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Ushuaia Seagull

People always give seagulls and pigeons a bad rap. They are “stupid” birds, the scavengers of the bird world. However, I’m not sure that there’s a bird that entertains me more than these two species. I think part of it is due to the fact that they are not scared of us, they come close and there is no need to go on a crazy birding expedition to spot them. In Usuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost city, sea gulls are as common as tourists heading to Antarctica. But there is something special about the seagulls in Ushuaia that I can’t quite put my finger on. They seem wiser, calmer, smarter, and even a little bit cleaner. Perhaps it’s all that fresh Patagonian air.

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Calafate Marsh

Some might say that the town of El Calafate, Argentina is nothing more than a wasteland on the outskirts of Patagonia. Yes, it may only be popular because its proximity to one of the natural wonders of South America, Perito Moreno Glacier, but it is as they say “what you make of a destination”. Personally, I love El Calafate, mostly because it was like nowhere else I’d ever been. It is bland yet exciting. It is flat yet it seems to drown you in shapes. And most of all it is home to some of the richest marshes in the region which are also home to a number of impressive birds. Don’t let El Calafate bore you, it is what you make of it.

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Mendoza Slopes

Although Mendoza, Argentina is actually much closer to the Chilean border than it is to any other Argentinean town, it is remarkably Argentinean. Not only does the town burst with the Argentinean flavour of speaking, but the style of life in the farmlands feels much more Argentinean than Chilean.  The Argentinians are often told that they are more Italian than South America, whereas the Chileans really are in a world of their own in the way they speak, dress, and behave.  In Argentina wine and steak are king, and the region around Mendoza is the wine growing epicenter of this great nation.

However, if you think that Mendoza is just about wine you’re gravely mistaken.  As this photo shows, Mendoza is a playground for mountaineers and outdoors enthusiasts as well.  In fact, the largest mountain the Americas is just on the doorstep of the city.  In fact, in the photo above the tallest mountain is just another kilometer off in the distance.

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