Buenos Aires

Friday

A transit day. Early to the airport, then a flight to Santiago via Iquique. Chile is really backward in terms of the airport infrastructure. They have no concept of 'transit'. Made everybody disembark at Iquique even thogh it was a through flight. You went through immigration then customs then security then immigration then security then back on the plane. When we got to Santiago we did it all again even though I was just in transit to Buenos Aires. No internet,
broken toilets, and they forgot to open the terminal doors on arrival so we had a whole planeload of people trapped on the airbridge. For a supposedly major hub it was rather archaic.

However, I finally arrived in BA about 10:30 at night after about 14 hours. Took an airport bus to the city and got to the hostel about midnight. BA is hot, humid and sticky which is a real contrast to where I´ve been, but its buzzing at night. Expensive too. I'm used to Peru and Bolivia prices.

Saturday

Woke up late - can't remember the last time that happened. Managed to catch the tail of breakfast, and did a bit of shopping. In the afternoon I took a city tour around BA. Saw the old part of town, the tango and market areas, the Boca football stadium, and the usual things
you see in any big city. A good overview of the place. Nice, vibrant city. Compared to other South American cities I've been in, its very western and very expensive, but they actually drive on the correct side of the road without their hand on the horn, which seems to be the indicator of where they sit in the table of developed nations.
 
In the evening I went to a Tango show. Its a bit like a theatre cabaret show. You get a dinner first, then a show for almost 2 hours. Mainly tango dancers in pairs and troupe, but also traditional Agentinian flute and drums band, and a few singers to string it all together. Very
good and professional. Bet they bought out the entire BA supply of fishnet stockings.

Sunday

Wandered around the streets of BA shopping. Most things closed unless you are in a tourist area, but I finally managed to buy Mandy her present.