After 3 flights, 24 hours later I arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina at 3.30am.
It was funny how quick I got through passport control, all the official asked me was "Tourista?" all I had to say was "Si, soy tourista" and my friends that was it!!
No further questions asked. The Argentinians didn't want to know what I was doing in Argentina. How long I was staying for? Where I was staying? Nothing! Nada!! That was the quickest passport control I have ever experienced.
I guess if an Argentinean doesn't give a shit that day, than they really don´t give a shit! Oh well all the better for me.
Jonny waiting on the other side was expecting a walking zombie but on the contrary I was on a high and my body and mind had no idea what time of the day it was. All I wanted to do was talk non stop Los Angeles.
The next day, or later that day, body clock still messed up, we attempted to explore Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires is supposed to be the most cosmopolitan city of all of Latin America and Argentina is supposed to be the most developed.
Buenos Aires is made of neighbourhoods, El Centre, Palermo, La Boca and a few others I can´t remember!! The nicest of all the areas is Palermo as the streets are cleaner and has more of an upmarket feel and the architecture is classically Spanish.
However in general Buenos Aires is quite polluted which is quite ironic considering Buenos Aires means 'good air’’ B A is also very crowded and I found it to be a little stressful and claustrophobic.
There is a strong European influence here with Spanish and Italian descendants. In fact there was an influx of Spanish and Italians in the 1800´s and again in the 1930´s. It has been said that Argentineans speak Spanish with an Italian accent!
I do not know much Spanish and I must admit I´m trying to get by with Italian!! Which works only combined with sign language.... sometimes!!
Buenos Aires is packed full with cafes and restaurants and it would seem the Argentineans take their food quite seriously. The specialty here is beef and they consume lots of it. After giving it a try I must admit, it is the best beef I have ever tasted.
On the whole though Argentinean food is either hit or miss and as long as you stick to meat based dishes you should be fine. Considering the Italian descendents I was appalled at the quality or interpretation of Italian food.
Argentineans do the worst Italian food I have ever had. One day I ordered beef lasagna to find there was no lasagna in my lasagna, just lots and lots of minced beef in salsa???
As you would imagine the Argentineans are very relaxed and take everything in their own time. The customer is never right and it is their way or no way.
Tourism is not big in these parts and trips and excursions are not as organised or easy to arrange. Everything takes long and can be complicated.
I was sad to see lots of young children roaming the streets and undergrounds begging for money, no shoes on their feet. The poor stay poor here while the rich live very comfortably in beautiful colonial apartments getting richer and fatter.
From my interpretation the European settlers came and made money here and it’s easy to see who is wealthy by the colour of their skin.
Buenos Aires seems relatively safe but a little dodgy at night. There are certain areas like La Boca one is advised not to visit however even during the day Jonny and I were followed by a female pick pocket in the safe area of Palermo and to be safe it’s important not to carry anything flash on you.
In the Plaza de Maya you will find the Casa Rosada, the political building where Eva Peron (Evita) addressed her people. However in BA there are no monuments in her honour and considering she was a national hero there isn’t much here to remember her by.
In the Recoletta I found Evita´s grave in the mist of all the other important national figures before and after her. The grand Cemetario is a show of how rich and powerful these figures were. Thousands of pounds have been lavishly laid out on extravagantly large grave stones and statues, some with a private chapel.
However Evita´s was meek and mild in comparison and it was only after circling the Cemetario for the fifth time did we happen to stumble across the small grave. If we didn't know her maiden name Eva Duarte we would have passed it completely.
Later chatting to my Argentinean friend did I learn that not all Argentineans liked Evita and my friend 'hated' her. In her words 'she ruined the country' and 'it was only the poor people who liked her'. My friend was disappointed that foreigners wanted to learn about Evita instead of all the great Argentinean artists, poets and architects.
My friend also advised me she also hated Maradona but somehow I think that is not a national opinion!!
It would seem the Argentineans or certainly the Buenos Aireans see themselves as European and do not want to be recognised as Latinos or like their neighbours the 'in your face, brash Brazilians' but as part of the sophisticated western world.
I was cynical when I first explored the city, I didn't particularly like it as it is far too polluted and dirty and over crowded.
There is a dirty underbelly of crime, prostitution and corruption here but despite all that the city and it´s people have grown on me and I’m looking forward to learning more...
