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Published: January 10th 2006
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Che everywhere!
translation: For love use a condom We made it!!! Well after 18 hours on the bus ride from hell we finally made it to Buenos Aires. We arrived on New Years Eve to a very quiet and surprisingly sleepy BA, something very few people get to experience. Due to our last minute planning we ended up staying in a bit of a shithole so we quickly were up and out to explore the city. It only takes a short stroll in the city and you immediately fall in love with it. The architecture, the people, the food, the art, the energy was absolutely amazing. "The Paris of South America" (Jen: You can tell John LOVED Buenos Aires...)
Our first day there we got to take in a lot of the major sights, starting on Ave 9 de Julio (the widest street in the world, 16 lanes) we saw the obelisco, across the way the Teatro Colon housing major operas, ballet and classical music (unfortunately completely shut to the public until March so we didn’t get to go in). From there we walked down to Plaza De Mayo & the Casa Rosada (Pink House) once home to many Argentine presidents including that of Juan Peron and his
famous wife Eva Peron or AKA Evita. It was here that she spoke from the balconies to impassioned Argentines. Across the Plaza we saw the Catedral Metropolitana housing the remains of one of Argentina’s most revered hero´s, General Jose de San Martin. A flame outside the cathedral keeps his spirit alive...however the day we visited it was extinguished..hmm...
So after a lot of hours of walking we were exhausted and as Jen wasn’t feeling too well we headed home. We rested for a while in our slum and after a little coaxing from me I persuaded Jen to go out to a nice restaurant for a New Years Eve dinner. We had just received our wine and appetizer when Jen broke out in sweats and got really faint. We quickly asked for the check and went home. That night we didn’t do much celebrating, Jen was curled up in bed and I was feeling sorry for myself on the balcony listening to drunken people screaming up and down our street. (JEN: notice John wasn’t feeling sorry for me!!)
Next morning Jen was feeling a little better so we got up early and walked around the city looking for new
digs, anything to get away from the miserable and grimy place we were staying in. We checked out a few different hotels but because of New Years all the places were full. We finally found a place close by and we were ecstatic when we finally checked in. Don’t imagine fancy as we are still traveling on a seriously stretched budget but to Jen and I it was luxury.
Later that morning we did some more walking around but again had to cut it short as this time it was my turn to get sick. Same thing as Jen but a day later, bad stomach cramps and vomiting. And we know exactly how we got it, a damn salad we ate in Puerto Iguacu. Over the next couple of days through bouts of stomach cramps and nausea we got to check out the modern harbor area, the antique markets of San Telmo, Recoleta and its cemetery housing Argentinean heroes, presidents, Evita and of course 2 Irish blokes (1 a pirate who later became a general that started the first Argentinean navy Guillermo Jones... don’t know many Guillermo´s in Ireland so I’m sure before they translated it was Jimmy or
Joe or Jack?). Buenos Aires came back to life in full swing on Monday with everything open and streets bustling with people and exhaust belching vehicles.
While in Buenos Aires we also got to meet up with a friend of Jen´s. After a quick exchange of emails and telephone calls Jen got in touch with her friend Sofi from her days at Harper Collins in London. We were out to meet her for a late night mexican and a few too many margaritas and caipirinhas. It was a great night! The next day we paid for it though, drinking on an already weakened stomach is not a good idea, stomach cramps and nausea back in full swing. Our last day in BA we grudgingly spent it between our bed and the buquebus ferry offices trying to secure tickets to our next destination, Uruguay.
We spent five days in Buenos Aires and had a fantastic time illness and all. But we were also happy to leave the bustling city and start making our way back into Brasil - we only had a week left before heading home...
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giax
non-member comment
wow
I am impressed with el grafitti del che! saludos!!! GIAX