Happy Birthday Gary!!

Were back in the bustling city of Buenos Aires, we LOVE it. It is the most exciting city I have ever been to, it`s knocks spots off New York!!

We got back here on Thursday night, a little unexpectedly! On Thursday morning we left Cordoba for a 6 hour bus trip to Rosario, our Lonely Planet Guide book insists that Roasrio is the best thing since sliced bread so we were quite up for a few days there before heading back to BA. We arrived at the bus terminal about 4.30 in the afternoon and got a cab into the centre to a hotel that we had picked out of the guide book. Unfortunately (or should I say fortunately!?) they were fully booked so we decided to try a couple of others that we knew about in the area. It was as we left the hotel that we agreed that we didn't know what all the fuss had been about in our LP book as Rosario looked to be a bit of a dump, litter and rubbish everywhere, really noisy and pollution from all the cabs/buses and a few unscrupulous individuals eyeing up our back packs (although I`d love to see somebody attempt to run off with my 13 kilo pack!!) Anyway we trudged along to the next hotel, where again there were no rooms or hospitality for that matter, we tried the 3rd one same story there. We spotted a hostel on an opposite corner so decided to try there instead but luckily we couldn`t find the doorway. So we considered our options, we could try some more hotels and rather than stay the planned 3 nights there just stay for one as we were getting a bit tired by this point, OR we could jump back on a bus and just head straight back to BA (another 4 hours) So that's what we did. We arrived in BA at about 11pm totally cream crackered, we decided to try the hotel that we stayed at the last time we were here but they were full, so off we went again with our packs weighing us down and really taking their toll on our mood. We tried another FIVE hotels before we found one that could only guarantee us 1 nights accommodation. By this stage we were so tired, crabby and in need of sleep that we decided to take the room, knowing that we would feel much better after a good nights kip. We went down for breakfast the next morning and then checked with the reception again if there was a possibility that we could extend our stay for another 7 nights, to our surprise the guy said that yes we could "no problemo", Hurrrrah!!

So here we are, a whole week in BA. To say it`s a relief knowing that we don`t have to do anymore mammoth bus journeys is an understatement. I don`t care if we never see another bus again, although Asia will be the same, and not half as luxurious :-( It actually feels like were on holiday for a week now, we`ve unpacked all our stuff and made ourselves right at home in the hotel, it`s a great feeling after all the thousands of miles we have bussed.

Yesterday we had a walk round BA, there was a local radio station broadcasting live in one of the busy roads (18 lanes wide, it`s THE widest road in the world) and the radio show could be heard in the street and we could see the broadcaster. It was some kind of phone in, we didn`t have a clue what about as obviously it was in Spanish, so us being the tourists we are Matt waved at the guy who was speaking live on the radio, and the guy waved back. Me and Matt were giggling like a couple of stupid school kids, we thought it was hilarious (this is what happens when you spend too much time in someones company ;-)) We then went to an Irish Bar for a bottle of wine, we fancied a chilled out afternoon, it was Friday after all and we were thinking of people at home who had been at work all week, we knew they must be exhausted ;-) So this one bottle turned into, 2 bottles, many beers and finally finished off with a curry. What a treat that was, the curry was lovely too. It was all really for Gary though who is celebrating his Birthday today. Happy Birthday Gary, we miss you and will definitely be out for your next one!

Tomorrow we are visiting the San Telmo District, they have massive Antique Markets on a Sunday (Massive market, not massive antiques) and then you can go to one of the many cafe bars and take in a Tango Show. Although there is a pub in the area called Gibraltar where you can get an English Sunday lunch so the Tango may have to wait another day.

For anybody that enjoys the cafe bar culture and fine restaurants then Buenos Aires really is the place to be. Everything is in abundance and you are really spoilt for choice. We have made a shortlist of good places to eat and drink, we have 6 days left to get through them all...