POLO ARGENTINA!

Argentina Countrywide is pleased to welcome Palmita Mendez, Polo enthusiast, to our growing team of expert guides who ensure that our clients find the best polo accommodation, polo schools and polo tours in Argentina.

Palma is a well-connected polo enthusiast who is currently developing her own women’s polo team in Argentina.

At Argentina Countrywide, we have many polo estancias, private polo estancias and casa quintas (country houses) for both rent and sale on the very best polo estates in Argentina. Our polo estancias are found mainly in Argentina’s Polo heartland in the province of Buenos Aires’ and more specifically in and around Pilar and Lobos, both just a short drive from Buenos Aires city.

Argentina Countrywide has many polo groups staying with us from both Australia and England during the polo season 2010/11 and Palma is responsible for coordinating schools, lessons, practice chukkas and accommodation. Using her local knowledge, she is also responsible for buying the best value quality services for our clients. Polo players who travel to Argentina during season will know how difficult it can be negotiating deals from afar – well here’s your chance to get an expert guide and find the best deals in Argentina!

Recently, Palma wrote an article for our group…

My first love is Argentina polo

My name is Palmita Mendez, I was born in Mexico but I’m currently residing in Argentina. I first came to Buenos Aires to work in 2004 and the beauty of Buenos Aires city and the warmth of my many Argentine friends immediately captured my heart. Buenos Aires is a fascinating city of amazing diversity and culture, and so I decided to make of Buenos Aires my home.

I studied gastronomy at the Instituto Argentino de Gastronomia, History of Art at the Fine Arts Museum, languages at the Goethe Institute and Alliance Francaise.

I already had so many reasons to love Buenos Aires and Argentina, but in September 2009, I found my real passion in life, and that passion fast became the most important reason I now reside in Argentina: Polo.

In September 2009, I accepted an invitation from a close friend to watch a Polo game and to take a polo lesson. I had no horseback riding skills and so I thought the experience was just another to ‘chalk-up’ and add to my cultural knowledge of Argentina, but to my surprise, I loved it!

Just one polo lesson with the right polo people was enough for me to fall in love with polo.

What is it about polo in Argentina that gets you hooked?

I can try to describe Polo with words but you only feel the exhilaration and that addictive buzz of adrenalin when you actually play polo – I have invited many of my friends to play polo and guess what, polo is a common addiction!

Polo in Argentina is for everyone and affordable

If you consider Polo a sport for traditional polo families or the landed gentry or that you can only play polo if you have already good horseback riding skills – then think again – I have found that polo is for everybody – for every level, women and men.

Of course, if you ride well before you start your polo lessons you then have an important advantage but believe me when I say that you can start anytime and at any age!

Why I chose to play polo in Argentina

I have always loved sports; I played tennis all my life; I love skiing; I play golf, but I never experienced anything like polo! Polo is the most beautiful sport that I have ever played and I cannot enthuse or recommend polo enough to any sports minded girl or guy.

Polo has its own culture, camaraderie with many intrinsic values such as friendship, courtesy, beauty, honesty, elegance and simplicity, and of course that long and powerful connection that humans have with one of gods most beautiful and majestic beasts, the horse. If you couple the culture and being at one with nature with great doses of adrenaline that pump through your veins, you begin to get my picture!

I’m absolutely in love with polo, but I have found it is critically important to start your training (polo school) with the right polo instructors to get the best out of the game and ensure you play safe and well.

I was very lucky to start with great polo coaches, not only for their technique but also for their charisma. A true, noble, joyful, honest polo family introduced me to Polo. Simple gentlefolk that made me feel welcome at all times.

I am so grateful to the people that introduced me to polo and allowed me to be part of their lives. Actually, a traditional polo family first opened the door to me and to many others who now practice this sport. They have played polo for generations and enjoy sharing their enormous knowledge of the game.

Let me show you why Argentina is tops for polo

I have been so lucky and therefore it is customary for Central Americans to share their luck! If you would like to try this amazing sport, I am very happy to arrange day tours for polo lessons close to Buenos Aires city, Polo weekends and or weekly polo clinics.

It is with great pleasure that I collaborate with my polo friends and enthusiast at Buenos Aires Stay and Buenos Aires Experience and Argentina Countrywide to provide visitors to Buenos Aires with amazing accommodation and some the very best polo instructors in the world – I kid you not!

Polo changed my life in many ways. The people, the places and the game have taught me many things about life and the way I want to live my own. I have met many interesting people from around the world through polo and they all have left with me some of the greatest memories so far, even when just sharing the field for chukkas (all 7 minutes!).

Many of the people that I have met through polo became my closest friends and my favorite people. The simplicity of the terrain and the infinite skyline are all part of an invitation to live your life freely. The game teaches us the necessities of the team play and the true grit and determination that help redefine your personality – the battle on the polo field that shows you at your best… I have also learned about the beauty of a simple life, because as glamorous as polo may seem it is actually the simplicity and connection to nature that makes it all so worthwhile.

One day, I will have my own women’s polo team

Today my goal is to become a good polo player, to have my own women´s team to go around the world playing polo and to invite new people to join this popular sport – especially women. I want to promote polo for its beauty and to teach the fine polo and values that I have learned.

An open invitation to all - play polo Argentina!

Given my experience and how much it has changed my life, I extend my invitation to everybody who arrives in Buenos Aires – please do not leave Buenos Aires without first trying polo in Argentina, I will endeavor to ensure that everyone who contacts me finds their way onto a polo field .