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I woke up this morning and finished my packing.I went downstairs for breakfast and saw Miriam the Swiss girl who came to the Tango Show.We had breakfast together and since we both planned on going to Recoletta we decided to go together.She has been in South America since January and is well travelled and speaks Spanish.So we caught the local bus to the Cementerio de la Recoleta-where Evita or Eva Peron is buried.Miriam did all the talking and buying of tickets- haahaa.
We walked around the cemetery and it was massive.We finally decided that we needed to check if there is a map at the entrance that could point us to where Evita's tomb is.We found the map and then went hunting for the tomb.We found it and of course there were lots of people around it.People still bring flowers to put on the door of her tomb. Apparently some people think of her as a kind of saint.
After that we went for lunch then walked the streets of Recoleta.Recoleta is the prettiest suburb of BA.There are beautiful apartment buildings and streets.It really felt like Europe. It is where BA's wealthiest citizens live and it is the city's most exclusive and fashionable neighbourhood. Apparently there is a lot of French architecture there.It is cleaner and newer than San Telmo.Apparently in the 1870's the upper class Portenos lived in San Telmo.But there was a yellow fever epidemic and they all relocated to Recoleta. I took so many photos of the streets and buildings!!!!
After that we walked back to the hostel as my taxi was picking me up at 2pm to take me to the airport which is an hour's drive away.At the hostel I got my stuff together and got ready to leave. I grabbed 2 of my bags and walked outside to the taxi.As I was putting the bags in the back of the taxi I realised I had taken a pillow from the couch I had been sitting on in the hostel and was putting it in the taxi!!The guy from the hostel was standing at the door looking at me!!! So embarrassing. Haha.
It was sad to say goodbye to Miriam as we had gotten along really well, but I got her email address so I'm sure we'll keep in contact.
At the airport I found out that I cold not get my luggage sent straight through to Lima as Aerolineas and Lan don't have that agreement!!This meant that I would have to get out of SCL airport in Chile just to pickup my luggage and go back into transit area.Then I also found out I had to pay $16 Aus departure tax to depart Argentina!!
Anyway all was ok.I slept on the way to SCL.When we were arriving into SCL the plane went over the Andes and it was beautiful to see the snow covered mountains. Again I took photos through the little plane window!!!!
We got into SCL and I had to line up to pay a reciprocity fee of $56Aus.While in line a girl somehow got chatting to me. Lisa is from the USA.As I went through immigration, the two immigration officers started to chat me up!!Usually they are so stuffy and formal so it was refreshing to have them actually being normal.Although I did walk away pretty quick! I saw Lisa again and we got our luggage together. She asked me to come to Santiago with her.She was meeting a couple of friends there and they already had a room.She said I could leave my luggage in their room while we go out for a while.I thought I might as well since I had paid the fee.
We had a bit of a blonde moment when we did not know how much money to take out of the ATM as we did not know the exchange rate.This guy comes running to us asking about taxi and helped us figure out the approximate exchange rate.We still struggled for a while and the guy started laughing at us- yep 2 blondes.Then Lisa tells me that she is an accountant!! Go figure!
We got a taxi to the Santiago and met up with her friends who are both from the US as well- Maria and Debbie.We went out for dinner and had a Pisco Sour each- very nice but also very strong.We all felt it go straight to our heads.We then moved on to a bar further down and had a beer each there.Then we walked around a bit and by then it was 1.30am so I decided to go back to the airport.I said goodbye to the girls-got their e-mail address as well.Santiago is also a beautiful city with a European feel to it.The buildings are gorgeous.The girl's were staying in the Paris area of Santiago and it was gorgeous.It's a pity it was night time because my camera does not take good photos at night.
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