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Hello Sustainable Tourism World lovers! I am glad to share with you a bit more of myself. I have to tell you a secret: I am not an adventurous traveler at all!!

The Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina

I am scared of many things some understandable, some others, a bit silly, such as riding horses, rowing among caimans, touching snakes, speaking in front of many people, being in the riffled ocean on a regular touristic boat and others. But anyway I love to travel, I love to visit places and to speak with people informing me about their culture, traditions, problems and dreams.

During my last holidays in Argentina I reflected a lot about that, I am sure I am not the only scaredy cat around, not the only traveler, nor blogger. I hope sharing my thoughts and experience to inspire those of you stuck in your place believing that only adventurous people can have wonderful time and experience of the world. This is SO WRONG!

Listen to me, it is possible to travel the world, even to live in a different country and to fully experience a place even if you don’t like to risk your life or to simply exit your comfort zone.

First time in Latin America, Argentina, not only an holiday but an experience, with many positive aspect and a few negative too.

Why Argentina? Because I always dreamed about it, about the tango, the meat, the passion of this huge, huge country. A great factor was having a friend there, based in Buenos Aires my colleague Susana Sandoval, tourism services professor, responsible tourism professional and passionate communication developer.

not adventurous traveler visiting El Tigre, Buenos Aires with Susana and Ale

This was the first time I did not plan the details of the trip (neither the one to Brisbane, but I was going to work there, so it is a bit different), I just had a quick look at the guide, accepted a couple of Susana proposal and Ale (my partner) and I bought the flight ticket. We wanted it to be a very slow and relaxed holiday and it was especially at ecoposada del Esteros, but Buenos Aires was a different story.

Here is where we have been:
– Buenos Aires (5 nights)
– Colonia Carlos Pellegrini – Esteros del iberá (3 nights)
– Port Iguazu (3 nights)
– Salta, (2 nights)
– Cordoba (2 nights)
– Buenos Aires (1 night)

Buenos Aires is huge! I couldn’t believe it. It takes a while to get used to this city, to visit the most important places  I have been walking for more than 60 hours in 4 days!! I visited Recoleta area, the Casa Rosada, the Congreso (a building similar to the unites states congress), the Colon Theatre, the Minicentro, the ecological reserve Costanera Sur,  El Caminito at the Boca, and to start see it from the residents eyes I had to wait to go out with Susi.  Regarding the food I have to say I will remember forever the lunch at tupe, never tested a more delicious meat!

Susana not only hosted me, she also suggested a couple of very interesting place to visit and activities to do, to better understand the porteños (residents of Buenos Aires). We visited El Tigre together, a beautiful town located in the estuary of Parana river where the residents of Buenos Aires go during the summer’s holidays and week end . Susi also joined us for the Graffiti tour in Palermo neighborhood, we discovered that the most of graffiti in this area are made to make the city more coloured and pleasant!

Graffiti Tour, Palermo, Buenos Aires
Graffiti Tour, Palermo, Buenos Aires

Susi also organised a meeting with Florie Thielin of Hopineo & Hervé Landetcheverry founder of Mater Sustentable travel Agency. Was great to find like minded colleagues and share a drink and vision with them. Florie has joined us also to the following destination: Ecoposada del Esteros.

I had very pleasant time in Buenos Aires, even if the social disparity of the city cannot be hided. I also get lost and visited the port area, a very poor area located close to the center (Retiro bus and train station) and the national Jorge Newbery Airport. Ones I came back from this place I was told it is the same of the Brazilian’s favelas.

A part from monuments and tours what really made my time in Buenos Aires was to finally visit Susana and meeting with residents and travelers.

Sustainable tourism meeting in Buenos Aires
Sustainable tourism meeting in Buenos Aires. Photo by Susana Sandoval

Tips: take your time to get used to Argentina, in particular to Buenos Aires, it is a huge, relaxed country that needs you to be relaxed to enjoy it. The distances in Argentina are so long that to move between places you need 10 or more hours by car/bus, or a couple hours flight. Last, but not least learn some Spanish, it will be very useful! Everything was ok because I am Italian, that is similar to Spanish and because I know a bit of Spanish too, but a part from few times the people didn’t know English.

Are you interested to know more?
Ask  #STouW by Sara Vitali about: 

#sustainabletourism consultancy,
#socialmedia strategies for tourism sector & linked sustainable, responsible, green or eco businesses;
#sustainabledevelopment through tourism.
http://sustainabletourismworld.com/sara-vitali-stw-founder/