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Published: August 6th 2007
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Buenos Aires as the sun rises
Got to see Buenos Aires wake up as I was driven to the city at 6am... Back in Malaysia during my school days, we had to learn about Argentina during geography lessons and I never understood why it was important to learn about grass, pampas and cows. It was not exciting at all and naturally I wasn't interested and nothing much of what I learned was retained. If only, I got to see what I see now...
The flight from Miami to Buenos Aires was as smooth as can be. The overnight flight took 8 hours and I landed in Buenos Aires at 5.30 in the morning.
I always enjoy landing in a new city in the wee hours of the morning as I get to see the city slowly wake up and Buenos Aires I guess was happy to see me as it greeted me with a beautiful sunrise and what turned out later to be a beautiful day.
Katharine whom I have not seen for a year was only expecting me to arrive in Buenos Aires on May, 9th and not two weeks early. I decided to surprise her and arrived on the morning of her birthday, at her doorstep, buzzing her doorbell and giving her one helluva surprise. Well, the big surprise
Recoleta
European architecture and influences throughout the city... worked and she had a great time. It was awesome seeing her again. Immediately after we went for breakfast and started celebrating with champagne (at 11am!) and continued on throughout the day with delicious food, wine and great company till 4am! What a fantastic first day it turned out to be.....
Argentina is the 2nd largest country in South America ( didnt i learn that in school??) and Buenos Aires is home to a population of over 19 million people. That is hugeeee....
....but it did not take me long to start exploring a fair bit of the city.
Over the next 3 weeks, I walked loads and explored the city and got to see historical sights, national monuments, musuems, art galleries and even the zoo. BA is a city filled with culture and arts everywhere. Old and well preserved buildings with European influences can be seen throughout, making me feel like I was strolling through another city in Europe. Even the weather is similiar. It's close to winter season here and it has been extremely cold. Between 5 - 15 Deg Celcius....Thankfully I have some jumpers apart from the rest of my beach wear...
I have to
Recoleta
Buenos Aires alive and kicking in the day.... say the cold weather does help keep the air a little fresher as the air in the city can be pretty polluted especially during the summer I was told.
The locals here are very friendly and warm. Though I would have to make a big effort to pick up Spanish again (with the little that I have learned!) especially when the locals here speak "Castellano" which is very different from the Spanish I learnt back in Mexico. Its softer and melodic which I do like.
One of the highlights of the city would have to be walking through the famous Cemetaria Recoleta which is the most beautiful cemetary I have ever seen. Rows and rows of amazingly large tombstones and structures (some as big as a small house) all clad in expensive marble, wrought iron and stained glass most of them accompanied with beautifully carved and commanding statues all fit for a king. I got to see where Eva Peron was buried as well.
Other highlights include having cocktails at Puerto Madero on a lazy Sunday afternoon, walking through the streets of San Telmo, watching the sultry and seductive dance of Tango in La Boca, dinner at
Recoleta
European influences throughout the city a local restaurant as we watched the fiery dance of the Flamenco, home cooked dinner prepared by Pedro an Argentinian friend who served us a feast of "parilla" (the local speciality of barbeque done with the best cuts of meats Argentina is well known for) and the art exhibit by LaChappelle at the MALBA art museum.
Oh yes, and a wine tasting event that saw us walking down a swanky street in BA tasting Argentinian wines. We were given a wine glass each and a map of the furniture stores that were hosting wines from different regions and vineyards, all waiting for us to indulge. There were 18 stores altogether over
a span of 3 hours!
It was also good catching up with my old and dear friend, Carolyn from back home in Malaysia. She has been living in Argentina for many years and settled in BA with her Argentinian husband and beautiful kids.
And of course, as usual I cannot resist talking about food.....
BA has indeed the most number of cafe's I have ever seen in a city. Miles and miles of cafe's and at every square inch of Buenos Aires. Truly a haven
4 hours after arriving Buenos Aires
....The morning I arrived in Buenos Aires the same day as Katharine's birthday. Pic of us after a few glasses of champagne. It was great seeing Katharine again... for those that enjoy a cuppa...you will never get dissapointed with the coffee served here.
One of my favourites would have to be their gelato ice cream which is by far the best I have ever tasted. It is truly heaven. I am now an ice cream addict and I have to get my gelato fix almost everyday since I arrived....slurpppp.
For all at home, you would be happy to hear that "empanadas" (puff pastry filled with meat, cheese and vegetable fillings) is the staple here and you can see it being sold everywhere in BA. It looks exactly the same as curry puffs back home in Malaysia.
Also found and ate at Chinatown which had of loads restaurants and shops selling ingredients that I needed for cooking Malaysian food.
Which is how I managed to cook alot since I got here. Made curry chicken, Malaysian spring rolls (popiah), chinese soups and bee hoon noodles which is really fun as I have been missing food from back home.
So what's next? ( I have been asked that a lot lately)
It's off to Colonia, a little town in Uruguay just an hour away by boat for the weekend
Katharine's Birthday
At the Grand Hyatt Buenos Aires hotel celebrating Katharine's birthday with friends. Me with Katharine, Ambi, Emily, Anne Marie and Pedro with Katharine, and slowly after, exploring the rest of Argentina and South America over the next few months.
I just joined a gym, enrolled in an artschool and am looking forward to trying my hand at art as well as learning to play the guitar properly...
BA has been amazing so far even though I feel that I have only seen the tip of the ice berg. I truly enjoyed taking pictures of the city which is colourful and yet looks amazing when taken in black and white.
Time seems to breeze through so fast here.
So much to do and so much to explore in a city that is truly alive and kicking.....
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Daniel
non-member comment
Only a little commentary about Castellano
Dear Edgarklg, I have been reading your blog about your trip to my city, congratulations for your photos!!! they are really good. I wanted to tell you that "Castellano" (Castilian in english) is the original name for the Español (spanish), is not a different language (in fact in Spain use to call their tongue as "Castellano" too). The name cames from the region of Spain in which this language born, Castilla, in central Spain. Anyway our version of Castilian or Spanish is different from that spoken in other parts of the spanish speaking countries. Specialists say that the "rioplatense" dialect (as they use to call our tongue) is one of the 3 dialects of spanish or castilian (the other two are European Spanish and Latinoamerican Spanish). Our way to speak spanish is strongly influenced by the italian, and some italians dialects, as well as other european influences as a result of the times of the great inmigration times (second half of XIX century). Well that was my little contribution, I thougth you would appreciate it 'cause you seem a very smart and interested tourist. I hope some day can visit Malaysia!!! Enjoy your stay.