Buenos Aires

Well this is our second day here, where do I start? We have done all the tourist things: visited the grave of Eva Peron and seen the balcony where she gave her famous speech, it´s hard to believe she died aged 33! We have been on the underground, sat in numerous taxis and walked miles. Last night we saw a tango show at the famous Tortoni Cafe that was fabulous. In the afternoon yesterday we went to the area called La Boca where all the arty folk hang out, there was tango in the streets and Bill managed to have a dance with a very sylph like creature...... wait and hopefully we will get the photographic evidence down loaded shortly. We bought some artesania and a big photo of the Andes which I absolutely love. There were musicians everywhere and it is all very colourful and slightly alternative. Five of us had a super, memorable lunch yesterday at Puerto Madero at a place recommended in the Rough Guide called Cabana de las Lilas. The restaurants in this area are all converted warehouses sited on a waterway, we had nice salads, more empanadas and a great Argentinian Malbec wine (several bottles to be honest) it was very good.

We are not on any organised excursions we just set off and go where the fancy takes us. We did however find we were held back a little yesterday as we had an old lady with us from the cruise who had inadvertantly thrown out her glaucoma drops. Bill being Bill offered to accompany her to a farmacia and help her get more. She had sticks so we were getting around very slowly. We eventually got her sorted out and she stayed with us most of the rest of the day. When we got back to the ship she rang our room to say she had lost the new drops already!!!! She said if we passed a farmacia today could we get her some more. Needless to say today we are completely on our own and getting around much faster.

We have had great weather here, just right hot but not too hot. We definitely feel this is the best city we have seen so far, it is clean and vibrant. We would come back if we could to explore the place further. There are beautiful old buildings but also some very elegant new ones. I have to say the locals are not happy with the government and all the taxi drivers are constantly complaining about their lady president, Christina, they all say the corruption is very bad here. We have seen several protest marches, today it was artesanias, yesterday it was pensioners. When we mentioned this to a taxi driver he said the pensioners have been out there with their placards every Thursay for the last 15 years he thinks it just and excuse for them all to get together once a week.

We old guys have to do something to keep us occupied which doesn´t cost too much. We are in Uruguay tomorrow, Montevideo...dear me different currency again I can´t cope.