After the high of Patagonia, it was a bit jarring to be back in a city (or more accurately, a sprawling, metropolitan city with 3 Million people!). It was a bit depressing actually, which was a completely unfair start to exploring the amazing and dynamic city that Buenos Aires truly is. But we couldn't help it. Whereas Patagonia was relaxed and laid-back with breathtakingly beautiful scenery, Buenos Aires was busy and crowded with garbage bags stacked on its narrow sidewalks and A/C condensation dripping from the high-rise apartments above. It was a very stark contrast, and it required some adjustment.
However after a couple days, we really began to enjoy the city. We had a lot of fun on the bike tours that guided us through different neighborhoods, including the colorful La Boca. We loved watching tango -- I was amazed by the serious, often somber expressions of the dancers. It was so cool that the dancers were so into it, concentrating on every nuanced step and movement, and I felt very grateful that I had a sneak peek into their world. We were blown away by the Recoleta cemetery and all of its elaborate architecture. We had a lot of fun strolling among locals at the street markets. We watched Messi score a goal (on TV, but it was a cool experience nonetheless). And of course, the food and wine -- all sorts of grilled meats and Malbecs, Argentinean specialties -- were irresistibly delicious. As I commented on Instagram, I don't think there's any country in the world that loves meat and wine more than Argentina does. It was astounding to me how big the meat portions are, and how abundantly (and quickly) the wine flows.
That theme carried over to our time in Mendoza, where it was all about the food and wine. The grilled entraña (skirt steak) and empanadas filled with flank steak were particularly unforgettable. And we learned a lot about local wine growing techniques and sampled some great wines on our tours to two local wine regions, Lujan de Cuyo and Uco Valley.
From Patagonia to Buenos Aires and Mendoza, Argentina was such a fantastic experience... The people were so friendly, and the country has so much to offer in terms of food, history, culture and travel experiences.
Being in Buenos Aires and seeing the people and how the city functions, it's not so different than any major city in the U.S., or the world. So on one of our tours, I was shocked to learn that the average monthly salary is only about $400. I majored in Econ and know that that's more than what a lot of people earn in other countries, but it was still a bit surprising for a major city. It was yet another reminder that, amidst all the negativity and negative attributes of America publicized by the media everyday, there's so much to be thankful for, and that being able to travel as we have is quite rare and we shouldn't take it for granted.
