Argentina - from top to bottom

In February 2008 I finally realised my ambition of visiting some of the sights of Argentina, from the north to the far south. The trip began, naturally enough, in Buenos Aires. Then south, down to the Valdes Peninsula, a World Heritage Site, and Punta Tomba nearby which is the home of a large colony of Magellanic Penguins. South again to Tierra del Fuego and the town of Ushuaia, the "most southerly town in the world". It lies on the Beagle Channel through which Charles Darwin sailed on his famous trip which took him, amongst other places, to the Galapagos Islands. Whilst there we had a short tour of the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park. Then, northwards to El Calafate, the base for trips to the Perito Moreno Glacier. This was followed by a brief stopover in Buenos Aires which gave us the chance to visit a local Estancia before heading still further north to the Iguazu Falls on the border with Brazil. Finally, back to Buenos Aires for a further short stay giving the opportunity for some more sightseeing before returning home. Here are a few of the pictures taken during the trip...


The Cabildo de Buenos Aires, the original colonial seat of government	Banners of the "Mothers of the Plaza Mayo" against the "Dirty War" of 1976/83	The "Casa Rosada" on the Plaza de Mayo, home of the Presidential Offices	The "Puente de la Mujer" or "Bridge of the Woman" by the Puerto Madero


What are they so interested in?	The tomb of Evita Peron	A nice day for walkies!	Not Britain but Buenos Aires!


Sunday afternoon at Plaza San Telmo flea market	These brightly painted signs are very popular	Impromptu demonstrations of tango dancing	A crowd gathers around musicians in the Plaza


No escape, tango everywhere!	Even in Florida	A famous haunt of writers and thinkers for over 150 years. "Café Tortoni"	Inside, very little seems to have changed


In the evenings things change with an intimate tango show	These take place regularly every evening	Another old establishment, the "Confitería Ideal". A favourite haunt of the older Porteños ladies	Inside the huge "Galerías Pacífico" shopping mall on Florida


Florida, a main shopping street of Buenos Aires	Home-made ice cream in a shop on Florida	The colourful La Boca district of Buenos Aires, once the home of 19th C Italian immigrants


The bright paint was "borrowed" from the nearby shipyards. The raffish area is now home to many artists and artisans		The church of Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar in the Recoleta district	Nearby is the Cementerio de la Recoleta


Artists display their work on Florida	The lovely Plaza San Martin in the business area	The trees in the Plaza give welcome shade from the sun	The Obelisk on 9th July Avenue commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Spanish settlement


One of the multi-lane highways circling B.A.	The "Floralis Genérica". It opens and closes its petals at dawn and dusk	Some colourful blossom on the trees in Plaza Francia	There were many such trees to be seen around B.A.


Visitors to a nearby Estancia enjoy a cart ride	The gauchos on the Estancia show their skills	The horses seem to be enjoying the activity	Punta Tomba, south of the Península Valdés


It is the home of a large colony of Magellanic penguins	The penguins share their home with a guanaco, a relative of the camel!	They are quite accustomed to the presence of we humans	Some young penguins, still with their downy feathers