Buenos Aires

The second we took a wander through the city.  We saw a few of the sites and went down to some lakes in the nature reserve on the ocean side of the city.  The lakes were completely lacking in water but they did make up for it by being covered in reeds.  They had a park and there were loads of people sitting about.  Everyone seemed to come prepared with tables and chairs and bikes.  It was an especially stone splitting hot day. There wasn't actually anything to do but walk though.  Buenos Aires is really lacking in stuff to do.  We wandered about and then got back to the hostel eventually to have some plain cheese pizza.  The cheese was weirdly salty but the pizza was nice all the same.

Next day we meet some American lads at breakfast and they told us about this massive market that was on in the city on a Sunday and they also told us about this fantastic steak they had.  So we headed off to the market.  It was on one big long street all across the city.  There were hundreds of stalls all packed in.  They were all selling pretty similiar stuff.  Clothes and sandals and these cool twisty cable ornaments that would get destroyed in our bag for 5 months.  They were also selling these Mata cup things.  For ages we were wondering what they were.  They were cups with no handles and one hollow metal straw thing which ended in a closed spoon with holes in it.  Eventually we found an English poster with an explanation of how to use it and after talking to a Canadian at our hostel we found out it was for a super strong tea.  We got about half way through the market in the end and then left it.  It was really nice but it kinda repeated the same things.  Later we went to that steak place the Americans represented.  It was ok but a bit fatty without a whole lot of meat.  Was fairly disappointing as I don't think they knew what good steak was like. 

Next day we headed up to Tigre which is somewhere north of the city.  We took a boat ride to see a house in a box.  It was fairly disappointing as the entire way there was nothing else to see except peoples houses.  The house in the box was interesting as it was like 28 degrees so I can't imagine what being in a glass box is like at that temperature.   That night we went to fancy dress party in the hostel.  It was alice in wonderland themed.  The guys at the hostel made a really good effort and gave everyone who arrived for the first few hours costumes.  We met a really nice couple who also turned up before 11 and were chatting to them for ages.  She was from Bulgaria and he was from Argentina and after they got married she moved over here because he couldn't find work.  Later on that night Brian was dressed as the 3 of hearts and spent his time attempting to find people dressed in the right cards for a straight flush :)  In the end he had to settle for a normal flush and got a picture of a selection of really nice people in hearts.  The dj was really good and the night life in Buenos Aires seems to be great. 

The last day we spent in Buenos Aires, we went back to the nature reserve and took a walk further along.  We got up to late to go on a tour of La Boca and from the reviews online it sounds like a lot of people get mugged when they go wandering without a guide in that area.  Overall I wouldn't recommend Beunos Aires for more that a few days.  It isn't very tourist friendly and there isn't much to do and there is no beach. 

Next day we got picked up by car and driven out to a ranch.  This was for Brian's Christmas present to me.  It was fantastic.  We  got some pastries and then headed off horse riding for the morning.  We spent almost 2 hours riding through the fields around the ranch and through corn fields and along dusty roads.  At lunch we had the most amazing meal.  The first course was these delicious ribs and sausage.  The second course was tenderloin steam that melted in your mouth.  It was so soft and juicy.  For the last course we got sirloin steak.  It was a little tougher but it tasted beautiful.  The meat was really gorgeous.  Then we got some desert and sat around chatting.  We had gone riding in the morning with two girls and a guy from Sweden, one of which was a horse trainer and a couple from Greece.  Everyone was really nice and friendly and we got along great.  Even the beginners got to canter as the owners of the ranch were able to make the horses canter just but tutting at them.  It was really amazing.  In the evening we all went out again.  About half way through I hurt my back a bit so I trotted along at the back of the group.  It was an amazing day.  For dinner we got beef and gnocchi stew and we sat around with an american couple who had joined us halfway through the day.  Everyone else had left after the second bout of horse riding but we were staying the night in a small lodge on the ranch.  I was worried Brian wouldn't like the horse riding as he hadn't really ever done it before but he seemed to get along really great and enjoyed it.  Except for being very stiff and sore after.  It was an amazing present. We also say a bird eatting a snake.  It was really weird and the bird spit it out halfway through andd then started eatting it again after.

Next day we got a car back to Buenos Aires and as we had previously decided we were sick of Buenos Aires we went to the bus station and booked a bus to Mer del Plata.  We had to wait around for 3 hours as all the buses were booked up.  Eventually we got on a really comfortable bus.  With really big seats that lay back flat.  There was air condition and water on the bus so we were in need of anything.  It was way more comfortable then travelling by plane.  So that was the end of our time in Buenos Aires. Ｗe will be stopping back to get our flight to Lima but for now we are in Mer del Plata.  We got here at midnight but I do know that unlike Buenos Aires it has beaches and one of our roommates has said some realy fantastic beaches at that. :)