Day 8 – Buenos Aires
So actually starting this post on Day 7 with our travel to Buenos Aires. Our flight was delayed a 1/2 hour but otherwise smooth. The arrival in BA was less smooth. We decided to use the recommended airport taxi service on the advice that other taxis are not trustworthy and at the very least may price gouge. The quoted 1/2 hour wait for a taxi turned into 2 1/2 hours. In addition the only kiosk in the airport selling SIM cards was closed for construction, and my gmail account got locked by google due to ‘suspicious’ activity. So we had no way to contact our airbnb host to let them know we were now over 3 hours late.
But good Samaritans came through when we arrived at the apartment. A nearby hotel desk clerk allowed me to call our host and she immediately met us in the lobby. Marisa was very helpful and gave us lots of great advice. We quickly ran out for some groceries for breakfast before the stores closed at 10pm and then out for a ‘late’ dinner – which apparently is NOT late for the locals.
Day 8 was finally a full day of walking with NO BEEF! Our first stop was to the local shopping mall where we successfully ‘phoned up’. Then off to the Recoleta Cemetery where we intended to stay for a short visit – but stayed for a lengthy one. It is like an amazing little city with new and old mixed together. And as you can see, many spiders have been in residence. Many tombs went below ground quite deep for several floors with caskets on many levels and some seemed to be only above ground. Some were recently interred, others very old; some well kept and others decrepit. It was a true village of neighbourhoods. We visited Evita’s tomb – Eva Peron among many others.
After a short siesta, in the later afternoon we went to visit Plaza de Mayo in the city center with the Casa Rosada (Pink Palace), Metropolitan Catherdal and the Needle. The Metropolitan Cathedral was deceiving; on the outside we didn’t even realize what it was – until you step inside and then there was no doubt – Cathedral!
The architecture in Buenos Aires is beautiful and unique and Michael was in his element for photography! And through the city are random statues, some inviting you to interact with them; very fun and engaging. The youth Olympics are being held in BA in October this year, and the city centre had the rings already in place. The routine women’s protest was in process around the central area also. Women in Buenos Aires are very involved and vocal here which is impressive to see.
For dinner we found an Asian tapas restaurant where the meal got better with each course. My fav was the sweet rice cake which was breaded and fried topped with piquant salmon. Every dish had the flavours very well balanced especially the use of ginger. The ginger ice cream to end the meal was superb. We do love the beef, but it was a nice break from asado. And although we skipped the beef, we didn’t skimp on the ice cream….we couldn’t resist another stop at a heladeria where we had more dulce de leche along with raspberry for me and chocolate for Michael. Oh so good…
