There are many international celebrities Spanish from writer to singer to architect the Formula One driver. Below-Pair A Whole known, of course, uh, of course, many more.

Film director
Pedro Almodóvar, born Sept. 24, 1951, is a very well-known film director in Spain. Pedro has won many Grammy awards with his Spanish-language films. Pedro often brought to light difficult themes in his films such as prostitution, homosexuality, drug abuse and abuses in the Catholic Church. 

Architect
Antoni Gaudí, two words, Sagrada Familia, who does not know it or has never heard of it. Gaudí is considered the founder of organic architecture. Gaudí died from a train accident near his Sagrada Familia where he was every day and followed everything closely about developments in construction. Today, work on the Sagrada Familia is still going on, and it is predicted to be finally finished in 2026.

Artist
Pablo Picasso, October 25, 1881 - April 8, 1973, was a Spanish draughtsman, painter, graphic artist , sculptor and ceramicist. He was one of the most famous Spanish painters. Picasso's best-known work was the nearly 4-meter-long painting called Guernica.

Formula 1
Fernando Alonso, born July 29, 1981, is a two-time Formula One world champion. He became the youngest ever world champion on Sept. 25, 2005! Alonso caused amazement by the high speed at which he entered his races and usually won.

Actor and actress
A famous Spanish actor is definitely Antonio Banderas with his sultry eyes. A famous Spanish actress is without a doubt Penélope Cruz.

Footballers
We can almost say that almost the entire Spanish national soccer team is well-known. Surely the most famous are Iker Casillas, Raúl, Carles Puyol, Fernando Torres, David Villa and Gerard Piqué. Famous and infamous among the Dutch.

Singers
Julio Iglesias, first soccer player and un one of Spain's best-selling Spanish singers. And father of the famous Enrique Iglesias who makes many hearts beat faster. In the opera world Plácido Domingo is a household name, he has sung with Pavoratti, among others, and he is still active today.

Writer
Surely the most famous and important Spanish writer is Miguel de Cervantes. Author of the novel "Don Quijote de la Mancha"( The ingenious nobleman Don Quixote of La Mancha). The book is one of the first novels written in a modern European language. The story tells the travel adventures of an old nobleman who thinks he is a knight (Don Quixote- idealist and a foolish hero) Cervantes was also the author of about 20 plays. 

Tennis player
Rafael Nadal, born June 3, 1986, is Spain's best Spanish tennis player. Currently, Rafael is ranked No. 2 in the world according to the ATP (Novak Djokovic is No. 1). His nickname is the King of Gravel, he owes this to his many victories on this surface.

There is some controversy about whether or not this story is true and a quick Internet search reveals all kinds of arguments, but, we think it is interesting and worth a mention.

According to a group of archaeologists, 1,100 year old Mayan ruins have been discovered at Track Rock Gap, near Georgia´s tallest mountain. Investigators believe that 154 stone masonry walls are visible, used for creating agricultural terraces, as well as other stone structures. The Mayans are known for having implemented advanced irrigation systems, adapting to difficult terrains. Some believe that the site could, in fact, be the lost city of Yupaha, which Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto failed to find on an expedition in 1540.

Some theorize that the Mayans made the move north around 800 AD, when the once flourishing population began to collapse due to volcanic eruptions, wars and extreme drought. In fact, strong similarities in architectural forms of towns along southern Mexico and southeastern USA have documented and some agronomists believe that corn, beans and tobacco was introduced to the Native Americans from those who migrated north from Mexico.

Despite all these theories, no ruins have ever been found in the US that have been attributed to people who originated in what today is Mexico. Although, many point out that Native American tribes such as the Creeks, Alabamas, Natchez, Chitmachas and Choctaws may be descendants of southern indigenous groups and particularly point out the use of Mesoamerican words in the Creek Indian language, for example.

The mystery remains: Where did the Mayans go? Archaeologists know that the Mayan civilization suffered a rapid collapse and for 170 years they have debated what exactly happened to the vast number of people that once thrived in the area. Mass immigration has been hard to prove and many archeologists have concluded that the Mayans simply died in masse.

However, in the Georgian Mountains there has always been “evidence”. Ruins found around the state were usually attributed to the Cherokee Indians, who denied having created the circular structures and wall terraces on the mountaintops and mountainsides. In the mid-20^th Century, modernization in Georgia led to little conservation of these “Indian” mounds and stone structures, most being swept away to give way to highways and other construction projects. It wasn’t until the late 20^th century that the state took at active role in trying to conserve this part of its history, the most famous site being the ruins of Fort Mountain State Park.

In 1999, an archaeologist named Mark Williams from the University of Georgia led a group to study the southeastern side of Brasstown Bald. The ruins survived reveal a massive 5 sided pyramidal mound, possibly dating back to 900 AD, partially sculpted out of an existing hill with clay. Of all the indigenous tribes of the Americas, only the Itza Mayas and the Creek Indian ancestors have been known to build 5-sided earth pyramids as their principal mounds, and dozens of similar structures can be found in Central America.

Other reasons to suspect a Mayan presence in the area can be found on early maps of the area. The name “Itsate” can be found. “Itsate” is the name that the Itza Mayans used to call themselves.

An archaeological survey by Loubser’s firm surveyed the area and is said to have done soil dating which estimated that some of the shards were made around 760 AD – 850 AD, around the time that the Mayan population plummeted. The study offered no firm conclusions, but did state that examples of similar sites only exist in the Maya Highlands of South America.

Is Track Rock Gap the “missing link” that archaeologists and architects had been seeking since 1841? Did the Mayas make their way North and establish new cities? There are many debates… If the site does prove specific links between the Southeastern Native Americas and the ancient Mayans, then, according to Thornton, this could be the “most important archeological discovery in recent times.”

Everywhere you go in the world New Year's Eve is typically the biggest night out on the calendar and in Salamanca, a city renowned for the quality of its nightlife, this is no exception. However, it seems a bit odd to ring in a New Year with all the typical fanfare and celebrations in the middle of December, just as students at Salamanca's University do every year.

Even though actual New Year is still more than two weeks away, it is tradition that students from the university and beyond gather in Salamanca on the 15^th of December for one huge fiesta to celebrate before everyone goes home for Christmas. How huge? Try upwards of 30,000 people crammed into the city's spectacular renaissance Plaza Mayor. Just look at the pictures to get an idea of the atmosphere.

Seeing as my time left in Salamanca is now limited to just a few more days, I couldn't possibly miss out on experiencing la Nochevieja Universitaria. Even walking around the city during the day you could notice that the atmosphere was different with large happy groups of students gathering around and watching as a huge stage was being set up on Plaza Mayor. La Nochevieja Universitaria is a renowned event across the whole of Spain and Portugal with lots of universities organising big trips that descend on Salamanca for just one night to then leave, slightly worse for wear the next morning.

By 11pm the Plaza Mayor was already packed with people dancing away to what was quite possibly the best and only techno/electro violin player I will ever see live. Then an hour later it was time for the big countdown. Tradition in Spain dictates that at proper New Year (i.e. December 31^st) you should eat a grape every time the clock chimes at midnight. However, at la Nochevieja Universitaria eating grapes is considered bad luck and sweets are used as a substitute. Consequently, watching the concentration on the faces of 30,000 plus people intent on stuffing their mouths with sweets in order to keep up with the chiming clock was entertaining to watch to say the least.

After the countdown the Plaza gradually empties and people pour into the surrounding bars and clubs for what is undoubtedly one of their busiest nights of the year. As is typical of Spanish nights out, the night doesn't actually end until well into the day after and walking to work there were still people (clearly they are the ones with stamina who know how to pace themselves) outside some clubs and on the streets. A fantastic if slightly bizarre experience, I don't quite know what else to say except...

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Pictures of the new 2011 green and red lighting in Salamanca's world famous Plaza Mayor:

When most people think of the greatest Spanish contributions to the world, perhaps the most immediate things to spring to mind are flamenco music, tapas, and siestas. The Spaniards are not famed for the inventors. Painters, writers and poets perhaps; but it is a little known fact that Spain is responsible for some incredibly important, and some rather wacky innovations. Here is a rundown of 10 of the most significant and some of the most unusual inventions to come from Spain:

1. Chupa Chups- The famous lollipops that line cash registers across the world were initially created by the Catalonian Enric Bernat in 1958. An idea that sprung from seeing a child being told off for making a mess when eating sweets, evolved into an internationally, booming company. By simply placing a stick in a sweet, Bernat revolutionized the sweet world!

2. Mop- The first mop was invented by aeronautical engineer, Manuel Jalon Corominas, and his friend Emilio Bellvis, both worked to create the first mop and bucket. Although there is some dispute as to which of the two claimed the initial idea.

3. The Submarine- The first combustion-powered prototypes created date back to 1859, belonged to the Catalonian Narciso Monturiol, who designed a manually propelled submarine known as the Ictíneo I. Isaac Peral was a fellow Spaniard who also revolutionized submarine navigation using electrical energy.

4. The Beret- While everyone associates berets with the typical French stereotype, in fact its origins are Spanish! Shepherds in the northern Basque country were the first people to wear them, and they are still very common to this day!

5. Cigarette- Although tobacco is native to America, cigarettes are a Spanish invention, that emerged when beggars began to collect any tobacco waste and wrap it up in thin sheets of paper to smoke. By 1825, cigarettes were being packaged and marketed, with the first packs being manufactured in 1833.

6. Chess- A claim that is sometimes disputed, but it is widely believed that the origin of one of the world’s most played games is Spanish. It is claimed that Valencia is responsible for the origins of the modern game, with radical rules created that evolved from ancient games

7. Molotov cocktail- this improvised incendiary device was first used in the Spanish Civil War. Franco ordered Spanish Nationalists to use the easily made bombs as a weapon in fighting against the Soviet Union, who were supporting the Republicans.

8. Autogyro- a type of rotorcraft invented by Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva, who wanted to create an aircraft that could safely fly at slow speeds.

9. Table Football- the first patent for the games belongs to Alejandro Finisterre, who credits his friend Francisco Javier Altuna with the invention. However there has been dispute over this claim, with some stating that it belongs to a Brit.

10. Coca-Cola- the citizens of Ayelo de Malferit, near Valencia, claim that the famous drink actually originates from them. Juan Mica claims that his family were the first to invent the drink, called Nuez de Kola Coca’, which he then took to the US and sold the recipe. However this claim is still shrouded in dispute.

While some of the array of Spanish inventions are disputed, whether it’s famous lollipops, clean floors or groundbreaking developments in rotorcrafts, Spain has definitely provided the world with some undeniably useful inventions.

Yesterday marked the first day of the fantastic ‘The Hermitage in the Prado’, the biggest cultural project yet between Spain and Russia.

The exhibition which comprises of 120 works from the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, offers a broad display of the museum’s diverse art- spanning from artefacts created in the 4th & 5th century BC to 20th century paintings.

El Prado is the first museum outside of Russia to ever host such an exhibition, which is said to represent the pride and glory of Russia’s cultural heritage.

The exhibition is in fact the second half of a close partnership between the two museums. From February to May of this year, the Hermitage ran an exhibition showcasing some of the Spanish museum’s most celebrated works- including paintings of Goya and El Greco. The exhibition, 'The Prado in the Hermitage' was the most successful exhibition the museums has ever held, receiving more than 600,000 visitors. The partnership is part of a vast range of fascinating events and cultural exchanges that have been organised for the ‘Año Dual España-Rusia’ (see video below). Some of the events that have already taken place include cultural debates in Barcelona, Russian ballet in Madrid, art deco in Salamanca, flamenco dancing in Moscow and many more.

The Prado’s exhibition will run until the 25th March 2012, and not only is it showcasing some of Russia’s most celebrated artwork, but there will be also be some famous Spanish painters’ artwork temporarily returning home, including works by Pablo Picasso (see left), José de Ribera and Diego Velazquez.

With so much artistic diversity on display, the exhibition is set to be extremely popular, so too will the recent decision, that from the 16th January, the Prado will open every day of the week, no longer closing on Mondays, giving visitors chance to explore the depth of the Prado's extensive collection any day they wish!

The British Council and Cervantes Institute unite to battle common challenges with a book and plans for cooperation. It is probably no surprise that Spanish and English are two most dominant languages in the Western world. Up until now they probably viewed one another with caution, but new global tendencies require that the two languages unite to survive and meet the future challenges of other economic powers and influences. Together the British Council and Cervante's Institute have written a book called Palabra por Palabra, or Word for Word which examines the two languages and their upcoming challenges, particularly due to the unbridled expansion of Chinese, Arabic and Hindi.

The West's latitudes of influence may be changing. The idea of an Anglo-Saxon north and a Latin south has been blurring as the Hispanics spread north. The two cultural spheres represent a billion people whose first languages are English or Spanish. If you add to that number those who are learning one of these languages as a second language, the number doubles.

Carmen Caffarel, director of Cervantes Institute, explained that "this is the first step in analyzing challenges together between the two main languages within our spheres of influence" while Rod Pryde, director of the British Council headquarters in Madrid stated that "It is time to share perspectives".

The two languages will work together to find their place in the world, keeping in mind that learning Spanish and English increases the business and work opportunities for companies and people.

All of these aspects are discussed in the book Word for Word, which was presented yesterday at the Cervantes Institute in Madrid. Until know the English and Spanish institutions have worked solitarily, but now the reality in the US and around the world has inspired them to form strong alliances to ensure the growth and prosperity of both languages.

The US with an estimated 50 million Spanish speakers, second only to Mexico, has demonstrated that a peaceful coexistence between the languages can open many doors. Ángel López García, author of Anglohispanos explained that "It was the Americans, with their common sense, who have drawn the attention of the British and the Spaniards, from their distant and European orbit, to see the many opportunities that may result from a partnership".

Humberto López Morales has studied the effects of the coexistence of English and Spanish in the US and has found that that the general Spanish lexicon only varies by 1.6%. He noted that, after analyzing 430,000 words, that over 98% are in common use. Some attribute this success to maintain the common Spanish base to the Royal Spanish Academy which each year publishes an official dictionary and grammar in the Spanish language.

The demand for English and Spanish is also growing significantly in Asia and Brazil where, according to Alvaro Martinez Cachero, there are 5.5 students studying Spanish in academies and 25 million learning English. These areas of the globe represent real opportunities for expansion of both languages.

These are great advantages but there are also threats coming from the East. Rod Pryde asks "What will happen with Arabic, Chinese and Hindi in the near future? They are languages that are more difficult to learn, making it an obstacle for them to become global languages. But we cannot predict what will happen."

There is more to be learned from the new union between the British Council and the Cervantes Institute as explained by María José Ferrari: "It is clear that an institution like Cervantes, with a budget of 103 million euros and 20 years of experience, has a lot to learn from the British Council, with its more than 70 years of existence and 700 million pound budget (814 million euros), especially when two-thirds of that come from their own revenues and not state aid." She also explained that the British will hopefully experience "some humility" and to open their "world to other languages".

Spanish Ham is not "ham" as an American would normally understand the word. And it is definitely not like Italian prosciutto. So, the English language is kind of limited when it comes to pork products and the only word we have to describe this Spanish delicacy just doesn't really explain it or do it justice.

So before continuing, let’s take a look at the two types of products that Spaniards consider to be "jamón" (which again, is simply translated as "ham")

• Jamón Serrano: Is a dry-cured Spanish ham leg served raw in thin slices. Serrano hams are made from a white breed of pig and are not to be confused with the much more expensive and entirely different jamón iberico.

• Jamón Ibérico: Is a much more expensive version of Spanish ham, made from Iberian black pigs, fed special diets to produce a high quality high sought after Spanish cured ham leg.

Due to rigorous US laws, it has been quite a challenge for Spaniards to get their world famous product into the American market. In 2006, the first Spanish Ham exporter, Fermín, finally achieved this endeavor. Fermín is located in La Alberca in the province of Salamanca and prides itself on having penetrated the US market.

In fact, according to Cristina García, an employee of Fermín based in the USA and the only official Spanish ham cutter in the country, Americans have a lot to learn about this Spanish food.

THINGS AMERICANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IBERIAN HAM

1. Yes, Spanish ham should be cut by an official "ham cutter". Any Spaniard can tell you that. In fact, here in Spain they have special classes and licenses to get the job. No kidding, the way it is cut IS important.
2. Spanish ham is cut in thin slices and arranged on a plate from which various people share. No, you do not use a fork. You use your fingers. Yes, Spanish ham is a finger. No, you do not put any sauces on it. This is like blasphemy and there is no better way to upset a Spaniard. This is kind of like smothering a freshly roasted turkey on Thanksgiving with ketchup, or even worse, an expensive cut of T-bone steak. Just don't but sauce on it. Blasphemy, BLASPHEMY!
3. Yes, it is cured meaning it is pretty much raw. I mean, you know what "cured" means, right? Yes, it is cut directly off of what appears to be a pig leg. Yes, it is a pig leg. Yes, this is hard for Americans to get used to at first. And yes, if you come to Spain you will see these pig legs dangling from ceilings, kitchents, and on most bar counters.
4. Spanish ham is usually cut to include a small amount of fat in each slice. YES you should eat this. No, it won't make you fat. Yes, Spanish ham is actually quite healthy for you! According to Cristina García, most Americans request the fat to be removed. Again: BLASPHEMY! :)
5. No, it is not Spanish prosciutto, and no, Spanish ham has nothing to do with Italian ham. Let's try not to confuse things :)

For those of you who doubt the exquisiteness of this Spanish food, let me just tell you that Fermín Iberian ham was included in this year’s menu for the Oscars. To give you an idea of how exclusive it is in the US, every portion served at the Oscars cost $600!!!!!

So now you can find Spanish ham in the USA, albeit it is still hard to find and costly. You can always come to Spain to study Spanish to more easily access the Spanish delicacy. Remember the tips I gave you as you wouldn't want to offend people!

Money can achieve many things, for example, you can pay your favorite singer to cross the Atlantic Ocean to give you a private concert with your four favorite songs.

A billionaire Spaniard, whose identity is still unknown, is paying Cristina Aguilera 2.4 million to do just that.

The news broke this week by famous celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

According to sources, she will quickly and anonymously enter Spain, date and exact destination unknown, give the private concert and return home.

Each song will be costing the Aguilera fan a whopping half a million per song. Ouch. Hopefully he has a good idea about which songs he wants to hear!

This is not the first time she has been hired for a private performance. IN 2005 she gave Andrei Melnichenko a birthday show for a million dollars. Another rich Russian, Kerimov, also hired the blonde bombshell for a similar performance.

Other singers known to give private concerts are Shakira, to the young Vinita Agarwal, as well as the recently deceased Amy Winehouse

Preparing your trip to Spain

Your trip to Spain to learn Spanish is getting closer and you have to prepare many things before you arrive. Do you know all the things you should have before you come? Do you know about all the procedures and agreements that exist between your country and Spain? Research these topics well because the success of our trip could depend on what you do before you depart and entering Spain legally is not as difficult as you may think!

We are going to give you some recommendations to make it easier for you in this post. Enjoy!

1. Before buying your plane ticket, make sure that your passport is valid. If it is not, you will need to renew it before entering Spain or any other part of the European Union.
2. If you are a European Union citizen, a Passport is not usually required to enter Spain. However, some form of legal identification is necessary.
3. Plan your itinerary well and get information about the Spanish destinations that you will be visiting. This will help you avoid unnecessary delays when you get to your destination. Spain has very reliable public transportation with trains and buses that will take you to any city in very timely matter. You can also fly between most major cities which can also save you a lot of time.
4. Regarding the Spanish visa: There are different types of visas for Spain: student, work, residency... Which is your case? Spain has special agreements with many countries that allow citizens to enter the country for up to 90 days without any paperwork. However, there are some exceptions so make sure to ask the Spanish Embassy in your country if you need a visa or not.
5. Remember that Spain is an EU member and once you are legally permitted into Spain you are allowed to visit other EU countries. There are also many low cost airlines such as RyanAir or Easyjet who sell cheap flights so that you can easily visit other cities and countries.
6. Medical Insurance: The best advice is to purchase medical insurance that will cover you in Spain. The Spanish health system will tend to any Spaniard or foreigner that needs attention, but the coverage for foreigners is only on an emergency basis. This service is not free. However, your country may have a public health agreement with Spain so make sure to inform yourself before purchasing any plan
7. If you decide to rent a car, despite the great public transportation in Spain, make sure that your driver's license is valid in Spain. If not, you should get an international driver's license before coming.
8. What kind of clothes should you bring? Even though Spain is a relatively small country, it has many different climates. Most regions have hot dry summers and cold winters, a good example of this is the weather in Madrid. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, remember that Spain is in the Northern Hemisphere which means that our winter coincides with your summer... Bring a good jacket if you are coming to Spain in September or April!
9. Spain is one of the safest countries in Europe, but regardless, you should pay close attention to your possessions and remain vigilant at all times so that you can avoid unnecessary problems such as the loss or theft of your documentation or credit cards.
10. Enjoy your stay in Spain and take advantage of the opportunity to get to learn about Spanish culture! Spain is a friendly country with people who are eager to learn about other cultures. Be nice to the locals and they may show you some of their city's secrets. Don't forget to practice and join aa Spanish course in Spain!

Let us know if you have any questions and we will try to answer them for you.

This blog is to help you learn about where Argentina is located, discover places to visit while you travel in Argentina and view an Argentina map of our suggestions. This is a comprehensive article for anyone thinking about doing tourism in Argentina.

Where is Argentina? That may sound like crazy question for many people, but according to Google, "Where is Argentina?" is one of the most searched for Argentina terms in the USA. I am not judging anyone here. Many Americans are geographically challenged and this is not because we (yes, we) are stupid. I prefer to use the word "sheltered", yes, we are very sheltered from the world. What do I mean by this? Well, many people may not know where is Argentina because they simply lack exposure.

One geography class 20 years ago was not enough, the local news doesn't often mention the "world", local newspapers are lucky to have an extensive international section even national papers lack on the "foreign news" front. My point is that Americans can literally live their whole lives not knowing where Argentina is, let alone the rest of the countries of the world.

So where is Argentina? Argentina is located where the map ends, on the southernmost tip of the planet, at the end of South America. It is a large country, the second largest in South America dominating the major part of the continent. However, compared with the US, Argentina is a bit less than three-tenths the size with a total area of 2,766,890 km² (1,068,302 mi²). Argentina is 3,650 km (2,268 mi) long from North to South and 1,430 km (889 mi) across from east to west.

On the north, Argentina is bounded by Bolivia, to the northeast by Paraguay, to the east by Brazil, Uruguay and the Atlantic Ocean, and to both the south and west by the long nation of Chile. In total, Argentina has over 9,665 km (6,000 mi) of border.

Now that we know the answer to "where is Argentina," we can take a look at this vast and beautiful country filled with adventures, mighty waterfalls, high mountains, vast plains, impressive ice glaciers, unique cities, tango, natural charms, amazing food and nice people.

If you are planning on traveling to Argentina or traveling through Argentina, it is a good idea to get familiarized with the country so that you can plan your trip accordingly.

The following is a map of Argentina with the top 10 places to visit while you are traveling around Argentina. This Argentina map is available online and is interactive.

1- Buenos Aires is known to be a very European feeling cosmopolitan city. The population descends mainly from Italians and Spaniards giving the city a rich cultural heritage and unique architecture. Don't miss a good tango class, the bohemian San Telmo neighborhood, the famous Recoleta cemetery where Eva Perón is buried. Study with don Quijote's partner school in Buenos Aires, marked on the Argentina map with a special symbol, to really discover the unique Argentine accent and culture.

2- The "pampas" are not marked on our Argentina map because the Argentine pampas are great plains located around the capital city of Buenos Aires. Famous Argentine "gauchos", or cowboys, can be found working the land that is also spotted with many lovely 19^th century homes. This beautiful area is open for tourism.

3- Peninsula Valdes is home to some of the world's best wildlife reserves in Argentina. Tourists traveling to Argentina often head to this area to watch whales breeding off shore. Sea lions, elephant seals, Orca whales and penguins are also common sights.

4- Ushuaia, as you can see on the map of Argentina, is located at the very tip of South America in Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) and is the southernmost town in the world. From this point in the world, you can board an excursion to Antartica!

5- Patagonia glaciers & Mount Fitz Roy: Some of the world's largest advancing glaciers are located in the Patagonia region of Argentina. If you are traveling through Argentina, make sure to stay a night in one of the several towns located in the area to cater to visitors who come to see the Perito Moreno glacier and the Upsala glacier. The Patagonia region is marked on the Argentina map below. Mount Fitz Roy is located about 130 miles to the north of the famous Patagonia glaciers. This peak is a must see for adventurists, often described as the most amazing and breathtaking mountain peak in the world.

6- Lake District - Bariloche: Bariloche, located in the Lake district, is a charming town and home to one of the most impressive ski resorts in South America. It is also the location of another don Quijote Spanish partner school located on our Argentina map. The Lake District area is often compared to the mountainous region of Switzerland and contains many charming towns like Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes. El Bolson is another village known for its crafts while Esquel is famous for the Old Patagonian Expressway.

7- Mendoza - Argentine Wine: Head to the city of Mendoza in the Andes, marked on our map of Argentina, home to Argentina's famous Malbec wine. You can tour the wineries and participate in wine tastings. While you are in this area traveling through Argentina, head to Aconcagua, just a short drive from Mendoza, where you can marvel at the world's highest peak after the Himalayas.

8- Salta & Jujuy: These two southern villages are known to be colorful and indigenous feeling. In Salta you can catch the famous Train to the Clouds, the highest railway in the world and fropm Jujuy you can visit cloud (fog) forests and other small unique villages.

9- Iguazu Falls in Argentina is a spectacular set of over 275 falls between Argentina and Brazil. The power of Iguazu Falls is unrivaled by any other, not even Niagara Falls or Victoria Falls. Devil's Throat, one of the main attractions, dumps over 10,000 gallons of water a second from a height of over 230 feet.

10- Córdoba is the second largest city in Argentina and is home to another don Quijote partner school. The city, indicated on the Argentina map, is famous for its preservation of historical monuments from the times of Spanish colonialism. Several 17^th century buildings have been declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

So now you have the answer to the question: Where is Argentina?, you have many really good reasons to travel to Argentina. We hope you find our suggestions and Argentina map useful to plan your tourism in Argentina.

View this INTERACTIVE Argentina map on Google

Want to study Spanish in Argentina?

Study in don Quijote's partner school in Buenos Aires.