Why Argentina?

I supposed that I should explain why I'm going to Argentina. I'm a Spanish major and the obvious pick would be Spain, and other than that, I could go to almost any country in Central or South America. So, why Argentina?

I've had a fascination with Argentina since about the 7th grade when, on a plane ride back from Honduras, I watched a travel channel special on the country. The gaucho lifestyle contrasted with urban city living attracted me, and I thought the tango was pretty cool too. Once I started reading Spanish literature, Jorge Luis Borges quickly became my favorite author. And guess what? He's Argentine. Not only did I love his writing for its beauty, but also for its descriptions of Argentine landscapes and people. It seems so romantic, classic and other-worldly. More recently, Argentina's well known steak, leather and wine have also been considerations. Clearly I have a lot to look forward to.

For Chanukah my parents got me a guide book about Argentina, and I realized just how little I knew about the country, and also how much more I would like it once I learned more. Here are some images of Argentina which I found online, feel free to insert my face into each shot.

First, of course, is Buenos Aires. I think this photo is the Avenida 9 de Julio, a huge road in the middle of the city.

Next, this is the Teatro Colon, an opera house with some of the best acoustics in the world. It also hosts ballets, so I hope to go to a performance there at least once.

To the north of Buenos Aires is Iguazu falls, which straddles Argentina and Brazil. It's the largest waterfall in the world. 

And to the west of Buenos Aires, almost in the Andes is Mendoza, which is wine country. I don't know that much about wine (right Dad?) but Argentina is famous for its malbec. I'm sure I'll know a lot more about wines when I come home.

Obviously I can't go to Argentina without heading south to Patagonia. Not just an outerwear brand with an outlet in Freeport, Maine, it's also a huge region in Argentina and a little bit in Chile also with glaciers and mountains and plains and who knows what else--it's that big.

Peninsula Valdes, in Patagonia, is known for its wildlife and especially its whales. According to my guidebook, you don't even need to go on a whale watch to see these cetaceans, they can be seen and heard from the shore. I'm definitely taking Lucas here.

Finally, and I say finally with good reason, is Ushuaia. The capitol of Tierra del Fuego province, this is the southern most city in the world. Unless I'm going to Antarctica (which I am not) this is literally the end of the earth. 

Without even having been, I can say with confidence that Argentina is the coolest country in the world. These pictures are just some of the highlights from Argentina; I plan to hit up some great places in Chile, Peru, and Uruguay also. I'm not much of a nature person, but I'm enthusiastically bringing my hiking boots, and of course, my camera. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I'm not going to miss it because I need to shower every day.

Lots of leather boots,
Rachel