Happy New Year - we made it to 100 posts.

Well folks, its been a very busy, fruitful year, We´ve made it for the first time to 100 posts and we could have gone beyond if time allowed.
I hope you had a great year and that the coming year will be even better.

I recommend , Ice cream in Buenos Aires - Luciano´s

Luciano´s is a relatively newcomer to the ice cream scene in Buenos Aires, Born in Mar del Plata in 2011 it has rapidly grown to the first places among the ice cream parlours.

Last year it won in the city of Buenos Aires the #1 price for the best craft ice cram voted by the city´s people.

Be it on a stick or scooped you can find a variety of flavours in their several stores in the city of Buenos Aires and other Argentine cities.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Where to eat - El Portal

"El Portal" is the place that everyone in San Miguel de Tucuman will reffer you too when you ask where to eat typical food.

Located at Av. 24 de Septiembre 351, it is the place to go have empanadas, locro or any other Tucuman delicacies including desserts.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Kibe y arabs

I´ve mentioned in previous posts that in Tucuman you can find the best empanadas and Milanesa sandys.

But there is a third contender to this tummy filling contest, and I´m talking bout the "Kibe" or "Kipe" as they write it in Tucuman.
Since there is a big arab comunity in the city, they have brought over some of their dishes and have popularized the kibe and even in a sanswich variaty which I have never had before.

Now the best place to eat "Kibe sandwich" is the "Mercado del Norte"located at Maipu 241, smack downtown San Miguel.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Museo de la Industria azucarera

The "Museo de la industria Azucarera" or sugar cane museum as some will call it is nested at the "9 de Julio Park" in San Miguel de Tucuman.

A very well set up museum with all the instruments of the suggar cane plantation and production of the white gold that made Tucuman so prosperous ammong the Northern Argentine provinces.

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Long weekend in Tucuman - Mercado del Norte

Of course I was´nt going to miss the local Market at San Miguel de Tucuman

Always the source of great pics and the chance to mingle with locals and have lunch with typical dishes and accessible prices.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Parque 9 de Julio

the "Parque 9 de Julio" which is San Miguel de Tucuman´s main park coveres 4000 hectares of green.

Inaugurated in 1898 and designed by french Landscaper Charles Thais, it contains more than 3000 tress and various statues of french origin that were very a la mode at the beginning of the 20th century.

An excellent place to walk and get some shade in the hot summer days.

Long weekend in Tucuman - La casa de Tucuman

La Casa de Tucuman, now "Museo de la Independencia" is one of San Miguel´s Highlights

The place where in 1816 Argentina finally declared independence from the kingdom of Spain, with several rooms illustrating the different actions that led to the creation of the independent nation.

Very well kept, the museum is free and is open every day. The back yard has aromatic olive trees and two relay panels made by Argentine artist Lola Mora.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Empanadas y Milanesas

Tucuman has always been famous for its empanadas which have their own recipe different from the empanadas Salteñas, Jujeñas or the ones found in Buenos Aires.
Definitely you will eat them while in town, fried or oven cooked.

But in recent years there is a contender to empanadas which is the Milanesa Sandwich, As you know Milanesa is breaded beef or chiken that comes in many combinations generally accompanied by fries or In a sandwich. So in Tucuman they even have a "Fiesta de la Milanesa"and there are many places than only sell Milanesa sandwiches.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Colours of San Miguel de Tucuman

San Miguel de Tucuman is a pictouresque place, even though the sourrounding countryside is much nicer.

But there are plenty of nice places to visit in the city, with its mix of colonial and barroque arquitecture. Depending of the time of the year you vist the weather can be very humid, hot or mild.

The Dragon Boat experience in Buenos Aires

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to do some Dragon Boat rowing in Puerto Madero, where the old docks used to be.

The main "Dique" or canal is around 3kms long and you get to row it back and forth with a unique perspective of the city from the river.

The trips are organised by "Puro Remo" out of the "Yatch Club de Puerto Madero"

Long weekend in Tucuman - San Miguel de Tucuman - The government Palace

A building that you will inmediatelly see in San miguel is the government house, right at the main square.

A baroque palace built in the early 1900s to show the province´s prosperity at the time, It can be visited daily for free with a tour guide.

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Long weekend in Tucuman - Churches in San Miguel de Tucuman

Being Tucuman one of the oldest provinces in Argentina it goes without saying that you will find a rich architectural heritage with beautiful colonial churches to be visited.

like in most Northern Argentine provincial capitals you will find them mostly In the downtown core.

Take your time to visit some and enjoy the beautiful interiors.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Tafi del Valle - The Passion

Now if you go to Tafi on holy week a must is to see the " Vida y Pasión del Dios hombre"

A very well produced open air play with more than 100 actors, played by local actors and the native peoples indians of the valley.

Long weekend in Tucuman - Tafi del Valle Cerro de la Cruz

The "Cerro de la Cruz" is a must when in Tafi del Valle. At a walking distance from the city

It provides the perfect view for your "I´ve been there" photos, with a 360 view of the surrounding valleys.

Whit a semi arid climate it still has beautiful vegetation and cacti to admire. In all it will take you 4 hours to climb and descend with an easy hiking path. Do bring wind proof clothing and water.