I arrived in Buenos Aires knowing that I had a lot to pack in to just over 3 days.
I explored the centre of town, saw the congress buildings and the Presidential Palace where Evita made her speech.
I saw Evita's grave in Recoleta Cemetary as well as those of countless Presidents and military generals. I wandered around the atmospheric San Telmo district on Sunday for the famous antique fair and ate a lot of very good Argentinian beef and red wine at a barbeque at my hostel. I tried the intestine again and although I didn't eat much, it was nicer than the first time I had it (crispier), as was the black pudding.

I also went to a football match, the local team are Boca Juniors (Maradona used to play for them). Now, it's a long time since I've been to a football match in the UK so it's difficult to remember but I'm sure the fans were never as passionate as the Boca fans are. They were playing for a place in the Triangular final (whatever that means). We were in the stands (which were rammed full, while the seats were empty).
The fans sang for the entire duration of the match, as well as throughout the hour and a half we were there before the match started. There was an impressive array of Boca tattoos on display and a lot of arm waving and gesticulating (most of which I suspect wasn't entirely well meaning to the San Lorenzo crowd). There were banners and flags everywhere and kids clambering around on the security barriers in order to attach huge rolls of blue and yellow banners. There were fireworks thrown onto the pitch (not during the match thankfully) as well as blue and yellow smoke flares held aloft in the crowd and some carefully orchestrated flag unfurling which covered the entire stand.
To be honest I think I spent more time watching the crowd than the actual football and it was certainly an experience I won't forget. There's a link to some video of match highlights here.

'La Bombonera' as the ground is known (as apparently it resembles a chocolate box - couldn't see it myself) is in the district of La Boca. The morning before my flight I went for a wander round the area within La Boca called the Caminito. It's next to the river and traditionally the houses were painted with the paint leftover from the boats so they are all really bright and colourful.

I'm updating this from an internet cafe in the airport and I can't believe it's all over, although I'm really looking forward to catching up with everyone back home and enjoying Christmas and New Year.

See you soon!