Boca, Boca, Boca...

  Buenos Aires, Argentina
Friday, February 8, 2002

Football in Argentina is bigger than religion, and Diego Maradona is bigger than God. I'm sure if John Lennon were alive today he would agree with me. I wanted to see a football match, Argentinean style, but unfortunately, at this time of year (Carnival month) is the mid-summer break -- the only off season for Argentean football leagues.

Buenos Aires have many great places to visit, however, without hesitation, we went to the colorful Boca District, home of the oldest port in Buenos Aires and also the home of Boca Juniors Football Club, the original team of Diego Maradona. The bus ride was adventurous as the driver must have forgotten about the speed limit and passing priorities. I imagined he must have been a Boca fan, and driving us, the tourists, to his "turf" meant showing off his machismo, as Latinos often do. Our pilgrimage led us to the stadium's front gate, and suddenly, the history and pride of Boca hit me. I'm not a very emotional person, but as I looked at the empty stadium and its giant iron gates, I could feel the crowd roar in anticipation of Diego, and GOALLLLLLL, as Maradona crushed the hearts of the opposition. My eyes started to water, so we better leave this "blue cathedral" before I got too emotional.



We strolled along the side streets as every shop had Boca Junior memorabilia in proud display. Maradona shirts were everywhere along side other Argentinean greats of Campos, Batistuta, and Crespo in traditional light blue and white stripes. We had pizza at a Tango restaurant, the owner chatted Juliette in Italian as we enjoyed the beautiful day on the patio, and asked her if she wanted to learn to dance. The colorful art district by the docks was our next destination after lunch. The houses were painted in bright colors and tourists mingled with painters, acrobats, and couple of mimes doing their tricks. We hated to leave here, but we wanted to do some last minute shopping in the city. The bus ride back was equally adventurous.

The devaluation of the Peso meant our money (US Dollar) was much more valuable. We are uncertain about buying the return planet tickets in Argentina as we still have to go to Brazil. So we were willing to wait until Rio before deciding. We exchange couple of hundred dollars in the black market, the Chinese money changer was disappointed that we only wanted 500 pesos so he left us his mobile number in case we wanted to change more later. After buying our bus tickets to Iguazu Falls, Juliette bought a very nice leather jacket "Genuine Argentinean Leather" for less than $50, too good of a bargain to pass. I bought a wallet to replace the one I lost in Los Angeles, and so, money come, money go, our little shopping spree ended with dinner at McDonald's, as we spent the last of our pesos.

Back in the Milhouse, we meet up with a couple from New Zealand, chatted for a while and exchanged some travel tips. We wanted to spend more time here in Buenos Aires, but the Carnival is this week and we are so close to Rio.