|
|
TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
|
|
We arrived into Buenos Aires early in the morning after the overnight bus trip from Mendoza and met our friend John in the hostel who came to meet us for 5 nights in BA. The first impression as we entered the city was how big the city was and how far out the suburbs stretched. It was also a very European city with beautiful architecture on every street corner but the traffic was definitely very South American i.e. chaotic.
We spent the first morning wandering around and looking at at the shops in Florida street. We didn't actually buy anything in BA but it did seem like the place that you could go crazy shopping as there were loads of popular designer shops selling things far cheaper than Europe. After a siesta that evening we went to a restuarant recommend in the Lonely Planet (El Desnivel in San Telmo) for some steaks. It really didn't disappoint and we were served these massive juicy steaks by an Andre the giant type of man that seemed like he'd being eating those steaks all his life. Those steaks certainly lined our stomachs for the first night as the Millhouse Hostel was having a party and then everyone went onwards to a club at about 2am. We learned that in BA people dont start going to nightclubs until 2 or 3am and it basicly goes on all night.
The next day I got up mid morning and went to Recoletta Cemetary. This was a cemetary like I'd never been to before and really is one of the top things to see in BA. The cemetary is like a little town with people's remains kept above ground in ornate buildings that their relatives have built for them - it is like a town of little churches. Many famous Argentine figures have their remains housed there including Evita Peron. After the morning's visit I went back to get the guys out of bed and we went off to the port area of BA, Puerto Madero. This area could be in any city in the World (it kind of reminded me of the Docklands in London on a nice Summer's day). It was a very nice area and as one of the waitress's in a restuarant there said "it is a different world" and you could see why. It was full of offices, restuarants, new apartments and hotels and was a real relaxing area to go and chill out. That evening we went for food in Palermo, another district of BA. This was a more upmarket district of BA and there was an abundance of fine restuarants and fancy bars and clubs. We liked it there so much that we went back the following night and had a cracking time with a few locals who showed us around.
On the Saturday we went to La Boca which is one of the poorer areas of BA but also one of the most colourful. There was a market on the streets that day with samba players and tango shows so we browsed through the stalls, bought some Boca shirts for the game the following day and sat and drank beer whilst watching some tango. The following day we went to the football to see Boca play Colonia. The previous day the weather was scorching so we assumed it would be the same for the game so we went in shorts and t-shirts. We froze our asses off and as we didnt bring any money with us to the game we couldnt afford to buy a top! The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing with the Boca fans going start to finish and Boca running out 4-1 winners. We joined in the singing and dancing during most of the game as well to try and keep warm as possible.
The Monday saw us take the ferry over to Uruguay and Colonia Del Sacremento for the day. The ferry only took an hour and we spent a peaceful day exploring Colonia by foot. It is really a very pretty place and so different to the hustle and bustle of BA across the river. After spending the evening in Puerto Madero on our return it was time to think ahead to our visit to Iguazu and say our goodbyes to John.
previous travel blog entry
Would you like to comment or ask a question?
Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).