Buenos Aires is actually just south of Madrid didn`t you know??...

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So Buenos Aires is rather refreshingly familiar. After Brazil´s third world charm Argentina allows a bit of breath catching before embarking onwards to more challenging countries. Bloody nice this breath catching is too. It feels very comfortable here and I blend seamlessly enough with BA`s residents for them to look hugely surprised at the clumsiness of my Spanish.

So BA? I love the Palermo area its true. All in all maybe the city hasn`t quite captured my heart in the way it has so many other travelers though. Barcelona for my money beats it hands down. Centro is a bit like a cut price Paris and I don`t think this was an accident. Palermo is of course my kind of area and really quite wonderful with enough wanky shops to keep a pretentious lad happily pretentious. Its leafy, pretty and chic. It reminds me a bit of London or Paddington in Sydney with its gracious colonial style living and continuous people watching. So un South America I`m sure you`d agree.

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I know the city superficially well having cycled all over it for two days solid after renting a bike. Monuments galore: those Argies are proud of their independence but possibly not quite dealing with their chequered shady past punctuated by bloody military dictators. Honestly, how do such things happen? This is the most civilised of cities with the most civilised of inhabitants. How did they ever allow such things? I just don´t get it. The guilty are still largely unpunished you know and there seems to be little agenda in place for further pursuit. Oh yeah and lets not even start talking about their economy - now thankfully on the up. I just ca´`t believe they would tolerate such chaos.

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So are Argies snooty? Well not if you`re used to Londoners they`re not. They do have more guarded nature than other latins so maybe this preconception is simply relative. Personally they`ve been pretty damn helpful to me so I won`t hear a word against them.

So steak is the big deal here and indeed big it is. Even my mighty appetite was tested by the slab of animal dehorned and then shoved on my plate.

Tango is also the real deal here but I`ve yet to investigate. More on this subject after tonight kids.

The guide book claimed BA is all about the night but being an old buffer I can`t lie in. The two make for a sleepless combination so I`m off for a lie down before tango has its wicked way with me.