Blue Skies and perfect weather.

---

What could be a better way of escaping the winter snow than a trip to Argentina? I did not realize just how big Argentina really is - and since it is spread out north to south, you can pretty much pick your climate.

First stop was BA, busy streets, clean sidewalks - the atmosphere is Europe, only cheaper. McDonalds is promently featured at the Plaza de Mayo but everywhere else are sidewalk cafe's with sandwiches, pizza, and steak.

The Recoleta area cafe's and restaurants are packed at night, and the cemetery is well worth a visit during the day. Generals, baronessas, and doctors are buried here in a beautiful surrounding. The tombs are so well thought out and designed that it puts my house to shame. Tour groups and families visit for a history lesson, romantic older couples whisper on the benches, while birds sing in the trees.

The domestic airport is right down town beside the river (it looks like the ocean to me). I waited for departure time sitting across the road enjoying a beer or two in the sea breeze, watching the families play.

San Juan is in an arid, semi desert area of Argentina. The pace of life is slower, the cars are a bit older (old Citroëns are still on the road) but the wine is cheap, the weather and the people are great.

There is a new church in the center of town as most of the old buildings were damaged in a 1944 earthquake. In the surrounding countryside are fruit growning (grapes, olives, etc), desolate hills good for mountain biking, and the Andes for a background.

After a day or so I adjusted to the siesta and late dinners, some restaurants only open at 9:30 pm. But the impenadas are good, beer comes in quarts, and the locals all know and love 'Get Smart' and the 'Dukes of Hazzard'. They are so into football that during a game, they have one tv channel that just watches the crowd.

San Juan has the most efficent airport check in using e tickets on Aerolineas Argentinas.

---

Photos

BA Cemetery
Where they bury the cleaning supplies.

BA Cemetery
A bit more rustic

BA_Plaza_de_Mayo
McD is everywhere

BA_Recoleta
Follow the red dress.

BA_Recoleta
Mega chillin in the park

SanJuan
Panorama - mountains in the background

Downtown San Juan
The new church in the background

Comments

[Barry]

my worry
Rick, I'm starting to worry about you. As you get older, your articles seem to mention beer more and more. More beer, less work! Heck, maybe I should be more worried about me? Barry

[ana]

from sj
it's "empanada" not impenada