Buenos Aires

  Buenos Aires, Capital Federal District, Argentina
Sunday, November 30, 2008

We arrived late in Buenos Aires that night. Our hotel is nice and BA reminds us of Paris so much: the architecture, the streets, the shop (mmh the boulangerie...finally some good bread)

Casa Rosada

The following day (1st of December already), we had difficulties getting up despite the fact that we really wanted to visit town. The weather was not great as well so we decided to do a bit of Internet to book some bus trips to Mendoza and other hotels on the way (let´s be a bit more prepared!) We visited part the Microcentro, the business district of BA. We saw the obelisco, which would be the equivalent of the Spire in Dublin in order to find your whereabouts. Nico wrote us a whole city guide. We went to Tancat a nice tapas place he recommended while it was raining. Many theaters can be seen along the streets. We also went to the MALBA, museum of Latin American modern art, which was really interesting. Some the the pieces were a bit out there, though!

Avenida de Mayo

 

Congresso 2

On the 2nd, We explored the microcentro a bit more. Plaza de Mayo is the historical square in town, where the residencial palace, Casa Rosada, is built (remember Evita singing "don´t cry for me Argentina" at the balcony??). Around the square, there are the cathedral, the palace of justice, and the city hall. Every Thursday the mothers of the people who disappeared during the dictatorship still demonstrate to this date.

Rooftops in Recoleta cemetery

The famous Florida street, full of shops, was busy with people buying Xmas presents. The Galerias Pacifico were extremely well decorated.

un ange passe

German, Esther and Regina at Dada´s

On the 3rd, we visited the neighbourhood of Recoleta, which is the part that resembles of Paris the most. We visited the Design center. I was going crazy with all the nice decoration stuff! the Recoleta cemetery is the answer to the Père Lachaise in Paris. The tombs are even more eccentric and totally megalomaniac for some. Eva Perron is buried here and her grave was the subject of much attention. Later on, we visited the Military Palace. The mansion was grandiose, inspired by the Chateau de Chantilly (loads of gold, crystals, chandeliers and carved wood). We had great Argentinian steak in El Establo, aso remmended by Nico. In the evening we went out with Nico´s friends, Regina, Esther and German at their usual hangout, Dada´s.
    ---Nico, ils sont super sympas. Ils se sont bien occupés de nous avec Regina en traductrice. Après qq verres de Fernet-Cola (je suis plus sure comment ca s'appelle), on parlait déjà beaucoup mieux espagnol. On a vu d´autres personnes là bas qui te connaissaient aussi (Alberto, Ernesto). Ils ont tous demandé de tes nouvelles et tu leurs manques beaucoup----
After Dada´s, German took us to a club, Barhein, (hottest guys in town probably) and we stayed until 5.30am. Thatw as a long long day after our visits.

Maradona - el Dio

San Telmo shop

On the 4th, we took it really easy. We went to the colonial neighborhood of San Telmo. It is full of antique shops and markets where you can find anything. Some stands looked like garage sells. The boutique, on the other hand, looked great and you could stay hours just wondering where each item came from. After resting in the nice Parque Lezama, where old men gather to play chess outside. We then went to la Boca, famous for its houses painted in bright colours. It has a feel of  the Caribbeans. It is also the neighborhood of Maradona and the famous stadium , la Bombonera. In the street, near the Caminito, it is possible to see tango shows. I love just watching them dance. We walked for a while to get a cab and when we got one, he gave out to us that we should not have been in that neighborhood because it was dodgy. Apparently, apart from the Caminito, tourists should not really stay in La Boca. We had a great time in BA, we will definitely came back to do more.(et te rendre visite aussi, Nico)

Tonite, we will take the night bus to go to Mendoza...the wineries...
(Photos from Foz Iguacu until BA updates)