| Page Views: 10,636 Last Visit to Argentina: January, 2005 | Argentina - a Beautiful Country :-) by Trekki - last update: Feb 7, 2008 |
| Glaciar Perito Moreno - deep down in Patagonia |
Update: February 6, 2008:
I only exchanged one of the youtube links.
Argentina -
How can I describe this country without sounding too subjective ?
Argentina stretches out nearly 3.800.000 square km in the southern part of South America. Due to it's being situated between the Andes in the west and the pacific ocean in the East, and having with Ushuaia the most southern city in the world, it has nearly every kind of landscape and weather conditions.
Extremely windy in the south, dry deserts in the north, the fascinating mountain area in the Andes with Aconcagua mountain (6959 m) being the highest mountain outside of Himalaya, skiing areas and mounatins in the Lake Region, which are similar to the european Alps, beaches in Mar del Plata, the incredible waterfalls of Iguazu and it's tropical rainforest, and an abundance of wildlife with whalewatching, penguins, sea lions.
And - last but not least the lively capital Buenos Aires with a special atmosphere which is no where else found. Old ports, new ports, old buildings, parks, fascinating culture, Tango - oh well, Tango !
Medialunas, mate tea and asado.
Horses, horses, horses, and the world's most fascinating landscapes to do horseback ridings.
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And the people -
Never ever in my life I have seen people more warmhearted, more helpful, more "alive" than in Argentina. Moreover, and I must mention it here (as with the view of a "stranger", although I never felt as a stranger in Argentina), the crisis in 2001/2002 did not change the people.
Or yes, it changed the people, but to a better way. It increased their helpfulness towards others, it increased their warmheartness.
The best way to describe the people and the atmosphere can be done (in my eyes) by a sign which I saw in El Bolsón:
"La vida vale más que el oro" (live values more than gold).
It's something which might have also been the result of the crisis, where the majority of argentinian people have lost much due to the robbery of the government. But they did not give up their hope, their heart, their honour, their proudness.
This is how I see Argentina, how I feel for it.
And the moment when I came back to Argentina, in december 2004 (after not being there for 5 years), I realized how much I like it to be there, to travel there. And that, if being away, I miss some things - the openness, the air, the people - and so many little things like real mate ceremonials (it's not the same to have mate here), asado in the country with fresh thyme, collected in the mountains, the wine, the sun.
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A lot of things characterize Argentina, I'll add them to the general tips. But there is one "thing", which out of all, signifies Argentina - it can be found in a song of Leon Gieco, a famous Argentine singer:
La cultura es una sonrisa
La cultura es una sonrisa que brilla en todos lados
En un libro, en un nino, en un cine o en un teatro
Sólo tengo que invitarla para que venga a cantar un rato
Ay, ay, ay, que se va la vida mas la cultura se queda aquí.
La cultura es la sonrisa para todas las edades
Puede estar en un madre, en un amigo o en la flor
O quizás se refugie en las manos duras de un trabajador
Ay, ay, ay, que se va la vida mas la cultura se queda aquí.
La cultura es la sonrisa con fuerzas milenarias
Ella espera malherida, prohibida o sepultada
A que venga el senor tiempo y le ilumine otra vez el alma
Ay, ay, ay, que se va la vida mas la cultura se queda aquí.
La cultura es la sonriysa que acaricia la canción
Y si alegra a todo el pueblo, quien le puede decir que no
Solamente alguien que quiera que tengamos triste el corazón
Ay, ay, ay, que se va la vida mas la cultura se queda aquí.
The culture is like a smile
The culture is like a smile which shines in every place
In a book, in a child, in a cinema or in a theatre
I only need to invite her, so that it comes for a while to sing
Yes, yes, yes, the life goes on, but the culture stays here.
The culture is a smile for all ages
It can be in a mother, in a friend or in a flower
Or probably in the hands of a worker
Yes, yes, yes, the life goes on, but the culture stays here.
The culture is a smile with a thousand year old power
She expects to be vulnerated, forbidden or buried
If the time is coming and illuminates the soul again
Yes, yes, yes, the life goes on, but the culture stays here.
The culture is a smile which strokes the song
And which delights the whole town, who can say no to it ?
Only someone who wishes us a sad heart,
Yes, yes, yes, the life goes on, but the culture stays here.
If you want to listen - please: La cultura es la sonrisaOr another famous one of him: El pais de la libertad |
|  | Argentina -
The name is originated in "silver" (argentum). The conquistadores of the early days have seen the indigenos with silver jewelry and this gave the country it?s name.
The name is found in so many places - Rio de la Plata being the most known.
Argentina stretches out 3800 km north-south, between lattitude 22 and 55. It's boarder to Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia is more than 9300 km long, the atlantic coastline more than 5000 km. It has 22 provinces.
Discovered by Juan Dýaz de Solis in 1516, it has quickly been "integrated" into the spanish colonial countries, 1580 Buenos Aires has been founded. 1816, Argentina declared independence, after General Josý San Martin has chased the spaniards away.
Since then, San Martin is one of the most popular Argentinians, his name given to an innumerous amount of streets, parks, cities.
The flag :-)
Argentinia's flag has stripes: light blue, white, light blue (never say "azul / blue", when you are in Argentina, it is called "celeste" :-) ). A sun is sitting in the middle of the white stripe.
The flag resembles Argentina's sky - celeste blue of the sky, the white clouds and the sun.
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> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "asado - wine - high mountains - beaches - Buenos Aires - horses - people" | | Cons: | "absolutely nothing !" | | In A Nutshell: | "go there - you won't regret it !" |
Trekki's Argentina Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips
Tips: 5 - Photos: 5 |
 Trekki's Argentina Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Trekki about Argentina | | | | |
MalenaN Sun Apr 26, 2009 07:37 UTC
Great description of Agentina Ingrid! I want to visit one day to go horseback riding, hike, take a ride in the train in the clouds and much more! | agapotravel Sun Sep 21, 2008 20:37 UTC
Hi Ingrid! What a lovely intro picture! It was great reading about Argentina. I can feel your love for this country. :-) | JLBG Sun Feb 24, 2008 06:34 UTC
I had forgotten that not so long ago (well…) siphons were commonly used in France! one country - 6 continents ! I had never heard that ! | Kuznetsov_Sergey Fri Sep 28, 2007 15:55 UTC
Another continent so far from here... Fantastic intro pic! I strolled over your page listening to the music from your youtube links. It strengthened the impression. Thanks Ingrid and my congratulations with your vacations starting! |
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