Iguazu to Buenos Aires- 13 April

Pick up 6:30am for 10:05am flight.

Said our goodbyes to Steve at the hotel.

Check in with two paying overweight baggage! (None of which are me!)

Then breaky and some tech time at the airport.

Actually boarded and took off early and landed 20 minute early. A good flight, sat next to a Dad and young daughter returning to La Plata from 3 day holiday.

Interesting to see how much land has been cleared of jungle and is now planted out. Lots of big rivers.

On arrival we met our transfer for a short trip into the CBD to our Hotel Grand Ricoleta. We were met by concierge- Guido who was most helpful. Bags checked and a map and some guidance from Malena behind the desk and we we are off for a look around the immediate area.

We found

• The Ricoleta Cemetery

• La Biela – one of the first cafes in BA. We stopped for lunch.

• lots of green space, parks, trees

• National Museum of the Arts- which houses a few pieces by masters such as Rodin, Degas, Manet

• many old buildings, including this fabulously painted Cultural Centre

• Very old and large trees – huge fig trees

• Trees with lovely pink flowers and huge green seed pods

• dogs being walked and running around in the park.

• Also noted people working out and enjoying the park.

• We went to see the Florales generifica

• Also crossed a cool (though crumbling) walkbridge across one of the avenues having spied a sculpture of three kangaroos. Nothing to indicate their reason for being. (And google is clueless too)

On the walk home to check in, we spied a nice little coffee shop -Mula-just down the street from the Hotel. It was the best coffee I’ve had for a while. Nice young people working there too.

Checked in to find I have a monster of a bed on the 8th floor. More pillows on the bed than Adairs. Electronic blinds. A view into the back balconies of many apartments, spaghetti like electric and other wires too.

We had booked a Dinner and Tango tour (La Ventana – highly recommend) and had a drink in the hotel bar while we be waited, and waited and waited. Asked Ayrton – our night concierge if he could check, he advised that we are close and often last, so not to worry. An hour or more later we needed to worry. So they phoned and advised we should take a cab. After battling sleep while waiting, we made it, we had a nice meal and drinks and were entertained by a band with piano, accordion and two violins. There were 6 tango dancers, a male and female singer and special appearances by an awesome Native drummer who also stamped (like tap dancer) and swung these strings with some sort of wood or hard object on the end on the floor. It was amazing. I thinks it’s called Malambo. Unfortunately no photography allowed.

Then there was a guy Noroeste? Who played a little 10 string guitar/ukulele type instrument- he had rubber fingers – amazing! With the help of google it’s called a Churango.

We did manage to catch the missed transfer home.

All ready for bed. Our early mornings and busy days make for solid sleeps.