ARGENTINA MEXICO
a charismatic blend of infectious Latin passion
and European sophistication. There is nature and
wildlife in abundance, fine wine and beef, activi-
ties to suit every persuasion, and, of course, the
tango and football.
Seductive Buenos Aires, the nation’s capital, is
known as the Paris of the South with good reason.
Cosmopolitan and stylish, the city is colourful,
face-paced and vibrant, yet tempered with Euro-
pean elegance in its boulevards, outdoor cafes and
graceful facades. It’s a leader in modern art and
fashion in South America, is home to the sultry
tango, and famous for its parrillas (steak houses).
This is a city for night-owls: the nightlife only
really gets going around 2am and doesn’t end until
sunrise. Tourist highlights include Casa Rosada,
the presidential palace (named for its pink colour),
and La Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place
of Eva Peron. San Telmo Market has wonderful
antique shops, while Palermo Viejo is boutique
heaven.
Argentina’s dry, sunny Mendoza province is
vineyard country. The region is most famous for
its Malbec, but other wines produced in the area
include Torrontes, Semillon, Syrah and Tempra-
nillo. Pretty Mendoza city is a good base for the
area – whether it’s wine-tasting, skiing (at Los
Molles, Las Leñas or Los Penitentes), river raft-
ing on the Río Mendoza or climbing the highest
mountain in the Andes, Aconcagua.
Skiing is also popular at Bariloche, a lovely Swiss-
German-looking town in Patagonia. Incidentally,
it is also known for its Swiss chocolate. From
there, drive the famous Road of the Seven Lakes
between San Martín de los Andes and Villa La
Angostura. A 107 km dirt road, it crosses two
national parks and has glorious views over several
lakes.
As lovely as they are, Argentina’s cities pale next
BUENOS AIRES,
CAPITAL OF
ARGENTINA
, IS
KNOWN AS THE
PARIS OF THE SOUTH
MAGNIFICENT NATURAL SCENERY TO LOVELY CITIES
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WINTER | 2014
RCI.co.za
