I wanted to get to Buenos Aires but knowing that would be the final stop of this adventure, I didn’t want to get there quite yet. I’ve regularly used the standard traveler’s guide Lonely Planet to look up ideas of places to go and that’s how I ended up here, in San Antonio de Areco.
I rode into the town after a few hours of passing farm land and estancias. The cobblestone streets of the center of town were quiet as I rode down them towards the park and the tourism office. In small towns like this I’ve found the info centers have the nicest and most helpful staff waiting to offer advice. The woman working helped me find an affordable hotel room for $10 a night.
The hotel was what you might expect for a private room with wifi for $10. The owners were in the middle of painting and fixing the place up. No smoking signs were posted around but the room wreaked of smoke. The person in the room next door apparently just stayed in their room watching tv and smoking all day long. As developed as Argentina is they seem to consistently have some of the oddest shower/bathroom setups. Here’s my bathroom at this hotel.
Don’t put your towel on the floor! The whole thing floods when you shower. Guess it’s an easy way to always have washed floors.
Set on the flat pampas San Antonio sets itself apart by preserving it’s gaucho history. The town has been known for it’s silversmiths and cowboy heritage festivals. The whole town is walkable so I parked the moto and spent two days walking around.
In every city in Argentina long lines form at the banks on payday.
A Jeep unique to Argentina. Unsure of the model and year but it’s some kind of an IKA.
Another odd vehicle on the streets of Argentina.
Work by Argentine artist Florencio Molina Campos.
Neighborhoods around here don’t have trashcans on the street. Residents just put their household rubbish in these waist-high bins lining the streets.
Unfortunately I would miss the 80s film festival.
Just across the river lies the towns main attraction, Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Güiraldes. The estancia was built to tell the story of Argentina’s gaucho history and the legacy of author, Ricardo Güiraldes. The author’s most well known work is Dom Segundo Sombra, a novel about a gaucho.
San Antonio de Areco was the perfect stop before riding my last ride into Buenos Aires. I wanted to ride to Uruguay but my passport didn’t have enough space to stamp out and back into Argentina. The US consulate in Buenos Aires can give new pages but it isn’t cheap. Less than 100 miles left of this adventure but almost a month until I fly home.
Hi Dan,
Maybe I can help you a little. That Jeep was tipic in Argentina, it was called IKA (Industrias Kaiser Argentina), which the was a joint venture with Renault (IKA-Renault), which had a great succes in the late 60s and during the 70s. That one in the picture maybe has about 40 years at least.
The other one, the orange one, it´s a Citroen Mehari, typical also as a beach car, was so fashion to have one! Today it´s also apreciated, but they are also out of production. That one is maybe form late 70s, early 80s.
Those waist high bins are made on purpose high, just against dogs, you´ve seen lots of street dogs in the streets of Argentina.
Those king of little country towns just 100kms away from the Capital are really fancy, relax and friendly towns, just the opposite to the crazy live in the Capital.
Enjoy the rest of your stay there.
Big hug.
Martín
Thanks, Martin! Go out and travel to there!
Great to see the latest and how the trip is winding down. I always find that some of the most rewarding surprises occur near the end. I’m sure you may have pre-made accommodations but I’m sure my friends at “Mi Casa BA” would love to host you and hear your stories. All the best.