Naturally Amazing
We landed in Puerto Iguazú on Friday morning with a planned Saturday trip to the Iguazú Falls on Saturday but the forecast of rain changed that. After dinner on Friday we walked into the nearby bus station and booked an excursion to the Jesuit mission of San Ignacio Miní and the Wanda Mines. It is about a 3-4 hr ride to the mission and the mine is on the way.
Depending on the day of the week you book your bus from BaSa, this excursion is included in the price. The way we did it is basically backtracking south and an extra cost.
(This photo (left) has no reference to this post, the butterfly landed on a backpack at the park. The design is so amazing it deserves a place.)
Early on Saturday we waited outside our hotel for the bus to pick us up for our excursion. Less than 24 hrs earlier we had completed a 16 hr ride from BaSa. We fully expected the modern semi-luxurious bus to pick us up. The one with the big chairs that fold down into a sofa position. This was going to be another 8 hr ride there and back.
Instead, almost on time, a small commuter van with about 10 rows of seats arrives. Panic struck but we were able to all get on the bus van.
With better Spanish language skills we would have asked where "our" bus was but as it was, any questioning of that nature would have fallen on deaf ears. Our fate sealed we settled in for the ride.
The drivers were a team, and like a large portion of Argentina they had prepared themselves for the day in the van with a healthy supply of Yerbe Mate which they shared during the entire trip.
About 40 km down the road we arrived at the Wanda Mines.
We were provided an English speaking guide and taken down into the mines. I don't want to mislead here, this mine is of the "open pit" variety so most of the mineral deposits are found near the surface. You can view amethysts deposits on the surface in various shades. It quickly became apparent that one would need to study up on amethysts. From what we understood the deep purple colored stones are called "bishop" and have the most value. The guide told the story that the owner of the mine initially bought the land to grow yerba but discovered gems and even with the government policy on mineral rights, he is a rich man. The tour lasted about 45 minutes and then we were led into the gift shop. It was interesting but the main event was down the road.
