Vamos Argentina

2022 marked a new milestone in my travel bucket list with my longest flight to date and first trip to South America. Being passionate about Latin music and dance, I’ve always been keen to explore Argentina, the birthplace of tango. After starting my trip search, the more I read the more I learned that there is so much more to discover about Argentina beyond tango. Unlike other parts of the world, November coincided with spring season in Argentina, making it an ideal time of the year to visit the country and enjoy its nature.

The most challenging part of the trip was squeezing key things to see within eight days while recovering from a 19-hour flight. Yet, I did accept the challenge and broke a new record in my travel history. Taking off from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the flight went non-stop for 14 hours. I stopped for two hours in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before heading to my final destination.

After a long journey, I finally made it to Buenos Aires, the beautiful capital of Argentina. The city was peaceful yet vibrant and welcoming. It also had a special festive flavor with ‘Vamos Argentina’ signs everywhere, on street traffic lights, shops and restaurants, boosting people’s spirit to celebrate the country’s participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Arriving at my boutique hotel, Selina Palermo Soho, I felt right away at home with a warm quote on the wall: “You’re Exactly Where You Need To Be.” It was nestled in the narrow streets of Palermo, the largest neighborhood and one of the best areas to stay in Buenos Aires for first time visitors. Getting good sleep, waking up to street views hugged by long green trees, and grabbing a fresh coffee in the morning, got me all set to recover from my flight and start my Argentinian adventure.

Live,Love,Breathe Buenos Aires

My day one in the city of good air began with exploring its key districts. The city was blooming with deep purple flowers and Jacaranda trees, the most recognizable trees

in town during springtime. Buenos Aires is divided into 48 barrios (neighborhoods), combining modernity, history, art, culture and boho look and feel. My first stop was at Recoleta, a refined residential area of great historical and architectural interest called as "the Paris of the south," thanks to its iconic buildings with a Parisian flair.

My next stop for lunch was at Mercado de San Telmo, a foodie’s wonderland with restaurants, bars, fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. After having a delicious pizza and cooling craft beer, I continued my journey to Puerto Madero, the city’s youngest neighborhood at the Río de la Plata riverside. Along the canals, former industrial warehouses have been converted into bars, eateries and offices in one of the world's most successful urban waterfront restoration projects.

Each neighborhood in Buenos Aires had a unique character and something to be admired, but my favorite was La Boca, the culture and arts district. Famous for its colorful-painted houses, La Boca is located next to the old port and was where immigrants, mostly coming from Genoa in Northern Italy, settled. Apart from its bright buildings, La Boca streets were buzzing with murals, flowers, traditional music and Argentine tango dancers.

The pinnacle of the day was attending a classical tango show in the evening at Galería Güemes Theatre, a true gem at the heart of Buenos Aires with its Art Nouveau architecture, glass dome and bronze work. Sitting at one of the private balconies overlooking the stage while watching masterpiece group and couple tango performances inspired by the works of Astor Piazzolla, one of the most influential figures in the history of tango music composition, was a dream becoming true!

Argentine Ranches

My next visit was to Pampas, the vast lowlands located west of Buenos Aires and the home of the gauchos, Argentina's famous baggy-trousered cowboys. Arriving at Estancia El Ombú de Areco, a traditional ranch in the countryside, we were welcomed with freshly made beef empanadas served in a sunny outdoor area shaded by the trees. We then had the opportunity to take a horse tour around the ranch, learn about its culture, and have a delicious all you can eat Argentine Asado (barbeque) while enjoying folk music and dance.

The tour ended with an emotional show demonstrating how gauchos tame their horses through whispering. This gentle rapport between the gaucho and the horse relies on earning its trust and loyalty by using communication techniques derived from observing free-roaming horses and rejecting more abusive training methods. On our way back to Buenos Aires, I also learned how to make Yerba Mate, Argentina’s favorite herbal tea drink. Interestingly enough, Mate is also very popular in my home country, Syria, and was brought by immigrants all the way from South America to become a popular drink among Syrians too.

Almighty Iguazú Falls

My second stop for this trip was Puerto Iguazú, a city in northeast Argentina that is less than two hour flight from Buenos Aires. This subtropical paradise is home to the Triple Frontier, where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet, and Iguazú Falls National Park, one of the 7 Natural World Wonders. Landing with a golden sunset, I was accompanied to the hotel by my tour driver, a friendly young man who only spoke Argentinian. But we managed to communicate somehow, and he was kind enough to show me around the city.

Arriving at Jasy Hotel, a hidden gem at the heart of Puerto Iguazú, I was welcomed by the kind staff and escorted to my massive duplex room that had three beds and a beautiful balcony overlooking the rainforest. Waking up to the sound of the jungle, I had a fresh breakfast at the hotel terrace and got ready for my long-awaited Gran Aventura. Meeting with other fellow travelers, my tour started with the Argentine side of the waterfalls. The park has 275 separate waterfalls fed by the Iguazu River, which sits on the border of Argentina and Brazil. It was divided into an upper and lower trail reachable by foot or an ecological train.

After taking a lunch break, the most exciting part of the day came when we took an open top bus ride through the forest before taking our boat adventure into the falls. Getting that close view of the immense and sparkling waterfalls while having a fair amount of water splash was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. The Iguazú Falls adventure didn’t end there. The next day we headed to Foz do Iguaçu, the Brazilian side of the waterfalls, less than one hour drive from Puerto Iguazú.

Although most of the falls are on the Argentine side, the Brazilian side has the best view of the Devil’s Throat, the most impressive and majestic waterfall in the park, with 14 falls plunging more than 350 feet. I also had the chance to visit Parque das Aves, which is adjacent to the waterfalls and the only institution in the world focused on the conservation of Atlantic Rainforest birds. The park didn’t only have beautiful, lush and unique birds, but it also gave me a flavor of vivid Brazilian green, blue and yellow colors that made me even more eager to visit this vibrant country one day.

I bade farewell to Puerto Iguazú, Buenos Aires and Argentina with heart-warming festivities all over the country celebrating the national football team’s wins at the World Cup. Local people and visitors were vibing, and the streets were filled with joy and pride. Although my trip was short and sweet, it gave me so many fascinating stories about Argentine culture and unforgettable memories that paint this country’s vast blue sky and shining sun…So if you ask me today: was it worth the 19-hour flight? I’d say yes indeed!