Roaming South America

San Rafael, Argentina

November 23, 2024

San Rafael, Argentina, is not a historically old city, and doesn't have any notable colonial architecture left. But it is a pleasant place to visit for a day. The town has a population of around 100,000. The city streets throughout the center and downtown areas have wide and very wide sidewalks and lots of tree lining both sides of the streets, and that goes on through most of the city. There are some nice parks and plazas and a few parks that need attention.

Mendoza, Argentina

November 22, 2024

I arrived in Mendoza, Argentina last Sunday afternoon, it was sunny and warm, and felt like an early summer day back in Seattle. As I walked from the bus terminal through the city center to the main plaza and across town to the apartment I rented for a few days, the first thing I noticed was how clean the city is. I mean the amount of litter could probably be counted on my two hands. And that was over a course of some 3-4 kilometers. Also, the city streets, downtown and in the suburbs, are lined on both sides by large mature trees, it's beautiful. This city impresses right from the get-go. The Plaza Independencia is a beautiful park, clean and well-kept, people sitting under the trees all throughout the park. I'm looking forward to spending four or five days here. The one thing that comes to mind that is a negative point for me is the climate. According to the stats it gets rather cold here in the winter. But for now, I'm going to enjoy a few days of very pleasant warmth in a pretty city.

San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina

July 10, 2023

San Salvador de Jujuy, Argentina.

In wrapping up my visit to Paraguay, and working my way north through the towns of Yby Yaú and Concepción, I visited Filadelfia, a mostly Mennonite town. Taking the bus from Filadelfia should have been no more than 5 - 5 1/2 hours, so I figured. Boy, was I wrong.

Purmamarca, Argentina

July 8, 2023

Purmamarca, Argentina, has a population of about 891, as of the 2010 census. Purmamarca is an old town—the church (see the photos in the photo album) was built in 1648, and is still being used today. The town had already existed at the time of the conquest of the local area. The walls are adobe and the roof is made of Cardón and mud. Cardón is a catus that looks very similar to the Sajuaro cacti in Arizona and northern Mexico.

Concordia, Argentina

June 3, 2023

San Antonio de Padua de la Concordia (Concordia), Argentina, has a population of about 155,000. Concordia sits on the eastern border of Argentina and across from Salto, Uruguay.