MATT: A short journey from Areco to Rosario late at night - arriving into what looks like a deserted city at about 10pm. We are a bit concerned that we should not have come here, but make it to the hostel without incident - and are welcomed by the very friendly owner and made to feel at home. The hostel is pretty unique and quite grand, but quite dirty...but will do the job for the next couple of nights.

It is pretty late and we are hungry..so head out for a bit of food and end up in a restaurant for locals - watching the Boca vs River Plate game...the room seems pretty divided but in good spirits. With broken Spanish we order a bit of food and chat to the waiter - who is again a super friendly Argentine, he even thanks us both for visiting Argentina, and his restaurant, and as we leave - kissing Kelly´s cheek and shaking me warmly by the hand. Rosario is very welcoming.

We spend the next day having a good old wander about, and although the city isn´t all that much too look at - it is definitely alive. There are some great buildings and a fantastic monument to the Argentine independence from Spain as well as some very European Avenues and a pretty park. The city is apparently built on the soya trade that is Argentinas main export (who knew) and Rosario is the centre of the Pampas and the centre of the export. It is also very European in its look - but quite south American in its people.

The evening is spent at a great restaurant where we meat it up good style - blood sausage and fantastic veal steak, with a nice fruity malbec. Kel also makes a new friend in a hippy jewellery salesman. Again broken spanish communications, laughing, kissing and handshakes reinforce how friendly and welcoming Argentines are...we will see if the Portenos (Buenos Airians) will be as friendly when we meet them for the first time properly tommorow...