Argentina

Buenos Aires.

19th march 2011

The city of Tango. The city of steaks. And the city of wines. Where the good life just lingers on in the streets of the old quarter San Telmo. I liked this city instantly. Some times that happens. It's modern but old. It's fast but nice and slow. Things I all like in a city. I stayed in a youth hostel the first couple of days. Not to much interesting people though. These days all the backpackers are glued to Facebook on their notebooks and Ipads. Things have changed quickly, even where traveling is concerned. I doesn't seem as though they are really away anymore. Or maybe I'm just getting older. During my first trip through Asia in 1995 I still wrote those bleu airmail letters home. And waited for weeks to get to a 'poste restante' in some capital to pick up a thick packet of letters from loved ones back home. That's only 15 years ago! No mobiles, no internet. Bizarre.

But I'm a traveler alone and I'm here with a mission. To find a fitting place for a photo of BA. It's not easy. The different neighborhoods with their different styles and atmospheres make it hard to choose.
At San Telmo square I talk about it with Dutch friend I've met in Brasil. I'm not there yet. And first I will fly to Bariloche, gateway to Patagonia to meet my old friend Gwen who married an Argentinian and moved here. They have three kids in the meantime and live on an extremely nice Estancia down in the south amidst the mountains, lakes and horses. I can't wait to see her. It's been at least ten years. And I will be joined by another Dutch friend who came over for a short holiday. Together we fly to the end of the world. Patagonia!