Buenos Aires

18 Jan
After a very exciting few days in Pategonia we were ready to take our first flight of our trip, El Calafate to Buenos Aires (as the flight turned out to be the cheaper option than the bus).  Though only a 3 hour journey we found it hard to adapt to very cramped seats after all our plush argentinian buses..  Altogether we spent 10 days in BA, 5 nights before a trip to iguazu falls and rosario and then 5nights after. In these ten days we really came  to love the city, though it took us a few days to adust to.  Was weird to arrive into such a big city after all the smaller towns we had been the previous weeks.. on our first night we headed out to get some food and forgot that we may actually need a map in the city that is so big, and that the lonely planet guide which had been gathering dust in the bag might need to be resurrected!

So lots happened in our ten days in BA, much to much to recount day by day so il just give a little list of some of the main highlights:

Free Walking Tours: Definately a must do in any city that they are offered, they really do help to give an insight in a cities history and culture, not to mention the geography! We did a mornng walking tour which started at house of congress (a beautiful building) and then headed to all the main attractions of the city.
Buenos Aires is really eclectic in nature,  Italian and French influences most noticable. We also did an afternoon tour which was was more of a cultural tour, taking in some of the more posher parts of BA, palermo and recolleta.  The tour was full of interesting facts about the city, including the fact that if your on a decent health plan you get a plastic surgery free after every 2 years! which explains why so many women here look so hidious!

Ugi's pizza:  Ate here at least 10 times, between lunches or dinners, this italian pizza chain was the first nice pizza we have had in months, and for only 2 euro for a huge pizza.amazing!

Milhouse hostel: One of our favourite hostels so far, and though we were slightly hesitant about going to another major party hostel Milhouse definately gets it right! It has two hostels so the party rotates nightly from one to the other, and the main area turns into a dancefloor. Cheap Colon wine and running into some friends we met in La Paz made for a brilliant last weekend in South America and Buenos Aires.

BA nightlife clubbing:  Though pretty pricey, by argentinian or even irish standards, the famous buenos aries nightlife needed to be sampled! after stocking up on hostel drinks i headed to two absolutely HUGE clubs one with lots of diferent stages and shows and different types of music and the other on the waterfront with lots of different levels and balconies..swishscwoo! needless to say these night were pretty mental!

Tango lesson: When in Rome as they say, so when in BA do as the portenos do..Tango!on r lst night we finally made it to a Tango class in an old school 1950s style dancehall with mahogany wood and chandeliers and dressed up waiters.  The lesson was fantastic, though Ciara struggled slightly at the beginning by the end we were both pros! the only thing we were missing were the highheels, was incredably difficult tryng to do it in flipflops! After  the lesson the  regulars began to arrive, all mainly in their 60s or so, and all dressed up to the nines for a traditional evening of Buenos aires tango..what a night!

BA shopping: Having resisted all temptation throughout or travels to purchase any new items for our wardrobe (with the exception of jewellery) we decided that in BA it was time! Figured it was better to stock up before getting to the more expensive Oz where im sure we wont afford anything! So we both invested in new flipflops, Havanias really are the backpacker staple, so just coming to the end of our backpacking we decided to join the troop! With a new years resolution to get Ciara into wearing dresses (rather than harem pants all the time) we invested in some nice new summer dresses for all those hot days to come in Oz..excitement!

Choripan: Chorizo in a roll..as simple as that..we dsicovered it first in El Bolson and then luckly found a restauant that did take out out the back and low and behold..choripan for 1 euro! dream!

Cemetary in Recoleta:The famous cemetary where Eva Peron (Evita) was burried.

San Telmo Market: fantastic market that reaches as far as the eye can see. Found it very hard to contain ourselves so left most of our money at home while we did this market!

These are only some of the many highlights of Buenos Aires, you really do need at least 10 days r two weeks to try to get a feel for a city! great way to finish out South America :)