One of the most hyped tourist activities in the area is to take a boat out through the delta from Tigre. We had a chance on a Sunday afternoon, taking one of the small wooden boats.
I was expecting to see a large expanse of nature but instead we passed by kilometers of dwellings – some shacks, some palacios.
The Rio De La Plata is considered by some as the widest river in the world, at between 30 and 80 miles wide. Others consider it either a bay or estuary. Regardless it is a busy place on a sunny summer day.
The delta beyond the city of Tigre have no roads, but numerous houses and restaurants. Their only way to receive supplies is via the grocery boats.
The boats that take people out to the islands often have to store the larger items on the roof.
Meanwhile a load of bamboo comes to town.
On a day like this there are literally hundreds of sailboats on the water all along the shoreline.
The windsurfers are amazingly fast.
While many just hung out on their boat.
The San Isidro Cathedral and a nice sailboat.
For most of the 30 miles of shoreline from Buenos Aires to Tigre is lined with tall apartment buildings.
The newer sailors in the school sometimes struggle, but stayed upright.
Leaving a nice line of small matching sailboats.
This guy was amazing flying along just above the water.
There are many very shallow areas that give a strange perspective in the middle of the river – such as the people walking seemingly in the middle of the water.
The troubadour boat 🙂
Great lighting, great sailboat.
Where are we – oh yeah – Argentina.
On the narrower part of the river near Tigre there was a mass of various craft.
The far side of the river have large grasses.
The wooden sailboats have a wonderful look.
The Parque de la Costa (Coast Park) has more than 30 rides and attractions.
One of the interesting items of being in South America is the reverse of the seasons – making December graduation time!
Nothing better than a beautiful sunny start to Graduation Day.
The cruise ship is arriving from Brazil.
In the middle of the city some young ladies are celebrating their high school graduation in true Buenos Aires fashion – blowing whistles and going into the middle of the street during the light changes!
Meanwhile later that afternoon in Olivos the Naval Training Facility is having their graduation as well – in a much more reserved manner.
The band plays the national anthem.
The flags are ready.
The cadets are ready.
Seemingly bored waiting on the dignitaries…
They receive their diplomas and congratulations…
Finally it is done and the new graduates can pose with the Secretary of Security.
Evening is approaching so the boats return to the harbor.
Tigre is at the end of one of the lines of the commuter rail from Buenos Aires. They have a very stylish station.
Tigre is known as the gateway to the Parana Delta. This area covers the size of Connecticut, and is made up of hundreds of islands (and no roads). All of the transportation into the delta is via boat.
As a result Tigre is a tourist destination, with many attractions throughout the delta.
We had no particular plans for this day so we wandered around town. There are numerous boat clubs along the Tigre River. In this case, they are across the street, so they have a unique rail system to get their boats to the river.
Many of the clubs have very ornate buildings.
The parilla is on the grill for later!
Where could this guy be going with his load of bamboo boxes?
Why to Puerto De Furtos (the Fruit Port) of course.
The port takes up a number of piers along the river.
Tourist boats are constantly going by.
While across the river are some unique structures.
It is an interesting blend of old and new.
We went looking for fruit, but were disappointed as the entire area has been restored into a tourist market area. Still is was an interesting area, with great photo ops.
On the way back to the rail station we passed by this interestingly decorated building, with American baseball greats of the past.
Tigre is an interesting town, and we look forward to spending more time there and adventure into the delta further.
In the early days of river transportation a common style of boat was the sternwheeler. With it’s distinctive large wooden wheel on the back (stern) to propel it, it was a common sight along the Ohio River.
Today most of the sternwheels are mostly decorative, with a traditional propeller providing most of the propulsion. The boats at the Marietta Sternwheeler Festival were mostly campers on boats.
With a trip for work to New York City I had little time for sightseeing, but my wife didn’t! This is her photo blog of a 4 hour New York Architectural Society (almost) circumnavigation of Manhattan. I say almost, since there was a bridge on the Harlem River in a down position so they had to backtrack back around.
They set sail from a pier in Chelsea.
And headed for the harbor…
Passing by Jersey City…
The trip was actually offered for college credit, so there was an instructor on board whom reportedly spoke ‘constantly’. The trip took them past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, which I wouldn’t think would need any dialog to explain.
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It was time to head up the East River…
This carousel in a park in Brooklyn came from a defunct amusement park in my hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.
Nearby was a jet ski school!
As you make you way up the East River you go past many areas that are undergoing gentrification.
An interesting view of Roosevelt Island, and the 59th Street (Queensboro) Bridge.
The United Nations Building
Roosevelt Island was once home to a Tuberculosis Hospital, but now is home to thousands in new apartment buildings.
A great view of the bridge and the Roosevelt Island Tram.
A series of bridges on the far end of the East River, where they ended up turning around.
If you have plenty of money ($850 one way for a 30 minute plane ride) you can get from Manhattan to the Hamptons in a hurry on a seaplane.
Or a helicopter…
The cruise continued back down the East River
The late afternoon sun made a interesting view of the Staten Island Ferry with the statue in the background.
The World Trade Center from the Hudson River
One of the many New York Waterway ferries.
Finally some interesting new architecture along the Hudson.
I think you will agree her photos were great – I am so jealous I had to work, it looks like it was a great cruise 🙂
Most of my time in New York City is spent on the Jersey side, therefore most of the photos of the skyline is from across the Hudson. On this trip I had a chance to view Manhattan from the East River.
RDZ Photography 