Weekend Getaways - Zarate day trip by train

Last Sunday we managed to got to Zarate for the day, located 83 clicks north of Buenos Aires, you can get there by taking the Electric and Diesel trains from the Mitre Railroad.

It takes roughly two and a half hours each way if you do the transfer on schedule.

There´s a small riverside walk with some restaurants and then you have the Bridges that cross to Entre Rios province and that rise 50 meters above the river, you can also bring your bicycle on the train which will assure your transportation in Zarate.

La Plata - Casa Curuchet

The Casa Curutchet in La Plata, is a must visit if you dig Architecture. Being the only house built in Latin America with modernist architectural design by Le Corbuiser. 

Designed by Le Corvousier in France and built by one of his desciples in Argentina to be the residence and doctor office of renowned surgeon Curutchet.

Today it works as a Museum run by the Buenos Aires Architects society.

La Plata - Eating meat

Looking for a place to eat meat in La Plata, look no further

Lo del Negro is a small parilla located at Calle 3, 782 in the downtown area of the city.

This is one of those localally apreciated restos not overcrowded by tourists. Good meat , service and price.

The Trip to Lobos - Part Five

I begun  second day in Lobos having a wonderful breakfast at the B&B and headed out to explore the area and the Lagoon that is located on the outskirts of the town.

Right outside town I passed by the "Aerodromo de Lobos" that is the local airfield, that's basically a field without tarmac. When I was passing by I saw some skydivers so i decided to check out the prices. I was told that you can jump for about $150 bucks with the instructor.

Arriving at the Lagoon I circled it and found a nice spot to dip in, the water was brown but clean, do´nt expect Canadian lake quality,

Before heading back to town  I fuelled up with a ice cold pint of "Cerveza Artesanal" or microbrewery beer that is draught, this one was "Barba Roja" and it was pretty good, I also had a greasy Choripan to complete the calorie intake for the 15 click bike ride.

Instead of taking the "Ruta 205" back I took an old railroad track tha' abandoned and that shortens the ride 5 clicks. Its pretty smooth riding cuz the sleepers are totally covered by dirt, until you hit the abandoned bridge, and that can be trickier when you have two or more sleepers missing, then you have to keep your balance under pain of falling with bike and equipment into the river.
It was easy riding except for some nasty 3 inch thorns that will puncture any bike tire.

Aftaer that it was back to the train station for the tieresome 4hrr trip back to Baires.

The Trip to Lobos - Part Four

Now, after arriving back at Lobos y went back to the B&B y was staying, its called "Lo de Salgado" and is on Salgado street which honours the founder of the town, Jose Salgado. This was actually his house that now serves as a B&B. I do recommend the place which is also bike friendly.

Lobos is really a small town 98km away from the big city. It does have some life of its own but serves mainly as the conection link in between the farms that surround it and Buenos Aires, via the raillway.

I strolled by 9 de Julio street that is the towns main thorough way and was delighted to find at least 5 ice cream parlours in the same amount of blocks.

A fun fact is that walking round town I bumped into the town library that used to be a masonic lodge. I found it curious that there would be a lodge in such a small place. I was told that in the early 1800 hundreds a good number of Italians moved here and some were masons thus building a lodge, but they insisted in provoking the catholics in the area by celebrating Sept 20 that was the day Garibaldi conquered the Vatican. So the church taking advantage of the Italians from Teggiano that were devoted to San Cono had big processions on his feast day that is Sept 23rd spoiling the masons party.

The Trip to Lobos - Part three

After visiting the main house of the "Estancia" I went for lunch which was passport to visit the place cuz they will not let you in unless you stay, spend the day or have lunch there, all of the above with previous appointment which will put you on the list that is checked at the main gate.
















Lunch is very good and will cost you the same as a regular restaurant in Buenos Aires. You get all u can eat Asado with taters and salad, plus one drink, dessert and coffee.

After lunch I toured the rest of the premises which include a nice little German style church and a little mill house.

I also took a nap in anticipation of the 15 clicks return trip to Lobos, that was quite nice thanks to the Jacaranda trees that were in full bloom.

The Trip to Lobos - Part Two

I made it to lobos at bout 10.40 after a 3.5 h trip by train which was´nt so bad considering the weather was great. I hit the road and biked to the "Estancia La Candelaria" that sits 15 clicks away from town. The road cuts through pampa farmland adorned grazing fat cows.

The Estancia was my main reason for the trip, as you can see it resembles a french chateau like the ones found besides the Loire River. It was built in 1894 by Manuel Fraga owner of the state.Its surrounded by a magnificent park designed by Charles Thays, a French landscaper that designed most of the big parks in Buenos Aires.

The Chateau has Gothic,Normand and baroque elements and is decorated inside with Louis XV and XVI furniture.
Today the Estancia serves as a Hotel and you can either spend the nigh there, or do a "Día de Campo"staying there for the day.
http://www.estanciacandelaria.com/

The Trip to Lobos - Part One

Last weekend was a long one here in Buenos Aires, they call them "Feriados Puente", wich is no novelty , but this time it ran from Saturday to Tuesday. So this time I decided to get out of the B.A, (Big Apple or Buenos Aires, as you prefer).
The chosen destination Lobos which sits roughly 100 clicks from the Capital. Of course it would be no fun to just go by car, so I did the Train-Bike combo.

Aprovechando el finde largo el 8 de Diciembre decidí hacer un viaje a Lobos para conocer las estancias y la Laguna. Lobos queda a unos 100km de Baires y se puede acceder por ruta o tren. Pero para evitar la monotonía se me ocurrió ir en bici y tren.

My Idea was to take on the first train of the Sarmiento Line from Once terminal which leaves at 5.30 am, so as to arrive at Lobos around 8 and be able to bike around without being torched by the Sun, but unfortunately the second train that departs from Merlo station does not have a sequential schedule with that service, which left me with the 7.09 train that brings you to Merlo at 8.28 enough to run for the departing train to Lobos.

As I mentioned on a previous post, bikes must travel on the cargo waggon of the train which here is called "Furgón". Fortunately there were several other bikers that were doing the same stunt, so it made up for a nice trip with conversation and helpfull tips.

The Sarmiento line has new trains with AC which made the Once-Merlo stage of the trip comfy, as for the second stage from Merlo to Lobos, you get to use the vintage trains that travel slow making the 80km trip a 2.5h journey.

In any case the trip took roughly 3.5 hrs from Once to Lobos setting me back 6.50 pesos which is bout 50c American.

This was the timetable for the Trip from Buenos Aires to Lobos

6:25 am. Departure from Palermo (by bike)
6:50 am. Arribal at Once Station (Ferrocarril Sarmiento)
7:16 am  Departure train Once-Merlo
8:20 am Train arives at Merlo station
8:28 am  Departure train Merlo-Lobos
10:45 am  train arives at Lobo