Blog Number Four

Arrived in Buenos Aires (BA) EZE airport and transferred to IBIS Congresso hotel right on the main government square. Took the yellow bus hop on hop off,  the next day for a full tour of BA. BA is truly amazing city of approx. 12 million personas; its architecture, parks, statues, monuments, cemeteries, museums and cultural centers are truly mind boggling. The city seems to be so vibrant and full of energy. Sidewalk cafes abound along every tree lined street as the trees provide necessary shade from the sun's intensity. In addition to the Spanish influence, there is an incredible Italian influence in Argentina so… reading up on the emigration flows are on our reading lists.



Saw several graffiti paintings and makeshift memorials to the Falkland Islands war in 1982 reminiscent of the anti-British sentiment in Ulster.

The main avenida is 10 lanes southbound and 10 lanes northbound, plus 4 bus lanes each way plus bike lanes. Pedestrians require two walk lights to get across, a distance of some 150 meters. Driving and pedestrian crossings are not for the faint of heart... Taxis and remises are reasonably priced; remises (shared taxis) are like an organized uber network. In our area there are many street people who are actually squatting in the streets complete with beds, chests of drawers, and the like.



Our tour bus had a “police escort" thru La Boca where the locals have been known to throw rocks at the “yellow boos”. I gave a tango lesson to Nadia, a.k.a. Naughty-ya in a bar in La Boca; Heather sent me in for peanuts came out with no peanuts, but a smile. Forgetful (or distracted?) in my old age.






Locals are very helpful; just look confused while studying a map and help will arrive. Visited Recolleta cemetery where Eva Peron is buried. The place is chocker block full of mausoleums, approx 0.5 M people buried there.

Restaurants offer wonderful fare at very reasonable prices, wines on the menu are at the same price that we buy them in the supermercados. Why doesn’t that happen in North America?

Did a great walkabout, visited El Ateneo (world’s 2^nd best bookstore in an old refurbished theatre. Stunning architecture!

 On Rod and Barb’s recommendation we ate (Argentine beef again!) at the Café Tortoni and we were treated to a great display of tango and gaucho dancing.

On to Iguaszu Falls and stayed in a beautiful lodge, toured an amythyst mine and the highlight was Iguazu Falls park. Falls are incredible, scattered over some 2.9 km in length with dozens of cataracts.

















Toured amethyst mine at Wanda

Saw coatimundi and capuchine monkeys trying to steal food from tourists. Thousands upon thousands of colourful butterflies flitting about in the park.







If you ever saw the movie The Mission, this is the site where the Guarani Indians had “had enough” of the Roman Catholic church in the 16th century and the opening scene is dramatic as the Indians tie a priest to a wooden cross and float him over the cataracts with a great musical score by Ennio Morricone.  I can’t believe that the priest would have survived!

 Rode a zodiac right into the falls and got drenched. All our gear is loaded into waterproof bags (including shoes). What a rush! The driver takes you under the falls 3 times. Complete whiteout, you can’t even open your eyes there is so much water pouring down on you.

Back to Buenos Aires for a couple more days before getting on the cruise.

 Heather and Vicki are doing a manicure/pedicure tomorrow in a shop filled with Italian stallions so????

Ken and Colleen fly home late tomorrow.