Rainy Day Reads

This is the land of opportunity. A lot of Europeans migrated here in the 19th and early 20th centuries looking for a better life and a new start. And it is no wonder they chose to come to Argentina, as this country has a lot to offer. These days it is mostly tourists who come through, either as part of a bigger trip to South America or simply to immerse themselves in Argentine culture. And there's a lot immersion to do! First off, we have the food. Argentina is world famous for its beef, and no trip is complete without a good lomo or some sort of other steak. Choices abound. That being said, it is actually possible to survive here as a vegetarian, you just have to study the menus a little more thoroughly ,and be aware that most Argentinians do not consider pork or poultry "meat". So specify that you ONLY want the vegetables! To go with the eminent food there's the drinks. Of course wine abounds, as Argentina has some very fine wine country, but the equally famo...

In Argentina you absolutely have to experience the life of the gaucho (South American cowboy). Well, it probably won’t resemble the actual life of an actual gaucho that much, but it will smack of it. I went to Argentina in 2014 on a group tour, and during this trip we stayed on an estancia (farm) for 2 nights. During the day we went horseback riding in the mountains and in the evening we had a barbecue dinner. The last night the estancia crew cooked a traditional asado (barbecue buffet) for us, complete with local wine.   Appetizer. The meal was very much meat based... Manning the barbecue The Beast The area we stayed in was pretty hilly. I don’t know if it was actual mountains or it just seemed that way for a flatlander like me! I had expected flat prairie-like surroundings for riding, but it was proper off-road trekking, if you can call it that. I am an absolute beginner when it comes to riding horses, and seeing the terrain, I was a little bit c...