I'm back in Argentina.. and I have a new travel buddy. Scott's here! He brought Marmite.

Leaving Florianopolis and Brazil behind meant saying ciao for now to Lynne, who I've been travelling with for the past 6 weeks... going to be very strange not hearing her Scottish lilt every day! Safe travels Lynne, see you for festival.

One bus a day from Florianopolis to Buenos Aires - a well-trodden route, how hard could it be? OK, so 25 hours on a bus wouldn't be pleasant, but I reasoned the buses here are comfy and I could easily sleep through a good portion of the journey. One very bad decision. Delays, a broken-down bus, police searches and a general lack of giving two hoots (the driver) meant I arrived in BA 10 hours later than planned. 10 hours!!! Awful, uncomfortable bus with not enough snacks packed - not an experience I'd like to repeat! There were some highlights though - making friends with two Brazilian teenagers who 'took care of me' - keen to practice their English for an exam the following week, meeting a lovely Aussie called Sonia who mercifully could translate what was going on when the police entered the bus (again and again), and of course the crazy woman with the castanettes. Anyway, I finally arrived to our (very posh) hotel (featured on the front cover of a gorgeous coffee table book on the best hotels in the Americas) and Scott was waiting patiently, beer in hand. Think his ribs are still sore from my hugging!

Buenos Aires is much more fun the second time around. And the food is sooo much better than Brazil (sorry Rod). We've dined out all over posh Palermo, and today I'm taking Scott to La Boca for a nosey at the tango dancers. Tonight we're on the guestlist for Pacha. I love Buenos Aires!

x