Saturday I went to El Cemetario de Recoleta. It's one of the biggest attractions in Buenos Aires. It has a bunch of crazy mausoleums. Once again, lots of stray cats everywhere, sleeping next to dead bodies. They're fearless. I wonder if anyone feeds them. The cemetary houses Eva Peron and a bunch of famous Argentines that I don't recognize. I think it'd be a lot cooler if I knew who they were, but I'm sure they were important people. We saw generals, political figures, doctors, etc.
After that, we walked around the area, checked out the art museum next door, as well as the market they had going on. Does anyone want anything? I haven't gotten anything yet, but I have my eye on a mate cup at some point. Feel free to request things, stuff here is cheaper than in the States. Anyway, the market was very awesome. There were lots of people just hanging out and listening to music. Then, we headed north over to see the Floralis Generica, this huge, wild looking metal flower structure. It's got stamens protruding up from the middle with lights at the top that light up at night. The petals also bloom in the day and retract at night. The whole thing is surrounded by a pool of water. Really cool. (Btw, I'm going to post pictures on Facebook, but I made it a private album, so ask if you want to see pics. I'm too lazy to get my camera out right now.)
Where did we eat that night?...I can't remember. Oh right, it was a fancy pizza place. Apparently, they put too much cheese on the pizza here, but the one we ordered was just right. It was a prosciutto (dry cured ham) and basil pizza. Awesome. I am also a big fan of prosciutto, so that was really good. I wish I could eat more, because I always get too full too fast. Sigh. OH and I forgot to mention earlier, that Argentineans really like their gaseosas. They love sparkling water. I've never really drank it before...but for some reason I like it now, haha. I'm fitting in well.
On Sunday, we went to the local Palermo market and checked out some stores. Again, mostly girl stuff like clothes, scarves, bags, accessories, shoes, etc. Then we ate at a place called the Food Factory. That was really good, plus they had a live jazz band playing in the corner so that was awesome. I got a non meat dish, because I've had a meat overload lately, so I ordered the pesto pasta. You can never go wrong with pesto. After that, we cabbed it to Alto Palermo, the big mall here. It has 3 floors and has some very expensive and stylish stores. Very cool, although nothing too special. A mall's a mall. For dinner, we went to a restaurant, I forgot the name, but we got a tasty chorizo to start, and then the Bife de Lomo. Very lean cut of meat, medium rare. One of the best steaks I've ever eaten, and perfectly portioned. I kind of wanted to lick up all the bloody juice it was so good. I also had a cafe con leche. And then we ordered a flan casera for dessert, but only after they told us they didn't have the chocolate brownie. Sad.
Not much today, walked around, got some empanadas, did laundry, and went to the gym. Tomorrow, I fly to Iguazu! I'm all packed to go, and flying out of Aeropuerto Jorge Newbery, a different airport than I came into. Google maps hasn't mapped out the streets in Puerto Iguazu where I'll be staying, so hopefully the local cab drivers will know the way. I've drawn out a rough map to get there. Then, I'll explore the town a bit and try to plan out the day for Wednesday. Look for a tour or something. I'll figure it out.
Bye bye.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
I did some things
I've been too tired to post lately. I walk out each day and explore until I'm tired...which is pretty quickly, and then I come back home to rest before going out at night.
On Wednesday, I walked around the local Palermo area. I went to the Botanical Gardens, which is right next to the Buenos Aires Zoo in the Plaza Italia. There were a ton of stray cats in the garden, pretty awesome. It rained a lot that day, but it was nice because that meant the temperature was very cool. Not much else happened...that night we went to a small little restaurant called Corsocomo. It had a really awesome atmosphere. I had great pork cuts called churrasquitos de bondiola. And a limonada.
Yesterday I tracked down the closet subway station. It was the Plaza Italia D line, which goes all the way to Catedral station. It comes out right at the Catedral Metropolitana, which was the first place I went to. I liked it. I'm not religious, but I still enjoyed seeing the cathedrals and basilicas for the history, art, and architecture. The Metropolitana has the remains in the mausoleum of General San Martin, the Argentine who led them to Spanish independence. He's pretty big here, I saw a statue of him in Plaza San Martin, and also tried to get into Palacio San Martin. But they kicked me out. In the same plaza as the Catedral, Plaza de Mayo, there was the Casa Rosa, the Pink House. Basically the executive office. Next to that whole area was the Microcentro, which has all the banking and business centers.
After all that, I went for a nice long stroll down Calle Florida. It's awesome. Lots of buskers and performers and vendors in the middle of the street, and shops on each side. Super busy, I was pretty paranoid of getting pick-pocketed. I didn't get anything except for a cafe con mocha and some sort of apple water drink. I checked out a couple bookstores because I wanted to read Harry Potter in Spanish, but I think even Harry Potter might be a little too advanced reading for me. Too many magical words. Still, I think it'd help my Spanish skills a lot. I also went to see how much an Argentine national soccer jersey (camiseta) was. About $50 USD. It's alright.
We went to a Mexican restaurant that night, and ate awesome tacos. Delicious.
Today (Friday), I didn't do anything too crazy. I took the subte to Catedral again, and walked around Puerto Madero and San Telmo. There's the San Telmo market, which is pretty famous, but it's only open on weekends, so I'll try to go this weekend. Then I just roamed around Calle Florida again, because it's pretty fun to do that, and people watch too.
I keep trying to eat at inopportune times, but when I get hungry at around 4 or 5 PM, all the restaurants are closed, or not serving anything substantial. It makes me sad because I've been turned away a few times. I'm like, "I just want some empanadas and a cafe con leche!" Oh well.
Tonight we went to a really nice restaurant called Experiencia del fin del mundo. I ordered a T-bone steak. My brother had the braised lamb. I'll try to get pictures later. It was, by far, the best steak I've ever had. It was also the thickest. Like...2 inches thick probably. Came with papas wedges and some chopped peppers. The lamb was equally amazing. Then we got a chocolate tart dessert with plumb sherbet and tiny, thin, plum slices. I forgot what the slices were called. Really awesome. Oh and Argentineans really like their bubbly water. More than flat water.
Now I'm home. I just booked my flight to Iguazu on Tuesday, getting back on Friday. I'm going to go to the Iguazu Falls, and check out some crazy jungle action. I'll try to smuggle a monkey or a toucan back.
In other news, I'm watching the Suns game as I type this, and Robin Lopez just scored 11 pts in the 3rd quarter, wtf.
K Bye!
On Wednesday, I walked around the local Palermo area. I went to the Botanical Gardens, which is right next to the Buenos Aires Zoo in the Plaza Italia. There were a ton of stray cats in the garden, pretty awesome. It rained a lot that day, but it was nice because that meant the temperature was very cool. Not much else happened...that night we went to a small little restaurant called Corsocomo. It had a really awesome atmosphere. I had great pork cuts called churrasquitos de bondiola. And a limonada.
Yesterday I tracked down the closet subway station. It was the Plaza Italia D line, which goes all the way to Catedral station. It comes out right at the Catedral Metropolitana, which was the first place I went to. I liked it. I'm not religious, but I still enjoyed seeing the cathedrals and basilicas for the history, art, and architecture. The Metropolitana has the remains in the mausoleum of General San Martin, the Argentine who led them to Spanish independence. He's pretty big here, I saw a statue of him in Plaza San Martin, and also tried to get into Palacio San Martin. But they kicked me out. In the same plaza as the Catedral, Plaza de Mayo, there was the Casa Rosa, the Pink House. Basically the executive office. Next to that whole area was the Microcentro, which has all the banking and business centers.
After all that, I went for a nice long stroll down Calle Florida. It's awesome. Lots of buskers and performers and vendors in the middle of the street, and shops on each side. Super busy, I was pretty paranoid of getting pick-pocketed. I didn't get anything except for a cafe con mocha and some sort of apple water drink. I checked out a couple bookstores because I wanted to read Harry Potter in Spanish, but I think even Harry Potter might be a little too advanced reading for me. Too many magical words. Still, I think it'd help my Spanish skills a lot. I also went to see how much an Argentine national soccer jersey (camiseta) was. About $50 USD. It's alright.
We went to a Mexican restaurant that night, and ate awesome tacos. Delicious.
Today (Friday), I didn't do anything too crazy. I took the subte to Catedral again, and walked around Puerto Madero and San Telmo. There's the San Telmo market, which is pretty famous, but it's only open on weekends, so I'll try to go this weekend. Then I just roamed around Calle Florida again, because it's pretty fun to do that, and people watch too.
I keep trying to eat at inopportune times, but when I get hungry at around 4 or 5 PM, all the restaurants are closed, or not serving anything substantial. It makes me sad because I've been turned away a few times. I'm like, "I just want some empanadas and a cafe con leche!" Oh well.
Tonight we went to a really nice restaurant called Experiencia del fin del mundo. I ordered a T-bone steak. My brother had the braised lamb. I'll try to get pictures later. It was, by far, the best steak I've ever had. It was also the thickest. Like...2 inches thick probably. Came with papas wedges and some chopped peppers. The lamb was equally amazing. Then we got a chocolate tart dessert with plumb sherbet and tiny, thin, plum slices. I forgot what the slices were called. Really awesome. Oh and Argentineans really like their bubbly water. More than flat water.
Now I'm home. I just booked my flight to Iguazu on Tuesday, getting back on Friday. I'm going to go to the Iguazu Falls, and check out some crazy jungle action. I'll try to smuggle a monkey or a toucan back.
In other news, I'm watching the Suns game as I type this, and Robin Lopez just scored 11 pts in the 3rd quarter, wtf.
K Bye!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Day 1: I made it
I made it to Buenos Aires, finally, after a day of travel. I couldn't sleep on the plane except for about half an hour of drooling on myself. I ALWAYS get stuck behind the person that reclines their seat back for the entire flight. Always. Sigh.
After getting off, I had to wait in line to pay the $140 US citizens reciprocal visitor's fee that's good for 10 years. Then came customs and security and all that. I exchanged my money into pesos, got my bags, and then came out of the doors to a bunch of Argentineans staring at me. They all looked like they were expecting someone important to emerge, but it was only me. Sorry to disappoint, Argentina. My brother arranged for a driver to come pick me up, so there was a guy there with a sign with my name on it. Pretty cool. He was a nice guy.
I'm staying in the Palermo Soho neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It's nice, definitely has a Soho type feel to it. Some areas are a little downtrodden, while others are very modern, it's an eclectic mix.
When I got to the apartment at 11:00 AM, I just crashed for 7 hours until 6:00 PM. That's what I get for not sleeping on the plane. Now I'm typing this, as I can't fall back asleep too early. In the evening, my brother and I headed out to roam a little and then ate dinner at this restaurant outside. We started with a Chorizo appetizer, it's a smoky pork sausage. Delicious. I ordered a Bife de Chorizo, which was an amazing steak. Apparently, Argentineans hold their beef very dear to their hearts. They sort of specialize in it, and everything else is supposed to be just mediocre.
Sorry, the lighting is bad since it was dark, and outdoors.
Afterwards, we got some awesome ice cream, I got the Melon and Mango flavors. Probably the best ice cream I've ever had. It was at this place called Chungo.
Not much else afterwards, just stopped my a supermercado on the way back and picked up some things.
I'll try to take better pictures tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'll probably start off just exploring the rest of Palermo, go see some parks, museums, maybe the zoo and botanical gardens. Okay, that's about it. See ya!
I'll try to take better pictures tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'll probably start off just exploring the rest of Palermo, go see some parks, museums, maybe the zoo and botanical gardens. Okay, that's about it. See ya!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)