Hmmmm... Steak!!!

Hola Todos... A note to say hi from Calle Florida in BsAs - longest shooping street in the world (in Argentina, everything is the "biggest/greatest/etc!!). However, this place is not known for its shopping, its all about the steak. After a long month of looking forward to that first mouth-watering chunk of bbq fried cow, I was a little apprehensive that it wouldnt live up to my expectations. I was wrong. It was even better than I imagined! And bigger... The portions here are MASSIVE, so big infact, I think Gareth/SPOC/Speedo would struggle to clean up the plate!! The only problem with the meat here, is that you cant really avoid it!! Its everywhere, its cheap and its spectacular. Was back in the "Parrilla" again yesterday, but turned down the Bife de Chorizo (!!), because I am meeting Steve and Gem tonight and we´ve lined up another one at the much discussed La Cabrera restaurant. Never thought I would need to ration rump steaks :-)

Otherwise, things have been good. Getting used to the backpacker/hostel life again. Its pretty great, lots of interesting people to share stories with (and possibly one or two Quilmes - the local friend-maker!!). Couple of people from London in the hostel, so there is a fun connection there - i.e. thinking of all those poor people back home, stuck on the tube!! Plenty of French people too, and the cursory Israeli´s, who quickly became friends...

Thanks to Francesco for getting me in touch with Luz and Luiz, spent an interesting afternoon yesterday with them in their local neighbourhood, browsing around the mercado and "taking a coffee" at the bar. Always great to see places from the locals perspective...

Plans for the weekend are to continue around BsAs - culminating in a trip to La Bombanera on Sunday to watch Boca against Velez Sarzfield - should be a good game and expecting a full house (90,000 "gente"!!). Then heading west to Mendoza and the wine country at the foot of the Andes on Monday for a change of scenery. Apparently a good place for adventure sports, so some white water rafting is definitely on the cards. Oh, and did anyone say wine tasting?? Hmmm...

Quick note on my spanish. Not good!! Hehe.. actually did a class on Tuesday so its getting better, but half the learning is just to understand the local ´dialect´ - who would have thought "Plaza de Mayo" is pronounced "Plaza de Masho"?! Did manage to buy some Protector Solar at the Farmacia en Español, now that the weather is getting better and my "european" skin is in danger..!

Thanks for all the messages, good to see the world still turning while I am so far away (and keep the foreign languages coming!!). Why does this sound like Ive been away for months already?? Hmmm...

Adios amigos!

P.S. Pictures are coming, just need to find a better way of getting them from camera into these wonderful computers they have here!! (i.e. this photo is not mine...)