Buenos Aires 4th - 9th April A great week living it up in our very own apartment in the heart of BA. We met up with Laura and Viki, two Argentinean girls who are organized the flat and accompanied us in our exploration of the city. Like Matt from Australia I had met Laura in Los Angeles two years ago and we had kept in touch and promised to met again. We had a really good time with them both, we also met up with Jamie, a cool dude from our university days and his lovely girlfriend Lynz The city was massive, so many people, all the time everywhere. We soon discovered that Argentines love there late nights too, everything is done late, they eat at 12.00 party till 6.00am! loving it, hard to keep up though, and I don't understand way they were not all tired the next day like we were. Highlights of the week include: Exploring the historic streets of San Telmo, •Learning to Tango Visiting Boca Juniors football stadium Playing five a side football with the locals, we bought a football from a local store and started kicking it around in a small concrete five a side pitch, five minutes later we were joined by some football loving Argentines of all ages. Hip Hop club, awesome breakdancers Checking out the local restaurants shops: the steak was amazing! A day at the park, enjoying the day with loads of people who were enjoying a range of activities throughout the park, from football, hockey, biking, horse riding. A big thank you to Luara and Viki. We really enjopyed exploring the city with you girls. The following is Viki's diary detailing exactly what we did: BUENOS AIRES -ARGENTINA- APRIL 4TH-9TH TUESDAY 4TH Av. 9 de Julio It's the widest avenue in the world. It was named "9 de Julio" because on July 9th we commemorate Argentina's Independence Day. Obelisk A symbol of Buenos Aires city, the Obelisk was built in May 1936 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first foundation of Buenos Aires. It rises at the place where the Argentine flag was hauled up for the very first time. It is more than 67 meters high and 49 square meters wide on its base. Teatro Colón (Theatre) It's one the most famous lyric houses in the world. Inaugurated in 1908 Av. Corrientes In this street there are several theatres -the most important theatres of the country- Florida Street It's one of the most important shopping circuits throughout the city. Plaza de Mayo (Mayo's Square) This square was and has been the centre of the political life in the country. In 1810, it was the scenario for the May's Revolution, political milestone to start Argentine independence. Today, this square still concentrates all social demonstrations. Cabildo When Buenos Aires was a Spanish colony, the Cabildo was the institution which represented the local interests Metropolitan Cathedral In the interior you can see the Mausoleum where General José of San Martin's ashes are. He's considered the Liberator of Latin America. Government House or Pink House It has always been the national government's headquarters since 1810. Buenos Aires City Hall it is the seat of Buenos Aires city government. Tea at home: baked potatoes by Brides WEDNESDAY 5TH Barrio de La Boca (La Boca Neighbourhood) Boca juniors' Football Stadium It's one of the most popular soccer clubs in the country. It has a horseshoe-shaped structure, three superposed trays and a very high inclination angle. Its capacity is for 60 thousand spectators. Founded in 1940, it was then popularly called "La Bombonera" (the candy jar). At the entrance hall, people can see and enjoy soccer-related murals painted by Benito Quinquela Martín with the soccer club blue and yellow colors. At the outside, there is another mural painted by Pérez Celis that shows different themes of daily life and personalities of this soccer club and neighborhood. The stadium platforms are a few meters away from the soccer court, thus allowing a complete proximity between the spectators and the match. Caminito It's a footpath, of almost 100 meters long, which is an open air street-museum that recreates the typical conventillos (housing projects) of the early La Boca neighbourhood. There's a wide variety of exhibitions.Also, there are tango shows offered by professional tango dancers and singers. There's also a handicraft market. Dinner at a restaurant: Football match (Argentina vs. England) The soccer ball blew out. Tea at home: Mc Donald's Barrio de la Recoleta (Recoleta Neighbourhood) the surrounding area to the Cemetery of Recoleta gave rise to a huge area of restaurants, cinemas, cafes and cafeterias which hinted the neighbourhood distinctively. One of the poshest neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires. Cementerio de la Recoleta (Recoleta Cementery) It is the oldest and most aristocratic cemetery in the city. Its almost 6 hectares include the tombs and mausoleums of Independence patriots, presidents of the Republic, military people, scientists and artists. Plaza Intendente Alvear (Mayor Torcuato de Alvear Square) Plaza Francia (Francia Square) Basílica Nuestra Señora del Pilar It's a National Historical Monument built near 1720. Sahara Continent: Salsa music THURSDAY 6TH Dinner at Plaza Rodríguez Peña (Rodríguez Peña Square) Got a tan at gardens of Palacio Pizzurno (National Board of Education) Met Jamie & Lindsay at the British Embassy Hard Rock Café Tea at a restaurant near home Some drinks at home Hip Hop Club "Lost" FRIDAY 7th Dinner at home: pizza by Vicky Some shopping Avenida Santa Fe (Santa Fe Av.) Tea at Plaza Asturias Restaurant (steak) SATURDAY 8th Some shopping Av. Santa Fe Dinner at Bar Cinema (Av. Callao y Sta Fe) Alto Palermo shopping mall Tango classes at Mayoral y Elsa María Palermo SOHO or Palermo Viejo (its' part of Palermo Neighbourhood) Julio Cortázar Square This square is the heart of Palermo Soho. This part of Palermo neighbourhood is today called "Soho" because it is the place preferred by artists and craftsmen; the atmosphere consists in a mixture of bohemia and modernity, There are innumerable shops, fairs, ateliers, galleries, bars, restaurants. Tea at Bar Tazz (Mexican food: nachos & tacos) Palermo Hollywood (It's part of Palermo Neighbourhood) This zone is today called 'Hollywood', because several TV channels set place there as well as several motion pictures studios. Palermo Hollywood can be distinguished by the great quality of the restaurants: international cuisine, ethnic cuisine, nouvelle cuisine and some meal made by hand by the cook. Some drinks at a pub Latino music at a party held by the Colombian community in Argentina. SUNDAY 9th San Telmo (Fair of Antiques) (One of the oldest areas of Buenos Aires: old houses, cobbled streets) Dinner at La Casa de Esteban de Luca (Esteban de Luca's House) This was the house of Esteban de Luca. He was a military man, poet and journalist. He actively participated in the English Invasions (1806-1807). At the moment, there is a restaurant there. It has become a National Historical Monument. Bosques de Palermo/ Palermo Forest & Lakes This park has more than 80 hectares full of aged forests. Two artificial lakes border the vegetation. When skating, we surrounded the Roses Garden" which has 15,000 species of roses and plants of about 1,000 different species. Argentinian food we tried: milanesa de carne ( a la napolitana): Wiener schnitzel or breaded veal cutlet (with tomato sauce, ham, and cheese on it) milanesa de pollo: chicken breast fried in breadcrumbs. Bife: steak Empanadas: a small pie filled with meat, tuna or chicken. Chorizo: chorizo (highly-seasoned pork sausage) Facturas de manteca : similar to pastries made with butter. Daiquiri : A cocktail made with rum, lime juice and sugar, fruit and crushed ice. dulce de leche : caramel spread (made by boiling down milk & sugar. Mate: it's prepared by pouring warm water into a gourd, which contains yerba mate. Sugar can be added so it hasn't got a bitter taste. Some natural herbs can be added. On the 10th we headed north to see Iguazu Falls with Jamie and Lynz. Amazing waterfalls stretching more than 2km wide, powerfall waters and hugh falls. Seeing is believing. Check the photos.