Pavements
Iron
Caminito
Okay, I'm discovering that updating my blog with an iPad is crap as I can't place photos in between text like with a PC. Utter disaster! So if you want to see photos, scroll all the way to the end of the following waffle. Plus the Blogger app uploads the photos in whatever order it feels like so be warned they are higgledy-piggledy all over the shop!
Last Thursday I left home with a sense of excitement and anticipation. This was quickly replaced with an emotional farewell from Mum at the airport, I don't think Mums are made for saying goodbye. The Cork to Heathrow flight was unbelievably turbulent, the worst I've experienced in an age, but thankfully I don't mind that kind of thing. On landing in Heathrow I had to endure a second security check and they weren't even half as lax as Cork. I had to unpack my carry-on bag and remove my Kindle and iPad, and take off my hiking boots. Needless to say getting everything back in proved difficult as I'm not travelling light on this trip. (Noelette, think Africa, more stuff yet same backpacks!)
The Heathrow to Buenos Aires flight was again quite a turbulent flight, and the effects on the Boeing 777 were significant, seatbelt sign stayed on for a lot of the flight. Luckily I managed to have my dinner without any major drink spillages! Having watched two movies, I did my best to get comfortable and catch a few Zzz's. Unbelievably I was completely successful in my attempts. Reckon I got two batches of decent 3hr naps. All of this was made possible by having an aisle seat, not having a person beside me, and not have any seat behind me with someone trying to put their knees through my back - awesome was not the word for it!
Landed in Buenos Aires and it took ages to clear passport control (it was at this point I knew wearing my winter jacket and fleece was a bad idea - I was nearly reduced to a puddle of water in the heat). Next stop was the luggage carousel, waiting with bated breath. Thankfully my bag appeared after an agonising 15 minutes.
I met the first batch of early Odyssey members and we shared a minivan into Buenos Aires city; that was quite the experience. Argentinians do not believe in road markings and tend to go with the force, weaving in and out of tiny spaces at crazy speeds.
We are staying at a lovely hotel, it's clean, has free wifi, and does a fab breakfast so that ticks all my boxes. On first looking at BA it seems a grubby, run-down city, but that is terribly unfair. After spending nearly a week here now I'm changing my opinion to a city of faded elegance. There are some incredible buildings and the architecture is very impressive. Sadly the city does not seem to have the money to restore and bring back the opulence that it had years ago.
By in large pavements are a deathtrap, huge slabs missing, gaping holes, massive mounds of dirt and rubbish. It's quite difficult to appreciate the beauty of some of the buildings as you are constantly looking down at your feet trying not to twist your ankle.
For my first dinner in BA I had to try the steak, it would haven been criminal not to. So a medallion de lomo medio was ordered. I can hand on heart say that it was the biggest and most tender steak I have ever eaten. However I must also sadly confess that I was unable to finish it all. Portion sizes here are massive.
On Saturday 24th, Ken and myself were keen to try and find a venue showing the IE v ARG match. We gathered a small posse and headed off to an Irish bar called Molly Malone, unfortunately it was 11am and the bars were all well and truly locked up. After roaming around BA we resigned ourselves to the fact that we would not get to watch the match. However, Francois saved the day and somehow heard that a cafe by the Hilton was showing the match, and we finally managed to catch the match. And what an almighty try-scoring Game it was. To celebrate I treated myself to another amazingly succulent steak. Am giving my low iron levels a massive two fingers and hopefully all this red meat will do the business!
Arrived back at the hotel to meet my new room-mate, Heather from Formby, who had had a shampoo and insect repellant explosion due to cabin pressure. Our hotel room had a lovely Herbal Essence scent permeating it for the evening. So far we're getting on great and since neither of us snore, we've decided to be tent buddies - score!
Sunday was spent heading out to Palermo in the suburbs and catching a Polo game between two local teams. After that a group of us scoped out Angela and Duncan's super plush apartment with it's panoramic views of BA.
Heather and I got a new room-mate at midnight on Monday morning, Vanessa from Bolton, and she had had quite an eventful evening with KLM losing her luggage.
Early Tuesday morning we visited Caminito which is a traditional alley, located in the La Boca neighbourhood. Our eyes were assaulted with vivid primary colours, irregular corrugated shapes and strange paper mâché type statues. Amazing sights!! Unfortunately because we headed so early (Argentinians do not get going until at least 12pm) we missed the street tango dancers that perform for tourists. I had to improvise with wall paintings instead - a photo below should make sense of that sentence.
At Recoleta Cemetery we lost ourselves among gorgeous family mausoleums. Some simple, some regal, some OTT. Eva Perón’s final resting place was a slight disappointment after seeing such works of art.
Plaza de Mayo has several of the city's major landmarks: the Cabildo, Casa Rosada, May Pyramid, monument to General Manuel Belgrano, the city hall, and the national Bank.
We've also done sights such as Puerto Madero, Plaza San Martin, and numerous others that would take ages to mention. Pics below show some of the sights, including the fabulous street art that is all over the gaff here.
Tomorrow sees us saying adios to BA and hola to the Valdez Peninsula. Unfortunately our truck hasn't arrived yet, issues with docking and it will have to clear customs. So we're getting royal treatment and heading off in a sleeper coach. It will be air-conditioned, have a DVD player, seats have massive leg-room and recline 160 degrees, bedding will be supplied, full dining service is provided and most importantly there is an on board toilet! Happy days.
