A week in Buenos Aires

It's been almost three weeks since my last post, and so much has happened in that time! So I will now try and to remember what I've done so far up until my tour started...

I spent the first week in Buenos Aires by myself, which I was a bit nervous about walking around by myself but it was a pretty safe city. After my last post I did go and change, and went to see the English tower, which I later found out the English gave as a present to mark sme point of Argentina's independence. Then I went along Florida Street, which is a very long pedestrian mall. I had a look at the Oblisk which is kind of in the middle of the CBD. I then went to May Square where there are quite a few significant buildings - the main Catolic Church, the Government House (Casa Rosa - and yes it is pink), a bank, and a place called the Calibido (spelling?) where the independence movement started. I went on a tour of the Government house, but it was in Spanish so I didn't really understand much. Still really interesting to go and look around in it. I then went down to Puerto Madero (a port) and looked around there, nice but the water is kind of murky.

The next day I started the process of getting my Brazillian Visa - oh what fun! I put my application in, after running to an internet cafe to get my hostel details, understanding that I could go and pay the next day and collect everything. I spent the rest of the day exploring Recoletta, which has some amazing sculptures including a massive Silver Flower. Huge! I found that there are so many sculptures in Buenos Aires, they are just everywhere. Lots of them are in recognition of generals. I found one of Evita by accident, so that was pretty good. I then went to look at the cemetary but it was all closed off. I did stop by the oldest church in Buenos Aires, very beautiful. The buildings around Buenos Aires are just gorgeous, really old European styled buildings. I just find them fascinating to look at!

So Tuesday I went back to the Brazillian Consulate to get my visa. Turns out I misunderstood what was told to me and I actually had to go back and pay for it the same day. So the lovely (cough) receptionist told me to come back tomorrow, to which I then asked if I would be able to get it then. The answer I got... maybe. Seriously? I started explaining very apologetically that I misunderstood, and she stared going on about how it makes such a hassle because things don't add up etc etc, which I understand, but at the end she said, yes come back tomorrow and I will get it. So feeling slightly disheartened I walked to Palermo which is on the other side of the town, a very long walk, but it was nice. I ended up going to the zoo and seeing some native as well as international animals, including a wallaby. The zoo was pretty good for being in the middle of the city, but some of the animals did look kind of sad. I stood and watched the chimps for a while, I got such a shock when one of them stated walking towards the glass, I thought it was a person. They have such human like features and gestures. I felt very sad for them, they just looked so glum. I then walked down to the bohemian part of Palermo - all cobble stoned streets, very picturesque. I then had the fun task of walking back! It took about an hour and a half at a good pace.

Wednesday I went to the consualte for the third time - lucky it was only about a 10 minute walk from my hotel. I went in, talked the the first receptionist I had, explainuing I misunderstood, she went away and came back with my passport that had my Brazillian visa in it - hooray!! Needless to say I was very gratefull! I then spend the rest of the day at the Ecological Reserve on the other side of Puerto Madero, swamp sort of land, but I didn't get to see much as the trees lined the lagoon or the reeds were very tall. What I found the most beautiful was the park in Puerto Madero, all manicured, and just gorgeous.

Thursday I had a resting day, since I had been on the go for about four days. I did venture down to San Telmo, which is known for it's antiques and is one of the older parts of town. I also had a bit more of a look at May square and went inside the church. It was just beautiful. I always find churches amazing. I went to dinner (yes Mum, talking about food - but it's the first time!) at a themed pirtate pub that was near my hotel. All the waiters had striped tops and black bandanas, pretty funny! Friday was another resting day, but it was all about Tango! I went to a Tango class at the Cafe Ideal, which also serves as a Milonga - where people go to dance. I learnt the 8 basic steps of Tango but doing a flipping twisting thing with my legs. Pretty fun! I also went to a Tango shw at Cafe Tortoni, which is one of the oldest Tango places. All in Spanish, so didn't have much of an idea what the women was singing or talking about, but it was interesting. They had a band that would play some muiscal numbgers and accompany the singer or dancers. There was one couple dancing, and they did four typs of tango. The last one was the modern one, and it was just brilliant! Lots of flips and turns, very exciting, had me on the edsge of my seat!

Saturday I went up North of Buenos Aires to the Delta region, though took me awhile to get in the right place. One semi-scared train ride later not knowing where exactly I was going, I got to the Tren de la Costa station, where I took a train up north to Tigre. Very beautiful up there, sort of swamp-ish land. It was nice it get out of Buenos Aiares for a bit, it gets very busy and crowded at times! So I walked around up there and went to the local art gallery which is in this magnificent building. Instead of statues everywhere, here they had fountains! As I caught the train back to Buenos Aires I stopped at anther town called San Isadoro, and had a look at teh local markets there and a bit of a wander around town.

Sunday I spent at the Markets in San Telmo, where I had previously gone on Thursday, and they were massive! It must have been at lesast five blocks of stalls, and then the whole main square. It was just unbelievable! I was also very fortunate in that Argentina was celebrating 200 years of independence from the Friday to the following Tuesday. So there were just tonnes of people around and stages errected in the main streets, and streets closed off. It was very exciting to be there. I ended up watching part of a parade that celebrated all of the different nationalities living in Buenos Aires. It did start to pour and I did get rather wet but it was just so fun so see all the people in their different national dresses and dancing. I had to leave earlier than I wanted to as I hads to get back to my hotel for a meeting with the people in my tour. So I spent a very busy and exciting week there.

Next post should be in a day or so about my Geckos tour from Buenos Aires to Rio - where I am now. Have to now get back to my hotel and get ready for my last night of my tour. Very sad for it to be finishing - have made some great friends!

-Rachael