BUENOS AIRES

After 5 very relaxing days in Puerto Iguazu we caught a flight into BA. The journey by taxi to the airport was a little strange as the taxi driver appeared to trying to get his taxi to take off .... at one point we were actually travelling faster than one of the planes! Nevertheless we made it into BA Local airport and were greeted by a teeming, hectic and cosmopolitan city. Headed straight for the IBIS hotel in Congreso where Emma asked for a room with a view of the Plaza ..... the receptionist did us proud and we opened the door of our room on the top floor to see a spectacular view of the Plaza, Congreso and the city .... fantastic and I knew then that I would be spending several hours with a bottle of wine admiring the view. BA is a fantastic city and one where both Emma and I could imagine living. It is beautiful with a very 19th century French style of architecture. We spent the first few days wandering the streets just soaking up the atmosphere of the antique markets of San Telmo, Recoleta cemetary and the various districts which are all unique. We then hit the museums and art galleries which are all excellent ... even convinced Emma to come with me to the Police museum housed on the 7th floor of a very dodgy looking tower block. The museum was large and great especially as we were it´s only visitors .... I don´t think people like going into a police building and asking to see it´s museum ...maybe because it´s not actually advertised anywhere (is´nt The Rough Guide great!?). Managed to get some great restaurants in again and went to one of the ´famous´ ones called Chiquilin which was ok but over-rated. Also headed to the famous Cafe Tortoni to watch a great tango show and spend some time people watching. Spent a long time window shopping and wishing that we could buy stuff to send back ... problem is that a). Postage is very expensive (and not that reliable) and b). it´s made INCREDIBLY difficult by the various rules for posting on Mondays, Thursdays and Wednesdays and whether the item is in a blue wrapper or if it is over 3 kgs or if contains a shirt AND a book .... etc etc .... we just gave up in the end.... We did, however, manage to dissappoint two would be muggers who wanted to deprive me of my wallet .... they used the ¨Madam you have some ketchup on you which we have just sprayed on you in order that we can divert your attention whilst robbing you¨technique. Luckily we had read of this and told them to bugger off which they did ...... Also spent some time in a cafe that is run as part of the organisation that is still trying to establish / seek justice for the 1000´s of ´Dissappeared´ who went missing during the seventies and early eighties. It was quite moving to see people showing one another old photographs and letters from what I presumed to be their sons or daughters ....... makes one realise how lucky one is. Also popped over to Colonia in Uruguay for the day .... almost didnt make it as the security guards took exception to my pen knife. Colonia is a beautiful town (a UNESCO site) with a lot of history, had a great day wandering around seeing the sights and having a fantastic meal at a place called the Drugstore which was featured in Conde Nast a little while ago.

Thought we should also try some of the Argentinian national drink `mate`whilst we were here. You see people everywhere with their thermos of hot water and carrying their mate gourd and bombilla (straw to drink it through). Had read it was an acquired taste - they were`nt wrong! Blurgh - very bitter! Have brought some mate teabags to see if we can learn to like it!

Throughout S America we have also been spotting some classic translation boo-boo`s - a favourite from BA were the ´chicken winds´we spotted on one restaurant menu....
After 8 glorious days in BA we sadly left for a flight to Ushuaia but are determined to return to BA again ........