Blogs from Córdoba, Argentina, South America - page 31

Sadly, I don't have all that much to say about the wonderful city of Córdoba because due to my limited time left (and a few extra days spent elsewhere) I only had one day in Argentina's second-largest city. One of the great things about the city is that the sights are all very viewable in a day's walk. Concretrated in the center, Córdoba is a bastion of colonial architecture (and related history)--cathedrals, basilicas, convents, universities and more. Beyond that, it has two art museums that, while not extremely expansive, give a good survey of cordobé art, past and present. Another interesting sight is the Jesuit Crypts, a relatively new attraction. Built in the beginning the 18th century, they were abandoned when the Jesuits were expelled from Argentina and eventually destroyed in 1829 when the city decided ... read more

If I was awe struck by Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side, then I soon learned it was nothing compared to viewing them from Argentina. From Argentina it´s possible to get much closer to some of the 275 thundering falls - rather than just getting a grand overall view which is all that´s really possible from Brazil. The Argentina side is set in a vast tropical national park which is home to an array of wildlife and a thousand fluttering butterflies that dance out of the mist. At every turn there is water crashing through rainbows, cheeky Coatis (raccoon like animals who make a sport out of pilfering food) and the sweet smell of freshly rained on soil. My trip so far has been the best of times and the worst of times. The worst being: ... read more

I´ve spent the last 2 weeks studying Spanish in Cordoba (in between partying, exploring the sierras and stuffing my face in wonderfully cheap restaurants!). It´s been eerily like being back at highschool - i set my alarm for 7 (and get up half an hour later) miss the bus I need to take and arrive at school slightly late for my 9 o´clock start. (Only everyone works to 'Argentinean time' over here, which is like Vicky time only half an hour later!...last friday our lessons started 40mins late cos all the teachers were trying to tune in the telly to watch the basketball!) I have classes till 1, then go for a leisurely lunch with my fellow students, and then more classes in the afternoon. And when I get home I have to do my homework ... read more

Before we left Mendoza, whilst waiting for our late, rattling heap of a bus (that kept us awake all night). Lynny somehow disturbed an old lady tramp. The old lady proceeded to get up and start hurling abuse at us! I sent Lynny outside through the door we were standing by whilst I said "no entiendo, disculpe!" ..... to which the old tramp swung her walking stick and hit me!!! Luckily at this point an Argentinian lady came over and told her to go away. As you can imagine we had a good laugh afterwards. Anyway, Cordoba ..... we didn´t really think much of it. Argentines second largest city and it is all shops, every road crammed with people. Nobody seems to work, they just wander the streets all day. There were a couple of towns ... read more

Córdoba, Argentina's second largest city (1.3million peeps), was our second stop. It was founded in the mid-16th century and named after the Spanish city of the same name. It is also home to the continent's oldest university, established by the Jesuits in 1613 and hence the town has a distinct studenty feel - typically rising later in the morning and partying into the early hours. We stayed in Nueva Córdoba (the new town), a large district full of places to eat, drink and party. It is a very young and vibrant area and on Saturday night is teeming with raucous, vocal and extremely intoxicated students (and travellers). Our first demand, was a good spot to watch the England vs Portugal game and we were in luck with our choice of hostel, which sported a big telly ... read more