Resumé

15 December. Asker Norway.

We are nearly 5 days at home after a 18 days trip to Buenos Aires and for most of the time to the southern part of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. 6 flights and 3 bus rides. 
 

What is the first thought that comes to our mind? We have only seen a small part of this huge country. Maybe we have to go again and visit the northern part?

Anyway, we felt much more at home than we had expected. We only met friendly people. Only one person in the group was robbed. She knew it could happen and fortunately did not lose much money. Gerda's spanish went better then expected, so it is only to continue with spanish lessons via Duolingo. 

Our impression is that the history here starts around 1850. It is a sad story. About all is forgotten about the Indians who owned this land. From the Yamana tribe there is only one person alive. Most of them died due to unequal fights and to illnesses brought upon them by white people. In Buenos Aires you can see that the oldest buildings are from  the 19th century.  All built in grand South European style. Not so strange since most descendants came from Spain and Italy, but also some from England and Wales. The effect that had on architecture can clearly be seen. On these buildings you can also see that Argentina have had good times.

Some other thing which was striking is the houses. Many are built with corrugated iron sheets on the walls and roofs. They still build like this but it gives a poor impression. Times are not so good in Argentina at the moment. And the value of the peso is constantly declining.  But Buenos Aires gives a grand impression with its wide boulevards and open spaces with flowering jacarandas.

The country side is impressive with its wide steppe landscapes on one side and in the Andes mountains on the other side. What was striking us the most was that you find so many glaciers and mountains covered with snow at such low altitude here in the South. 

This trip was impressive and  informative in every respect. We had good travel companions and a guide (he had studied geology) who could tell us a lot about the birth of the Andes. 

We would like to end our blog about Argentina with thanking our followers and again we have seen that we  are never to old for learning.