Buenos Aires Day 3 - 11th Nov

Today we had a relatively relaxed start, leaving the hotel late morning and jumping back on the tourist bus aiming to do the whole circuit in one sitting and see the bits we had missed. Having both woke up a little under the weather this was just what the doctor ordered – I think we are starting to unwind from work and hence prone to catching colds etc.... well I think I am starting to unwind, Emma should have done so before now!

The Commentary was very thought provoking...

Having spent the best part of 3 hours on the bus we got off at Recoleta and took a look around the 'Cementerio de Recoleta' that is home to the graves of some of the most famous dignitaries of the city, Evita being one of them. My personal favourite was that of a boxer who unlike most of the other 'graves' in the cemetery had gone for a statue of himself in boxing gown and boots. I say 'grave' however unlike what one would expect in a cemetery (grave stones maybe) this was more like a town in itself – a series of 2 or 3 storey small buildings laid out in street formation with the best positions given to the most wealthy - all with coffins on show if you peered inside.

From here we took the long walk back to the hotel via what has to be the most ugly library in the Southern hemisphere and easily the most distasteful building in an otherwise good looking city... I will spare you a picture as I was forbidden from taking one by the security guard!

In the evening we spoke to some of the family over Skye, repacked our bags for the trip to the colder south and went out for a late dinner (not steak)!

On the whole I like Buenos Aires, it is no doubt a good looking, friendly city however both of us came away thinking we could 'take it or leave it' and felt that 3 days was probably sufficient. They are highly geared to tourism and maybe if we came back again I would do some of the more unusual activities like the Urban Running Tour or the day trip to Uruguay.

I can, however, see it being a great city to live in given all the green space, great restaurants, relaxed atmosphere and pleasant weather.

Tomorrow we have an early flight to El Calafate where we will go to the Perito Moreno Glacier before heading into Chile.