Córdoba, Argentina (24th September - 10th October)

Well we arrived in Argentina´s second biggest city after one of the most spectacular airline flights of our lives (scenery-wise) - over the Cordillera of the Andes mountain range - simply an amazing representation of the sublime. (will post photos soon!)

Córdoba is a sweet city with a long history. In parts it reminds us of Melbourne, especially the grouping of barrios known as Nuevo Córdoba, where our hostel is. It has a thriving cafe and restaurant scene and a fairly happening nightlife. However, being an inland city the climate and landscape reminds me a lot of the land surrounding Canberra - out here it is a very Australian-type of dryness to the soil and fauna.

Córdoba is our springboard for visiting some historical Jesuit estancias (like large ranches or stations) in the nearby time of Jésus de Mária. We are also going horseriding in the foothills leading up to the Andes, with our first view of the pampas unfolding out below us, and of trying a traditional parilla (grill) and our first taste of máte (an infusion made from the herb yerba máte and prepared and drunk in a special way). We also see our first polo matches (a big sport in Argentina). Considering the similarities between the agricultural, cattle and horsemanship cultures of rural Argentina and Australia, it is interesting that polo never became a big sport back home.