South America

From Europe to Latin America in one border crossing

Leaving Buenos Aires and crossing Rio de la Plata (“the big flat river”), one arrives in Uruguay. The Uruguayo — Americans would say Uruguayan but the locals here call themselves Uruguayos — capital of Montevideo is a safe and lovely city. Montevideo might just be about the nicest and safest...

Laid-back / Modes of Transport / South America

Incredibly wide border crossing

Rio de la Plata, the river separating Argentina from Uruguay, is so wide that it takes two hours to cross by ferry. That’s not even to get you down river to Montevideo. The ferry simply crosses from Buenos Aires to Colonia, the closest major city in Uruguay. From there, it’s...

Active / Nature / Off-the-beaten-path / South America / Tropics

Iguazú: More than just waterfalls

While Iguazú Falls may be the big draw, the park that encompasses the falls is more than 250 square miles. So it is much more than simply a big river impressively jumping off a cliff. Plus there is the nearby Argentine town of Puerto Iguazú, its Brazilian counterpart Foz de Iguazú and the...

Culture / History / Off-the-beaten-path / Off-the-cuff / South America

Jewish Holocaust Memorial – Montevideo, Uruguay

While walking along the Montevideo waterfront, I happened upon a plaque which announced (in Spanish) the Jewish Holocaust Memorial. So I followed the short path toward the waterline to check it out. The memorial itself is very simple yet incredibly powerful. It consists entirely of just two sections of sea...

Active / Nature / Off-the-beaten-path / South America / Tropics

Iguazú: The best waterfall you’ve never heard of… before today

Reportedly, upon seeing Iguazú Falls, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt exclaimed, “Oh poor Niagara!” Having been to both, I can say that Iguazú is by far the more impressive of the two. It is several times larger. Like Niagara, Iguazú Falls marks the border between two countries. In this case, Argentina...

Dining / Off-the-cuff / South America / Wandering

Montevideo McDonalds

I did NOT come to South America to eat at McDonalds (or patronize any other American chains) but, if I did, Montevideo has just about the nicest McDonalds I have seen anywhere in the world. And it’s literally right across the street from the beach.

Off-the-beaten-path / South America / Wandering

Argentina Beyond Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires may be the largest city in Argentina and the most European in all of the Americas, but Argentina is a huge country and there is a whole lot more to it than just Buenos Aires. I can’t claim to have seen much of Argentina outside its principle city....

Modes of Transport / Sedate / South America

All Aboard the South American Chicken Bus

Travel by bus is quite common throughout South America. While I’m sure some have visions in mind of a “chicken bus”, the reality is the polar opposite. There are dozens of bus lines and most of them are quite luxurious. Far more so than in the US. I took a...

Dining / South America

Life Lived Outdoors in Buenos Aires

I don’t know what Buenos Aires is like in winter. I’m told it gets down to freezing but usually not lower. I don’t especially care to find out. What I do know is that it’s positively delightful in summer. Argentines live their lives outdoors. There are enough open air and...

Nature / South America

Esta es Buenos Aires también

This is Buenos Aires as well. Over by the waterfront is Buenos Aires’ business district. While the gleaming, modern chrome-and-glass skyscrapers don’t have the same charm as the old-world European architecture of the more residential areas, this district is very clean. It has wide, tree-lined boulevards. Every part I saw...