Coming to the end of Buenos Aires

01.10.2010 15 °C

So I leave Buenos Aires on Sunday. It's been a great (nearly) fortnight and I've felt so at home and comfortable here, both in the city itself and my hostel. This week had a slightly different feel to it as I've been going to Spanish classes at 9am for four hours and then again two more hours in the afternoon. Hard, mind-blowing but really good fun. It's meant I've met more people and with the basics of the lingo I'll hopefully be able to experience a lot more on my trip. The plan as it stands though is to study for a few hours in each city/town I go to so I keep progressing.
I had a fun weekend last weekend with a long walk around Puerto Madero and the ecological park on Saturday and a steak lunch and stroll around San Telmo (my neighbourhood) market on Sunday. Puerto Madero is one of the richest areas of the city and it's neighbouring some of the poorest - such a contrast - it felt odd being there. Similar to Canary Wharf (without quite so many skyscrapers) and St Katherine's Dock at Tower Hill in London. Very smart but completely soul-less. The one redeeming feature for me was an old Argentinian ship that's been beautifully kept/restored. A good half an hour was spent exploring the engine room, decks and cabins there.

The park was also lovely, so tranquil and relaxing. It didn't take long though to round a corner and see the huge Rio de la Plata in front of us. I'm so used to rivers being fairly narrow and being able to see the other side. This was a river on another scale - South American scale I suppose.

Whilst I've been studying and returning to the hostel and doing homework I've felt very much more part of the city. The walk to school was about 20 minutes, so not far, but at that time in the morning I was the first out of the hostel and felt like an employee heading off to work. It's also meant I've been very dull this week, cooking in the hostel in the evenings etc. I have managed to get in a few yoga classes though and an 'asado' - Argentinian barbeque. I have no idea what they feed their livestock here but it's just so good. The beef and pork tastes very different to the UK - I'm assuming like wine that's something to do with terroir. I was slightly put off when the locals put ice in their malbec but it appears that's the trick when the wine's not very good. One to remember but perhaps not to do in front of your hosts!

I'm heading to Salta in the North West on Sunday. A 20 hour or so bus journey but good value and I believe there's a meal, film and wine included. Can't wait. I say that now but after another 100 hours or so on a bus I'm sure I'll be well over it. I'm going to stock up on books at a great local second hand bookshop (one of the only ones that has English books) tomorrow.

Off to a steakhouse tonight - just in case they run out of meat or I don't have it for at least 24 hours!

Posted by hollyk 14:44 Archived in Argentina