Arriving in the city of Mar del Plata we easily found a decent hostel and headed to the beach for lunch. Horrified by the rows and rows and rows of polythene beach tents for rent we went in search of some actual sand to sit on. Attacked by weird flying spider web things and trying to ignore the concrete jungle behind us, we sat blinkered looking out to sea. Sharon & Emma even attempted a swim, the sea was freezing, but at least we had the city night life to look forward to.

Or did we?! An amble up the road where we were told we would find some decent restaurants, we found two. A quick aperitif before dinner we decided today was a good day to sample the fabled Fernet & Coke. Gagging we forced them down, so would you if you had to drink TCP & Coke! Off to dinner and after Sharon had finished filming her steak arriving at the table (why???) we all tucked in and then fell into the bar opposite for cocktails. The sickliest Caipirinhas ever known we soon scuttled back to the safety of our hostel's roof top terrace for a few bottles of Iguana cervezas.

Some retail therapy was in order. We spent the morning all over town combing the shops for bargains, a few to be found. For after shopping refreshments we found ourselves sat in a bar set amongst eleven lanes of traffic drinking disgusting wine. We, again, decided to scuttle back to the safety of our hostel's roof top terrace for a few bottles of Iguana cervezas.

Thinking we had it sorted we took a cab to the city port for a slap up seafood dinner, assured by the hostel staff we'd have plenty to choose from. My God what a let down! It was like standing in Ladymead car park at ten in the evening.We took one look and bundled into the first cab we could hail, 'To where all the good restaurants are my man!' He dropped us off in the very same street we'd eaten in the night before. We chose the other option this time and the wine & champagne flowed (drink while you think with champers is so uncouth!)

We got up and b*****ed off back to Buenos Aires. Time for plan C. Change our booked bus tickets and head straight to Iguazu - at least it would be hot up there!