After relaxing days at Marion and René's place at Lake Ypacarai [/uploads/0ffbb040-4895-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] we head east to the 3 border area: Paraguay - Brazil - Argentina, where the Iguazu Falls can be admired in Brazil and Argentina. [/uploads/434bf7b0-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] The plants here indicate the humid and warm climate. [/uploads/0c92bbb0-4895-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] Papaya [/uploads/0eb8a8f0-4895-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] In Iguazu National Park we are greeted first by cute coatis: [/uploads/67768b00-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/4ed50040-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/5068e6b0-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] The water falls from the Argentinian side, so from the Brazilian side you have a better panoramic view: [/uploads/52d0e600-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/5187eb40-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/53f31ee0-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/550a0d20-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/57832370-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/58c42ef0-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/63debe40-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/651394c0-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/688a44f0-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/69c201a0-4891-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/0ed2ef10-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/1089ede0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] We couldn't resist having a cappuccino at Hotel de Cataratas: [/uploads/126e8c60-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/13841b10-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/14bdfaa0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] 'speechless' [/uploads/172584c0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] Now from Argentina: [/uploads/7f2f46f0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/7bda76a0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/7dc83ce0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/acdefc80-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/adf0e1b0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/af20d630-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] 'speechless' [/uploads/b1366fc0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] The roads here are quite long again and not curvy but wavy: [/uploads/f068b860-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/f6911b10-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] In this area of Argentina, mate (a traditional drink) is grown: [/uploads/f30498f0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/f4455650-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/f76b4e70-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/f89bdf30-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] The road that leads to the 'Espero del Iberá' swamp area is not very good...we have to drive 12 km .....[/uploads/faee33a0-4892-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] and somehow it doesn't get better... another 80 km???? [/uploads/09cb7040-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] even worse.... another 40 km, at this point the worst road we have driven so far, [/uploads/0b00e300-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] but just in time for sunset we arrive: Laguna de Iberá [/uploads/0c3c2220-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/0d820fa0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/171f4dc0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/195b3400-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/183096b0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] The next morning we take a tour on Laguna Iberá [/uploads/2c403d40-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/8b92db90-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] and explore the aquatic fauna and flora [/uploads/2d8abea0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/2ebe0e80-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/34caabd0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg]Kaiman-yacares [/uploads/35f0b540-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/372e1740-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/385e80f0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/398f11b0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/3ab409b0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/3bf56350-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/3d2aaf00-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/460d0190-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/475c16d0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/499b5870-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] Capybaras [/uploads/4b495690-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/4d8563e0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/4ebcab60-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/511e4210-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/525ae0c0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/53a429a0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/54d8d910-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/5612b8a0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] Cormorant [/uploads/735edfb0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/7232e2d0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] Even at the campsite there are many animals to see: [/uploads/74844ce0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/76e128a0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/77f7efd0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/791853f0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/7a30c8d0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/7c767310-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/7d9884e0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] We relax for the rest of the day [/uploads/7fe274e0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/8114da60-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] and after breakfast we prepare for our last leg of the journey. [/uploads/2b1ad010-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] [/uploads/8257e1b0-4893-11e8-8923-8f2619a24b67.jpg_large.jpg] After almost 20,000km we have arrived back at the starting point in Paraiso Suizo near Montevideo. The two nice and helpful Swiss people Silvia and Heinz have achieved legend status among overlanders, just like Monika and René in Paraguay. Everyone knows them and many trips begin and end here. After completing the shipping formalities in Montevideo, we take it easy for the last few days. The journey here hasn't been ugly since the swamps of Iberá, but highlights are not to be expected in Uruguay. If you consult the travel guide, the meat factory in Fray Bentos is described as the top attraction. Here and in Namibia, a huge slaughterhouse with an attached meat extract production was built under the leadership of Justus Liebig in the mid-19th century. It seems to have gone well for 100 years, until freezing technology put an end to its success. The ruins can be visited, a mixture of slaughterhouse and Duisburg landscape park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a few years now. We didn't want to miss that and otherwise enjoy a pleasantly uneventful drive through Uruguay on mostly good roads and without the countless Argentine police checks. So now, in the absence of further highlights, we can take care of the preparation of the car for shipping, take lonely walks on the beach, and calmly look back on the journey. The tremendous amount of impressions needs to be processed first. Today is Petra's birthday and we're heading straight to Piriapolis hoping to find a nice restaurant that's still open. The season is definitely over here.