Hola from BA

First Timer Blog Post... comin' at ya from Buenos Aires!

I am about a third of the way through my fifth visit to my home-away-from-home / second country -- Argentina. And this is my FIRST ever blog!! Whooohooo!

Although I've been here several times before, this is the first time I have come down during the month of January. I left San Francisco in the middle of the Winter (ok, so it's about as mild a Winter as they come), and arrived in BA (short for Buenos Aires) in the middle of their Summer. Not a bad trade.

I could stay in BA for the entire trip... but I always try to hit up a new spot somewhere else in Argentina when I roll down this way. This time around is no exception. I already took a short sidetrip to Rosario (the capital of Santa Fe province), a 3.5 hour bus ride up to the north. And tomorrow morning, I jump on a jet to Bariloche.

Bariloche (full name is actually San Carlos de Bariloche) is located in the provincia of Neuquen, which is considered Northern Patagonia. During the Winter months (June - August), it is one of the hotspots for ski/snowboard action, but it is also supposedly incredibly beautiful during the rest of the year as well. Think Lake Tahoe with a strong Swiss vibe.

Besides being a mountain escape for the denizens of Buenos Aires and other locales through Argentina, it offers up a ton of adventure/outdoor activities throughout the year. Whitewater rafting, fishing (especially fly fishing), canyoneering, trekking, camping, horseback riding, and moutain biking are just a few of the recreational offerings. I'm personally hoping to at least get in one solid day hike to some crazy vista.

I'm also keen to scope out the real estate opportunities in this part of Argentina. Since I already have a foot in the door with the two BA apartments, adding a phat mountain home to the quiver would be the next logical step. I'm not in buying mode this trip... but I could make a move soon depending on what my research uncovers.

Ok. Enough for post numero uno.