12 Interesting Facts About Argentina

tango in boca

My last visit to Argentina was in 2015. It’s a beautiful country in South America and here are some facts about it that you should definitely know if you are going to pay a visit.

1. Mate Drink

Mate also known as yerba mate is a very popular drink in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Brazil. In Argentina you will see some people on the streets holding a pot that is made of metal or leather and drinking it with a metal straw. This caffeine-rich tea is made of leaves of the plant of “Ilex Paraguayensis”. Because of its high caffeine, it has been a very popular drink for centuries in South America. I am not a fan of Mate because the taste of Mate is a little bit bitter for me. In some tea shops I am sure you can find this tea and you can try for yourself.

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Argentina Vacation Tips and Costs (Plus Excel Expenses File)

My first visit to Buenos Aires and South America was in 2006 by myself. I only had stayed 4 days in Buenos Aires which captured my heart with its architecture, cuisine, friendly people and Tango. Last year I had the chance to visit Buenos Aires once again with my sister and a friend of mine. Three girls, we really had fun. This time I almost stayed a month in Argentina and visited Tigre, Cordoba, Mendoza, Salta, El Calafate and El Shanten besides Buenos Aires.

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15 Interesting Facts about The Fifth Largest Country in the World

itaipu dam

With an area of 5.35 million square miles(equals to 8.45 million square km), Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. It also has the fifth largest population in the world with over 200 million inhabitants. Here are 15 interesting facts about Brazil that you should definitely know in case you are going to visit or live there.

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Brazil Vacation Cost (Plus Excel Expenses File)

Rio de Janeiro

After a very interesting Chile trip, our next stop was Brazil. The main reason for our Brazil trip was the Carnival. My sister, a friend of mine who flew from Istanbul to join us, and I spent 15 days in Brazil. We visited Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Salvador de Bahia and Iguazu Falls. We really enjoyed the Rio and Recife carnivals of Brazil and its amazing nature. We were there during the carnival period so the prices were higher than normal time especially for accommodation. But Brazil is not the cheapest country in South America. You can read all of my previous posts, articles, pictures and experiences about Brazil using this link, and for more travel expenses and travel costs information, check out my Vacation Cost Series.

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Chile Vacation Costs (Plus Excel Expenses File)

Santiago, Chile

After spending  three days and nights in Uyuni Salar which was an unforgettable experience, our trip ended at Portezuelo del Cajon (also called Hito Cajon) border which is between Chile and Bolivia. From this border, San Pedro de Atacama is 45 kilometres (28 miles) away. If you are going to cross this border, you should arrange your transportation ahead.

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7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Iznik – Nicaea

İznik Lake

Last weekend I organized a tour of the ancient city İznik (a small city south of Istanbul) and its surroundings. We had a sunny weekend and had a great time. Like me, many people and tourists pass by İznik while on their way to Bursa. İznik with its beautiful nature and  its history are a city worth visiting if you’re traveling to Turkey.

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10 Amazing Facts About Bolivia

Bolivia

Here are 10 of the most interesting facts about Bolivia that I noticed while I was travelling there.

1. Women wear The Bowler Hat

In Bolivia, you will notice all traditionally dressed women wear the Bowler Hat. It may be awkward to you and may ask yourself why all traditional women wear these European style hats. The story behind the hats is funny. The hat was introduced by the British Rail Workers who came to Bolivia to work in the mining industry.

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Bolivia Vacation Costs (Plus Excel Expenses File)

Uyuni Bolivia

Last year my sister and I headed to Bolivia after travelling in Peru. Same as before, we had very limited time for this beautiful country and we only spent a week there. We got the chance to visit the capital La Paz and Uyuni Salar Region. La Paz is the world’s highest administrative capital. The Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat which is 10,582 square kilometres (4,086 sq miles). Its area is almost equal the size of Lebanon. To see enough of the Uyuni area, you should spend at least 3 days to see the main attractions.  You can read all of my previous posts, articles, pictures and experiences about Bolivia using this link, and for more travel expenses and travel costs information, check out my Vacation Cost Series.

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