Buenos Dias from Buenos Aires
Trip Start
Feb 17, 2008
1
17
18
Trip End
Mar 16, 2008
Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
We arrived at our hotel - had to wait for the room of course - we dropped off our bags and went out to scout the area out
Dinner 01
. Our hotel is one block away from the Gallerias Pacificas - a nice new shopping mall - we found a street side café and had a little lunch. That evening we were planning on having dinner with Alton, Ruth Ann, Branda, Richard and Maureen - so we didn't want to eat too much.
The rest of the afternoon Jim spent resting and I went out and did a little 'research'. Jim was not feeling well - his sinuses were really bothering him. We connected via phone with the group and decided to meet for dinner at 8 in the old warehouse/wharf district called Puerto Madero. What a great renovation - rows of really nice restaurants along a narrow channel full of nice boats and yachts. We picked what looked to be a nice restaurant and we were definitely not disappointed. The only sad news was that Ruth Ann got a migraine and she ended up going back in a taxi before we ordered dinner. We had a very nice meal and got back to our hotel around eleven - a bit early for Buenos Aires - but it had been a long day for everyone.
The next day Jim was not feeling much better - I ended up going out on my own - wandered a bit and by about dinnertime - (9 p.m.) Jim was feeling better and we went out for a walk and a bite to eat. We ate at The Palace of the French Fry - it was recommended to us - while definitely a local place the food was good - you will see the big T-Bone that Jim had and the very interesting potato soufflé chips that we had as an accompaniment. That was about it for that day.
Now it is Tuesday and Jim felt a bit better - but in the morning he rested and I went to check out a couple shops
Dinner 02
. By the afternoon Jim was feeling a bit better and we ventured off to the Plaza de Mayo to view the Casa Rosada - Metropolitan Cathedral - Town Hall. The Casa Rosada is the Government House. If anyone saw the movie Evita - you will recognize this - Madonna sang "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from the balcony here. They had to get very special permission for this to happen - the balcony is not open for guests to visit. Evita addressed the Argentines from this balcony and also the Pope addressed crowds from here. The color is quite interesting - there are a few stories behind the color - one is that the two parties of Argentina - one was represented by the color red and one by white and the pink color is a combination of the two. Another is that animal blood and fat was used to seal the building against water/moisture and the result was this pink color. I believe that today they paint it pink - one side is a darker pink than the other.
The Metropolitan Cathedral does not resemble a Cathedral from the exterior - but inside we visited the tomb with the remains of General Jose de San Martin - the Liberator of Argentina - Peru and Chile. The tomb is guarded at all times - one of the guards was having a very difficult time staying awake - despite ALL of the tourists having their photos taken alongside them
Dinner 03
.The Town Hall is also located in this plaza - the Cabildo. It dates from 1765 and this is only a portion of the original building - they had to reduce the size to allow for the bordering streets.
All of these sites are located around the Plaza de Mayo which has played an important part in the history of Argentina starting in 1580. Protests still take place there - including one every Thursday for well over 20 years that includes 'mothers' demanding justice for the young people that disappeared during the reign of the military style government during the late 70's.
All of this sightseeing and fact finding made us hungry - we had lunch in a café skirting the plaza. Next stop - a coffee shop - not just any coffee shop - but Gran Café Tortoni. Well known as a gathering place for intellectuals....we gathered and tried to absorb as much intellect as possible. Jim thinks this was the best price for coffee in a famous coffee shop - this helped bring the cost down from the coffee at Café Gerbaud in Budapest!! That was a good thing - because as it was we had to wait in a line outside of the coffee shop just to gain access! It was a bit touristy I suppose - but in the evenings they have Tango Shows there and I would say there is a mix of locals and tourists here at all times
Dinner 04
.Michael and Grace, who also dined with us on the ship flew up to Iguazu Falls when we arrived in Buenos Aires but they were to return today so we planned dinner with them for this evening. We went back to the Puerto Madero area - chose a different restaurant - as there are so many to choose from and we had a very nice time. Sounds like a trip to Iguazu Falls is definitely in our future - which we had hoped to do next January - but I think we may try to change that as it may be better to visit in the "winter" time. They had a great time - it is a 1 ½ hour flight from Buenos Aires and also about the same from Rio de Janeiro - one wants to view them from both sides - one side is Brazilian and one is Argentine.
Dinner was great - four of us wanted filet so we ordered the whole tenderloin which weighed in at approx. 2,000 grams - or 2 kilos - or almost 4.5 pounds! It was so wonderful - everyone was impressed. Jim had Lamb - of course - and Grace had suckling pig. We are still so amazed by the prices - with cocktails - wine - bottled water - a couple appetizers and one large salad - three side dishes and three people having dessert - the total bill was $218.66 with the tip included for 6 people!! We could easily get spoiled here.
The next days will follow in a separate blog. Don't worry - that will be the last one for a while - hope you enjoyed it.
Comments
Do you hear the rumble?
That is our stomach looking at all that food! Sure looks good and we enjoyed the pictures as usual and the history lesson.
Mom
we're starving!
always enjoy your blogs and the pics - but this time around, the food pics look really yummy - we're so jealous -- wish we were there with you - sounds like you've had a great trip!
XOXOXOX Roseann and Glen