Possible change of plans
So you know how I was all worked up about going to Rome?
Well, I still want to do that, but Denny put a bug in my ear about Argentina. I’ve always wanted to go to Argentina, and it seems like now (or this spring) might be a good time to do it. Here’s why:
1. The Argentine peso is weak, whereas the euro is strong. Even though it’s more expensive to fly to South America than to Europe, I think I would more or less break even financially because it’s cheaper to stay and eat.
2. Bird flu. I know it hasn’t been detected in Italy (yet), but there have been cases in Russia and Greece. Greece is close to Italy and Croatia, which were the places I was interested in going. Maybe it would be better to wait until they’ve got that under better control.
3. I’ve already been to Rome. Sure, it’s my favorite city in the whole entire world, but maybe that’s just because I haven’t been to Buenos Aires yet.
Thoughts? Have any of my brilliant readers been to Argentina (Danny?)? It’s a really big country, so obviously we can’t see the whole thing; we were thinking of maybe concentrating on Buenos Aires and one other area. What “other area” should we pick? Current front-runners are the Iguazú Falls/rainforest area and the Patagonia/Tierra del Fuego area.
Buenos Aires is the home where the beautiful dance of love…the Bossa Nova…was born. Is there anything else to say? Book ’em.
I think you’re thinking of the tango, Mom. The Bossa Nova is Brazilian, I think.
Still, I’ve got no quarrel with tango.
As you might imagine, I do have a comment or two for you.
Buenos Aires is a large, beautiful, European-ish city of 12 million or so. There is so much to see and do, you can’t really do it all in one trip. I can consult with my family, if you like
As for deciding between Igazú or Tierra del Fuego… I would pick the latter. I have heard that while Iguazú is beautiful and then some, it is also scary and lawless, a haven for terrorist groups, and touristy to boot. Tierra del Fuego is lovely and stark, with lots of sheep and gauchos. We have a family friend in Tierra del Fuego, who might be looking for an extra hand with the sheep for a few days..? I’m kidding. Mostly.
She’s actually a National Geographic researcher married to a sheep rancher, but I don’t know how she’d feel about once-removed vistors. Then again, you guys could charm anyone out of their socks, so.
Actually, I just did a little research on her. This is her, Natalie Goodall. Her husband’s family own a couple of estancias, one of which, Viamonte, apparently takes guests. Natalie and her family live at the other one, Harberton, and there’s some sort of family feud-y, something between the two estancias. I can get the details from my mother if you like.
It might be worth emailing Estancia Harberton to see if they’d take guests of the family, as it were.
Let me know if you want/need more details on anything.
Ms. Goodall sounds like an interesting lady.
She is. My sisters knew her better than i ever did (we left Argentina when I was 8, you know), but we used to go down to Ushuaia and spend time with them. I almost wrangled a stay there myself, when I was in college and thinking I was going to do the animal behavior/behavioral ecology thing.
I wouldn’t use countries with avian flu cases as a filter for travel destinations.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17024596%255E2703,00.html
Now that it’s come as far as Britain. Next stop: NYC
Argentina. And, that’ll support your quest to make your passport cool even in this day of post-EU nonstamping at the borders, since you obviously won’t be going through Amsterdam. LOL