We've been in Buenos Aires for a few days now, and by all accounts we were bloody lucky to get here at all! The Chilean volcano and subsequent ash-cloud has played havoc with many South American flights, and the only time Buenos Aires airport had been open in the last week was the night we flew in! In fact, the girl on the check-in desk at LAX was reluctant to book us on the flight, as she was pretty sure our connecting flight from Panama to BA was cancelled, but we dug our heels in, and it all worked out ok!
Flying through US airports isn't fun nowadays. They're paranoid about security, and treat you with suspicion if you're not a US citizen. Sal was pulled out for 'special treatment' once more, she wasn't happy, and I was worried she was going to throw another wobbler and get taser'd again, I pretended we weren't together!
Our first day in BsAs, and the weather was beautiful, like a warm English summer's day, so we went out in shorts and t-shirts. The thing is, it's Autumn, going into Winter here, and everyone else was wearing coats, scarves, and boots. We didn't half get stared at, not just a quizzical glance, but full-on, slack-jawed gawping! You'd have thought we were out in our underwear!
BsAs is a lovely city, the food is fabulous (and cheap), there's plenty to see and do, the shopping's great too, but there's one thing wrong with it; it's full of Buenos Aireans! They're the surliest, rudest, most miserable and unfriendly bunch we've come across on our travels, and bear in mind we've to Paris and London too! It's just that coming here from both Mexico and the US, where most people are really friendly and helpful, you can't help but notice the difference. Maybe they'll be more friendly outside of the capital, I don't know, but it seems Argentinians generally haven't got a good reputation, we shall see!
So far, we've noticed that Buenos Aireans like;
Markets, rules, sweets and cakes, The Beatles, shoes and handbags, dog-s*** (well I assume they like it, it's everywhere!), the police (ditto), tango, and steak.
Buenos Aireans DON'T seem to like like;
Anyone else, each other, me and Sal.
We've already done the open-top bus tour (which went past Boca Juniors ground), been to the famous cemetery where Evita is buried, and visited the Sunday flea-markets in San Telmo.
We've got a cycling trip lined up (fingers crossed, eh!), and a trip to a tango show. We're lovin' BsAs!