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Isla Martin Garcia: a one of a kind getaway Some 30 minutes away from downtown Buenos Aires is Tigre, a riverside location home to great attractions such as beautiful fruit markets, handcrafts and all sorts of wooden furniture open air shops. Arriving to the Martin Garcia island can be done either by boat or by taxi plane. Unlike the other islands in the Argentinean delta -earthy sediments formations- the Martin Garcia island is a volcanic formation and an emergence of the mass in Sierra de la Ventana. This has set the basis for an amazing combination of nature, birds, flowers, trees that make of this place a great option for all sorts of alternative tours, ecotourism, cultural and historical walks and of course a great option for those who want to take some time off the city's noise and clutterness. The historical background of this island is just amazing, all sorts of personalities -such as one of Argentina's most famous presidents Juan Domingo Peron, the famous Nicaraguan poet Ruben Dario, as well as the worldly known Dr. Maza who discovered the vaccine to chagas chose this beautiful place as their home. The old colonial constructions in the center of the of this beautiful town blend together with other no less beautiful buildings that express the American and French aesthetical influence in those sensitive and delightful designs in a very art nouveau style. From the center of the island one can appreciate one of Sarmiento's hidden botanical skills, for he had put all his energy into politics during the late 80s of the nineteenth century, as we appreciate one beautiful poplar woods he himself planted. Not far away we can see one of Buenos Aires famous lighthouses built in the late years of 1890. It has lighten this island's coasts for more than one hundred years. The building shows clean and strong lines, inside, a snail ladder leads us to the highest point of the island from were we can enjoy an amazing view. In the area nearby the town's center, there's a place that has been christened "Barrio Chino". Many tourist guides have mistakenly regarded this place as a Chinatown. The reference is just an oposite other, for during the seventeenth and eighteenth century sailors approached the island seeking some love to buy -prostitutes, to which they kindly referred as "chinas", which is a very common way to refer to women in the Argentinean pampas, not to the Asian women. It's a very interesting visit to do, specially for the deep cultural significance, the chinas getaway for local sailors at a paradise island. And of course, while touring around the island the Panadería -the bakery- is a place no one should miss, for their sweet bread is outstandingly perfect (former president Carlos Menem used to fly in his private plane to the island specially to buy this bread, though some experts in politics assure this was just an excuse to meet up with some less respectful people of questionable moral) and for the great art nouveau architecture of the building that has remained intact. Email Bob Frassinetti. The Buenos Aires Art Dealer,Argentina. Bob Frassinetti. Copyright 2005. Roberto Dario Frassinetti.