Day sies
Trip Start
Oct 14, 2008
1
6
28
Trip End
Nov 07, 2008
Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Monday, October 20, 2008
So an update from yesterday...The streets of BA are empty on Sunday which is a touristīs paradice.....I walked around and got some great pictures. Went to the government section Plaza de Mayo that has the pinkish building Casa Rosada which is where Evita and her president husband Juan Peron gave their stirring speaches. Itīs also where the current president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has her offices. Her hubby (Neston Kirchner ) was the previous president and they are like the Clintons of S. America and very popular. I also went to the San Telmo fair which is a street fair in a neighborhood kind of like a blend of North Beach and the Mission (for you SF people). It used to be the ritzy area until yellow fever drove the rich to the northern areas of the city. Anyway. itīs got a great vibe and a lot of color. After this mobbed fair (where I got some cool antique jewelery) I went to grab a pint a an English style pub. Pubs are kind of a novelty for BA people and popular places for expats to hang out. Theyīre nice because youīll hear a bit more English there than in most places. (footnote about the language....very few people speak English fluently. Even in touristy areas. Iīm getting by on what little I do know, hand gestures and the fact that these people are patient and nice. It can be frustrating at times needless to say but it forces you out of your comfort zone and is a totally good way to learn). Anyway, in this pub I met a bunch of local porteno dudes. This guy Pablo came up to me and was basically wondering what my deal was because a girl sitting alone and drinking a beer is a weird site here. I mean, there are other girls in the bar but I guess no one really by themselves. I told him what my situation was and he totally shocked. He goes,īWhat?? on bacation by jourself??ī his jaw hit the ground. He honestly couldnt believe it. Then he asked if I wanted to play pool with he and his friends so I did. So I followed him into this incredibly smoky pool room where there were all these other dudes. I was like, oh god, what am I doing...But all the guys were really friendly and let me jump right into the pool game. So I had to play pool in front of an audience of like 10!! Apparently Pablo brings his own white ball so you can never hit it into the pocket....if it goes anywhere near it he dives accross the table to swipe it away. I was doing OK but when I made a mistake or something they were just like, Oh, itīs OK, just go again. Itīs only a game.....I thought, theyīre giving me girl rules! Anyway, these guys were all really sweet and great each other with kisses, etc. which is something you never see in the US. They were totally respectful and told me to be careful by myself, etc. Then I was off again.
A note on safety: BA totally safe. I have not felt in danger once. You just have to be smart and not wander around aimlessly in the bad neighbords at night, etc. but thatīs no different from any other city Iīve ever been in. In fact, NYC feels much more dangerous than here.
I also wandered around a neighborhood called Once (love that name). Itīs ethnically diverse and neat. I got in trouble for taking a photo on a street where there was a temple service going but other than that it was so nice...They also have this one avenue devoted to the sale of maniquens (sp?). I guess it is anyway....Every store is just filled with bare maniquens and thatīs it. It was so weird to be the only person on the street at dusk with these things staring out at me from the store windows.
Today I took the subway for the first time - crowded, hot but in good working order. I also went to a local airline office to ask about flights to my next destination which will be later this week. I canīt decide where I want to go - Bariloche or Puerta Madryn. I also have to figure out getting there and accomodations - this is where the language thing can get annoying. Anyway - I wont bore you with the details. Iīll just let you know when I decide.
So I am at a totally annoying computer with a fuzzy screen. Damn computer numbero cinco!! So I got to wrap this up because Iīm starting to feel motion sick.
I have to end with a comment on the irony of the city name, Buenos Aires. This air is horrific!! I feel like Íīm smoking a pack a day. If I wear a white shirt it comes home spoiled with black soot. God help you if you are behind a bus when it starts up-. you are engulfed in a cloud of grossness. I also have permanent puffy eyes which I think is pollution related. So, although itīs totally great here it will be good (for my lungs anway) to head for open space and cleaner air in a couple of days.
Later taters,
M
