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When you travel to Argentina, you will most likely arrive in Buenos Aires, which is a stunner of a huge metropolitan city. Buenos Aires is the number 1 Argentina Attraction, and where the adventure begins.

This is a list of the top 10 things to do when you Travel to Argentina.

1. Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan city filled with nooks and crannies to satisfy the pallet of the most experienced world traveler. The city is gigantic and each neighborhood offers rewards in architecture, cultural treasures and urban life. Tango was born in the neighborhood of San Telmo and La Boca. The government is located in the Buenos Aires City Center. Shopping is extremely unique and the nightlife is vibrant. Everyone is good looking, even the dogs. Transportation is abundant but it’s wise to bring a pair of comfortable shoes and take a walking tour of the city.

2. Iguazu Falls is one of the unclaimed natural wonders of the world. The entire journey there, and the semitropical jungle itself, is an adventure you will never forget. Not to mention the endless waterfalls that border with Brazil in this Northern Argentina attraction. Make sure you take the boat ride underneath the falls and use plastic bags to keep your things from getting wet.

3. Buenos Aires Tango is the most unique cultural contribution Argentina has made to the world in the last 100 years. It is currently enjoying a comeback and the options for viewing it are staggering. To make the most of a day in Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires tango tours are the ticket. You will get a tour of the different areas of where Tango began and why. You get a Tango lesson, tango shopping, a tango restaurant and one of the best Tango shows available. And if this still does not satisfy, you can go to a Tango milonga for late night entertainment romp.

4. The Recoleta Cemetery is located in the elite neighborhood of Recoleta. This cemetery brings to life the history of its country like no cemetery in the world. All the legends of Argentina are laid to rest here including past dictators, scoundrels, heroes, and the most famous woman of South America, Eva Peron. (Evita) The Recoleta Cemetery is a 13-acre labyrinth of concrete, sculptures and architectural masterpieces so it is a good idea to have a knowledgeable English speaking tour guide.

5. Bariloche Argentina is a progressive Southern Argentina city and growing swiftly due to its healthy environment. It is located on a picturesque lake and in the Andes mountains range. Bariloche is also the jumping off point for out door adventures in the Patagonia region. But this quaint mountain town is most famous for superb world class skiing.

6. Salta Argentina is an exotic city steeped in history and located in an arid region in Northern Argentina. This area was once part of the Inca Empire and the Inca ruins are worth exploring. The famous train here is called The Train In The Clouds. Although this train offers panoramic mountainous views of the area, it sometimes gets stuck in the clouds and may not be running. Still, Salta is beautiful with rolling hills, historic sights, excellent fishing and a relaxed atmosphere.

7. Argentina beef has become world famous because the cows graze on nutrient rich river basin soil from the Rio De Plate. In addition, the climate of the Pampas region is mild and moist all year round making the beef tasty and succulent. The cow itself led the country to an economic boom in the early 1900’s that allowed for great infrastructure and decadent architecture that remains intact today.

8. Buenos Aires restaurants are where you can find the beef. You pay for what you get in Buenos Aires. Most restaurants have the same Italian menu and are very conservative. However even in those, you will find great parillas, good beef and chorizo. But if you cough up a little extra devauled currency, and go slightly upscale, you will find just about every kind of dining experience available to man at these excellent Buenos Aires restaurants.

9. The Colon Theater in Buenos Aires has hosted some of the most famous performances of each decade over the last century. It is still one of the top opera houses in the world and worth a look. Today it houses one of the most extensive costume collections on the planet.

10. Argentina products and shopping - Due to the devaluation of the peso in 2001, Argentina tries to rely heavily on it’s own industry and production. Therefore, in the shops scattered all over Argentina, you will find unique goods only found in Argentina and at fantastic prices. This includes rare stones, leather goods, and clothes and shoes. And don’t forget about Argentina wine. The Melbec is the best but since it’s hard to pack, we recommended that you finish the bottle before you leave the country.

Tom Wick works for Tango-History-Tours.com, the free online Argentina and Buenos Aires travel guide. Visit to read more about Argentina attractions, Argentina travel, and current Buenos Aires information.

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SCENARIO: Shopping on the streets of Xiamen, China.

PROBLEM: Dealings with a street hawker and bargaining for the lowest price you can get for a favorite stuff which drives you crazy to own. You don’t have knowledge on the native language of the land - Mandarin.

SOLUTION:

1. Approach the vendor and talk in English (or your native language).

2. Ask the vendor “How much the stuff is?”
Vendor notices you’re a foreigner and he/she is of course well-prepared than we (buyers) are. So he/she carefully raises his/her hand which bids a certain amount shown through the number of fingers. Say for example 10 RMB(Chinese Currency) vendor shows you 10 fingers instead of 5 RMB, originally. Got it?
Now..

3. Carefully raise your hand and wave NO (as in STOP, you wanted another cheaper price right?). I am assuming you are totally ‘naive’ of the local language in this situation, so…

4. Go get a pen and paper and write down how much you actually want to buy your favorite stuff, meaning, make a quick bid through paper and pen.
Why not show it through your hands or fingers? I’ll talk about that later, but for now, let’s use the power of the pen and paper.

5. Write down on paper how much you want to bid.

6. Wait for vendor to write his/her price.
If you are not satisfied with what the vendor bids, do a re-write and another price bid.

What to do if the vendor does not adhere to your bids?

7. Use FEET power - leave the scene, slowly, waving your hand, moving away from the vendor and nodding your head, as the price is not right; we’re now making some little bargain teases as well as doing business connections with the vendor. Make sure that the vendor is staring at you while you leave the ‘bidding’ scenario. There’s a big percentage that the vendor would change the price, make a quick jot of another new bid and follow you, or in some scenarios, perhaps chase you! (It really depends on the business case).

8. Continue making your little steps, away from the vendor. If vendor continues to follow, STOP moving (we don’t want to spoil this opportunity - strike while the iron is hot!), and approach the vendor and see what was written down as a new price bid on paper. If you are satisfied with the fresh bid, grab it, and take home your favorite stuff.

Well, if it does not work on the first place, you just have to repeat the above steps ’til you get your most attractive lowest price bid, but always remember to keep this vendor as your small business connection. You may be proud about what stuff you discovered from him/her and be happy to refer your friends.

LAST QUICK NOTES (A poor man’s receipt)

Street hawkers in China don’t usually have receipts on hand and they keep moving around the city just like “gypsies”. If you wanted a receipt, try getting the original paper where you jot down your “price bids”. You might be able to use it as a form of a receipt, say for example, your favorite stuff breaks after a week, and you need a replacement from that same vendor. Make it a point to get receipts on whichever stuff you buy in Xiamen or from whichever city in China you drop shopping, be it a street hawker or the big time shops. Receipts really work and you would surely need them when the time comes!

I’m not guaranteeing the shopping tricks in this article would work for you 100%, you would need to do some “shopping and bargaining experiments” and see what really works.

I hope you enjoyed this article at EzineArticles and see you later for more. For the meantime, enjoy learning , shopping and bargaining and have pure fun in China : )

Almario Jimenez Macion is the owner of South-China-Travel-Guide.com

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Weeks before you’re slated to leave on your trip you should think about the medical and first aid supplies you will need. These supplies depend on your health and your destination. In addition to your passport, you should bring your immunization record with you and a photocopy of this record.

Bringing a list of the medicine you take and the dosages is also a good idea. Then, if you are injured and need medical treatment, doctors can cross-check your medications for adverse reactions.

Your prescription medicine should be in the original bottle so customs officials can identify the medicine(s). Do NOT repack pills in other containers or plastic zipper bags. If you have a heart condition and need to take an antibiotic before dental work, bring the heart condition card with you. Also make note of any allergies you may have.

EQUIPMENT

* Medical alert bracelet if you wear one

* Eyeglasses and case. Bring a photocopy of your eyeglasses
prescription with you in case your glasses break and you have
to replace them.

* Eyeglasses repair kit (the kind with the tiny screwdriver and screws)

* Sunglasses

* Lens cleaner

* Sun hat or cap with visor

* Earplugs

* Band-aids and moleskin in case you get blisters on your feet

* Support hose if your doctor has prescribed compression therapy. If you wear support stockings bring a pair of rubber gloves with you. Easing the stockings on with rubber gloves helps to prevent holes.

* If you wear a hearing aid or aids, bring a small case with
you and plenty of extra batteries.

* CPAP breathing machine if you have sleep apnea. Put a name tag on the case and the machine.

MEDICATIONS

* Antibiotic (In many countries antibiotics are not available.)

* Nasal spray. (Follow directions and don’t take more than the label recommends.)

* Pain reliever, such as Ibuprofen

* Prescription medicine in original bottles

* Motion sickness pills or patches

* Antacid tablets such as Tums or Gas-X

* Cough drops

* Sunscreen (15 rating or higher)

* Antibiotic creme for cuts

* Itch creme for bites and rashes

Check the prescription date of all medicines before you pack them. Dated medicine may be ineffective or dangerous. Ask your doctor for prescription refills if you need them. Travelers with special health needs should check with their doctor several weeks before departure. Have a great trip!

Copyright 2006 by Harriet Hodgson

http://www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her 24th book, “Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief,” written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from http://www.amazon.com A five-star review of the book is also posted on Amazon. You’ll find another review on the American Hospice Foundation website under the “School Corner” heading.

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