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South Argentina: A Journey into Patagonia
The view from the plane was breathtaking: a seemingly infinite range of sharp, snowy summits stretched toward the earth's curve, among them the magnificence of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas. Farther east, the land abruptly flattens out, revealing the vast, fertile expanses of the pampas, the lush green pastures that fatten untold herds of Argentine beef.
Buenos Aires welcomed us with sunshine. Many a love song has been written about the vibrant city at Rio de la Plata, a melting pot principally composed of Spanish and Italian antecedents, and it presents itself in many beautiful shades of Latin life. Twelve million people populate the area of Gran Buenos Aires, making it the second largest metropolis in South America, outranked in size only by São Paulo.
Although the prospect of enjoying the freedom of these surroundings on two wheels was alluring, we decided to become ordinary tourists and stayed to explore the city's rich culture and history awhile. On the noisy outskirts of town, we rented an apartment from Juan, a street vendor selling jewelry. Every day, we took great pleasure in the one-hour bus ride to the city center where tall houses tower over the narrow streets. We would stroll and sit for hours amid the lively scene, listening to the melodic Castellano while sipping from little glasses another serving of ice-cold Quilmes beer. Our favorite spot for observations became the artists' district of La Boca. It reminds me of Italy: the brightly-colored facades of shops, cafés and bars, and the distinctive stalls selling freshly grilled meat on the spit. Oh, yes – the food! One would have to spend almost 10 years eating out in a different place every night in Buenos Aires to visit each of its 3,500 restaurants and sample the countless culinary delicacies like centolla (Antarctic king crab) or spicy empanadas....
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