|
Back in Buenos AiresSep 27, 2004
|
|
A very bad vintage indeed
The Malvinas/Falklands monument, central Buenos Aires
Opposite the monument is Torre de los Ingles (Tower of the English)
| The bus got us into Buenos Aires at 5 p.m. and it wasn't a bad journey. The bus only had 3 seats across and was more like being in business class on a plane. More importantly when they stopped at night they didn't put the lights on. So we slept well. The only downside was that the TV had no red in it. So, the Gangs of New York looked more like the Smurfs Go Fighting. We had enough time after arriving to get some supplies in for breakfast and found the world famous Diego Maradona wine. Gets a bit flabby with age. It makes national headlines here when he is moved from one health institution to another. Next day, and then every day since we have been shopping. Things are cheap here thanks to the devaluation of the currency. But this has been hard on the people of Argentina. They sensibly invested in dollar bank accounts but then after devaluation the banks declared that the money had been converted into Pesos at the new rate and overnight everyone had lost two thirds of their savings and pensions. Banks next to the Plaza de Mayo (the governmental centre of Buenos Aires) are covered in graffitti declaring them as "Bastardos" and "Chorros" which means Theives. As well as shopping we have done a lot of walking around, including visiting Recoleta Cemetery on Sarah's birthday. This isn't as morbid as it sounds. The area is surrounded by craft fairs and restaurants and is very touristy. The most famous grave there is that of Eva Peron or Evita. After finding her tomb we had a quick snack of roquefort and celery empanadas before getting a taxi to San Telmo south of the centre, which has an antique market on a Sunday. We had a late lunch/early dinner on the square before heading back into the centre. There were lots of street performers here so it was a nice way to spend a birthday. Tomorrow we get a bus north up to Puerto Iguazu, our last stop in Argentina before crossing into Brazil. The main thing to see here are Iguaza Falls, supposedly a close rival to the Niagra Falls in North America. |
Advertisement 
|
