Buenos Aires urban life

I spent my last two days in BA. The way I'm looking at cities has its ritual. I'm not realy focussing to much on museums and landmarks (except the cemetery of Recoletta:)), but rather to get know the daily life of people, their habits, their quality of life. That means for me, that a I walk a lot around, I sit in cafés, I do shopping, go in parks.
An ineteresting habit, which I really liked/respected, how they wait the bus in a 10+ million city in S-America. There is no push, they just stay in lines.

Származási hely: Buenos Aires the 2nd

I started my day in San Telmo on the square I had dinner the night before. Every Sunday there is a flea market. Already before leaving I decided, to turn back from Argentina with a gramophone and tango records. I built up my "shopping" around this. I bought a carafe with cups a photoalbum and records; all from the 1920's. You remember, I mentionned style/era...

Származási hely: Buenos Aires the 2nd

The gramophone was sold just in front of me. Doesn't matter, I'll buy it from ebay:)


I continued my walk after crossing the widest Avenue of the world ("Avenida 9 de Julio" with 10 lanes each direction) on Microcentro's Florida. It is the most frequented shopping area in BA, with the famous mall "Pacifico". It has a really nice architecture from better times, comparable to Lafayette Paris. It was already christmas mood, with a lot of bargains for brand clothes.

Származási hely: Buenos Aires the 2nd

In the evening I met "Ilus and Tisza" and went to a "Milonga". What is a Milonga; it is a bar like place with life music and tango dancers, where the guests are also invited to dance or to learn dance. I tried my best...

Származási hely: Buenos Aires the 2nd

My last day I spent with further shopping and long walks in different districts of BA. I went to Palermo's japaneese garden and Boca's Caminito. In the evening I left the hotel in total with 80kg (result of the shopping) luggage and travelled 11986kms according to my GPS to arrive home. You can imagine looking at the pic below, why it was that heavy?:) I like to draw your attention to the 15kg heavy whale bone on the right bottom corner:)

Származási hely: Buenos Aires the 2nd

home again/ujra itthon

Bar en hazaertem ma este, a borondjeim valahol a madridi repter betonjan kallodnak, varhatoan holnapra elokerulnek...

A buenos-airesi beszamoloval tovabbra is ados vagyok... Addig is amig elkeszul, kerem azokat akik kovettek a kalandot es kivancsiak az utrol keszulo "slide-show" -ra, (mely varhatoan ev vegere keszul el) irjanak nekem 1 emailt a

szaip@gmx.de

cimre. Amint elkeszul a diashow, emailen elkuldom a linket a jelentkezoknek.

Akiknek nem sikerult eddig kommentet irniuk, a blog uj beallitasai mellett elvileg megthetik vagy a fenti e-mail cimen irhatjak le velemenyuket.

If you want to receive a link to the oncoming slideshow of the trip, please send an email to szaip@gmx.de

Sightseeing in Buenos Aires

Yesterday and today I tried to get know Buenos Aires as much as possible. I`m just before leaving back home right know, therefore I don´t have the time now to share my impressions with you. In advance I can tell you short, that I was in a milonga and did a lot of christmas shopping, which was a bit unsual feeling in 30C. For the time being look at the whole track of the trip, including the city walks in Buenos Aires.

Argentina

Map your trip with EveryTrail

In total (including everything) we covered some 14500km within Argentina!!!!

Quiz No.: 2

Not to many of you answered the first quiz and probably nobody had the the right answers for all questions. Maybe the price for the winner was not tempting enough or not to many were qurious about the "matee". Therefore I dcided to offer a bigger price for the winner of he next quiz:)

The winner can choose, to a sponsored (my employer the EPO is sponsoring the winner, covering the costs partially) participation in one of the planned adventures.

1)Trip to Beijing with the transiberian express
2)Budapest-Bamako rally
3)Following the silk road from the middle to the far east
4)Lhasa-Kathmandu highway
5)Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia

Even if you don´t play the quiz but feel like to realise any of these trips, contact me...

Here the questions,
1) I turn the question of the last quiz; how many person capacity has the boat on the picture???

Származási hely: Iguazu

2) What animals scull is on he picture? What is the function of the special shaped tooths?

Származási hely: Ushuaia_the_2nd

3) How many different mammal species saw "G. Durell" on his trip? Look at the Google web albums and count...


4)How many time zones has Argentina?

5)What is the latin name of the animal below?

Származási hely: Iguazu

I´m waiting for the right answers:)

An other 24 hours

After sleeping a bit, I had a georgeous breakfast in the hotel. I would say quite a contrast to the self made eggs of the Antarctica hostel, but I think I desired it:))
The menuwa she following;
starter; juice with some cheese and various kinds of salami
main; white scrambled eggs, eggs with cheee and bacon, filled tomatoes
dessert; different pastries with with papaya and guava (not guano) marmalade and fruits of the tropical forrest. You can look at the self composed plates under;

http://picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/Iguazu02#

At the end I had a coffee on the terace with the jungle behind. Almost like in the EPO (my workplace) the morning coffee break:)

With a full stomach I continued the exploration of the rain forrest and the Iguazu falls. I did a good job again as being G. Durell. The famous tucan is the symbol of the national park and the this northern district of Argentinia as well. Beside that it is a beatiful bird;

Származási hely: Iguazu

Although it is neither the highest nor the biggest in flow quantity it has numerous falls along a 3km long basin. The biggest fall is the "garganta del diabolo" generates a huge cloud of vapour, which can be seen even from the airplane as approaching to Iguazu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cilisaGGqk0

For the tourist there are several tours around the falls on foot, boat or even on helicopter. I tried two diffeent boat tours. One was a kind of rafting safari on the river far away the falls, rather presenting the nature. The other one I did was the journey below the falls. A powerboat is bringing the tourists with 60kmh below the falls...Look at some videos about it;



An other one;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNokQ2T_Ecc

Before cathing the plane back to Buenos Aires at 15.50pm I even had time to have short swim in the pool of the hotel. Just after 26 hours of leaving Buenos Aires we were back and the day still had something to give....
We took a taxi, drove to the hotel and picked up the tickets for a soccer game I just booked the day before. River Plate vs. Estudiantes in the huge stadium of (CARP)/(Club Atletico River Plate)in Nunez district of Buenos Aires. At 7 p.m. just after 4 hours of sitting on the boat beyond the Iguazu falls 1200km to the north, we were sitting in the satdium. It was crazy:) A tight schedule again in my organisation...

Származási hely: Buenos Aires the 2nd

The atmosphere was really nice;


After the game, we went to have dinner at midnight in San Telmo, which district is famous about its Tango bars and restaurants.

24 hours

What can happen in 24 hours. Usually not so much, but in the last 24 hours was the following;

We left Ushuaia at 22.00 p.m. yesterday. After a quick 3 hour flight to Buenos Aires at 2 a.m. I checked in my hotel in the city of Buenos Aires "Microcentro".
I mentionned yesterday, that a second chapter of the trip is starting now...What does that mean for me??? I always liked contrast and changes and definite styles. Therefore after the Spartan circumstances of Patagonia I decided to go for a kind of luxury / metropolitan style during the "second chapter". Accordingly the hotel I stayed a short night has a Jacuzzi on its roof terrace, which I used in the early morning.

Származási hely: Buenos Aires

At 8 a.m. I had breakfast and plunged into on of the biggest cities on South America. I took the subway in the morning rush ours and went to Recoletta district, which is famous about its chick apartment complexes and its cemetery. For the usual tourist it is a must to see the mausoleum of the Evita Peron. I´m a usual tourist....

Származási hely: Buenos Aires

During the first hours of my walk, I didn't really like the city (it was like any european metropol) but after looking more carefully I saw a lot of interesting things. A lot of people has dog here and as they go to work early, there is a need for somebody, who let's the dogs out....

Származási hely: Buenos Aires

Around 10 a.m. I met a group of young school kids. I'm not sure, but I can easilly imagine, that they start the school every day like that.



An other video is here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHz8QNqjwxE


After experiencing that scene, it was clear I'm in South America:)) if I have to describe my first impression of Buenos Aires; I would say it is a mix of New York and Paris with a touch of latin style.... Am I right? What do you think? It is still only 12a.m. I went to book some programs for tomorrow and took the taxi and was heading to the airport.
Just in brackets short about the transportation in BA. There are I think 6 Metro Lines; a ticket costs 1.1 pesos, which is like 20 EURO cents or 50HUF. There so many taxis like in New York. Accordingly they ae cheap as well and they drive in my style:) There are a lot of one way avenues with 8 lanes each in 1 direction. Cars do easily between 70-90 in the very city. 1km costs 2 pesos.

Származási hely: Buenos Aires

At 3p.m. I took a flight to Iguazu. Iguazu is famous about, that it is on the corner of Argentina and its waterfall, what I wrote about a few weeks ago. I arrived there after 1200km and 2 hours at 5p.m. So just after 19 hours of leaving Patagonia I found myself more than 4000kms to the north and was confronted after the arctic winds of Ushuaia to 32 degrees and 98% humidity. It hits....

After a quick check in into my Hotel (Sheraton Iguazu), I ve got my first look on the falls at early sunset. It was easy, just had to go out on the terrace of the hotel.

Származási hely: Iguazu

To have a closer look I had to walk a few 100meters and was faced to something, which was far above my expectations. It is huge, the nature is breathtaking....The next picture is only one of the small side falls.

Származási hely: Iguazu

We are still within the 24 hours, just to remember you. After the sunset at 8 p.m. there was 1 program left. The "Hito", which is the point in Puerto Igauzu, where the borders of 3 countries run together in a point. (Paraguay, Argentina and Brasil). If you are tall enough, you can be in 3 countries at the same time..:)

Származási hely: Iguazu

So that was the story of my last 24 hours and the next 24 is going to be at least that dense as well. Are you curious??? Follow me...

Latest pics are;

http://picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/BuenosAires02#


http://picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/Iguazu02#

Last days and hours in Ushuaia

After arriving back from our round in Patagonia, we checked in stylish in a hostel, which is called Antarctica. It was recommended by Lonely planet and I found myself as well on the Internet during the preparation of the trip. It was a good choice; the hostel looks like and works like a student home. You have to cook your breakfast egg yourself and everybody is chatting everbody in the hall.

Származási hely: Ushuaia_the_2nd

Yesterday we went out to the Tirra del Fuego National Park, which is at the end of the National road N0.:3 and famous about its bever dams. The weather was again quite windy and rainy as it should be in Fireland. I continued my G. Durell series and went on the dam to find its owners....

Származási hely: Ushuaia_the_2nd

I also sent a letter from the post office at the end of the world....

Származási hely: Ushuaia_the_2nd

On our last day here in Fireland, we went out on Estancia Harberton at the coast of the Beagle Channel. This was one the first estancias down here and today is akind of tourist attraction, at the same time still runned by the grandduaghter of Mr. Harberton. There is also a scientific research center for sea mammals, we visited.
Along the road we saw a lot of trees, growing sideways because of the constant wind.
I was almost blown away:)))

Származási hely: Ushuaia_the_2nd

For the latest pics click below;
http://picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/Ushuaia_the_2nd##


At the moment we just rest and wait to start the second part of our trip, which brings us to Buenos Aires and to Iguazu by tomorrow evening. Things will speed up again:)

Solution of the Quiz

Although not to many of you reacted on my questions but there is the solution

There is a hand with 6 fingers

The boiling point is somewhere around 97 degrees at 1000m altitude. It is decreasing 3 degrees per 1000m. On the top of the Mt. Everest is only 76 degree celsius.

The steak was only 400g but very tasty:)

The ship is marked below on the figure. Although it has a capacity of 200 persons, looks really small at the ice wall, which has a front of 5km in total and a height of 40-60m

Származási hely: El Calafate-Fitz Roy

The Hilux experience

I wrote already about our car. I do it again, because I can`t stop admire it. We did almost 6000km in total, about half of it on really bad roads. We never had any problems with it, it is really comfortable and stable in all conditions. Our average speed for the whole track is about 100km/h. 110km/h on asphalt road and 90km/h on dirt road. There is almost no difference for the Hilux, what kind of road you drive with it. Of course it also depends on the driver:))) My "passangers" had sometimes difficult moments, because of getting a shot of adrenalin...:)

Származási hely: Peninsula Valdes-Ushuaia

Származási hely: Peninsula Valdes-Ushuaia

It is really going to be a pitty to give it back in a few days.

There are some videos to let you feel the "Hilux experience"

Welcome back to Ushuaia

After 2 days of driving and 2000km, we arrived back to Ushuaia. We aproaching the 6000km mark in total.

Származási hely: Peninsula Valdes-Ushuaia

Check out our route on the map;

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=426922

We stopped in Monte Leon National reserve to check some pinguins...

Származási hely: Peninsula Valdes-Ushuaia

Peninsula Valdes

Today we continued the exploration of nature on Peninsula Valdes. You have to know about that stratch of land that it is a private property. Its size is about 3,625 km²We made only a smaller round, still had to drive 240km.
I´m quite tired and drunk tonight, therefore please just let me cite wikipedia and look at my latest photos...

"Most of the peninsula is barren land with some salt lakes. The largest of these lakes is at an elevation of about 40 m below sea level, until recently thought to be the lowest elevation in Argentina and South America. (The lowest point being Laguna del Carbón, Argentina).

It is an important nature reserve which was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. The coastline is inhabited by marine mammals, like sea lions, elephant seals and fur seals. Southern right whales can be found in Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San José, protected bodies of water located between the peninsula and the Patagonian mainland. These baleen whales come here between May and December, for mating and giving birth, because the water in the gulf is quieter and warmer than in the open sea. Orcas can be found off the coast, in the open sea off the peninsula. In this area, they are known to beach themselves on shore to capture sea lions and elephant seals.

The inner part of the peninsula is inhabited by rheas, guanacos and maras. A high diversity and range of birds live in the peninsula as well; at least 181 bird species, 66 of which migratory, live in the area, including the Antarctic Pigeon"

We were quite lucky and saw some interesting animals cited above. Maybe the most exciting was to touch a real Tatu and hear/see the whales.Look at me like G. Durell on the National Geographic channel.

Származási hely: Peninsula Valdes

It seems big, because it is big. This is only the head of it. The southern right whale males are up to 30tons heavy.

Származási hely: Peninsula Valdes

We finished the exhausting day in the local pub, drinking Gancia.

Származási hely: Peninsula Valdes

Some more pics;

http://picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/PeninsulaValdes##


In the next two days we face 1800km pure driving to get back to Ushuaia....

My latest position

We drove over 3500kms that far, at least half of it on dirt road.
Click for my latest position below;

http://www.everytrail.com/tell_story.php?trip_id=423894

Quiz

After reading the latest posts, dear readers please try to answer (write your answers in the comments) the following quiz. The ones, who answer correctly, might join me for my next adventure and/or to drink a “mate” (explained later) with me.

Is there a 200 persons capacity boat on the photo?Where?

Származási hely: El Calafate-Fitz Roy

How many gramm is the steak I´m eating?

Származási hely: El Calafate-Fitz Roy

There is something really special on this pic. A medical degree might help to find it. So look for it and tell me, what is exceptional??? The ones being comfy with hungarian literature, might also associate easily

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

How many degrees was th boiling point of the water at the base camp of Fitz Roy?

Származási hely: El Calafate-Fitz Roy

Unique places

Hotel of Bajo Caracoles
The tired travellers coming from the south are really happy to find this hotel. Prices are artificially high, because of not having any concurrency in a radius of 200km. On the other hand it has a nice touch in the details.

The entrance area with a food corner and a television.

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Look at the blind window with the double curtain

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Something for the echnically oriented guests; you have to know how a toilet water system works to be able to flush water

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Modern technology/breakfast service

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

At the end of our stay I was offered a post at the hotel as a mixer. I think it is going to be a hard decision after the offer of Audi.

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Internet Coffee of Governador

I wrote my short post yesterday from that institution. The internet costs 1 pesos per 30 minutes. Most of the visitors coming there to play computer games and/or (for the specialists; it is a clear combination isn´t it:)??) to chat with the daughter of the owner of the place. On the photo you can see a gas heater in double function (heating and boiling water for the „mate“). The „mate “ is a special drink (tee) here in Argentina. The ones who answer the Quiz will get the opportunity to to try it.....

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Airport of Rio Mayo
Rio Mayo has its own national airport with all infrastructure for its 2000 human and 800000 sheep habitants

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

The Grafity park of Rio Mayo
Rio Mayo is multiple famous about its sheep shearing festival, the quality of the road coming there from the south (the worst part of Route 40) and its artist, who left his artworks all around in the city.

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

The wildlife

One of the comments was adoring the wildlife photos I posted, therefore just let me give you some information about the animals you could see that far on the photos.
Most often you can see along the roads guanaco´s. It is a lama type animal, which played a very important role in the life of prehistoric people mentionned earlier. Although I went really close to them, they didn´t spat on me.
We also saw “Zorro´s” Argentinas (fox), Nandu´s; ostrich type birds, condors, flamingos and tatu´s (by chance not the russian girl band)

Származási hely: El Calafate-Fitz Roy

Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Route 40 and the “Cueva de las Manos Pintadas”
The Route 40 is comaparable to Route 66 in the US, runing from Rio Gallegos in Patagonia 5000kms to the north of Argentina. Mostly unpaved dirt road, ensuring a lifeline to the farmers in the rural regions of Argentina. We drove a stretch of about 1500kms from Puerto Natales to Governador Costa. The Hilux did its job very well; we had an average of almost 90kmh on that section.

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Apart of the small villages, the main attraction of the northern section was the cave of painted hands. It is a cave with number of handprints and hunting scenes painted some 8000 years ago. The guide who lives there outisde for 15 days, before moving into Perito Moreno “city” (next village 2000 habitans/ 150km north of the cave) for the other 15 days, explained that the cave is located in a 1500km long canyon crossing Patagonia. The paintings are under UNESCO protection for 15 years now. Nobody knows really, why the prehistoric chaps painted their hands on the wall. It is unique on the world.

Származási hely: Ruta 40-Peninsula Valdes

Further photos;

http://picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/Ruta40PeninsulaValdes#

El Calafate-El Chalten

El Calafate

After leaving Chileand the Torres del Paine national park a 350km drive brought us to El Calafate. It is a really glimpsy touristic city and counts as the entrance to South Americas most famous glacier; the Perito Moreno glacier.
According to different sources it is the only glacier, which is not shrinking for the moment, but it has a steady state. The 50m high front wall is more or less at the same position already for several years, calving 100s of tons of ice into the „Lago Argentino“ every day. (moving 2meters per day)
There are several boat trips you can choose f rom and even a short hike on the glacier is available for the tourists. The „easy riders“ only walk the brand new platforms in front of the glacier.
By the way Perito Moreno is not the biggest glacier in the national park here. The Upsala glacier for example has a front wall, which is 80 meters high and almost 5kms wide.

Származási hely: El Calafate-Fitz Roy

El Chalten
El Chalten is really far away from every other villages. If you go to the north, the next village is about 400km´s (Bajo Caracoles), if you go south El Calafate is about 350km. The village is only 24 years old and was founded, because of the climbers coming here to Cerro Torre and Mt. Fitz Roy the most difficult vertical walls to climb on earth. Usually it takes 4-5 days to reach the peak. The village is for real adventurers and has nice restaurants and all infrastructure...

Származási hely: El Calafate-Fitz Roy

Further photos;

http://picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/ElCalafateFitzRoy#

Technical problems

I'm writing this post from an internet coffe at a really remote place. (pictures coming later) It seems that modern technology is not needed in that rural areas, what I really like. On the other hand it is a pitty for those, who follow my trip and are waiting for the next post and pictures. Hopefully tomorrow we'll reach Peninsula Valdes and I ll be able to upload my latest photos again.


Yesterday and today we drove the Route 40 about 1000km (dirt road) to the north.
We had really nice adventures and landscapes. It is worth to wait, please be patient for the time being....:)

Torres del Paine

Származási hely: Torres del Paine

We´ve been lost in the last two days, but we did a hard work over the weekend and yesterday:)
Look at Google maps for our route and hikes and the place where we are at the moment;

Please click this link;

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=420879

(You have to zoom in to see all the details)

Argentina

Map your trip with EveryTrail


It was quite an active two days, we spent in the National Park Torres del Paine. A guide (Czech girl, working there for the season) came to pick up us Sunday early in the morning in our hostel in Puerto Natales. We went to an "estancia" to learn kayaking in 15 minutes and to go for 3 hour trip on one the fjords nearby. Although we had more or less a blue sky, it was quite cold and were worried to turn over into the fjords 8 degree warm:) water. Except one us, we were sitting the first time ever in a kayak. As you can see the pics, it went well and we could see some nice birds and amazing landscapes of the Torres.

Származási hely: Torres del Paine

I was always thinking about to start horse riding, so the afternoon we went horse riding... I think Patagonia is the right place isn´t it???? Our guide a dutch girl was verry surprised about our talent.

Származási hely: Torres del Paine

We didn´t feel tired enough after 8 hours active sport, so we continued by car and went to the heart of the national park. The accomodation we had that night was a bit strange. Electricity and heating was shut down at 11 p.m. We were quite unhappy, but didn´t know yet that the next night is going to be much more extreme:)))


The day after we drove around by car in the national park to Lago Grey, Lago Pehoe and to the waterfalls "Salto Grande". The glacier lake was really warm, the color of the lake Pehoe was amazing and the noise of the waterfalls was just scary.

Származási hely: Torres del Paine

Our big plan for the day was to hike up to the foot of the Torres cliffs. A 10km hike with an elevation of 700m (from 100m to 800m), it seems easy or????? It wasn´t...At this latitude things are slightly different:) It started to rain at noon, so we were waiting in a nice restaurant for the time being. Even at 5 o´clock we were facing still the same conditions. We decided to leave and to try to reach a "rifuggio" a few kms below our destination. It was a 2 hour walk in heavy and cold rain to arrive up there, where we were faced to the fact that the shelter is full for the night. We had to go on.... The rain wet over into snow... An other 2 hours of climbing up the trail and we reached a camping at 9 p.m. in the evening.

Did somebody of you ever set a up a tent in snowfall at 700m altitude???
I didn´t do it ever before...

Did somebody of you ever sleep below 0 degrees of temprature???
I didn´t do it ever before...

This day was the good time to start such things to do:)

Aditionally I almost died in a gas explosion, caused by my brand new gascooker, bought in Ushuia. I just wanted to make a nice hot tee, but it seems non of the gods were with us that day. The whole cooker blew up in my hands....

Származási hely: Torres del Paine

I think nobody would wonder about it, that we didn´t sleep to long in the morning after:) A further 100m s up and we reached the morena-lake of the Torres. On the way down the mountain, there was a nice weather and we had nice views of the 3 Torres cliffs. After drying our staff a bit in the parking lot, we left the park and turned back from Chille to Argentina, this time without any problem. We ate all our food carefully:)

For the latest pictures click on the small photo in the right column in order to acces Picasaweb or click the link below;

http://http//picasaweb.google.de/szaipandras/TorresDelPaine##


The story continues next from El Calafate s Perito Moreno glacier....