Blogs from Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America - page 14

Today my daughter was teaching all day so I had a day of shopping, cooking, loads of walking and some shopping, all alone. After 4 days of meeting so many people, trying to speak some Spanish and understanding the torrent of words around me, not committing major faux pas culturally, and speaking English but a variant to accommodate various understandings, it was nice to just do my own thing. This morning I was sent off with a note to go to the butcher to get some mince. Well basically I chickened out and bought it at the nearby supermarket. So much easier than having to mime the eventual questions I am sure the butcher would have asked such as beef? regular? premium? Grabbing a packet off the shelf is much more certain. The lady in the ... read more

Nearly everyone I've met who has traveled to Buenos Aires comments about how it feels more like a European capital than like a South American one. In the regional context, this seems like a cultural disappointment, but as Latin American capitals go, the only ones that I've been to that compare (or that even are tolerable) are La Paz and La Habana. The city is enormous (the population of LA), and each section is visually (and apparently culturally) unique. The guide on the mediocre historical walking tour pointed out how the predominantly Italian and French architecture are fused with other styles, and this extends to the atmosphere in the traditional bars and cafes, which I thought to be the best experiences in the city: Wandering the streets near the docks to tentatively enter a cafe that ... read more

After my terrible bus ride from Sao Paulo to Foz do Iguacu I decided that for the 20 hour bus ride to Buenos Aires I would buy the most expensive ticket I could get. For $150 USD I received a full cama-suite (cama=bed) spot on the bus to Buenos Aires. This bus was incredible. I had a full reclining leather seat/bed, personal LCD TV screen with on-demand movies and television shows (in English), I was fed fine h'orderves, served fine whiskies and cocktails. I even had Wi-Fi! Talk about the bus of the future. Totally worth it and 20 hours later I arrived in the capital of Argentina refreshed and ready to explore. My old business client and friend Mariano of El Centro de Investigaciones Toxicologicaswas even nice enough to pick me up from the bus ... read more

Day 1 At the last minute I decide to decline staying with a Couchsurfing host as they're too far from the city centre of Buenos Aires. Luckily, I find a really good last minute deal for a 4 star hotel right in the heart of Buenos Aires at GBP 120 for three nights. The hotel is Park Silver Obelisco and very close to the Obelisco monument on the main road called Avenida 9 de Julio which translates to 9 of July Avenue in English. When I first arrive in Buenos Aires; it's dark, raining lightly and rather chilly. It's the start of winter in Argentina and it's strange to comprehend why I have come here when June is summer back in the UK. I may be mad, but I wanted to visit Machu Picchu in the ... read more

Im a 21 backpaker from Israel, traveling since 20.1 and right now on Argentina, buenos aires. I have a diary and it told me to share our secret with the world so here I am. Always listen to your diary. Here is me img=https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/13000353_10208320747832606_2662997841842347675_n.jpg?oh=08385daa08d28dca77a95a8ca02d6146&oe=57DA4C74&__gda__=1472785329_da142ce30d0b2ac53534b536540863bb... read more