Buenos Aires

Last night we said good bye to the staff and our fellow passenger - the American couple were remaining on board for a further 10 days to Rio and back to BA. I could not take another 10 days on board. The voyage was very enjoyable but there’s a limit!! The other Aussi couple were staying in BA also. Two other Aussie ladies, whom we had met at lunch a couple of times, invited us to have dinner with them in BA. They’re a hoot - two lecturers from the University of New South Wales. So we’ve decided to link up. It should be a good night. 

Arrived at 07:00 this am - I awoke to the banging of containers. BA is a huge container port. Our departure time was 9:45 and the check out unlike the check- in was faultless. Argentinian Emigration has been cleared whilst we were on board. Our bags were collected the night before and were ready for us at the customs’ entrance. 

Once outside,  there were numerous taxis charging treble the fare we had paid from the hotel to Port on departure. Taxi man here are honest and this overpricing was official!! 

We took a taxi to the Tango de Mayo (the hotel we had stayed in on arrival). However, rooms weren’t  ready as check out is noon. We left our baggage and decided to walk up Av de Mayo to the pedestrian shopping street. We were a little anxious as we had all our cask and passports with us and pickpocketing tourists is a major hazard. We had heard so many examples while on board.!! 

Florida Street - the Main shopping street had numerous boarded up shops. 

The only impressive shopping is Gallerias Pacificos, where  all international designers retail their products. 

and a Michelangelo type frescoes to booth 

We found Claridge’s Hotel, where we had stayed in 2003.

Reviews suggested ‘that it had become jaded’ and as we had such happy memories of our previous visits in 2003, we didn’t wish to be disappointed. We walked in. It still had its Victorian charm with the dark wood and stained glass windows - alas afternoon tea is no longer served as it was with the white linen table cloths and silver tea service!!

Tired, we taxied back to the hotel, received room key and are now planning dinner tonight.  

We walked to El Tortino, the oldest coffee shop in Buenos Aires, frequented by painters, poets and writers who as the original owner volunteered spent nothing but gave the cafe an ambience. 

A queue had developed outside (partially manufactured) It took us about 20 minutes to gain entrance but as you can see it was worth it. We ordered two coffees and two sandwiches - but we got the equivalent of two sandwiches each - portion control does not operate in this country!! 

We returned to the hotel, rested and prepared to go to dinner - to La Estancia. The city had come to life - the siesta was over. When we walked to El Tortino earlier, the streets were s deserted. !! 

Tonight, the Obelisk constructed in 1930 to commemorate the city’s centenary was bathed in its evening glory 

My Guide tells me that we are in La Estancia  in 2003 but I have no such recollection!! 

                      The Parrilla (the barbecue) 

En route back to the hotel, we sought a coffee. 36 Billiards looked interesting - it has a history as a school of  billiard training and such notables as Garcia  Lorca patronised the establishment  as he resided in a hotel across the road  on Ave de Mayo. Every establushment here appears to have an interesting history in BA !!