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| From Buenos Aires |
Left London on a dull winter's day. Arrived in Argentina in the middle of summer, with clear blue skies and 30+ temperatures. Great!
We spent the first few hours being taken on an orientation tour of Buenos Aires, before being dropped off in our hotel in the Recoleta district of the city. After a brief siesta, time for some more sightseeing. Although Buenos Aires is a vast city, the interesting bits are mainly concentrated in the centre and are reasonably easy to get round on foot or by taxi. First impressions are that BA is a very elegant city, with most of the buildings being constructed during the country's boom period in the early 1900's, when Argentina was one of the most wealthy countries in the world, at least in terms of per capita income. The overall impression is Parisian, with perhaps a touch of Madrid. Certainly not what you might associate with a Latin American country. The fact that the city has a somewhat rundown feel does nothing to spoil its overall charm. You get the impression that when the Argentine economy recovers from its current bout of inflation and the country can afford to invest again in its infrastructure, then it could easily return to its former glory.
Our itinerary took in the impressive Recoleta Cemetary, where the family tombs are works of architecture in their own right. We also had to visit the tomb of Evita, who is still something of a cultural icon hereabouts. Also a walk around Plaza de Mayo; scene of many civil protests over the years. Currently occupied by a group advocating the repossession of the Islas Malvinas, which is still a very sore topic for some Argentinians (don't mention the war!)
In the evening, a very enjoyable meal in a cheap and cheerful Argentinian restaurant specialising in stews cooked in a log oven. We are saving ourselves for the full steak blowout tomorrow.
We spent the first few hours being taken on an orientation tour of Buenos Aires, before being dropped off in our hotel in the Recoleta district of the city. After a brief siesta, time for some more sightseeing. Although Buenos Aires is a vast city, the interesting bits are mainly concentrated in the centre and are reasonably easy to get round on foot or by taxi. First impressions are that BA is a very elegant city, with most of the buildings being constructed during the country's boom period in the early 1900's, when Argentina was one of the most wealthy countries in the world, at least in terms of per capita income. The overall impression is Parisian, with perhaps a touch of Madrid. Certainly not what you might associate with a Latin American country. The fact that the city has a somewhat rundown feel does nothing to spoil its overall charm. You get the impression that when the Argentine economy recovers from its current bout of inflation and the country can afford to invest again in its infrastructure, then it could easily return to its former glory.
Our itinerary took in the impressive Recoleta Cemetary, where the family tombs are works of architecture in their own right. We also had to visit the tomb of Evita, who is still something of a cultural icon hereabouts. Also a walk around Plaza de Mayo; scene of many civil protests over the years. Currently occupied by a group advocating the repossession of the Islas Malvinas, which is still a very sore topic for some Argentinians (don't mention the war!)
In the evening, a very enjoyable meal in a cheap and cheerful Argentinian restaurant specialising in stews cooked in a log oven. We are saving ourselves for the full steak blowout tomorrow.
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