Life in Buenos Aires

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Can't believe we've nearly come to the end of our second week here!!! Mind you, as its not a "normal" holiday, we don't have the usual worries of getting packed to go home and worrying about how many emails await me at work..........

We have struggled with our early starts and 5 hours of school a day so looking forward to our lie in tomorrow!

We have settled into a routine and tonight when we walked into the bar, the waitress said "happy hour???" does that make us locals?!!?!?!?

We've learnt a few more things about BA;

- the locals are called Portenas and as much as we'd like to consider ourselves "local" the fact that we are walking around in cut offs and sandals while they are all starting to dress for Autumn, gives us away still!
- they clean the pavements every morning outside the apartment blocks and shops but there is still a lot of dog pooh about!
- they don't walk their own dogs- there are dog walkers who have up to 7 dogs at a time!!
- they are very friendly, we went to the football stadium yesterday and got lost a few times (despite Gordon's built in sat nav!) we went into a corner shop and asked about where the bus we wanted went from, before we know it the guy serving had gone to get his boss who had been working out the back and they got out the bus timetable and told us where, when and what the bus looked like! meanwhile a queue of locals built up behind us, uncomplaining!
- they may not have an NHS but we have had a very successful trip to the hospital for G to have his blood taken and tested - all for £2 and results ready in an hour!
- lots of nice parks that we seem to have stumbled upon unexpectedly

We had a successful day yesterday and managed to buy tickets for Saturday's game at River Plate (against Godoy cruz de Mendoza) a big game apparently......... I'm looking forward to the chorizo in tomato sauce that they sell there!

We have also booked flights to Iguazu Falls (big waterfalls on the Brazilian border) Elinor Roosevelt apparently said "poor Niagra" when she saw them!! Just one night and another expensive trip but we don't have time for the 18 hour coach journey there!

Happy Easter everyone! x

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Photos

Casa Rosa
where the Presidents live

Riot Police
there seem to be a lot of demonstrations on most days - this was what greeted one we saw earlier in the week - there were only a few hundred protesters so this was a bit OTT!

nice building!
discovered on one of our afternoon walks! No idea what it is but Elsa tells us it was built with materials from Europe!

school
there was a presentation for those who finished today (tony - the guy at the back of the photo left today) Our teacher, Gabriella is in the little one in the front next to me! Photo taken in common room

Argentinian Easter cakes
yummy!

dog walking
No idea where walker was but we've seen this a few times!!!

Comments

[Jane L]

Dog walking
Well if you get strapped for cash you could maybe think about doing a bit of dog walking. Looks like it could be quite profitable with that many dogs!!

[Jane L]

Posing
I've lost count how many classes I've posed with just like this!!

[Martin]

Patagonian welsh speakers!!
Wendy - Are you going to voisit the welsh speakers in Patagonia? I believe that they have welsh tea houses there!! http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/society/migration_patagonia.shtml

[Sandra]

Hola!
Hi both! Just wanted to wish you both a lovel Easter! Its been a bit quiet and wondered if you had struggled with wi fi! Email me so I know you are ok! Lots of love xx

[Juan]

About a nice building...
I noticed you liked a very large building built with materials from Europe. Believe or not, the whole building is actualy a huge water tank. Is one of few water reservoir that exist in the city, but obviosly this is the nicest. I wish you enjoy my country. Welcome!!!

[Kathy]

the "dog walker" is probably in your bar having happy hour!