Buenos Aires, The Paris of South America

We spent 5 days in Buenos Aires, and I fell in love with the city, I ended up researching whether Kiwi’s can apply for working visas in Argentina. Getting from Puerto Iguaza to Buenos Aires overnight was less memorable, we chose the company Rapido Argentino which was completely rubbish, especially when the usual standard in Argentina is supposed to be quite high, with pillows, blankets, full bar and catering often provided. This company charged us the same price as all the others but we never saw any blankets or pillows and the bus was absolutely freezing all night, the full bar was water, the provided food was actually better than expected but our first snack and breakfast were the same, chocolate bar and sweets and a few hours in it started raining pretty hard, inside the bus. The river running down the aisle only added to the shabby state of the bus with its grubby curtains, sticky floor and dirty seats, we won’t be using that company again.

Both breakfast and snack on Rapido Argentino

Dinner time, we have a pasta and mince meal under the silver top – which was edible.

We chose to use Air BnB as we did in Sao Paulo and I think this will become our usual routine for the larger cities where we intend to spend up to a week at a time. It’s nice to take a break from double bunks at a hostel to having our own space, kitchen and both times I ensured to book a place with a washing machine so we could get a few loads done. It can work out only slightly more expensive than a hostel, but you end up saving money by being able to cook a few meals instead of going out to eat and not having to pay for laundry.

Just like Paris (NY and London), Buenos Aires has it’s very own Obelisk

We were recommend the “open top bus” by our Air BnB host, as we were soon to find out, not only is the city very large there are so many different areas to explore. I have heard BA been compared to Paris, and in some parts of the city it truly does emulate the dramatic French city. Incredible buildings with such striking architecture line the streets of downtown, as we moved through the streets aboard the bus I was completely in awe, a feast for the eyes and what a surprise to find such a European feel here in South America. There is also various other neighborhoods with their typical Argentinean culture with brightly colored painted houses and cobbled streets like Boca and San Telmo, then you have your uber exclusive suburbs like Palmero and Recoleta, still with their stylish, European architecture and upmarket restaurants and boutique shops.

Open top bus tour of Buenos Aires was a great choice

La Boca, home to brightly colored buildings and one of Maradona’s original football clubs, Boca Juniors

One of the most eye opening experiences was visiting the Recoleta Cemetery, it was unbelievable, not dissimilar to a mini suburb with its’ tree-lined street’s, the only thing is the buildings contain the bodies of hundreds of affluent locals. Looking through the glass windows and doors you can sometimes see half a dozen coffins or urn’s all piled up, sometimes even on top of each other, other’s with a few empty places left for future burials. Some are run down, and have been neglected; others have been amorously looked after by friends and family. It is so creepy and eerie peaking into the mausoleums and seeing death staring back at you. Another, has to be seen to be believed to add to the list.

Recoleta Cemetery, more like a mini suburb than a place to bury your loved ones.

Recoleta Cemetery, An eerie place to visit.

I was all for getting in a few workouts at a local gym before we reached our accommodation, I researched a chain Megatlon but ended up just going on a couple of runs around our neighborhood instead, (dodging the endless dog mess) and gave the gym a miss. It was pricey and as I like training in the morning before Rob is awake, I didn’t want to trek there through the city all whilst he was asleep. To be honest the food on offer here in Argentina so far has been getting me down, some things are great to try, and of course I am happy to try it but I really am missing being able to cook what I like and what I actually want to eat, instead of spending money on food that I don´t even want. Hence why using Air BnB every few weeks is a way for me to feel sane again before we are off again and I have to make food choices I really would prefer not to.

Cafe o leche y medialunas, this little feist will set you back only a couple of dollars and can be found everywhere in the city. For some reason the ¨medialunas¨ always come in three’s. Has to be done, but not every day (like the locals seem to do).

We are off to Uruguay next, for just three nights before we return to Buenos Aires for a night before flying down the Ushuaia. We are really excited to visit this chilly town as it is the gateway to Antarctica on this side of the world and is close to our hearts after we visited Antarctica early last year.

This has nothing to do with anything, but is so funny