January is the big vacation month in Argentina and people flock to the seaside. No wonder with the high temperatures and the often inadequate infrastructure that leaves some city dwellers without electricity for weeks at a time. This has been a huge problem this December, with as many as 800,000 people in Buenos Aires being without power in the 37-39 degree weather we have had for several weeks. Anyway, it looks like I might be able to take a few days off soon and I want to go to the beach!! From what I understand, the beaches closer to Buenos Aires can seem like the crowded beaches of southern Europe – lots of people, lots of traffic, but if you get away from the main beach towns, there are apparently many cute places to go.

I am really quite spoiled when it comes to beaches, having spent lots of time in Central America and Italy, and some time in the Caribbean, so I will try to adjust down my expectations. (I’d give a LOT for a week on Corn Island or San Blas or San Juan del Sur or Turks and Caicos right now! Or somewhere like Guatemala; I could use a little Eternal Spring right now.) Many people go to Punta del Este in Uruguay, I went there briefly a year ago but this time I’d like somewhere closer. I have been recommended Cariló, Mar de las Pampas, Pinamar, Villa Gesell, Santa Clara del Mar, but I really need to do some more research. My first choice would be some kind of health spa resort place, with yoga, fitness, and healthy eating, but I can’t find any of that around here. (The lake district has more of that, such as La Rinconada Ranch.) I think I will have to go for somewhere that is simply close to the beach and not to hard to get to. Right now, anywhere but here sounds like a good option! 🙂