
Being back in Buenos Aires after having been here already at the beginning of our trip really changes the feel of the place. The streets are still very wide, filled with cars, buses and people rushing off in all directions, but we aren’t overwhelmed and seem to be able to tune out most of the chaotic energy! What a difference. We’re staying in a hotel on a side street off the main drag of Avenida 9 de Julio (12 -16 lanes wide!). There is green space in the middle lined with jacaranda trees that are now in full bloom with their beautiful lavender flowers. Today has been super rainy and blustery so the blossoms are blowing everywhere like confetti. We decided this morning instead of walking we’d catch a ‘hop on - hop off’ bus and while away a rainy day driving around the city. Unfortunately it rained all day so we didn’t get off the bus but the ride did give me a much better overview and orientation of the city and its enormous size. 
Yesterday, without any wind or rain, making walking nice and comfortable, we were able to explore places within walking distance. The variety of architecture - old, new, elegant and polished next to a building rundown and barely standing on its own is intriguing. It’s easy for us to just ‘wander’ without being too specific as to where we’ll end up! 
Jim’s birthday was the other night and since we didn’t make that supper special we found an authentic place last night that specializes in ‘parilla’(grilled meat). He’s been wanting to have some really well prepared meat since we arrived - the place the concierge here at our hotel suggested definitely met his expectations!  We both had to put any ‘vegetarian’ ideas aside for the meal…! 
Tomorrow will be our last day here. We leave Buenos Aires just before midnight, arriving home to Victoria Sunday night. We have a long layover in Houston, and if we’re lucky won’t get caught up in any delays caused by the air traffic control issues. 



A blustery day in Buenos Aires…

Yesterday we took a one day bus tour to Punta del Este, a resort town east of Montevideo situated where the Rio de la Plata enters the Atlantic Ocean. Jim had been there about 20 years ago but hadn’t imagined it would have changed so much. The shoreline was  lined with high rise apartments, obviously it has become a very popular tourist destination. The biggest attraction, other than a ‘rambla’ that stretches for kilometres, is the sculpture ‘Man Emerging Into Life’. It’s an impressive piece sculpted by a Chilean artist in 1982 - his entry to a contest (which he won!).
Yesterday was blustery and cloudy, the usual activity we expect at the beach wasn’t happening, regardless we enjoyed just walking on the yellow sandy beach. 
One of the stops we made before arriving at Punta del Este was at a museum - ‘Casapueblo’. It is a masterful work of architecture built by artist Carlos Páez Valór, originally to be just his workshop, but later becoming his residence as well. It was years in the making, with patios, stairs, balconies, and narrow walkways joining many small and large rooms. We found it fascinating to imagine what it would be like living in such a space!
We were lucky all day to escape the rain until returning back to Montevideo it pelted down! 
This morning we woke to blue skies. We caught a ferry and made the trip back across the Rio de la Plata to Buenos Aires. We will be here a few days until we leave for Victoria. 




Excursion to Punta del Este

Today, Sunday, is a travel day - a continuation of last night’s journey that will eventually take us home! We left Buenos Aires about midnight arriving in Houston almost 10 hours later. Thank goodness the federal government shutdown hasn’t affected our flights and we should be on track to arrive in Victoria as scheduled later tonight. 

Yesterday the weather in Buenos Aires was warm and dry once again so we could  set off exploring on foot. Having the whole day until we needed to think about leaving we made our way across town to where we hoped to visit a couple of prominent art museums. Unfortunately, when we arrived at the first one we discovered all the museums in the city were closed for the day, opening at 5pm (until 2am) for the special annual event ‘La Noche de los Museos’… Wouldn’t you know it, so much for leaving it until the last day! We decided   to go have a late lunch instead at another ‘parilla’ restaurant we’d walked past several times. It seemed to be a popular neighbourhood gathering place full of loud chatter, the smell of grilling meats and flurry of a busy eatery. It was a great last meal to be having in Buenos Aires! 

We’ve had a good trip, long enough to be away from home and feel we’ve had an adventure, but not so long to be exhausted by it all. It’ll be good to get settled back into our Victoria lives and at some point think about where we’d like to travel next…!

Where the path takes us!

Goodbye Buenos Aires… time to travel home!

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A blustery day in Buenos Aires…

Excursion to Punta del Este