On a recent trip to the southern tip of the South American continent, I visited Patagonia, fulfilling a long-standing dream. However, the adventure didn’t end there—I also traveled north to explore several other places, including Santiago de Chile, Valparaíso, Mendoza, and Buenos Aires. Each destination surprised me in its own way, and I’ll go into more detail below—except for Santiago, which I found rather underwhelming, so I saved those expensive clicks for the other locations.
Valparaiso
The first stop on this leg of the journey was a day trip to Valparaíso, a famous town on Chile’s Pacific coast, just a stone’s throw from Santiago. After an incredibly smooth bus ride—on what were perhaps the most comfortable seats I’ve ever sat on (take note, KLM!)—I arrived in Valparaíso. In contrast to Santiago, it was cold and foggy, which didn’t do my photos any favors. Despite that, I managed to capture some decent shots of the historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has long been home to many artists, whose influence is evident in its colorful, vibrant atmosphere—and my photos are here to prove it.








Mendoza
Mendoza was a name I had been aware of for a long time, thanks to all the bottles of Malbec that evaporated from my wine glass. But I knew basically nothing about the region, and I surely wouldn’t have ever thought that it’s such a warm and dry place, with all the vineyards being irrigated with water channeled down from the Andes. There seems to be a complicated irrigation system, and farmers have to wait their turn for a weekly portion of water.
As it’s probably not that difficult to guess by now, the main thing to do in Mendoza is wine tasting. And boy, did I taste quite a few. It was very interesting getting the full terroir experience and going to wineries that I had previously had wines from—but on the other side of the world. And it’s also interesting to see how they cost a fraction of the price I’m used to. Though I had already chugged down quite a few glasses of Malbec by noon, in the 35°C desert heat, it seems I still managed to keep Captain Click straight, and some decent photos came out as well.




The adventure didn’t stop at the vineyards. Before even arriving in Mendoza, while flying over the Andes, I couldn’t help but notice how unique the rugged landscape was, and I wished I had taken the bus from Santiago instead. So I didn’t think twice and rented a motorcycle, allowing me to ride up the Uspallata Valley and enjoy some breathtaking and unique landscapes on Route 7, passing under Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. It was an unforgettable experience riding through this gorgeous valley, and as a bonus, there was almost no traffic at all because of the Christmas break.





Buenos Aires
The last leg of the amazing journey ended in Buenos Aires, yet another place in this region that I’ve been longing to visit for a long time. The headlines about this city are always dramatic, with protests and hyperinflation dominating the news. At the same time, in pictures, it always looks like a beautiful European city. So I had no idea what to expect, and I must say it exceeded all my expectations. It’s packed with colonial-era buildings, but at the same time, it also has an air of modernity. And there’s an ample number of good restaurants, bakeries, cafes, food markets and delicious ice cream places. Oh, all those gelato and empanada calories on my waistline!
Photos were taken, and mistakes were made, so unfortunately, not all of my rolls were properly developed. Additionally, I used a roll of Cinestill 800T, which is a new film to me, and I didn’t expect that the extreme halation would ruin all my photos from the breathtakingly beautiful Teatro Colón and Ateneo Grand Splendid. But a few photos made it out of the lab in decent shape, such as the one at the market. It might look like it was tampered with to the untrained eye, but this is just how tungsten lights appear on this film. Having paid 30 EUR at Turista Film Club for this roll, and another 18 EUR in Amsterdam for developing, it became the most expensive photo I ever took, and hopefully it stays like that.

Palacio Barolo
Palacio Barolo is one of the most fascinating buildings in Buenos Aires, a true architectural marvel with a story just as dramatic as the city itself. Inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy, it’s packed with symbolic details, from its hellish base to the heavenly lighthouse at the top. Walking inside feels like stepping into another world, with dimly lit hallways, antique elevators, and a design that blends Art Nouveau with Neo-Romanesque and Gothic elements. In other words, a photographer’s paradise.





La Boca
This district seems a bit out of place with its colorful buildings and rather odd vibe, at least compared to the other places I’ve been in the city. The main thing here seems to be football, with many streets painted in the colors of the local team and kids kicking a ball on every other street. I can’t say it was my favorite neighborhood in the city, but at least it was quite photogenic, so Captain Click was happy.




