With the Ecstasy comes the Agony

I know I said last week that we’d move on to Chile this week, but I lied.  Like it or not, even after we imaged ourselves in all sorts of lovely exotic places (the ecstasy) we now have to look at some of Argentina’s facts and figures (the agony).  I’ll make it as painless as possible.

·         Population: Approximately 40 Million

·         Capital: Buenos Aires

·         Total Size: 2,766,890 square km

·         Comparative Size: about 30% of the size of the U.S.

·         World Region: South America

·         Lowest Geographical Point: Laguna del Carbon (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena)

·         Highest Geographical Point: Cerro Aconcagua (in the northwestern corner of Mendoza province)

·         Official Language: Spanish….but English, Italian, German, and French also spoken

·         Independence Day: July 9,

·         Major Holiday: Revolution Day, May 25

·         Major Religion: Roman Catholic (92%)

·         Major Exports: edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, fee and motor vehicles

·         National GDP: $518,100,000,000

·         Currency: Argentine peso (ARS)

·         Notable Moment in History: Juan Person elected president in 1946…and his wife, Eva, for better or worse, became more popular than he was

Well, that’s all for Argentina….Good, you say…believe me I didn’t enjoy this either...when I go to Argentina and I'm sitting under an umbrella on the beach sipping rum and coke, I won't be wondering about what religion the other 8% are.  So I promise, next week we’re back to exploring fun destinations…..On to Chile!