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A Peruvian-American blogger is clutching onto my waist tightly as he alternates between screaming in my ear and shooting videos for his Snapchat followers. We are high in the North of Argentina, nestled in the simply breathtaking Lema Valley at the foothills of the Andes.
The salt-mining came much later and created a Mad Max wasteland of brilliant white, with rectangular pools of icy water etched into the ground, relics of the once prevalent industry. They were an amazing spectacle, but it feels good to be driving myself for once, even if I am taking my life in my hands.
Our first stop is a huge monument to General Guemes, who fought off the Spanish in the Argentine war for independence. Plus, the weather sits right in the Goldilocks zone — not too hot, not too cold — somewhere just right. You could do a lot worse.

We move on. It really is a great way to see the city. We travel in convoy and gradually, as these things always do, it develops into a race. All of which is highly irresponsible in hindsight, and I accept no liability if you kill yourself doing it having read this. But it is fun. We pass through colourful town squares and bustling markets; bad-ass teenage girls rip around on motorbikes with their pals on the back.
Women with heart-stabbingly cute babies strapped to their backs count out crumpled pesos.
Well-fed dogs lie in shafts of sunlight looking pleased with themselves. This story first appeared in The Inspirational Argentina Issue , available in print and digital. Subscribe today or purchase a back copy via our online shop. Human rights Minority rights Discrimination Freedom Index. Main article: Same-sex marriage in Argentina.
Main article: Transgender rights in Argentina. Archived from the original PDF on 27 June BBC News. Archived from the original on 30 April Pew Research Center. Archived from the original PDF on 18 February Retrieved 8 December Washington Blade. Brown, Naff, Pitts Omnimedia, Inc. Retrieved 22 November Archived from the original on 31 March Retrieved 2 September BBC Mundo.
Retrieved 12 May The New York Times. Retrieved 29 December Archived from the original on 5 January Historia de la homosexualidad en la Argentina. Buenos Aires: Marea Editorial. Archived from the original PDF on 29 August Geneva: ILGA. Archived from the original on 29 April Outline Index. Dependencies and other territories. Hidden categories: CS1 errors: missing periodical Pages containing links to subscription-only content CS1 maint: date format CS1 Spanish-language sources es Articles with Spanish-language sources es Webarchive template archiveis links CS1 French-language sources fr All articles needing additional references Articles needing additional references from July Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Articles containing Mapudungun-language text Articles containing Spanish-language text Articles containing potentially dated statements from All articles containing potentially dated statements Commons category link is locally defined Use dmy dates from May Use British English from April Namespaces Article Talk.
Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Download as PDF Printable version. Wikimedia Commons. Legal since [1]. Sexual orientation protections in Buenos Aires and Rosario see below. Same-sex marriage since ; Civil unions since in the City of Buenos Aires and nationwide since Part of a series on. Timeline Years List Category.
LGBT portal. Since Since , through an aggravating circumstance [93]. Since [94].
Recognition of same-sex couples e. Starting in Buenos Aires in Since [95]. Since [96].
Pin it. Here, inches from my face, is a child who died before Machiavelli wrote The Prince , before Galileo was born. Weye would typically play certain important societal roles, including being a machi , a Mapuche shaman. Near to Puerto Madryn in Peninsula Valdes is a hotspot for seeing whales with their young. It is located in the province of Corrientes in Northeast Argentina, covering over 5, square miles 13, square kilometres. That law recognised rights that had been denied to many people for a long time," she said.
Since [98]. Parental leave for same-sex couples after adoption. No parental leave after adoption, but can be granted by judges and collective bargaining agreements [99] [].
Access to IVF for lesbians. Since []. Mineral water is good and widely available. Altitude puna sickness is a condition encountered at anything over 2,m, but most serious at altitudes of 4,m and above. Mild symptoms can include headaches, nausea, dizziness or insomnia. However, more severe symptoms can arise, in which case you should seek medical advice. Read more about altitude sickness in Argentina. It is a good idea to take out an insurance policy before travelling.
In Argentina, insurance is more important to cover theft or loss of belongings and repatriation than medical treatment — the country has a state medical system that is free for emergencies. Thanks to progress in recent years, including the equal marriage law passed in , the attitude in Argentina towards LGBTQ people is quite open. Violent manifestations of homophobia are rare. All visitors need a valid passport. At international airports you will have your thumbprint and photo digitally recorded on arrival. When leaving the country, you must obtain an exit stamp.
With the effects of economic crises in and still lingering and poverty at 25 percent, Argentina has lost its reputation as a totally safe destination. However, any concerns you have should be kept in perspective. For the majority of those who travel to Argentina, the chance of falling victim to crime remains small. Most of the more violent crime concentrated in the big cities tends to be directed at wealthy locals rather than foreign visitors.
In Buenos Aires, the vast majority of visitors have no problems. Follow the basic rules and only carry only what you need for that day, and conceal valuable items such as cameras and jewellery. Always be cautious when withdrawing cash from ATMs.
Remember that pickpockets most commonly hang around subte subway stations and bus terminals particularly Retiro in the capital , and on crowded trains and buses. Car theft is a common occurrence; if you are renting a car, check the insurance will cover you, and always park in a car park or where someone will keep an eye on it. When driving in the city, keep windows closed and doors locked. Drug use, particularly of marijuana and cocaine, is fairly common among the younger generation, but the penalties for using either are stiff. We strongly advise against buying or using them — quite apart from the risks inherent in the substances themselves, doing so may bring you into contact with some very dangerous people.
If you are unlucky enough to be the victim of a robbery asalto or lose anything of value, you will need to make a report at the nearest police station for insurance purposes. Check that the police add the date and an official stamp sello. Apart from getting used to the late dining hours, most travellers from the West will have little trouble fitting in.
One area of etiquette that will probably be new to you is the very Argentine custom of drinking mate.