Bon Dia (Good Morning) from beautiful Foz de Iguaçu, Brazil!  The group started their day with a traditional Brazilian breakfast served at Hotel Nadai.  A traditional Brazilian breakfast consists of a variety of sweet and savory options that range from fresh fruits like pineapple and watermelon to other exotic items like pigs in a blanket.  With all of the different hotels we have stayed at thus far we have all had the distinct opportunity to try unique South American breakfast staples. 

After breakfast, we headed to the Port do Rio Iguaçu owned by our gracious host, Rodrigo Prado. The port is a barge loading facility that primarily imports wheat from Argentina and exports soybeans from Brazil. The port is five years old, however, this was the first year the port has been in use to import wheat.  This is due to the large amount of paperwork required to perform this operation.  This year, the facility has imported approximately 40,000 tons of wheat.  However, the facility is capable of importing about 60,000 tons per month at full capacity. Rodrigo hopes to increase the port’s soybean export totals and to increase the total amount of wheat imports via improved efficiency. The wheat is brought to the facility by truck or barge; it is then loaded onto a barge and sent up the Iguaçu River. Rodrigo’s facility is the only one on this river, which gives him a distinct competitive advantage.  He believes that this advantage will most likely continue due to his high initial capital investment into the port. The wheat that goes through this facility makes up 5% of the wheat used in Brazil during a calendar year. We also learned that Rodrigo is a farmer in Mato Grosso, where he produces eucalyptus and manages 250 head of cattle.  He splits his time between the farm and the port, making him one of the more interesting hosts we have met thus far.  Shortly after our tour of the port, we went to a local fast food restaurant called Brasa Burguer. They had different kinds of burgers and shawarma.

Our last visit of the day was to the Triple Frontier, which is the intersection of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.  Each of the three countries have their own visitor centers that overlook the junction of the countries, and the Parana and Iguaçu rivers.  The Brazilian visitor center featured indigenous artifacts and beautiful artwork representing Brazilian heritage. Each site in the three different countries has a post with the country’s flag painted on it. We learned that Brazil and Argentina’s posts are both shaped the same because they were built in the same year. However, Paraguay’s post is shaped differently to protest the fact that Brazil and Argentina have access to the tourism revenue of the Iguaçu Falls.  Many of the students purchased souvenirs in the Triple Frontier gift shop, as well. We really enjoyed our visit to the Port do Rio Iguaçu and the Triple Frontier!

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