Buenos Aires, Tigre

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Day 541,
58,426 kilometres since the beginning of the journey,
Buenos Aires, Tigre



It is raining. For some time - just rain and then again real downpour. And everything around is gray. Meanwhile even some mosquitoes are flying around, but they don`t matter as here, in Buenos Aires, there is no malaria and no necessity to take Malarone for prophylaxis. They say that Malarone has no side effects, and when you start to take them you do not feel anything, but once you quit taking them – you really feel yourself much better. Still chemistry.


Finding an overnight place turned out more complicated than expected, because could not find either classic caravan park or a certain place for "overlanders” as well. I mean those with vehicles.

For moto-tourists there is a place "Dakar Motos". This place offers both - shelter and repair-help and the most important - you can exchange impressions with other travellers. And will receive useful local information.

As for a place for overlanders - I mean some kind of a place that the majority of overlanders will stop for a day or longer period. Such as in Nairobi - Chris's "Jungle Junction", or in Addis Ababa - "Wim's Holland House" or in Khartoum - "Blue Nile Sailing Club." Several blogs mentioned the coordinates of a parking-place in the city centre next to Darsena Norte), which had 24 hour security and it would have been possible to spend there some nights.

Out of town the situation was said to be better. In Tigre the campsite named "L'Hirondelle" was about 30 kilometres from Buenos Aires, which is nothing special taken into consideration the size of Buenos Aires. It was easy to trace, just turn on the GPS coordinates, and then study the route over with a critical eye. Life has taught that the route recommended by the equipment could be blindly trusted - but just in case – check it over. And have the paper map on the passenger seat as well.

GPS uses "Mapear V9.60 Mapas Electrónico Argentino", a free downloadable map for Garmin and it was supposed to cover Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay.



The first impressions are very positive, and the map is detailed enough. When the level of the detail is turned on.



And I've also downloaded the OpenStreetMap (never use only one map!), which is also available free of charge, but later it will turn out which one is more convenient to use. And more accurate. It is now clear that while driving one cannot turn everywhere as there are one-way streets and it gets dark here rather early, still it is winter here, and it is not very wise to drive around the suburbs in the dark. At least in the beginning.

Another fact is that many of the parking lots cannot accept higher cars than 1.80 and 1.90



There are 7 lines on highways. One must get used to the traffic first and then practise steering the wheel with one hand and taking pictures or video with the other hand.



Tigre. A small town northwest of Buenos Aires.


Camping - picture from the boat bridge .The River Reconquista, one of the most polluted rivers in the country. The water is muddy. As it is winter, the trees are bare now, and without leaves. During the warm season it is certainly nice and green around.


A rusty ship by the shore on the other side.


River traffic



 
In the house there is electricity, water – to get washed - and the most important – the owners are very nice people. As I have not yet bought myself another local 3G card - I was offered to use their USB stick.



And there are the dogs here too, at least four of them, so while cooking outside their company is guaranteed. On the first night there was a bit of biting, too, but now everything is ok. So far.



Fuel prices here in Argentine are in pesos, not dollars.

This primus camping stove can use besides gas also to liquid fuel, gasoline and even diesel, but the gas is the most convenient and cleaner.



About travel literature and maps. There are enough of all kinds of travel guides available about Argentina, starting with the Lonely Planet. The choice of cards seems to be smaller. As to paper charts just now I have only a Rough Guide Map Argentina, and attractions are being chosen with the help of DK Eyewitness Travel Argentina.  I have good experiences of DK-books from many countries, having used them in Morocco, Tunisia, and also in South Africa. The focus is on the sightseeing attractions and good pictures add a lot.



And another important source of information - the blogs, the blogs, the blogs.

Frankly, my intention was actually to write about the Buenos Aires Zoo, which was opened in 1875 and which I visited yesterday, when the weather was fine, even the picture of the white tiger was in the beginning, but it came out somehow completely different post. It happens.

About the zoo and museums and visiting the Presidential Palace will be written later, because for tomorrow the weather forecast promised sunshine, and maybe even for the day after tomorrow, so it is better to drive back to Buenos Aires, because there are still a lot to see.

It is said that on Tuesday there will be rain again.