Amazing Argentina
I had some knowledge of the country before I travelled and knew that Buenos Aires and Iguazzu Falls are a must see for every traveller. I wasn't however expecting the diverseness and stunning beauty that the country offers throughout the different regions. We had only 5 days in Argentina and spent 2 nights in Buenos Aires and 3 nights in Bariloche which is located a two and a half hour flight from Buenos Aires, in the Patagonia Region. I will start with Buenos Aires - The city is made up of many different barrios or neighbourhoods. Recoleta is the most up market area and is home to many designer shops; high end beautiful hotels and the La Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Peron (Evita) is buried. I was not prepared for the grand and vast scale of the cemetery and it has a beautiful setting overlooking the green area of Recoleta Square which is extremely peaceful.
San Telmo is the oldest and most colourful barrios in Buenos Aires. Cafes, Tango parlors and antique shops line the cobblestone streets, which are often filled with artists and dancers. This part of the city felt like the real heart of Buenos Aires and I loved the atmosphere and brightly coloured buildings. You must visit this area during the day time; everything closes down from 6pm. San Telmo borders La Boca which is home of the football stadium of La Boca Juniors. Maradona used to play for this team. Puerto Madero is the newest and most upcoming area of the city. It is home to modern luxury hotels and some great waterfront restaurants and wine bars, it is a very trendy area. In Monserrat you will find the centre of Buenos Aires' history and culture. It is home to the Parliament Building at the Plaza de Mayo and the famous balcony where Evita appeared to give her famous speech. This part of the city felt very colonial and houses some amazing architecture. You simply cannot visit Buenos Aires without coming here.
Palermo is home to the museum of Eva Peron. I am so glad that I visited this museum and learned so much about the life and history of Evita and Juan Peron.
During our last night in Buenos Aires we were treated to a Tango dinner show. "Wow", is all I can say, The Argentine Tango on "Strictly Come Dancing" will never be viewed the same again! The dancers were incredible, atmosphere electric and the food (and wine) incredibly good. A must experience for everyone. After our two nights in Buenos Aires where we stayed at the Alvear Art Hotel and the Sofitel, we flew to Bariloche. San Carlos de Bariloche is situated in the foothills of the Andes on the Southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake. It is located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
With a laid back pace that is in complete contrast with Buenos Aires I absolutely loved this part of Argentina. The scenery, fresh mountain air, outdoor pursuits, quaint little towns left me feeling very relaxed and peaceful.
Bariloche is the largest town and has many restaurants, bars and hotels. Lots of outdoor shops line the streets as the area is very popular with hikers, skiers, water sports enthusiasts etc. Even though it is the largest town it still retains much charm and a lot of the buildings are designed with an Alpine style and lots of wood. Bariloche is a chocolate lovers’ paradise and is famous for the many different chocolate shops that line the streets.
We spent our time here visiting many different hotels around the lake. Each had their own unique design and came with picture postcard views. My favourite village was Villa La Angostura which is located on the northwest shore of the Lake. It takes around 1hour to get here from Bariloche. It feels like time has stood still here and the main street is home to a few boutiques and chocolate shops. The hotels in this area are out of this world and would be a fantastic place to spend a romantic few days. In Bariloche we stayed at the Design Suites. We flew to Argentina with KLM from Amsterdam. The journey time was around 14hours which is long but worth every minute.
It really was a trip of a lifetime and I feel very fortunate to have visited this amazing country. I would love to return and visit Igazussu Falls, the wine region of Mendoza and finish off at the beach in Brazil. Here’s hoping!!!