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I?ve arrived in Argentina, at the start of World Cup month, which has had more than a little influence on my travels here. Trying to plan activities & travelling around a large country without missing any major football matches is having a slightly detrimental effect on my cultural activities, however, it has seen a dramatic increase in my partying activities!
First stop was Buenos Aires for a few days spent checking out in the city?s bars & restaurants - this country?s not for vegetarians, the ?Parilla? means chucking half a cow over some hot coals and eating it with a fine Mendoza wine whilst avoiding the few sorry looking leaves of lettuce or slices of tomato that accompany it. A typical Parilla will include various cuts of steak, chops plus a couple of types of sausages and some cow intestines and brain for that special texture and added flavour! The Argentinians are a bit relaxed in heading out for a night and most things only tend to liven up well after midnight with most clubs kicking in about 2 or 3 am and closing at 6, if you?re lucky.
Next stop was the lively city of Rosario, famous for being the birthplace of one Che Guevara Lynch and also for having the most beautiful girls in the whole of Argentina, a fact, not an opinion. I heard a couple of theories as to why this is so, the main one being that most of the wives of the Spaniards that arrived in Rosario during the colonial years were of the ?well bred?, aristrocratic, good looking variety. Either way, the men of Rosario and visitors alike are pretty thankful.
Although expected, Argentina?s victory against the Ivory Coast resulted in loud and lively celebrations in the streets and of course I was obliged to join in the celebrations. From Cordoba, I explored the nearby valleys of Punilla and Calamuchita staying in little towns, exploring the hills by foot and bike and checking out the very Germanic town of Ville General Belgrano settled in the 1930?s by German and Austrian families.
Returning to Buenos Aires I stopped off in Rosario once more to check if the country?s prettiest girls were still pretty (they certainly were) and to celebrate Argentina?s Dia de La Bandera or Flag Day celebrating the celestial blue and white flag?s first use in Rosario in 1812 by General Belgrano. This signified the beginning of independance for Argentina and subsequently the rest of S. America from the Spanish. As it happened I?d already seen the original flag in Sucre, Bolivia where it now is.
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