" found online is the existence of these lists in the first place. How can anyone attempt to name the seven best sites given the sheer quantity of majestic locales dotting the globe? Why is the Grand Canyon anymore deserving of a spot on this prestigious list than the towering peaks on the Torres del Paine?

Regardless of the absurdity of such lists, the majority of highlighted sites are truly incredible and I had the opportunity to experience both a natural wonder and a modern one this past weekend.

Taking advantage of the vacation days afforded to each intern, I began my trek to Iguazu Falls late Wednesday night to meet Mim and Row the following morning at our hostel. Or more accurately, resort. Unlike typical hostels, this one featured a pool, pool side bar, and game room in addition to the standard dorm rooms and plethora of accents from around the world.

By the time we finished gaping at our surroundings, pretending to play ping-pong, and frolicking in the pool, it was too late to journey to the falls. We consequently dragged ourselves out to bed early Friday morning to maximize our time in the park.

Iguazu Falls. Amazing. Incredible. Phenomenal. Thousands of gallons of water spill over the falls which span nearly two miles along the Argentinean and Brazilian borders. Lush green rainforest surrounds and it teems with wildlife including swarms of butterflies, cotes, lizards, and gigantic spiders. Once we finally tore ourselves away from the falls we trekked through the rainforest until arriving at a small pond fed by a comparatively gentle, albeit tall, waterfall. Hot and tired, we jumped in to escape the oppressive heat. It was, I must admit, a much more enjoyable swim than me and Mim's brief dip in the glacial lake in Torres Del Paine.

Unfortunately, Saturday morning signaled the end of our time together. While my Australian amigos continued onto Salta, I hopped onto an express bus to Paraguay and started my journey home. The trip began with a brief stint in Brazil. Well, almost. The bus passed through the country but we could not disembark unless we stopped at customs and bought a pricey visa. So, I only experienced the nation through a window, but I still get a point in the admittedly stupid game of country collection, right?

After spending roughly an hour in Brazil, we entered Paraguay. Surprisingly, the bus seemingly forgot to stop at customs. If I was simply a local traveler, this wouldn't have been a problem. However, I'll be flying out of Paraguay in a couple weeks and can not do so without either an entry stamp or a large wad of cash to pay the fine. I consequently hopped off the bus on an unknown street corner and meandered through the overflowing streets until finding a customs officer and my stamp.

In the process, I also spotted a casa de cambio. As I still needed to change some Argentine pesos to Guaranis, I stepped inside assuming it was like any other casa de cambio. I was, to put it mildly, wrong. About 8 guards armed with gigantic guns lined the room while numerous men waited to change small fortunes. They dumped bags of pesos, guaranis, and reals on the table in exchange for thick wads of US dollar bills (and by that I mean hundred dollar bills). Each man appeared to leave with enough cash to pay for at least a year of my college education. Needless to say, the banker scoffed at my small fortune of 69 Argentine Pesos (between US$18-US$20). I had to endure a few more smirks from the staff, but at least I left with a handful of Guaranis and some unforeseen insight into the world of money laundering in Latin America.

Still slightly confused by my experiences in the casa de cambio, I began wandering through Ciudad del Este. Although I didn't stay for too long, the city certainly lived up to its reputation as a lawless border city. The informal shops and markets easily dwarfed those of Asuncion's Mercado 4 and its vendors sold everything from cheap electronics to locally-grown produce. Any shops housed within actual buildings were surrounded by armed guards constantly shifting oversized guns and sawed off shot guns from arm to arm. Meanwhile, thousands of people speaking in a mix of Spanish, Portuguese, and Guarani ambled through the stalls.

Although intrigued by the mayhem, I soon hopped onto a bus heading to the local town of Hernandarias. While the town itself proved relatively non-descript, it boasts the second largest hydroelectric power plant in the world: Itaipu Dam. Considered one of the seven man-made wonders of the world, it powers the entirety of Paraguay and upwards of 20% of Brazil. I, of course, took a tour of the facility.

The views of the power plant and river were stunning, but I actually left the facility slightly irritated by the entire experience. Understandably, the dam's operators created a tour designed to celebrate their architectural achievements while completely ignoring more controversial aspects of the project. For instance, no one mentioned that its construction destroyed a series of waterfalls once considered larger and grander than Iguazu Falls. Nor did anyone note that Paraguayans pay ludicrously large amounts for electricity due to an unfair accord with Brazil involving the dam's electricity production. Moreover, rolling blackouts still plague Paraguay. We've already had three today...and its only a little before 7:00.

After spending the next few hours exploring some unremarkable museums and zoos in the area, I finally hoped onto a bus returning to Asuncion eager to spend a night resting in my own bed. My adventure, I foolishly believed, was over. Within fifteen minutes of entering my empty house, I realized I had been sorely mistaken. I had locked the bathroom door when using it. No big deal...right?

Unfortunately, it was a very big deal. The lock managed to break while I was inside and I couldn't escape. I tried everything: picking the lock, screaming, etc. Yet, I was still sitting in the sweltering bathroom almost three hours later when Izas finally returned home. Upon hearing my pleas for help, she too began fighting with the door. After an hour, she finally called the fire department. There was absolutely nothing else we could do.

Although the fire department indicated that they believed it was an emergency (they arrived with lights flashing after all), they didn't charge up the stairs to rescue me until nearly an hour later. Six firefighters kicked down the door at approximately 4:00 AM. Por fin.

Pictures of Iguazu and Itaipu have been posted on Picasa.