It wasn’t on my list of places I’d like to see, it was John’s idea so I just went along with it with quite low expectations. I thought John was keen to visit Argentina because of its obsession and history with football.

I’m soooo glad (on this occasion) John was right! It is a wonderful warm, friendly and engaging place.

Yes, football is prevalent EVERYWHERE you go, it’s on the TV constantly in cafes, on the streets and even in the subway system (subte). But if you’re like me, it’s very easy to ignore it.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a humungous place, we can’t really do it any justice in the four days we spent there, a bit like Bangkok in that it’s far too large to even contemplate. What I do know is that we loved it, the metro system is great and cheap, the people are friendly and warm. In comparison to Santiago in Chile, Buenos Aires feels much more ‘European’. We met so many people keen to use their very good English on us, friendly and helpful locals with tips and suggestions. This cosmopolitan city does have its poorer neighbourhoods too along with its cleaner and safer barros.

 

Being a vegetarian is hard in Argentina, being a vegan would be near impossible. Shops and markets sell lots of fruit and veg and as we like to cook at ‘home’ it’s not a huge problem, but eating out really comes down to pizza or pasta. Bread and cakes and sweet stuff are very popular in Argentina.

We spent some dosh at a great makers market, I got some splendid orange and blue boots, we saw some street art, tango, play parks and climbed trees

 

 

 

Iguazu Falls 

 

Our good friend Meg Kerr told me (about her world trip that she embarked on as a young woman) that Iguazu Falls was the most amazing place she had visited in the world. Oh Meg, you’d better be right as we’re going based on your recommendation. We had to get a 2 hour flight and special Yellow Fever injections (£340) – to stay for just 3 days! Meg, you didn’t let us down.

Iguazu Falls is truly amazing, forget Niagra, that’s just a piss in the shower in comparison.

 

Iguazu Falls is a national park on the border where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet, we stayed in Foz du Iguazu, 10km from the Falls. It’s an area with 275 waterfalls, this is heaven for a waterfall geek like me. From the thunderous sound and bottomless pit of ‘Devils Throat’, it was truly awesome – along with the cooling spray from the water onto your skin.

The 5miles of metal walkways would take you literally on top of the waterfall looking down and over the edge, they take you underneath the drops and on the sides of the cascades, you could see and experience the greatest waterfalls in the world from every angle and viewpoint.

 

 

 

We saw Iguazu (Iguassu) from both the Argentinian side and from the Brazilian side the next day. Both were exhilarating and different from each other. It was the first time I’ve seen a full rainbow arc from end to end, I had my pots of gold with me.

 

On the Brazilian side John (again) talked me into going to a ‘bird sancturary’  I’m not a fan of zoos or animal parks so I was sceptical but I went along with it – because I’m good like that  once again he was (bloody) right…it was brilliant, it was a forest designed and devoted to saving, injured or trafficked wild birds of all shapes, sizes and colours – ever seen a pink flamingo close up? No, me neither until now

 

 

Who knew new that Arlo would be such a butterfly lover, he didn’t even know until now, they fluttered around us, loving Arlo’s sugary fingers, he was ecstatic and was in his element, he loves his butterflies almost as much as he loves his six pack

 

 

Watch out for those pesky raccoons though, I saw one face plant dive on a woman’s head and steal her butty

 

 

 

Iguazu Falls (in case you hadn’t noticed) has been one of my highlights of the trip so far – even the kids liked it!