A few weeks into my big trip, I arrived at Iguazu’s gateway. In the Misiones province of Northern Argentina, the town had a rustic feel. Puerto Iguazu was of simple décor, the streets lined with the basic amenities. A garage, a bakery, a pharmacy and shop, all hosted by friendly locals. With every hospitable greet and helping hand, I admired the Argentinian culture. “Did you go to the falls, tell me, what do you think!?” A passer-by exclaimed with a grin. “Not yet, manana!” I called back with delight, his enthusiasm had instilled my excitement.
Following strict instructions from a fellow traveller, I would view the Brazilian side first. A quick transfer later and a ticket in hand, I wandered the border alone. Too far to touch but close enough to marvel, stood miles of falling water. It was an exhilarating sight. I was now eager to get much closer.
The next day my hopes were fulfilled. With a map of the various trails in hand, I walked the Argentinian side. Curling around and thundering down, the falls’ power shook the earth around me. I was completely awestruck by nature. Nevertheless, I don’t do things in halves, so was first in line to the speedboat. Whizzing through the waves, no anorak could save me, in ten seconds I was soaked right through. To continue the fun, with new friends in tow, I went seeking ‘Sendero Macuco’. This nature walk offered a place to swim and was a dream for any monkey lover.
Falls now ticked off, the following day I was due to depart. With one last attraction in mind, I gripped tightly the back of a moped. Zooming off, we raced the sun. ‘Hito de Las Tres Fronteras’, marks the point where three countries join. As the sky turns dark a colourful array of fountains appear to dance. Dainty holograms pirouette whilst hidden speakers hum a playful tune. I laughed and clapped with sheer amazement, a charming finale to my time in Iguazu.
Flying by at lightning speed, I treasure my memories of Buenos Aires. Under a bright blue sky, in a pleasing climate, I admired ‘El Obelisco’. With its simple design, the national monument produced both a striking and lasting impression. However, my favourite building in this fabulous city was The Ministry of Social Development. Across the boulevard, a towering grey block smiled down on the twitching traffic. Two portraits of Eva Peron raised high, a memory of her heroic efforts for social justice.
The city tour was fantastic. Guided by a wealth of interesting facts, I was engrossed by Argentina’s rich history. In La Boca, performers danced amongst colourful streets, a sultry tango had onlookers applauding. At Recoleta Cemetery, with a more solemn approach, we bowed heads in respect for lost life. The burial ground was a beautiful expanse, with grand angels lain across marble tombstone. The highlight for me was Palermo. Known for late nights and good music, this bohemian district was wild. I joined the fiesta for days, unwilling to leave until finally, Patagonia was calling.
Waving the warm weather goodbye, I flew to El Calafate. Home to Perito Moreno, one of the world’s most famous glaciers. The town itself was touristic, yet quaint and lovely. On my day of arrival, I stumbled upon The Museum of Historical Interpretation. It was a fascinating gallery. Containing both dinosaur fossil and indigenous scripture, I learnt about Patagonia’s full past through to the present. After swotting up, I called it a day, for tomorrow was bound to be special.
It lived up to my expectations. Moreno stole my breath away, a pinnacle of natural beauty. Standing tall and serene, the glacier emitted a calming stillness. All of a sudden, a great crash, a huge chunk roared and then it crumbled. I felt so lucky to have been a witness, so sure these sights were saved for David Attenborough. Later in the day, I strapped spikes to my feet and we trekked across the ice. So thrilling and fun, I barely noticed the cold, it’s a story I’ll be telling forever.
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We went to Argentina in January, what an amazing country, we experienced three different aspects of this vast country. We first stayed in La Cumbre, about an hour from Córdoba, where there were magnificent mountains and wide open countryside that went on as far as the eye could see, one of the most memorable days there , was when we were over looking the valley and we saw a condor gracefully souring below us. We also went to the Falls , incredible and powerful to see and lastly we went to the capital, a very vibrant and busy place , absolutely fascinating, we now have the Latin American taste and would most definitely love to go back ✈️
How wonderful Liz! You really got a taste of Argentina with those highlights. Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully we will all be back to Latin America very soon!