As seasoned travelers we knew how to schedule part of our time in Puerto Iguazu: a few days to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. We had spent three days seeing Iguazu Falls and watching birds. Now we were ready for a few quiet days. Quiet, though, does not mean boring. After reading and lounging around in the morning, we took off on our daily walk and headed for a nearby park.
The mural near an ice cream shop in town was one of our favorites.
We dropped down to a park along the Iguazu River and spotted another, very different, painted face.
Further down the road, we came to an overlook park where the Iguazu River flows into the Paraná River.
We were standing in Argentina, looking across the Iguazu River (flowing in from the right on the photo) to Brazil. When we looked to the left, across the Paraná River (flowing from the top of the photo) we saw Paraguay. Seeing all three countries before us and so close – crazy as it seems – we were impressed!
On the walk back we passed a fig tree. Our bird guide had told us that non-native fig trees were brought to this area and planted to become huge shade trees. Because there weren’t the pollinator bees in this new environment, the trees would never reproduce — and so would not become invasive.
Butterflies were everywhere. We read that there are over 200 species. This Callicore hydaspes butterfly was our favorite. When it opens, the other side is an alarming bright blue, black, and red. The two sides don’t really look at all like they’d be on the same butterfly.
When we got back to the hotel, we collapsed onto lounge chairs by the pool, with reading devices in hand. Late in the day as the sun dropped, the reflection of the hotel in the pool called for one more photo.
For travelers who move deliberately from one major site to the next, filling up every second, and always on the move – consider that some days spent just hanging out and doing nothing can be rich and unforgettable days too.
September 2016
simpletravelourway 
Love your travel philosophy. I am working on a more relaxing pace, and have decided that it will be easier for me if I simply add stops to all the ice cream shops along the way. !
Your approach to traveling sounds like a very good one. I especially like the idea of a “do nothing” day, and the end of the day picture with the reflection of your hotel is special.
Hello Beth and Joe,
I have just written quite a lengthy comment on a post you wrote in Thailand in 2013. I don’t know exactly how your blog works. Are you notified when comments are made on old posts ?
With kind regards.
Yes, we do receive a notice of each comment. We have not seen notice of your Thailand post, so we presume you have not yet submitted it. We look forward to reading it. Thx!
This blog earned a Bean Pat as blog pick of the day. Check it out at: http://patbean.wordpress.com
P.S. I like your way of traveling. It’s similar to mine.
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it is good to do “nothing”
We tend to do that too. A big day is usually followed by a day close to “home” where we don’t have to do so much walking. I love your photo of two rivers and three countries.