Argentine life
Trip Start
May 14, 2005
1
28
32
Trip End
Ongoing
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Tucuman, Argentina
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Well well, it has been about a week that I have been in Argentina now.
In the meantime I have gotten over the cultureshock and am enjoying the country immensely.
Bolivia will always have a special place in my heard and I miss travelling there (oh, I said that before, didnīt I?)
And it feels more normal and European being here, buses are modern (more modern than in Europe) and I can go to a supermarket and buy things I buy back home or go to a gym...
Spent a few days in Salta, a really nice town in the north... going to a pena, etc.
Then a few days in CAfayate, a really nice little village, famous for its wines. Of course a lot of wine tasting and drinking has been done and probably will be done in the rest of Argentina. Would be a shame to say no and not make the most of it.
Landscapewise it has been pretty dry, brown... sometimes great rock formations, ....etc.
But what amazes me most in ARgentina are itīs people. I still canīt get over how friendly they are and how open and how hospitable. Still, I am yet to encounter an unhelpful unfriendly Argentinan. I donīt think there are any.
Argentinans would give their last penny to you to help you, even if you havenīt met them before... yesterday my bike broke down and 2 people helped me for 90 mins..
Everyone I have met would easily invite you to their house and lodge you for the rest of your trip, etc..
Spent 3 days in a hostel with mainly Argentinans and everyone is just sooo friendly.
The Argentinans I spoke to are very amazed that i.e. on a London tube or Austrian train people donīt chat to each other and that people in Europe generally donīt speak to each other if they donīt know each other.
Yes, the country may be beautiful and it's food great..... but I think it will be mainly the people that stick to my mind.
I am now in Tucuman which isnīt too attractive as a place, but one of my friends I met up north lives here, so just having a Sat night out in town.... which should be fun and going to a BBQ tomorrow.
A night out in Argentina is Spanish rhythm. Eating dinner is at 10pm and later... and bars get busy from 1am onwards.. clubs 2am onwards... quite a change...
BBQ in Argentina is the most incredible thing I have ever seen... they are carnivores... for each person about 500 grams (yes.. half a kilo) of meat is counted... amazing.. you would feed a whole family back home... my cholesterol is having a feast....
Off to Mendoza tomorrow night, another wine region and then hopefully skiing....
Hope you are all well,
Un beso muy grande de Argentina,
Monika
