It’s the same every year. Except this year, obviously. I stand before the departure board at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and look in wonder at the adventures awaiting from one runway.
Once I’ve established where the Córdoba gate is, I looked beyond that to fabulous-sounding places like Rio Grande, El Calafate, Ushuaia and San Carlos de Bariloche. And every year it’s the same.
Next year.
Definitely next year. Every time we go, Colin Clark and I make a pact that next time we will head south to the land of fire, to Tierra del Fuego.
Patagonia is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, but never had the time. I’ve done the odd couple of days ahead of Rally Argentina, but they’ve always been centred on the beautiful city of Buenos Aires for an eclectic cuppa in Palermo, a bit of culture in the Museo Evita and a trip through the colourful La Boca district.
There’s so much more to Argentina than its capital city, than the 9 de Julio Avenue (named after Argentina’s independence day, July 9, 1816), and the enormous obelisk which sits in The Republic Square at the junction of that road and Corrientes Avenue – you’d recognise this from the ceremonial start of a Dakar or two.
A good few WRC folk have headed north after the rally, way north to the border with Brazil. That border, in a place called Iguazú, is marked by what’s reckoned to be the world’s largest waterfall. This is where the River Iguazú tumbles over an 80-meter cliff in fairly spectacular fashion.
The River Iguazú originates close to Curitiba, Brazil for another rallying link. Remember the Rally Internacional de Curitiba? An Intercontinental Rally Challenge round that ran in 2009 and 2010 and was won both years by Kris Meeke in a Peugeot 207 S2000.
Waterfalls have never really been my thing. Mountains are much more so. And if I couldn’t make it all the way to the Fin del Mundo, then how about heading west on Ruta Nacional 7? That’s the road which runs from Buenos Aires to Santiago – even better it goes through the Andes in Mendoza, one of the finest red wine regions on God’s green earth.
And the best bit (apart from the Malbec)? You can take the bus, direct from one capital to the other. It takes 21 hours and costs around £50. But it’s utter luxury onboard, with virtually lie-flat seats and all mod-cons (like a toilet and a TV…).
But still, the south beckons.
There’s something about sailing past the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse in the Beagle Channel, hooking a left at Ushuaia, keeping Isla Nueva on your left and setting the course south. Now, there’s nothing between you and Antarctica. How cool is that?
If sailing’s not your thing, then how about some skiing or a drive through some of the temperate rainforests or hanging out in the world’s eighth largest desert?
Or, you could just settle down, watch the sun set over the end of the earth and enjoy a cold Patagonia cerveza and a plate of Chupe de Centolla. King Crab Pie to you and I.
Next year. Definitely.
