Biker Street Bike tours hosted us for a tour of the south side of the city. Carlos was a great guide, relaxed, funny and full of little stories, we really enjoyed it. The bikes were quite comfortable for city bikes and cycling wasn't scary, he took us down quiet streets and along cycle lanes, through parks, a really thought out route. 

CITY SOUTH TOUR took in Plaza de Mayo the birth place of the city, Puerto Madero once a slum port area now the most expensive real estate in Buenos Aires, WOW its amazing how they have developed this area, makes Auckland Viaduct look like a dolls house in comparison. 

We cycled onto Reserva Ecologica, a huge reserve, loads of biking trails, exercise trails, a beach, this is where you can see Uruguay on a clear day. We stopped in the reserve and Carlos said OK time for MATE - whats that we say..... Well this is what we have seen everyone drinking in parks, in the backseats of cars, looks like dope in a cup - they all share it..... If you are germ-phobic this is not for you as MATE is sharing from the same cup using the same straw person to person OMG we have to partake in this..... I could see Rod flinching hee hee. To the Argentian this is about sharing whether with a buddy or a stranger its all about friendship. BUT there are rules to drinking MATE :

•  Never say thank you - that is a huge insult
•  Never stir the straw - it suggest the brewer didn't prepare it property - and it blocks the straw as we discovered with Barba - oopsy 

So the brewer stuffs the grass like tea in the special cup and fills it from his thermos (you can purchase hot water everywhere so people can refill their thermos) with the straw (bombilla) and then you have to take a slow steady sip from the silver straw. It is then refilled and the next person sips, so on and so on.  

So what is this stuff, its not tea it grows on a bush and there are many different flavours available now.    Argentinians would deny that they are obsessed or addicted to MATE but I think otherwise, must say I felt pretty happy after MATE even though it had a bitter taste it was quite comforting. I laughed and said to Carlos must be a drama if someone forgets the thermos - he said ""YES big big problem someone is always responsible for the MATE when you leave the house.""   

CITY NORTH TOUR: I had the feeling of being in a totally different city, wide streets shaded by huge trees, fancy boutique shops, wonderful green spaces and parks, this is the wealthy side of the city. This tour took us to Recoleta Cemetry (#1 tourist attractions according to tripadvisor). Huge graves, reminded me of New Orleans but these were more grand.  People que to see the grave of Eva Peron - the first lady to President Jaun Peron - she served from 1946 - 1952 when she died. She was a hero to the people, one of the many quotes of her's "If I have to apply five turns to the screw each day for the happiness of Argentina, I will do it." 

Barba guided us gently all the cycling lanes, this is achievable for anyone that can ride a bike and a wonderful way to cover so much ground, we stopped regularly for information and funny stories of Argentinean history - and there has been lots of turmoil and horror.   

Barba recommended us a local cafe that did home cooked food for lunch and yumo jackpot again the food was delicious and cheap. From the outside it look rough, the whole building had been tagged and then you walked inside and it felt like Paris ohlala we were happy. We decided on the menu of the day. We wandered the street looking - yeah just looking at all the boutique shops - its pricey here, then we stumbled on a wine shop, why not lets taste, once inside the group wine tasting was not on that day - but we tasted anyway just chatting, they were so friendly and welcoming.  What a great couple of days cycling the city....
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