Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a city like most other big cities in the world. On the first day we took the on/off yellow bus and did the guided tour around the city.  Some parts are very old and poor and some very modern and just like any major city.  Many of the streets are extremely narrow and was a wonder to me how the buses navigated them.

There is the old  -                                             and the new  -

Architecture influenced by other cultures - French, Russian and Italian

We got off the bus to visit some markets and had the best coffee ever inside a building that was an art gallery and book store.

I really got hooked on this ladies' jewellery and bought some items for myself and some for presents.





There was the tango in the street and musicians that demanded money for taking their photo.

 

They love decorating their trees with Macrame

After getting back on the bus and getting off at the starting point we discovered another small market and spent some time with 'Charlie' (Carlos)

Beautiful gentle man, very at one with his talent which is making jewellery using gemstones.  The stall behind him was run by (I think) his wife/partner and Meg bought me my birthday present from her.  We wanted to go back on  Saturday to buy some gifts to bring home but there was no-one there.

   



Just before returning to our hotel we stopped at the inevitable 'Irish Pub' -

Friday night we were taken to dinner and a Tango Show.  We were taken by bus down narrow streets and into a dark and dingy 'night club' type establishment.  However it was interesting, food was good and the entertainment was a real cabaret show.  I did not get any really good photos but this was the best of a bad lot.

Everything stops in Buenos Aires on the weekend except the people trying to rob you.  The tactic is to spray something on your back as you pass by then tell you a 'sparrow' has pooped on you.  They then offer to help clean you up and rob you while doing this.  We were warned as we left the hotel to go for a walk but we wanted to go back to the market we were at yesterday just a few blocks away.
Another couple jointed us and sure enough they were sprayed as we walked along with this green poopy looking stuff.  We high tailed it back to the hotel and stayed there until the afternoon Evita tour.

We did the 'Evita' tour and visited Eva's grave and museum!  This cemetery is in the heart if the wealthy district and is full of family mausoleums - some very very old and others quite new and modern.