Thermal Baths

Our chariot for this wonderful whirlwind exploration of Argentina was Leo's car which I even got to drive on occassion so it is one of my fondest icons of our journeys.

Our travelling music was enjoyable Argentine folk music and sometimes a North American rock and roll cd would slide into the player, lol. 

Our chariot also doubled as a most effective coffee house and we stopped and enjoyed Daphne's coffee on the road several times through out our trip.  I loved this ... possibly even prefered these coffee breaks to the ones we had in any restaurant in the land.  Several relaxing moments were spent around Daphne's thoughtful thermos of hot coffee.

We spent the evening of September 30th in an area internationally famous for its thermal waters -- Termas de Rio Hondo and had the luxury of relaxation in a hot mineral bath which have a claim to fame of having curative properties for high blood pressure and rheumatism, neither of which I have, but I would hightly recommend everyone putting something like this on their list of things to do!

Termas de Rio Hondo has two unusual features: it has a triangular Plaza San Martín as well as one of the country’s few public monuments to Juan and Evita Perón, two Argentineans whose notorious political lives thrust them squarely into the international spotlight, were both loved and hated by different groups for their brand of political thought and have left behind a nationwide political movement, Peronism.

I wished then that I had the opportunity to see the hit musical based on the life of Evita Durante, a B-picture Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.  Did any of you see it.  Would be a nice DVD to add to my collection.  I think Madonna starred in this movie.

Day Two - Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 - The Journey to Iruya begins!

Today we head north on our journey to Iruya, Leo's birthplace.  Unlike Canada which goes East to West, Argentina goes North to South and it gets more tropical as you head north.  We stopped in Rafella and Rosario in Santa Fe Province whre we visited the monument of the Nation's flag - "Cuna de la Badera" (cradle of the flag).  We stopped at the most delightful cafe for coffee; one of several all throughout this journey.

The countryside was beautiful, palm trees .... legendary shade trees; Daphne will have to add the story of the shade tree for us; it is a beautiful story!

Lionel Messi, a golden boy of world soccer, is Rosario born and bred. Tell you more about the Argentine love of soccer later on. It is beyond belief. Even restaurants have television sets so that their patrons are able to watch the soccer matches!

Interestingly, Rosario's first European inhabitants settled here around 1720 without sanction from the Spanish crown.

On Sunday, September 27th, 2009, Paul, Kendra, Princess Rebekah and Yvonne drove me to the Nanaimo airport to board a plane, the first leg in my adventurous journey to Argentina which I think was approximately 13,000 kms.

The weather was absolutely beautiful and the flight was most enjoyable.

Only had a couple of packages of lighters (with Canadian Logos) confiscated at the airport.

First stop was Vancouver where I had just enough time to change planes for the flight to Toronto.  This flight was also most enjoyable except that sometime during that flight or during the brief stop over there I lost my eye glasses.

The flight to Buenos Aires was very long, there was an unscheduled stop in Santiago Chili enroute to Buenos Aires but we did eventually arrive at our destination.  I had the privilege to get to see, from the window of the aeroplane, one of the great natural features of our globe, the breath taking snow covered Andes Mountains.

I am not sure why but I started to cry when the plane came to a stop at the Buenos Aires airport (Monday, September 28th, 2009) ... perhaps excitement or disbelief perhaps that I really had successfully accomplished getting from North America to South America all on my own; I really am not sure but I did have to stop and compose myself before trying to find my way to customs.

Daphne and Leo were waiting for me at the airport and Daphne was the first person I saw in the sea of faces ... that is my story anyway and I am sticking to it, lol.  Leo took us directly to the Submarine Club hotel where we spent my first evening.  Lovely place, comfortable and clean and you have heard it said, location, location, location --- well it could not get any closer to downtown  -- perfect location!

Once settled we went for a stroll to experience the sights, sounds and smells of this beautiful European-like cosmopolitan metropolis where I understand approximately 1/3 of the population of Argentina lives.  It would of been impossible, even for me, not to notice the 220 feet of the Obelisk stretching up above street level.   The Obelisk represents not only Argentina and Buenos Aires, but, to me most importantly it also represents the people, the culture, and the past of this mystical land.

We went out for a BBQ dinner, Argentine style (assortment of large cuts of beef and sausages, etc.).  It was a dinner for 3 that would of easily served double that many people if not more and it was the first of many absolutely incredible meals I was to enjoy during my stay.  It was served at the table sizzling on a "mini BBQ (complete with hot coals and grill)" to keep the foods warm.  It is not all about the food in Argentina but believe me when I say it is a large part of the Argentine experience and I love to eat so it was all wonderful from my point of view! 


People in Argentina seldom eat dinner before 9 pm and there normally is live music to enjoy along with it.