Day 144 - Friday 10th February 2006

I decided the city needed some more time devoted to wandering, so I devoted the day to doing just that. Lucia dropped me off at the train station and I made the 30 minute trip into the city centre to get started.

When I arrived in Retiro – the main transport area of the city – I bought breakfast in the form of choripan, a welcome sausage sandwich after 4 months of rice and beans. I started my wandering by purchasing 4 subway tickets and catching the train out to the Obelisk, which is featured on most postcards of the city. From there it was only a short walk to the theatre and Plaza Lavalle before I walked to the newest Barrio in the city, Puerto Madero. Walking along the canal front it was obvious that this was created as a tourist area, as well as the BsAs elite as the restaurants looked pretty swanky.

Not being able or willing to pay the asking price for lunch in that area I walked back to the centre of the city to Calle Florida, the BsAs equivalent of London’s Oxford Street. Here I found a cheapish restaurant serving a 3 course meal for A$13 (A$5 =£1). I meant to order steak but somehow ended up with fish, but it was pretty good anyway so I wasn’t complaining.

I went to the Barrio of San Telmo for an afternoon of sitting in cafes and watching some Tango. Nedding to get off my feet I sat in the Plaza Dorrego and watched the dancers performing for the tourists for a while. The afternoon turned into the evening and I took the train back to San Isidro. Lucia had arranged to go out and I needed to experience the Bs As nightlife so I went along. We didn’t even start getting ready until half twelve, eventually leaving the house at 1am. First stop was a bar, followed by BsAs city centre, where we went into a club at about half three. The party was still going at 6am when we left and made our way home.