We left the house at a bit after 6am for a 7:45am flight to Buenos Aires via Sydney. After 16 and a bit hours, but only 2 hours later according to the clock, we arrived in Buenos Aires, my backpack did not. We opted for the cheap arse option and caught the public bus (Colectivo) into the centre of town, two hours later and having had an excellent tour of BA's outer barrios we were dropped at the door to our hostel (Portal del Sur). Having found some lunch we wandered for a few hours before having one beer on the hostels rooftop bar and collapsing in bed, some 32 hours after we got up that morning.
The Hostel's Rooftop Bar
Artwork in the hostel atrium
Day 2 - Need underwear
Still no sign of the backpack, Qantas in BA assure me it is in Sydney and will undoubtedly find it's way on to the next flight (with Aerolineas Argentinas), but they have absolutely no evidence to support their claim. So part of the day was spent wandering up and down shopping streets in search of essentials, thankfully there is plenty to see and wandering is not at all tedious (just the shopping!). We also found ourselves a Spanish school and lined up classes for Monday.
Plaza de Mayo
Day 3 - Stalking dog walkers
Friday we headed to Palermo, one of BA's more upmarket areas, known for its trendy shops and leafy streets. Erin took a fancy to the dog walkers and once we had seen the first she stalked the second for a photo. I think she may be considering a career change!
I think an attractive woman stalking him may have prompted him to stop, unlike some of the other dog walkers we saw he was definitely the leader of the pack, all the dogs stayed behind him.
When we weren't harassing dog walkers Erin was peering into fancy hotels, admiring architecture and browsing through shops. If we could actually afford to move to Palermo on a dog walkers wage I think we might have been up for a move!
Street Art in Palermo Hollywood
In the afternoon we headed out to the 'burbs (barrios) in search of a charger for the netbook (MIA with the backpack). The computer shop was in an unmarked building, you had to buzz to get in, walk through a metal door into a room with only a metal detector, through another metal door and then though another security door and up a flight of stairs before you got to someone who would serve you. An interesting reflection on the crime and security situation here.
On the way back to the hostel we encountered the Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra set up in the middle of the pedestrian mall a couple of blocks from home. The seemed to have a clarinet section in place of violins.
BA Symphony Orchestra outdoor performance
That evening we teamed up with Lenore from Canada and Mary from Ireland for a few beers and a visit to the rooftop bar where there was a jam session going on. Pablo who mans the reception desk by day had his hair let down and was making quite an impression on the guitar.
Pablo lets his hair down
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