Page 53 - Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest

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steak until you dine with the gauchos of Argentina. Their cooking techniques are apparent in
Buenos Aires’s many steakhouses, from deluxe establishments to fast-food types, as well as at
estancias (ranches).

Argentinean wines of excellent quality are currently available. You will want to try a Malbec,
the local grape. And if you celebrate with the “bubbly” in South America, why not do it with
Argentina’s superb, inexpensive champagne? Just a note of precaution: Argentines thoroughly
salt almost everything, particularly meats and salads. If you dine out, you may want to request
unsalted food. When you order, simply tell the waiter no use (oo-say) sal, por favor. You may
also want to try dulce de leche (“sweet milk”), a caramel topping that Argentines eat with
everything.

Cuisine in Uruguay
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German), but relies more heavily on beef due to its large agriculture industry. Look for
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bacon, lettuce, tomato, melted mozzarella and a fried egg. Try some traditional Uruguayan
barbecue, asado bSTNS T^ _d[TNLWWd []P[L]PO ZaP] LY Z[PY ʭ]P LYO NZY^T^_^ ZQ aL]TZ`^ N`_^ ZQ
MPPQ LYO Z_SP] XPL_^ ^`NS L^ WLXM LYO RZL_ DZ`ɪWW LW^Z ʭYO L aL]TP_d ZQ empanadas, savory
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you’ll enjoy a pastel de carne, a meat pie with ground beef, peppers, eggs, and mashed potatoes.

1Z] OP^^P]_ WZZV QZ] _]PL_^ ^`NS L^ ʮLY arroz con leche (rice pudding), churros ( Spanish-style
pastry that is fried and dipped in sugar), or chajá (sponge cake with whipped cream and
meringue). Don’t forget to order a NLQ± NZY WPNSP NZʬPP bT_S XTWV bT_S dZ`] [L^_]TP^

Travel in South America

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may make it impossible for us to follow the planned itinerary exactly and the sequence of
sites visited may change. Rest assured that we have considerable experience at responding to
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and the most memorable explorations of this intriguing land.

Complex, multi-layered cultural traditions and stunning natural geography make South
America a fascinating destination. To get the most enjoyment out of your trip, remember that
many South American countries are still considered developing nations, and be aware that you
may be approached to buy crafts or solicited by children to take photographs.

In restaurants, hotels, and at cultural sites, everything works according to a slower sense
of time than what you are used to. It’s best to wind down and adjust to the local pace and
philosophy.

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