Elegant yet energetic, Buenos Aires has it all. The cosmopolitan capital of Argentina offers an eclectic mix of modern and European colonial styles. Filled with Argentine traditions, it’s the unique things to do in Buenos Aires that drew me here. A city pulsing to a tango beat, it has a few surprises. Unique Things to …
Argentina
Guide to Visiting Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil
Iguazu Falls are hundreds of cascades tumbling along a 2.7-kilometre stretch of the Iguazu River. Comprising the world’s largest waterfall system, they are on the border between Argentina and Brazil. The official count is 275 falls, but that figure changes based on rains. The numbers are almost incomprehensible, and standing in front of any portion …
Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires: Artistic or Eerie?
Surrounded by huge and dramatically carved mausoleums, we strolled through the Recoleta Cemetery in wonderment. It’s neither the oldest nor the largest cemetery in Argentina, but it certainly is the most famous. Intriguing rather than depressing, the intricately decorated, mostly art nouveau above-ground tombs draw you into the Buenos Aires’ Recoleta Cemetery. Its vaults hold …
Cruce Andino: Andean Crossing from Bariloche to Puerto Varas
Cruse Andino’s Andean crossing is an ever-changing example of nature at its finest. Turning a day of transit into a spectacular adventure, Cruce Andino transported us over the Andes mountains, from San Carlos de Bariloche to Puerto Varas. As we travelled from Argentina to Chile we sailed across three lakes, drove through a rainforest, viewed …
Sarah’s Snapshots – 13 Photos of Argentinian Sweets
Argentinian sweets are a staple in South America and one of the highlights of every meal. As I have previously written, I love Bon o bons, but there were plenty more Argentinian sweets that I tried during my yearlong AFS student exchange. My favourite desserts contained chocolate, dulce de leche, or, to my surprise, quince jam. Dulce de …
Sarah’s Snapshots – Photos of Buenos Aires
Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, is a bustling city with new, interesting things to do at every turn. It has about 3 million people, while the province contains over 60% of Argentina’s population. I was able to visit Buenos Aires for a few days as part of a trip for my AFS student exchange, and it …
Sarah’s Snapshots: The Santa Fe Riverside
Santa Fe City is situated between two rivers, one being a branch of the most important river in Argentina called Río Parana. The river actually comes all the way down from Brazil and Paraguay (under a few different names) and empties out into the Atlantic Ocean. The Santa Fe riverside (or as they say in …
Sarah’s Snapshots – Soy Bean Farm in Rosario Argentina
Recently, while visiting another exchange student in Rosario City, I was taken to see her host family’s soy bean farm outside of the city. We got to see one of the fields, or el campo in Spanish, where the beans were in the process of being harvested. After they are harvested, they are exported to …
Sarah’s Snapshots – Traditional Argentinian Food
A large aspect of Argentinian culture revolves around food. Typically family or friend gatherings revolve around a meal, and I have yet to go to an event without at least biscuits or mate (mah-te) being there. In fact, there are so many different types of Argentinian food that I can’t write about it all in …
Sarah’s Snapshots – La Redonda in Santa Fe Argentina
My host sister here in Argentina works at a local community centre that I’ve visited multiple times. An old converted train station, La Redonda is now an art and public centre that’s open on the weekends and during holidays. It’s great for kids, with plenty of arts and crafts activities located along the walls, and also …
Sarah’s Snapshots – My School in Argentina
I was homeschooled in New Zealand, so going to school is a new concept for me. School in Argentina occurs in two segments – in the morning, or in the afternoon. Some students have to go to both segments, but this doesn’t occur in my school. For my school, the students in 3rd, 4th, and …
Sarah’s Snapshots: Argentinian Life
I’ve been here in Argentina on my AFS student exchange for about 2 and a half months now, and life is starting to settle down. Argentinian life is more relaxed than New Zealand, and food is very important. A common drink here is mate (pronounced maht-tae), which is hot water poured into a cup full …
Sarah’s Snapshots: Rosario City in Argentina
In the Santa Fe province where I live there is a city called Rosario, which I visited with my host family on Easter weekend for a family gathering. The first day we went to a quinta, a small house in a more rural area. They’re quite common throughout Argentina to rent for a day or …
Sarah’s Snapshots: Asado in Argentina
An asado is a traditional-style Argentinian barbecue, and a common occurrence in Argentina homes. There is always an assigned cooker, or Asador (Asadora if she’s a woman), and the meat (ranging from pork still on the bone to blood sausage) is cooked on metal grille over a fire. I’ve been at two so far, and …
Sarah’s Snapshots: Argentina Adventure Begins
It’s been a week since I’ve arrived in Argentina, and in that time I’ve eaten 10 Bon o Bons. They’re definitely my new favourite food. Bon o Bon is an Argentinian sweet, with a chocolate-coated outside and a filling that reminds me of cream or peanut butter. I would show a photo of what they …
