Argentina is a land of extremes: its hectic urban centres contrast with a staggeringly remote hinterland. The country can be simultaneously hot in one region and cold in another. The one common thread is that the people possess a curiosity, passion and fervour for life - most visible when it comes to football, the national obsession. The Tango, gauchos and estancias are the country's cliched attractions, but what strikes visitors most is that life here is for living: the fast pace only letting up for the afternoon siesta.
Those who think of Argentina and a long list of clichés will also evoke the legendary incidents of Argentina's political past, as immortalised in 'Evita'. A coup in 1943 resulted in the rise of Lieutenant General Peron Sosa as president, who instigated a policy of extreme nationalism and social improvement: the Peronista movement. Despite triumphant re-election as President in 1973, he died one year later and his wife, Isabelita Peron, took over, but was dramatically deposed by a military coup in 1976. This legacy of Peron (and his wife) continues to inspire Argentinean politicians and fascinate the popular imagination. The end of the Peronista period heralded perhaps the darkest period in Argentinean history. However, the mass discontent of the populace paved the way for improvement in economic circumstances and much-needed retribution for years of repression.
What also emerged was a country that may well surprise those with pre-expectations. Argentina is cosmopolitan and modern. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Buenos Aires. Somewhat unfairly referred to as a grimy Paris, Buenos Aires is a sophisticated capital brimming with character and an excellent spot for shopping and watching the world go by. Nightlife is spectacular and restaurants overspill with delectable dishes. You are just as likely to find businesspeople spending cash on the latest fashions as you are to find couples in passionate stages of tango.
But perhaps it is Argentina's natural history that truly astounds. It is so topographically diverse that there is something for everyone: every type of landscape is here in microcosm. National parks teem with wildlife and mountainous vistas, while the colossal Perito Moreno Glacier and Iguazú Falls are natural wonders renowned worldwide. Horse riding, adventure sports and birdwatching are available throughout, and the Andes offer excellent skiing. Endless hiking opportunities are in the south, where Patagonia is stunningly barren and mystifying and the Tierra del Fuego feels like the end of the world. In short, Argentina is a menagerie of delights: vastly unexplored and undiscovered by most tourists, it is an adventure that is waiting to happen.
