This is the first posting about Argentina which I have posted at:
www.travelpod.com/members/lobo
under: ARGENTINA
31 positngs
more than 600 photos
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Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Arrival in Buenos Aires
I arrived safely in Buenos Aires and had a great
flight(s). The Air Canada Jazz flight seemed a bit
long since we circled over Chicago for 40 minutes
before landing--what an airport! It's
overwhelming but eventually I had enough time to
walk all three terminals in the search for a
guide book--Argentina by Lonely Planet.
Flight UA 855 from Chicago to Buenos Aires on a Boeing
767-300 was like my flight to Santiago in 2000 - a
lovely flight. It is a large aircraft that flies
smoothly and has lots of room. I had two seats
to myself and in fact I must have slept about
four to five hours which is unusual for me.
Leaving Ottawa was hectic and right down to the last minute. The amount of work to
prepare for this trip, in particular getting our accommodations ready for rental, was ridiculous but it is over now and I am here in this fantastic world class city.
It was with a sense of relief that I withdrew my first Argentinean pesos from an airport ATM, for there is always a ing doubt that the system will work in a foreign country. I also reserved a downtown hotel room for 70 pesos and shortly I was off to downtown with a shuttle bus service operated by Manuel Tienda Leon. (26 pesos v.s. 40 for a taxi) After switching to a smaller shuttle bus downtown, I was brought directly to my hotel. The room was tiny and not in the greatest neighborhood although the hotel had a certain charm.
It did not take me long to start exploring and I must describe my first outing like going out on thin ice. I contrasted in my mind the city walks that I take so often in Ottawa with this experience and it was one of security vs. insecurity but I guess all starts are difficult.
Once I realized that I was not that far from the Microcentro I felt better about where I was.
Thursday, Feb. 2
However, this morning I changed hotels and I am now at the Hotel Alcazar near the corner of Avenida de Mayo and Avenida 9 de Junio which I think is about the center of the city.
Needless to say I have done little other than walk the last two days exploring this city which seems endless and is stunning in its architecture and wide tree lined avenidas, both of which made me think often that I was wandering through Paris. Even the people here have mostly a southern European look.
My favourite streets so far are the Avenidas Florida and Lavalle which are intersecting pedestrian malls that are incredibly long and interesting day and night.
The Internet I am using costs .50 cents per hour, yes--.50 cents per hour! It is typical of the prices here. The hotel, although very simple with cable TV is $25 right in the heart of the city. Last night I had a large beer, a salad and a large steak on a bun for $5.
No, because I had no time to prepare the equipment I did not bring my camping equipment and will not be camping. But at these prices it may not be worth it.
I signed up for a week of private Spanish lessons as I find my Spanish is completely
blocked and hopefully it will help me. Then I have to direct my attention to getting to Patagonia and Ushuaia at the very tip of Argentina--the summer will be over soon.
In the meantime there is Colonia and Montevideo, Uruguay just across the Rio del Plata and San Antonio de Areco not too far away which is described as the heart of the gaucho (cowboy) culture. One also sees a lot of the famous steak houses and of the TANGO rules this town.
When I see the posters here in Buenos Aires of all the beautiful places around the country I know there will some incredible sightseeing ahead.
