Hello from Buenos Aires! Today we headed straight to the Casa Rosada as Beth and I love the story of Evita. The palace isnt quite as pink as Id expected it to be, and the square its in isnt the same. in fact were not even sure it was used in the film. Went into the Bank of the Nation next door which has a spectacular lobby - absolutely enormous and the metropolitan cathedral which was nice although I understand not as magnificant as it used to be as some parts were never rebuilt. Met a sweet old man on the steps who spent ages explaining to us where to go and what to see because as he explained it he´d travelled a lot and it made all the difference to his trip when a local made a few recommendations. He made a lot! He recommended a restaurant called Siga La Vaca (Chase the Cow) down by the docks where we had a HUGE meal. Steak and chicken and chorizo, gorgeous mash and salads, dessert, argentinian wine - all you can eat. Cost about 6 pounds. We ate a lot and then groaned all the way back to our hostel. Still unsure as to what we´ll do next in Argentina but will keep you posted.

Not much news since my last post. Our British Airways flight was delayed by a couple of hours and the food was rubbish but what else can you expect from them; another airline with no idea about service although I did watch The darjing limited or whatever its called with Owen Wilson which was good if not a little wacky.

Our last couple of nights in Rio I went to a club called Melt in Leblon where Stella got very very mashed. And then the next night we did some MORE partying out in the rain at street carnival which is why Im now on the Sudafed!! Days were all pretty chilled, we ate some more good food (a pancake on pancake day!) and I bought a sarong at Copacobana market and we watched some processions go by for carnival. Would definately go back to Rio, definately go back for Carnival! It gets the official stamp of approval.

Its been good fun getting buses around argentina. We have had to change hostels due to availability and the one were in now aside from having the poorest effort of a breakfast to date has a lovely owner who always says, youre going to ___, ok take the so and so bus, ask for such and such. It always results in us stumbling around trying to find the bus stop for half an hour and then spending another hour on a bus and bless em, every single Argentine will say - where are you trying to get to - ok ill tell you when to get off. Lovely of em really. No New Yorker is gonna stop and help you with directions.. We took the bus to the Crematorium at Recocleta to see the Duarte family tomb. It was a very beautiful cemetary but it still gave me the willies. I hated seeing some tombs that had fallen into disrepair, it doesnt matter how much a family tends it, 100 years later it will be a mess.
The Duarte tomb was fairly normal, nothing showy. I think its almost an insufficient resting place for such an icon but if its with her family Im sure thats for the best.
Later that night Stella and I tried to head to a tango club but with Argentina still celebrating Carnival a lot of places were closed and we had effectively been on a wild goose chase. We havnt done a touristy tango show because weve been warned that they are overpriced. Instead we have watched some tango in the streets which has been very good. Yesterday I also saw a 12 piece band playing tango style music in the street with accordians and they were excellent. We found a lovely antiques market at San Telmo and then had a nice lunch on the balcony overlooking the square accompanied by a submarino which is a mug of hot milk supplied with a bar of chocolate which you drop in to make your hot chocolate. Very good indeed, very moorish!! In the afternoon Stella and I went on another bus mission to the Evita museum. I thought the museum was fantastic. It really added to what I already know of the story and was so moving. I really think she was a remarkable woman and when you see the long list of the social aid she set up... I think she did an awful lot. Good dresser too- a fair few of her outfits were on display. Yesterday evening we had a very refined evening at a jazz performance. The lead was a guitar and the double bass player was also fantastic. Good wine too which never hurts.. The plan for this morning is a picnic in the park. Hope everyone has a good week. xx