Yes!..Vegan in Argentina beef region!

The finally leg of my 2006 South American journey brought me to Bariloche, Argentina.

Apparently there are two vegetarian restaurants in this town. However, they were not within distance or timing of my arrival. I did find a restaurant that served vegan pasta and a cafe where you could design your own sandwich. At least, I did not starve. :)

The town is simply gorgeous. It resembles an old Swiss village with its chalets, chocolate shops, ski mountains, and general atmosphere. I took a ski lift to the top of a hill overlooking the village. Simply gorgeous! This village is heavenly!

My tour made a stop into the forest to view some ancient trees and check out the landscape of this magical land of gnomes. At various viewing stops along the way, you can take your photo with a big ol' Saint Bernard wearing a whiskey jug under its chin. Being an animal lover, this was one of my favorite experiences of the trip.

A popular beverage in the region is Rose Mosqueta tea. This flower grows extensively here and is used in many products. I purchased Rose Mosqueta tea several times and a Rose Mosqueta moisturizing cream to bring home.

The following morning, we flew to Buenos Aires. There are several vegetarian restaurants in this cosmopolitan capital city. However, again I was limited in time between tours so I had to dine at a closeby cafe prior to my tour. They made some vegetable side dishes for me, so again I did not starve. Its not the easiest city to find vegan options, but if you have time and look hard enough, you can indeed find some.

The main government plaza area is a sight to see. The Casa Rosada, "Pink House" building is the infamous spot where First Lady Eva Peron made her speeches. It is a beautiful example of Spanish architecture. The remainder of the tour consisted of driving by the various architectural structures of historical importance.

We then drove through the Boca neightborhood. Its truly unique. The buildings and shops are brightly colored and funky. This is where tourists love to shop, eat, and listen to street performers. Its an artist colony also.

In the evening, no visit to Buenos Aires is complete without attending a performance of tango dancing. It was thoroughly enjoyable to watch!

In the morning our group hopped on another plane and arrived at our final destination, El Calafate. This old gauche region village is a quaint, little tourist stopover on the way to the glacier region or to Tierra Del Fuego, the furthestmost, southern city in the world. Much to my surprise and DELIGHT, my hotel was almost next door to a fabulous gourmet, veggie-friendly restaurant! This is right in the middle of gaucho (cowboy), beef country.

I don't recall what I ate there. However, I recall that the appetizer, beverage, entree, and dessert were spectacular! The restaurant is called "Pura Vida". They serve alot of whole grains and pumpkin dishes. It was delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant!

The next morning we set course for the drive to Perito Moreno Glacier. Your mouth will be wide open in awe as you view the landscape along the way. If you arrive in Fall, the mountains will contain colors of green, orange, and snowcapped at the peaks.

We arrive at the glacier and take advantage of the two options available for tourists. We first took a ferry around the edge of the glacier. The ice sparkled a blueish color against a white backdrop. It was one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

We then got off the boat and walked along a pathway fairly close to one side of the glacier.

This was a wonderful trip culturally, visually, and gastronomically!