Shop attack

05-11-23

Big Ben

Finally, after another overnight bus ride, we arrived in Buenos Aires. Known as the Paris of Latinamerica. It actually did seem like Paris. Since it was spring there were lots of trees covered in purple flowers. The trees were everywhere, in the public parks and the main shopping streets, and really made the place look pretty. I never found out the name of this tree. I came close when I was waiting for a bus and got chatting to an Argentinian lass. She told me she was an artist, quite a famous one who now worked out of Italy. She was now back in Argentina as an honoury professor travelling round giving lectures to art students. Between her english and my spanish we managed to have a bit of a chat about Buenos Aires. I asked her the name of the tree and she told me. But it sounded really spanish and I didn't quite catch it. She was about to rush off for her bus, so I asked her to write it. The only thing I could find was a paper butterfly that she had given me which was part of one of pieces of work. When she gave it back I realised she thought I was looking for an autograph. I didn't have the heart to tell her. I think her name is Marcela Fusloni. Like all really famous people, her signature is very hard to make out.

Big pointy tower thing

We managed to do some of the touristy things. We took in a tango show in one of the oldest tango cafes in town. We went to the Recoleta cemetry, which is famous for having Evitas grave. We didn't find it, but found a few Irish ones along the way. Even an O'Connors grave.

I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but the best thing was the shopping. This was the last leg of Gina's tour and there was some serious shopping to be done. I needed to get some fishing gear and a rundown on the local waters. There was also alot of sight seeing to do and we only had 3 days. Neither of us are shoppers, but we managed to spend the whole 3 days pretty much shopping. Basically because everything is dirt cheap. It's not "naff" cheap. It's good quality stuff the sells cheap because of the exchange rate. I even caved in and bought a pair of shoes. If you wanted to do some serious Xmas shopping this would be the place to go. There's also lots of top quality coffee shops for when you need to rest the legs and arms. The speciality here is Parilla, which is a bar-b-q-ed meatfeast. Huge portions of top quality beef. The wine is also dirt cheap. Gato Negro costs about a pound out here. You can put it on your corn flakes it's so cheap.

Recoleto Cemetry 1

Recoleto Cemetry 2

Recoleto Cemetry 3

Recoleto Cemetry 4

Shop street

Street Protest 1

Street protest 2

Tango

Those trees again

Totem Pole