Argentina

           Trophy Wife and I have been to Argentina, and there is much to report.

           Argentina is off the beaten path, as the 8 hours past Miami go a long way past anywhere. It turns out that there are a few very specific tourist destinations, and a trip involves choosing among them.  In May it was early Fall and we thought it too cold for Patagonia or Bariloche in the Lakes District, so we headed for Buenos Aires, the pampas cowboy area, Mendoza in the wine country and Iguazu Falls in the north.

           Buenos Aires is an almost European city, designed to be so at its center, but third-worldish on the fringes.  The attractions are limited so that 3 days would be a lot, but the Recoleta area was quite attractive, the downtown area worth seeing, and the parks in Palermo were quality public spaces that we just do not have.  History is heavy in Argentina, fascism not very far below the surface, and for an American the lack of African or Asian faces was stunning and unexplained.

           In the pampas region outside Buenos Aires the communities have taken small “estancias” – ranches – which are probably not economically viable for ranching and combined the ranching with destination tourism.  In our case it was a day trip, but the ranches also have guest rooms, in some ways like dude ranches.  In Mendoza the wineries have likewise adapted to tourism as a revenue and marketing resources, and we enjoyed a lunch at the Ruca Malen winery with a tasting of several varieties and a spectacular view of the Andes. 

           Most places in Argentina are a flight from Buenos Aires, and it is 2 hours north to Iguazu Falls wedged in a little finger between Brazil and Paraguay.  Maybe 50-100 miles of jungle canopy surround the Falls which are nothing short of spectacular and have been unexpectedly kept in a clean natural environment amidst hundreds of varieties of butterflies.  I was thinking Niagara Falls and got caught greatly surprised.

           A nice trip.