I arrived in Córdoba yesterday morning, after a long bus ride from Iguazu falls. They only seats left on the bus were "cama total" seats -- nicer than first class seats on a plane -- so it was an expensive (though not that much more) but very comfortable bus ride. For the first six hours of the ride I had the downstairs of the bus all to myself. I felt like a little kid, being left home alone for the first time. I was free to do whatever I wanted and no one would scold me, but I couldn't figure out what I was that I wanted to do with my new-found freedom. So, I just sat and read my book.
Córdoba seems like a nice city, though it was completely closed down yesterday due to a national holiday. Yesterday was Malvinas day, which I guess is similar to veterans day in the states, but with a specific focus on the war over the malvinas (or the faulklands, as I knew them before coming here). The battle over those islands is still very much alive here. Near every border, you see a sign claiming them for Argentina.
I spent the day exploring the city, and wondering why everything was closed (I didn't find out until later that evening). Like Buenos Aires, Córdoba has a number of nice parks, and places to sit, though they seem to be smaller and fewer in number. That said, Córdoba seems like a much smaller and more livable city. Yesterday was another hot, humid day here, and just walking around was enough to leave me sweating and thirsty.
As I read more about the areas surrounding Córdoba, the mountains seemed more and more appealing, so I'm off to explore some of the smaller towns in the sierras (the central mountain range, still a good ways east of the andes) and maybe do some hiking, later today. My current thought is to try to make it up Cerro Champaquí. It's the tallest peak in the range, though it's not really all that tall, nor all that difficult. Still, it should be a nice break from the city.
This morning it's much cooler -- cloudy and overcast -- a nice change in the weather. I suspect that it will turn into rain, which I gather is much needed in this part of the country.