Reflections of Argentina

After spending 23 days in Argentina on 3 separate visits over the last 6 weeks, with all the variety of doing it top to bottom, it was quite hard to get this into a manageable list of reflections. So here goes:

• Cash ("effectivo") is king. If you can pay by credit card, it's usually 20% more at least. The country is beset by high inflation hence the demand for cash, which is then made more expensive as max withdrawal at the ATM is £110 per go (with all the home bank charges to add)
• Whilst at times it felt expensive especially in the tourist areas of Ushuaia and Iguazu, you could get a decent room for £50 a night and dinner for two with wine was around £30. Bus fares were more expensive than in Chile though
• Argentinians are big meat eaters with "parrillas" (grills) everywhere. It was not just beef (which was excellent) but also pork, chicken and in Patagonia lots of lamb. Also lots of pastas and pizzas but no other variety. Lack of vegetables was noticeable in the restaurants
• The quality of red wine was excellent and cheap with the beers being good although a little "gasey"
• Buenos Aires was as noisy, brash and electric as we remember on our previous visits. Lots of colonial architecture and the Tango shows are a "must"
• We saw some stunning landscapes with huge amount of variety from the mountains in Salta, lakes & volcanos in Bariloche, jungle & waterfalls in Iguazu, windswept emptiness of Ushuaia & Terra de Fuego and colonial architecture in Cordoba
• The people in the main are very friendly and helpful. Whilst at airports and military bases there were references to their right to the Isla Malvinas (Falkland Islands), especially in Patagonia, there was no anti British sentiment evident. We were always treated with respect and courtesy
• Overall it's easy to get around Argentina and whilst we had 2 flights as the distances are vast, we also had some long distance bus journeys too. We found the buses to be of excellent quality and the roads were good
• There is a strong Italian influence in the country especially in the cooking and language ("gratzia" as opposed to "gracious")
• We felt safe here, the water was drinkable, lots of hot water, electric sockets in abundance and the wifi, whilst at times a bit slow, was available everywhere for free
• Argentinians are football mad and in every bar and restaurant had a live or repeat game showing. The rivalry between the two BA teams of Boca Juniors and River Plate is huge
• There is a strong colonial history here. Most of the people are of european descent, having wiped out the indigenous people over the last 200 years (mainly through disease!)
• If you love '80s Power Ballads this is the place to come. Everywhere this music is played, quite loud at times and with the locals joining in
• Must be their love of the '80's here why there are also so many very old cars which would have been on the scrapheap at home many years ago. Not only are they old but also knackered and it is amazing to see that they run; they mustn't be MOTs here. Sierras, Escorts, old GM makes are in abundance.
• We love the country and can see us coming back again and again. Still so much more to do and see!