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Published: February 28th 2010
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Iguazu Falls
A double rainbow in one small corner of the falls. BUENOS AIRES is lauded as the most vibrant and European city of South America. But Argentina has much more to offer. The waterfalls with the biggest magnitude in the world. Subtropical jungle. Desolate Patagonia with rocks and ice. The high Andes.
It is a big country (2,780,400km2 3900km N to S, compared to Australia’s 7,692,024km2, running about 3,860 km N to S). It stretches from subtropical rainforest in the north to subarctic wastes in the south, and from the top of the Andes in the West across the flat Pampas plains to the eastern coast.
It is too big to see all of it in a month. But here are photos to present the places out of town that we visited.
Iguazú The largest waterfalls in the world, formed as three successive flows of lava cooled to form steps that the water falls down. When we were there the water volume was seven times greater than normal. Comprised of 275 individual falls over a spread of 1.67 miles (2.7 km) and reaching a height of 269 feet (82 m). It is campaigning to be voted one of the
Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Córdoba This is the second largest city in
Cordoba
Modern contrast: the Iglesia San Francisco (20th Century) behind the modern development El Paseo de Bon Pasteur. But Cordoba was founded during Shakespeare's childhood. Argentina and it’s University is the second-oldest in Latin America. It was founded on July 6, 1573, when William Shakespeare was nine years old. It is now a modern city with old quarters and an artistic heart. Our walk through the Old Town took us back centuries. The art galleries
Museo des Bellas Artes Dr Genero Perez and
Museo des Bellas Artes Evita were the best we saw.
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Alta Gracia A small town outside Cordoba, founded by Don Juan Nieto in 1588. Six of us stayed in a laid-back family villa and enjoyed a holiday weekend: bar-b-queing, swimming, walking. The Jesuits had one of their early estancias here, before the Spanish, fearful of the power they were developing, threw them out. And Ché Guevara grew up in the next street to where we were staying and the house he lived in - true to Argentine form - has been opened as
a museum of his life. We also visited the Gorge of the Baby Condors National Park. This is the only place that South American condors breed outside the Andes.
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Patagonia The world’s most desolate terrain. Phil
Alta Gracia
The entrance to La Estancia Jesuitica beside the city square. visited while I stayed in the city: snow-capped Andean peaks, mountain lakes and glaciers. He took some magnificent photos.
Last of three. There are more photos below the comments box.
Travel Notes
Iguazú- We chose to fly for an hour rather than sit for twenty hours in a bus. Plus the plane makes a nice circle over the falls on the way out. We accommodated ourselves simply at La Strada. We found two nights was only just enough. A half-day trip to the Brazilian side was definitely worthwhile.
Cordoba- We travelled there, in a luxury overnight bus (8 hours) and flew back (35 minutes). We splurged on the downtown Amerian Cordoba Park Hotel. It was within walking distance of everything. These two galleries were excellent value:
Alta Gracia- The overnight bus took us right there. One hour in a taxi car us back to Cordoba. We spent our weekend relaxing at Fincas del Virrey. Patagonia- Phil booked flights to Bariloche and Calafate, transfers, accommodation, sightseeing all in Buenos Aires.
Tangol, were helpful, efficient and reasonably priced.
How I’ve been
That summarises one month in Argentina (with two nights in Uruguay). The best part of
Patagonia
Mountains, snow, ice, and water make up the natural world around Calafate. being there (
and the reason for going in the first place, was to hang out with my daughter, Ali, and her partner Steve. I joined their gym and met their friends, and took some Spanish lessons with her teacher, Judith. I've got pictures of of all these lovely people on my Facebook page.
Muchas gracias para todos mis amigos en Argentina. Adios y hasta luego.
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bellarina
non-member comment
lovely
will have to check out your facebook page now to see the pics....i agree being with the family in their daily surroundings is the best...