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Author: usvellas

Hola Argentina!

Hola Argentina!

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We began working towards this long-desired destination in March. Having always made our own plans and arrangements, the idea of joining a tour company with 12-15 other people was still unappealing. But trying to organize everything when Spanish is not our language and the monetary issues of Argentina were so daunting we turned to a recommendation from a friend and decided to work with Silvana of Boutique Travel Services in Buenos Aires. This experience was still rather uneasy…her firm would…

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Welcome to Buenos Aires, Argentina

Welcome to Buenos Aires, Argentina

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We flew to Miami on October 16 and had several hours layover in the airport. We realized we forgot to get our US 20 dollar bills changed into fives before we left home and couldn’t get any change from vendors in Miami. Finally, sitting at a bar we conversed with two men and the barman who helped us convert some money. On the flight to Buenos Aires we were seated next to a large young woman with a 14-month old…

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Bariloche – The Lake District

Bariloche – The Lake District

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It’s not the town that’s so very beautiful but the landscapes around are magnificent. Pristine, snow-capped Andes to the west represent the border of Chile. We flew in on an a local holiday and it was a sunny, warm day with the sparkling glacial Lake Nahuel Huapi. The Swiss alpine-style architecture and chocolate shops seal its popularity and charm. It’s a ski center in the winter and hiking destination in the summer. We planned for 5 nights and we filled…

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Southern Patagonia, Glacier Country

Southern Patagonia, Glacier Country

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Our original intent was to skip the glaciers of Patagonia and save them for a separate trip. However, we may never make the time to return, so we are glad we’ve done it. We had a mid-morning flight from Bariloche to El Calafate, one of the two best points in South Patagonia for glacier viewing. We arrived in time to wander main street, have an eagerly anticipated but disappointing guanaco (related to the llama) burger for lunch, and buy a…

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The Great Northwest

The Great Northwest

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An early departure from El Calafate, too early to enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the Posado. The flight was on schedule, but once again we were seated on the “wrong” side of the plane without a view of the Andes, dashing our hopes to see the most iconic mountain in Argentina, Fitzroy. We had a stopover in Cordoba for several hours. Joe was feeling exhausted and not hungry the entire day. Even when we arrived in Salta late in the…

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Mendoza, Wine Country

Mendoza, Wine Country

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Mendoza is the heartland of wine production, boasting 70-80% of Argentina’s wine in a high-altitude desert at the foot of the Andes in western Argentina. Humidity is minimal, so irrigation comes from Andes snowmelt. The greater city of one million is the country’s fourth-largest. Tree-lined streets, expansive plazas, and a network of irrigation canals provide cooling shade in the desert climate. Although it originated in France, Malbec grapes struggled with the variable climate and since 1865 Argentina has become synonymous…

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Buenos Aires II

Buenos Aires II

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It was back to BA for a week after Mendoza. We were staying in the same hotel – Ilum Experience – and were greeted by the delightful staff but we might prefer staying closer to Recoleta next time. We liked the residential aspect of Palermo but Recoleta is more central. We had a few really warm days this time around as Spring has truly sprung. Big on our list was Teatro Colon, one of the world’s most prestigous opera houses….

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