Travelling in Argentina

Iguazu, Argentina - While the world faces global monetary meltdown, we´ve been enjoying some of what Argentina, a country not immune to financial woes, has to offer. After an overnight in Buenos Aires, we headed 1000km west to Mendoza, staying four nights in a delightful vineyard and small hotel, the Finca Adalgisa (pictured). As a base for the surrounding area, it was perfect. We had one day visiting and lunching at local vineyards looking out at the Andes, and another exploring the remarkably verdant city of Mendoza, with its large park and tree-lined boulevards. The Finca is located in the suburb of Chacras de Coria, a 25 peso (five pound) taxi ride from the city centre, but with a rural character all its own. The food - not least the huge succulent steaks - and the local wines are wonderful.

From Mendoza we headed North to the Iguazu falls on the border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Staying at the Sheraton with a room overlooking the falls (as pictured), we spent time in both Brazil and Argentina seeing them from every angle. On the Brazilian side, we enjoyed a boat ride and helicopter trip, as well as several jungle trails, while we took the park train shuttle to the Devil´s Throat (a particularly powerful set of falls) near our hotel and walked several of the trails nearby. The sheer breadth of the falls is astonishing - they are best seen from the Brazilian side and there are plenty of companies offering day trips across the border. From Iguazu, we head back to Buenos Aires later today.