San Antonio de Areco, Argentina: Who knew this would be such a cool little town?

The good folks at Estancia Del Ombu told us we had time between breakfast and lunch to visit San Antonio del Areca, a small town about ten miles down the road.

We looked it up on the map and it didn’t look like much. Maybe a grain mill or two, the obligatory Catholic Church, a couple of crossroads, and, we assumed, the same kind of rutted dirt roads that lead to the Estancia. In other words, our expectations were reasonably low.

The taxi driver dropped us off in front of the Catholic Church and we only had to walk about two minutes for reality to set in. The streets are filled with sidewalk cafes and restaurants. Stylish women’s closing stores. Silversmiths creating their own art and passing their skills onto classes of dedicated apprentices. Chocolate shops. Craftsmen who turn leather into art. And best of all, it’s a glittering town filled with beautifully restored colonial and art deco buildings.

We returned the following day just to wander the streets again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hah! We went back the next day, too.