It’s fair to say my experience of arriving in Buenos Aires wasn’t the best, but the city was yet to show its beauty and culture.
Three things Aussies need to be aware of in the city are: paying the $US100 to enter the country, eating dinner late (from 9pm) and the time difference — Melbourne is 13 hours ahead of Buenos Aires.
After taking all this in, I looked around for my airport transfer — an Argentinian holding a sign with my name on it. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen. I caught a taxi, communicating as best I could in traveller’s Spanish with the driver replying in broken English. To my surprise, the 50-something-year-old was listening to an English pop radio station. After speeding the whole way into the city and nearly running into another car — they’re crazy drivers over there — we arrived at the centrally located hotel.
Things looked up from here.
There’s so much to see and do — like indulging in a famous Argentinian steak, joining a bus tour of the city’s hot spots, attending a tango show, or visiting the colourful town of La Boca.
For 80 Argentinian pesos (about $16), travellers can join a three-hour bus tour visiting the north (wealthy area) and the south (poorer). It also includes a visit to Parliament House, which is painted a dusty pink, and La Boca, a ‘shady’ area famous for its brightly coloured buildings and soccer stadium.
Sinking your teeth into a large, juicy Argentinian steak is something travellers shouldn’t pass up either. Traditionally, locals eat theirs well-done but tourists can have it how they like. For $US20, I had a big medium-rare steak with vegies and dessert — what a bargain!
Another ‘must do’ is visiting Recoleta Cemetery where famous people like Eva Peron (Evita) are buried. The gravestones are large and many have rooms in front of them for visitors to pray, view photos or light candles.
While in Recoleta, a walk to the market might yield souvenirs for loved ones. For a night on the town, dinner and a tango show is a real treat. I loved watching the talented dancers dressed in beautiful costumes moving to the Spanish beats.
