| Author | Message | ||
     philip thomas New member Username: Philleus Post Number: 1 Registered: 2-2008 |
Dear All I moved to Argentina at the beginning of January with my wife and 1 year old son. We planned to stay in BA for up to 1 year but the heat soon changed that. We are now on a quest to find the best place to live in the country and i am appealing for advice from anyone with an opinion on the matter. Our requirements are as follows; We want to live ina house not an apartment (this cold be a nice cabana/ chalet etc) We want to be in the countryside or a small village/ town we need a garden We want to be in an area where the climate is nice all year round (though we will not be here in the summer so if the summers are very hot rest of the year nice, that is OK) Interesting countryside with a bit of variation wold be prefereable - we are not so keen on the endless flat plains. History and culture are of course always good. we want to learn Spanish so a town/ city nearby with a course is essential (within a 50 km drive) I would like to teach a bit of English or find other work so same as above. At present we have been to the atlantic coast, puerto madryn, el bolson, Bariloche, North Nequen and are at present in Mendoza. Thus far Mendoza is in the lead with Bariloche in second (i am wary of the long winters but could be convinced) Heading north next; Tucuman, Salta? Any suggestions, opinions, knowledge, passionate loves of particulñar places would be very welcome as would suggestions about particular houses to let or people who might have them. I look forward to your responses. Thank you in advance, Philleus | ||
| peter jameson New member Username: Pcj Post Number: 8 Registered: 8-2007 |
Hey Phil...I am glad to see that you started this thread...my wife and I will be in the same situation at the end of the year...My wife is a native Argentine from the Trelew / Rawson / Puerto Madryn area. We were thinking about the Atlantic Coast and would appreciate any feedback with regard to why you wouldn't consider the area for putting down roots. Thanks...Pete. | ||
| WTMendoza.com Intermediate Member Username: Welcometomendoza Post Number: 151 Registered: 7-2007  |
Hi Philleus, We are one of the few foriegners that moved here not for the wines, but rather for the weather. We don't like humidity anymore after 5 years of being spoiled in San Diego so anywhere north and east is out. We don't like fairy consistent winds and rain so Patagonia is out. The only weather complaint one could have about Mendoza is that it may be too dry - and that just doesn't work for some people. Otherwise, 300+ days of sunshine, 12 days average rain - yeah some chilly nights in Winter, but warms up nicely in the day. We just had the coldest winter in 50 years so the locals were freaking out - lol. Mendoza is a pretty spreadout place -fun to explore! Don't forget Uco Valley - some of the best mountain views in all of Argentina cheers | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1528 Registered: 12-2004 |
Sean lives (I think) in a great place that is worth checking out carefully: Chacras de Coria. I just came back from Mendoza (will write an article with pictures soon) and spent a few hours driving around and had the feeling that Chacras has some of what you are looking for. I have never been to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico but I heard enough that this place reminded me of it, putting aside the differences in culture and idiosyncrasies. I think you should add "Cordoba" to your list. It will score high in the departments weather, culture and spanish. Sean, my apologies for not having planned my trip too well and not finding an ocassion for getting together even though I was the one who called (someday I will regret having said no to your generous vip party invitation). (Message edited by admin on February 19, 2008) | ||
| WTMendoza.com Intermediate Member Username: Welcometomendoza Post Number: 152 Registered: 7-2007 |
Roberto welcome back - you are invited anytime just say the word...glad you survived the skinny streets of Chacras - isn't it funny? Yes indeed Chacras , a cool village - land has gotten kind of expensive from some perspectives (including my perspecive) but there are are other area options around too. I think the big difference between San Miguel de Allende and here is that the former is overrun with expats and you can get by with little or no Spanish. Cordoba is our next "best place to live in Argentina" but again that's only if Mendoza didn't exisit, because we just don't like too many clouds, rain and humidity anymore on a regular basis. Not to mention we are drawn to the Andes and sun, and worship them like the Incas did, lol. The "leafy" factor here in Mendoza is intriguing, with the well planned huge trees along the water canals found eveyrwhere, that the Incas actually started. It could not rain for 11 months (and sometimes it doesn't) and you would never know it with the water/canal distribution system they have here. Here is the front and back of our house, and the snow-peak view outide our master bedroom deck - I always say that if you are coming all the way to Mendoza (or somewhere else along the Andes) to live, get that daily soul-enriching mountain view - cheers    | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1530 Registered: 12-2004 |
Well... I now completely regret having missed that asado on Saturday night at your gorgeous place, even though we did enjoy our dinner at Francis Mallman (a side note, the Escorihuela 2005 Syrah... a must drink!). My childhood friend who moved to Mendoza 20 years ago -now living in seccion 5ta.- almost moved to Chacras a few a years ago and he specifically mentioned waking up in the mornings and seeing the snow-peak view of the Andes as the #1 reason. While there, we spent considerable time in Adalgiza as we promote them. Yes, narrow streets in the southern section and a little difficult on traffic with the buses/deliveries... It comes with the package, doesn't it? I saw the acequias for the first time almost 30 years ago and they blew my mind. In this recent trip, I was told that the entire province has built the same acequias-system. The whole Mendoza is just a fabulous man-made oasis! We were also told that innovative french investors who bought fincas in higher land have developed drip-irrigation systems to secure their production. Innovative in the sense that locals have relied on the Andes for their water since first settlements and way before, as you mentioned (Incas). Ok, I am going off on a tangent. Sorry. | ||
| philip thomas New member Username: Philleus Post Number: 2 Registered: 2-2008 |
Many thanks for all your responses. We are leaving San Rafael in the morning - Chacras de Coria will make a perfect stopover as we have wanted to visit the area around mendoza and the city itself anyway. Any more thoughts on the North - around Salta dn Tucuman would be much appreciated. How hot are they really and how green? To Peter: We arrived in Puerto Madryn about 10 days ago and to be honest i have never seen such a bleak Godforsaken place in my entire life and travels. We drove up and down the main drag thee times searching for a redeeming feature before exiting at high speed. There are no trees, the sea looks dark and cold, there are huge factories and tankers and the houses are badly constructed concrete things. Think Soviet Siberia. I´m afraid to say that Trelew wasn´t much better only that it was inland and a bit busier. Gaiman, the nearby Welsh settlemt is sweet though. A quiet pretty village with lots of trees and funny old tea houses. However i would imagine that living anywhere in that area would be challenging. Patagonia is a wilderness and still feels like a place of exile. Exhillarating to visit and experience the vast lonliness but im not sure i would want to live there. However, if you had an occupation you love which you could immerse yourself in, then it could work. Bariloche - though touristy - i think would be more fun, as would the surrounding towns - San Martin etc. Let me know if you have any more questions and i will be happy to oblige |
