28/09/2008
Buenos Aires is a buzzing, lively city apart from on a wet Sunday afternoon like today. Similarly to Puerto Iguazu most places are shut on a Sunday, that includes lots of bars and restaurants which proves havock when you are wandering around in the pouring rain trying to find somewhere to have a beer in.
After 20 minutes or more of walking we´ve finally found our place but the Boca Juniors have not been playing as well as they were on Tuesday when we went to see them play. (The score currently stands at 3-1 as I write with 15 mins to go - the mood in this cafe bar has changed somehwat since Boca Juniors went 1-0 up!)
Our visit to La Bombonera stadium home of Maradona´s club Boca Juniors cost just 3 quid 60 and we were rewarded with 4 home goals, 2 at our end and a great atmosphere. As well as being able to say I have watched lads hurdle barbed wire fencing on a mission to put up their giant team banners at a football match, I was also a proud spectator of a woman changing her child´s nappy in the stands. If you see this happening to Jack Wilshere at the Emirates do let me know.
If you ever come to Buenos Aires, here´s a tip when crossing the roads: the green man (well white man in this case) does not mean it is safe to cross, it means cross the road as if you were crossing somewhere other than a predestrian crossing because the cars are just gonna keep on coming!! This is more for when they come round a corner than when they are straight on but beware. Although crossing the road is a couple hassle here and more often a pain in the arse there is a complete sense of achievement when you make it across a whole 11 lane road without stopping.
Talking of achievement, no I didn´t eat a hamburger without throwing up - have stayed well clear of them - Fitz and I do now have offical recognision of one of our achievements in Buenos Aires.
Oh yes we have learn to Tango in the city where it was born and have certifcates to prove it.
Although the funny thing is we weren´t expecting the tango lesson! We arrived at the venue of our tango show and thought for our 30 quid we got the show, transfers, dinner and drinks. We were lead into a room whch I thought was going to be a bar area (wishful thinking) but no, it was a dance studio! We were the first to arrive and told not too look so scared! Ha ha. It was actually really enjoyable and we look forward to appearing on next year´s series of Strictly Come Dancing ( can´t believe I am missing that show I love it!)
Photo - tango show
Armed with a list of things to see and do in Buenos Aires, we have been kept rather busy but in a relaxed kinda way. Everyday has involved quite a lot of walking / strolling which tires your legs out - well mine are pretty tired.
Highlights have in included partcipating in the Buenos Aires cafe culture by sitting in a square in San Telmo having drinks and chilling reading the paper. San Telmo with its cobbled streets is a bohemian part of the city, full of second hand and antique shops. When we sat in the square it was a warm sunny day, there were lots of cafes and tables and charis with people sat round the edge selling their wares, there were plenty of pigeons and people dancing the tango, as I write this is makes me think this was quite picturesque!
San Telmo differs completely to Recoleta, the more upmarket part of Buenos Aires and is where you will find "Cementerio de la Recoleta" which is a must see. This cementry is where the Argentine elite rest, families pay fortunes to have extravgent tombs here which are pretty impressive.
Evita rests where which is still to some wealthy Argentines digust as she did not come from a rich family. But give the gril a break, her embalmed boday has been to South America, Milan, Madrid and back before resting in Recoleta, worthy of a Kit Kat if you ask me.
Talking of Cats there are loads of them in the cemetary
Although we have seen loads of stray dogs in Argentina, it is clear we are amongst a nation dog-lovers - so watch where you step!! Especially in the trendy Palmero area which as well as having a good choice of shops, there are lots of parks and gardens to escape from the traffic in.
Food wise we certainly have not been going hungry! True to form the Argentines have served us up giant slabs of steak to get our teeth into. Their portions here are massive, I´m sure I have put on about a stone! We went to a recommended restaurant for dinner the other night with Chris and Delphine (who Fitz knows from home and were on holiday in Argentina, nice to see some friendly faces!), where we had the most suculent steak ever with chips for about 7 pounds, what a bargin.
If you´re a veggie there are options for you but I think it would be a missed oportunity as there is just meat meat meat here and its soooo good.
Before we left Buenos Aires we visted the area of Boca with its colourful buildings and we tried Mate which is Argentina's equvilent to Britain´s nice cup of tea (oh how I would love a cup of tea right now!)
We´re now in Puerto Madyrn in Patagonia about to leave here to go further south but I think I need to leave what we´ve been up to here for my next installement! Its very exciting but you´ll have to waiting.
Putting this up now with no photos because of time restraints etc. but the should follow shortly!
Nicole
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