Day 4, buenos aires

Awoke today, had breakfast, and decided to check out the ritzy area of town, Recoleta. There was a pretty big flea market there, selling mostly crap. This apparently was where all the Americans were hiding; until then we hadn’t seen more than a couple. I bought some kick ass wooden spoons from some Argentinian hippy; he seemed proud of them and made sureto tell me what kind of wood they were made from, which I promptly forgot. Next went to the cemetary for the rich portenos, including Evita. It was a New Orleans type place with huge above ground tombs. The strange thing was that you could see all of the caskets through the dooes of the tombs. Creepy. Next had some beer and split a sandwich (lomito/egg), walked back to the hotel and took a little siesta. Went back out and tried to enjoy the festivities at the bicentennial celebration--the plan was to get dinner at one of the food stands there. Bad idea. Way too many people. We instead walked in the other direction and found a nice cafe. I got Milanesa ternera comleta or something, which was basically weiner schnitzel with two eggs on top. Delicious. D had milanesa pollo nepolitano, which was argentinian chicken parm. A couple of coffees, and it was bedtime.

Day 3, buenos aires

Late start to day three. We got up after breakfast ended, so had to find some on our own. I got a tarta, which seemed to be Argentinian quiche, and d got a sandwich. I went to the final part of my conference, and then we headed to San Telmo, which is I guess the grittier but up and coming area of town. We were trying to decide if we should stay there or in Palermo for our last two days. I really like the are along the main street. There was a big square there with a few outdoor cafes. We stopped for beer/coffee before finding a great pizza place. The hotel as a few blocks off the main street, and the area was quite a bit sketchier, as well as being very noisy. We decided that Palermo would be a better choice. Not much else today, headed back to the hotel after trying to take in the bicentennial celebration. Holy crap, were there a lot of people there. The huge main street was closed, and it was just packed with thousands of people waiting in different lines. Seemed like there were a bunch of exhibits. Neither of us were up to ittonight, and we decided we?d give it another shot tomorrow.

Day 2, buenos aires

I headed to the conference today, leaving d to fend for herself. Pretty full day of ultrasound instruction. D went shopping with Julie in Palermo, the shoppy part of the city. I met d back at the hotel, and we decided to meet Julie and some of her friends back in Palermo for dinner. Before that we headed down to Plaza del Mayo, where there were several socialista rallies going on. Plenty of Che Guevara posters hanging. We walked down Calle Florida, which is a pedestrian street filled with vendors, very crowded. We then took the subte/subway, and met at one of her friend?s hotel.in Palermo. After waiting for the last person to show (and enjoying a bottle of wine on the back patio), we walked to an Italian restaraunt. And that?s when the food and wine started coming. And coming. The whole table split a TON of food. We had two pasta dishes, some roasted vegatibles, two different chicken dishes, lamb, and i don?t remember what else. And bottle after bottle of wine. Finished it off with a crepe desert filled with dulce de leche, which was ridiculous, and cafes. Some of the group went home, and Phil, Julie, me and d enede up at some cool bar and drank more wine. We eventually eneded up back at the hotel and crashed sometime after 2. This is very late for us nowadays.

Day 1, buenos aires

Arrived in Buenos Aires after an 18 hour trip, stopping in Atlanta and Lima. Needless to say, we were pretty tired. Plane arrived at about seven thirty AM. We took a cab into the city, which with traffic took about an hour and a half. Checked in, and we layed down for a few minutes. I got up to go to the conference while d took a nap. Apparently it’s the bicentennial of Argentina’s independaence, and they are preparing a huge party. The main street is closed, tons of people around, and just general chaos. I made it to the conference in time to hear Julie’s talk, and stuck around for a while before heading back to the hotel. In between, I managed to find a few empanadas. We walked around the Centro a bit, checking out the Plaza del Mayo, a few rallies, and the general craziness. WArrived in Buenos Aires after an 18 hour trip, stopping in Atlanta and Lima. Needless to say, we were pretty tired. Plane arrived at about seven thirty AM. We took a cab into the city, which with traffic took about an hour and a half. Checked in, and we layed down for a few minutes. I got up to go to the conference while d took a nap. Apparently it’s the bicentennial of Argentina’s independaence, and they are preparing a huge party. The main street is closed, tons of people around, and just general chaos. I made it to the conference in time to hear Julie’s talk, and stuck around for a while before heading back to the hotel. In between, I managed to find a few empanadas. We walked around the Centro a bit, checking out the Plaza del Mayo, a few rallies, and the general craziness. Went to palermo with Julie, walked by the National Congress building, which is pretty impressive--definitely a European feel. Stopped at a pizza place for a bottle of wine. Julie took a cab home, and d and i decided to walk. Started getting hungry, and walked around forever before finding a restaraunt. Good meal, d and I split some Bife de Chorizo before heading back to the hotel and collapsing.Started getting hungry, and walked around forever before finding a restaraunt. Good meal, d and I split some Bife de Chorizo before heading back to the hotel and collapsing.