Posts in the Argentina Category

March 16, 2007

The “Devil’s Throat” at Iguazu Falls, Argentina

After consulting Wikipedia to find out just what the 7 wonders of the world actually are, and after telling people for months that Iguazu Falls is indeed a wonder of the world, I was disappointed to find that it does not appear on any list. Although, I was very pleased to find that the Falls did appear in a few episodes of Miami Vice in the 1980′s.

So, in accordance with my findings, I have decided to start Dave Ford’s 8 wonders of the world. As of now I have four (this list can change at any time, and at no time promises to be reasonable). There is no criteria or restrictions. I can pick a person, place, or whatever else I deem worthy.

DF’s 8 Wonders of the World
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1. The Continent of Antarctica
2. The Steaks of Buenos Aires
3. Torres Del Paine
4. Iguazu Falls
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?

The story of a rather large waterfall…..

John and I took a bus from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls in the northernmost corner of Argentina. When I say bus, what I really mean is the sweetest mode of transportation on the entire planet! We took a Cama Suite model. For a couple of extra bones you get a bed that reclines almost all the way back, a really good meal, and a few nightcaps right before bed. You also get the standard medley of 80′s songs right before bedtime. We were blessed with the likes of Lionel Richie, Celine Dion, and Tony Braxton. Thank God for the nightcaps or it might have turned ugly.

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March 12, 2007

Steak and Malbec at La Cabrera, Cuban Cigars, and the Buenos Aires Bike Tour

Before reading this post, check out this cigar humidor to make the best of your cigars….

Buenos Aires.  My sweet, sweet Buenos Aires. I am going to miss you.

We spent 3 special weeks together over the last 2 months. It was you who introduced me to my crazy Aussie traveling companions. You were the first place I heard about the opportunity to travel to Antarctica. I must say, I am going to miss your 11pm dinners, your nightclubs that open at 2am, your bountiful steaks, and your mate (MA-TAY is a local tea sort of thing). You are a sweet, gentle ciudad.  I hope that you treat the others that follow me into your arms as well as you have treated me. Oh Buenos Aires, I love you!

My final stint in Buenos Aires can be summed up in one word:  “STEAK”. John Wynn (profile below) and I have spent the last few days eating gigantic steaks, drinking wine, and chilling hard. The weather this time around has been spectacular as it has been 75 and sunny almost every day.

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March 3, 2007

Antarctic Afterglow

Back to Buenos Aires

After a nice Argentine dinner with my new friends from my Antarctica expedition, I jumped on a plane to Buenos Aires yesterday. The flight was originally supposed to leave at 830pm. Unfortunately, it left a little closer to 3:30Am in the morning. I arrived back in Buenos Aires at around 6am this morning, with no hostel reservation, no hotel reservation, and working on 3 hours of sleep from the previous night. We had a pretty big night on the last night of the expedition.

After walking around Buenos Aires with my backpack for an hour and a half, I finally booked a room in a small hotel. I crashed out for 10 hours. It is the best sleep I have had in a long, long time. Actually, this should work out as an advantage as I’m now on true Buenos Aires time: Wake up at 4:30pm, have dinner at 11:30, go to the club at 2:30 in the morning, return home at 7am, etc.

Antarctic Afterglow

I am still on cloud nine from the Antarctic trip. I do not have any idea how in the hell I am going to post everything that happened. I have 20 pages of notes. What an amazing experience. I also met such incredible people.

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February 20, 2007

Almost the End of the Earth–Ushuaia, Argentina

I have spent much of the last few days recovering from Torres Del Paine. I am at about 95% and just about ready for my next adventure.

So far the weather in Ushuaia has been a delightful mix of rain, high winds, and more rain. The actual city is situated on an island in Tierra Del Fuego and the Beagle channel runs right in front of the city. I am currently sitting in a crappy internet cafe in the southern most city in the entire world. Due to its geographical position, Ushuaia serves as a launching pad for most Antarctic expeditions and thrives from a bustling maritime economy. Over 172 years ago, Charles Darwin sailed right by here while developing his evolutionary theories aboard the Beagle. I am going to go ahead and guess that the weather was similar in 1833 as well. Ushuaia is an interesting mix of tourist trap and shantytown. On one hand, it comes complete with high end shopping, a casino,  and nice restaurants. On the other hand, the houses look like they are ready to topple over at any second. The next stiff breeze could send this entire town into shambles.

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February 10, 2007

Patagonia: The Perito Moreno Glacier outside of El Calafate

The Internet in Patagonia blows the big one. Now, I realize that there is nothing down here. I realize that it is a beautiful place, full of glaciers, and penguins, and sheep farmers. However, there is no reason that I should not be able to send an email in 5 minutes. As far as computers go, Patagonia –both Argentinian and Chilean- are hopelessly trapped in 1996.

The 32 hour bus ride from Bariloche was not much better than Internet connections in Patagonia. I have come to the conclusion that I am simply too large for bus transportation. In addition, I am too large for planes, the back seats of most cars, and bicycles. My most recent addition to the list is horses.

Anyway, enough bitching.  On with the good stuff. I saw a Glacier!

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